This isn’t meant to put any undue pressure on you, but seeing as how it won’t be much longer before families gather for the holidays, time is running out to fill your brain with new music to wow your aunts and uncles. Plush arrangements and impressionistic lyrics are the hallmarks of Natalie Mering’s dream-pop project Weyes Blood; she’s firing on all cylinders on her fifth LP, And in the Darkness, Hearts Aglow. Recent Free at Noon guest (and Artist to Watch) Cautious Clay follows last year’s full-length debut with the richly textured Thin Ice on the Cake EP. XPN favorite Amos Lee makes an adept swerve into the realm of jazz with his airy tribute to Chet Baker, My Ideal. It’s been nearly a decade since Caitlin Rose‘s last release; the Nashville singer bounces back with the eclectic and star-making CAZIMI.
Fresh off a sold-out stand at The Met, bluegrass whiz Billy Strings teams up with his father, Terry Barber, for the exhilarating (and heartwarming) Me and Dad. Philadelphia rocker Augusta Koch reflects on sobriety and human connection on Don’t Know What You’re in Until You’re Out, the second album from her post-Cayetana outfit Gladie. XPNFest highlight Neal Francis follows his spring debut with the Sentimental Garbage EP, doubling down on his energetic brand of psychedelic soul.
PRESS PLAY on these new releases below. Listen for spotlights on new records like these (and more) every Friday on the XPN Morning Show and Indie Rock Hit Parade.
Weyes Blood – And in the Darkness, Hearts Aglow
CHECK OUT: “Grapevine” “It’s Not Just Me, it’s Everybody”
Cautious Clay – Thin Ice on the Cake EP
CHECK OUT: “Puffer” “Burning Up Slow”
Amos Lee – My Ideal
CHECK OUT: “My Funny Valentine (for Oskar and Eli)”
Caitlin Rose – CAZIMI
CHECK OUT: “Getting it Right (feat. Courtney Marie Andrews)” “Nobody’s Sweetheart”
Billy Strings – Me and Dad
CHECK OUT: “Long Journey Home” “John Deere Tractor”
Gladie – Don’t Know What You’re in Until You’re Out
CHECK OUT: “Born Yesterday” “Nothing”
Neal Francis – Sentimental Garbage EP
CHECK OUT: “Very Fine pts. 1 & 2” “Strawberry Letter 23”
FURTHER LISTENING
Adrian Quesada – Jaguar Sound, Animal Collective – The Inspection (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack), Black Midi – Live Fire, Colin Stetson – The Menu (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack), Daniel Bachman – Almanac Behind, David Bowie – Moonage Daydream (Companion Album), Dolly Parton – Diamonds & Rhinestones: The Greatest Hits Collection, Echo & the Bunnymen – Evergreen (25th Anniversary Edition), Fousheé – softCORE, HUNNY – Homesick EP (Deluxe Edition), Jim Keltner, mike watt & Mike Baggetta – Everywhen We Go, Loreena McKennitt – Under a Winter’s Moon, Los Bitchos – Let The Festivities Begin! (Los Chrismos Edition), Maria BC – Hyaline Remixes EP, The Monkees – Headquarters (Super Deluxe Edition), Neil Young and Crazy Horse – World Record, Nickelback – Get Rollin’, Olivia O’Brien – A Means to an End, Panda Bear & Sonic Boom – Reset (Expanded Edition), Queen – The Miracle (Collector’s Edition), The Ramona Flowers – Gotta Get Home EP, The Residents – Triple Trouble (Original Soundtrack Album), Richard Dawson – The Ruby Cord, Röyksopp – Profound Mysteries III, Ruthie Foster – Healing Time, The Smashing Pumpkins – ATUM: Act 1, Sneaks – The Eva EP, Solomon Burke – Don’t Give Up on Me (Reissue), Veps – Oslo Park, Vince Guaraldi – Jazz Impressions of Black Orpheus (Deluxe Edition), Weeping Icon – Ocelli EP, Willie Nelson – Live at Budokan, The Wombats – Is This What it Feels Like to Feel Like This? EP
