Spring is in the air and so are the sounds of this week’s new releases. Making their long-awaited full-length debut as boygenius, Julien Baker, Lucy Dacus, and Phoebe Bridgers deliver emotional wallops on the record. As they celebrate their 20th anniversary as a band, The Hold Steady offer The Price of Progress, their latest set of churning stream-of-consciousness marathons. Working with outside collaborators for the first time, The New Pornographers‘ Continue as a Guest is a ruminative collection wrapped in power pop perfection.
Former Dr. Dog guitarist Scott McMicken assembles a new team of instrumentalists (dubbed the EVER-EXPANDING) for his freewheeling solo debut, SHABANG. On their fifth album in as many years, Altin Gün further their mission of reinventing traditional Turkish folk songs into head-swirling psychedelia. On their first album since their 2019 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction, British originals The Zombies capture a kind of energy that only stems from decades of live performance. Recent World Cafe guest Michigander‘s latest EP, It Will Never Be the Same, showcases bandleader Jason Singer’s knack for irresistible hooks and reassuring positivity.
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.
boygenius – the record
CHECK OUT: “Not Strong Enough” “$20”
The Hold Steady – The Price of Progress
CHECK OUT: “Sideways Skull” “Sixers”
The New Pornographers – Continue as a Guest
CHECK OUT: “Really Really Light” “Pontius Pilate’s Home Movies”
Scott McMicken and THE EVER-EXPANDING – SHABANG
CHECK OUT: “Reconcile” “What About Now”
Altin Gün – Aşk
CHECK OUT: “Rakıya Su Katamam” “Leylim Ley”
The Zombies – Different Game
CHECK OUT: “Love You While I Can” “Merry-Go-Round”
Michigander – It Will Never Be the Same EP
CHECK OUT: “Stay Out of It” “Superglue”
FURTHER LISTENING…
A Certain Ratio – 1982, Alasdair Roberts – Grief in the Kitchen and Mirth in the Hall, Alberta Cross – Sinking Ships, Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness – Tilt at the Wind No More, B. Cool-Aid – Leather Blvd., Baba Maal – Bein, Barrie – 5K EP, Buzzy Lee – Internal Affairs, City and Colour – Love Still Held Me Near, Crazy Horse – All Roads Lead Home, Deerhoof – Miracle-Level, Gel – Only Constant, Jared Mattson – Peanut, Katie Gately – Fawn / Brute, Kris Ulrich – Big in the USA, Lies – Lies, London Brew – London Brew, Murray A. Lightburn – Once Upon a Time in Montreal, The No Ones – My Best Evil Friend, Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark – Dazzle Ships (40th Anniversary Edition), PACKS – Crispy Crunchy Nothing, The Pretty Things – The Complete Studio Albums 1965-2020, Puscifer – Existential Reckoning: Re-Wired, Sondre Lerche – Avatars of the Night, Steve Gunn and David Moore – Let the Moon Be a Planet, Tyler, the Creator – CALL ME IF YOU GET LOST: The Estate Sale, The White Stripes – Elephant (Deluxe Edition), The Who – The Who with Orchestra Live at Wembley, Wild Child – End of the World, William Tyler & the Impossible Truth – Secret Stratosphere, Yayennings – Yayennings Vol. 2
