The first Friday of summer brings with it a bounty of new album releases. Alaskan pop outsiders Portugal. the Man pay tribute to their late honorary bandmate, and perform alongside Edgar Winter and Unknown Mortal Orchestra, on Chris Black Changed My Life. Still in-demand as backing vocalists, recent World Cafe guests The Watson Twins command the spotlight on HOLLER, their first album in five years. Just under two years since making their impactful debut, New York art-rockers Geese take an experimental twang detour on 3D Country.
New Orleans bounce icon Big Freedia‘s Central City reinvents hip-hop conventions and features guest appearances by Ciara, Lil Wayne, and Faith Evans. M. Ward brings his own cadre of collaborators, including Jim James and First Aid Kit, to his 12th solo album, Supernatural Thing. On Sleeping Dragon, her third solo release, Brazilian Girls leader Sabina Sciubba blends sounds and styles that cross musical borders. Strokes guitarist Albert Hammond Jr. delivers an effervescent set on Melodies on Hiatus, his fifth solo LP. Written in Their Soul: The Stax Songwriter Demos bursts at the seams with over 100 previously unreleased recordings from the legendary label’s vaults.
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.
Portugal. the Man – Chris Black Saved My Life
CHECK OUT: “Dummy” “Summer of Luv (feat. Unknown Mortal Orchestra)”
The Watson Twins – HOLLER
CHECK OUT: “Holler” “The Palace”
Geese – 3D Country
CHECK OUT: “Cowboy Nudes” “Mysterious Love”
Big Freedia – Central City
CHECK OUT: “$100 Bill (feat. Ciara)” “Bigfoot”
M. Ward – Supernatural Thing
CHECK OUT: “Supernatural Thing” “Too Young to Die (feat. First Aid Kit)”
Sabina Sciubba – Sleeping Dragon
CHECK OUT: “Paris Tropical” “Adam”
Albert Hammond Jr. – Melodies on Hiatus
CHECK OUT: “Old Man” “100-99 (feat. GoldLink)”
Various Artists – Written in Their Soul: The Stax Songwriter Demos
CHECK OUT: Eddie Floyd – “634-5789 (Soulsville, USA)”
FURTHER LISTENING:
Amanda Shires and Bobbie Nelson – Loving You, Andy Grammer – Behind My Smile, Ani DiFranco – Little Plastic Castle (25th Anniversary Edition), Andy Hall – Squareneck Soul, A.R. Kane – A.R. Kive (1988 – 1989), Anna Shoemaker – Hey Anna EP, Bear’s Den – First Loves EP, Bettie Serveert – Palomine (30th Anniversary Deluxe Edition), Cable Ties – All Her Plans, Caitlin Rose – CAZIMI (Deluxe Edition), Candlebox – Live at the Neptune, Charles Mingus – Changes: The Complete 1970s Atlantic Recordings, Corvair – Bound to Be, Cory Hanson – Western Cum, Dan Tyminski – God Fearing Heathen, Destiny Bond – Be My Vengeance, Devon Allman & Donavon Frankenreiter – Rollers EP, Jason Mraz – Mystical Magical Rhythmical Radical Ride, Johanna Samuels – Bystander, Jenn Grant – Champagne Problems, Kelly Clarkson – chemistry, Kim Petras – Feed the Beast, Kirin J Callinan – If I Could Sing, Lloyd Cole – On Pain, Martin Frawley – The Wannabe, Militarie Gun – Life Under the Gun, Pardoner – Peace Loving People, Power Trip – Live in Seattle, Skating Polly – Chaos County Line, Swans – The Beggar, The Soft Moon – Exister Remixed EP, Valley – Lost in Translation, Wye Oak – Every Day Like the Last, Various Artists – Shine On: A Tribute to Pete Ham
