Any plans for the weekend?? As you head down to XPNFest, allow any one of these to soundtrack your revelries. Joined by Cat Power and members of The National and The So So Glos, Conor Oberst dispatches some of his boldest and most poetic lyrics on Bright Eyes’ 10th album, Five Dice, All Threes. Part campfire singalong, part soul rave-up, Sammy Rae & the Friends deliver on the promise of their vibrant live show on Something for Everybody, the New York group’s full-length debut. Almost a decade on from In Colour, Jamie xx digs deep into his vast record collection (and recruits his bandmates from The xx) for In Waves, a mix just as suited for the dancefloor as the space between a set of headphones. Philly/NJ favorite Orion Sun decamped to the West Coast to write and record Orion; her mix of jazz and bedroom beats remains unparalleled.
Inspired by lucid dreams and the works of Isadora Duncan, Thurston Moore’s ninth solo album, Flow Critical Lucidity, is an adventurous yet grounded outing from the former Sonic Youth member. A versatile guest on albums by Elton John, ANOHNI, and Lou Reed, Joan Wasser returns with Lemons, Limes and Orchids, the first set of originals since 2018 from her long-running project Joan as Police Woman. Fronted by Julian Casablancas, The Voidz celebrate a decade of freewheeling art-rock with their third LP, Like All Before You. A wide-ranging tribute to the beloved songwriter (whose recent health struggles triggered an outpouring of love from all corners of the music world), Jesse Malin’s peerless compositions are covered by Bruce Springsteen, Lucinda Williams, Bleachers, and two dozen more on Silver Patron Saints.
Listen for spotlights on new records like these (and more) every week on the XPN Morning Show and Indie Rock Hit Parade.
PRESS PLAY on these new releases
Bright Eyes – Five Dice, All Threes
CHECK OUT: “Bells and Whistles” “Rainbow Overpass”
Sammy Rae & the Friends – Something for Everybody
CHECK OUT: “Coming Home Song” “Thieves”
Jamie xx – In Waves
CHECK OUT: “Waited All Night (feat. ROMY & Oliver Sim)” “Life (feat. Robyn)”
Orion Sun – Orion
CHECK OUT: “Already Gone” “Mary Jane”
Thurston Moore – Flow Critical Lucidity
CHECK OUT: “Rewilding” “Sand Limites (feat. Lætitia Sadier)”
Joan as Police Woman – Lemons, Limes and Orchids
CHECK OUT: “Long for Ruin” “Back Again”
The Voidz – Like All Before You
CHECK OUT: “All the Same” “7 Horses”
Various Artists – Silver Patron Saints: The Songs of Jesse Malin
CHECK OUT: Bruce Springsteen – “She Don’t Love Me Now” Bleachers – “Prisoners of Paradise”