the Mountain Goats | photo by Jillian Clark, courtesy of the artist
PRESS PLAY: New Albums out November 7th
You won’t be-LEAF this week’s assortment of new albums…
Don’t think of the days as growing shorter, think of it as more time for listening to new albums at night.
John Darnielle explores his theatrical side (with help from Lin-Manuel Miranda) on the Mountain Goats’ 23rd album, Through This Fire Across from Peter Balkan. With fresh interpretations of songs written by Hozier, Allison Russell, and Leonard Cohen, Mavis Staples continues to transcend generations on Sad and Beautiful World. Drawing from the expanse of the Alaskan wilderness, Portugal. the Man’s SHISH also reflects the band’s all-for-one, one-for-all ethos. With vivid textures worthy of a classic 4AD record, Hatchie meld pop anthems with gauzy atmosphere on Liquorice.
Arriving mere months after a collection of evocative instrumentals, Daylight Daylight marks Delco-rooted guitarist Steve Gunn’s return to songwriting. A mysterious Ghanian artist whose 1994 debut became a sought-after obscurity in the internet age, Ata Kak makes his unlikely return with Batakari. Texas psych-folk combo Midlake teamed up with producer Sam Evian for A Bridge to Far; their sixth LP features a guest vocal from Artist to Watch Madison Cunningham. Nashville’s Tristen gives new life to uncommon sounds on Unpopular Music, a playful set of smart acoustic pop.
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
the Mountain Goats – Through This Fire Across from Peter Balkan
CHECK OUT: “Cold at Night”
“Rocks in My Pockets”
Mavis Staples –
Sad and Beautiful World
CHECK OUT: “Beautiful Strangers”
“Human Mind”
Portugal. the Man – SHISH
CHECK OUT: “Tanana” “Denali”
Hatchie – Liquorice
CHECK OUT: “Lose it Again” “Only One Laughing”
Steve Gunn – Daylight Daylight
CHECK OUT: “Nearly There” “Morning on K Road”
Ata Kak – Batakari
CHECK OUT: “Batakari” “DJ”
Midlake – A Bridge to Far
CHECK OUT: “Days Gone By”
“The Calling”
Tristen – Unpopular Music
CHECK OUT: “Skin of Our Teeth”
“Because Your Love is Mine”
The PRESS PLAY-list
FURTHER LISTENING
Armand Hammer & The Alchemist – Mercy, The Barons – Le Château, Benee – Ur an Angel I’m Just Particles, Charlotte de Witte – Charlotte de Witte, Chet Baker – Chet Baker Performs and Sings Swimming by Moonlight, Courtney Hartman – With You, Dandi – DANDI, Devin Shaffer – Patience, Frida Kill – CITY GURL, Gareth Quinn Redmond – Múscailte, Gregory Corso – DIE ON ME, Heaven for Real – Who Died & Made You the Dream?, Helado Negro – The Last Sound on Earth EP, Jake Owen – Dreams to Dream, Jordana – Jordanaland EP, Juana Molina – DOGA, Khruangbin – The Universe Smiles Upon You ii, Liam Kazar – Pilot Light, Mykel – Hometown Runaway EP, The Mynabirds – It’s Okay to Go Back If You Keep Moving Forward, Orchid Mantis – Airports, P.E. – Oh!, Patrick Davis – Carolina When I Die (Deluxe Edition), Paul McCartney & WIngs – WINGS, Paul Schlada – Lately, Rix – Legacy, Vol. 1, Ruby Sparks – Iris, Ryan Reidy – Fringe Body Parts, Sessa – Pequena Vertigem De Amor, Sports Team – Boys These Days (Deluxe Edition), St. Panther – Strange World EP, Stella Donnelly – Love and Fortune, Sugar Bomb – Sweet + Explosive, Sweet Nobody – Driving Off to Nowhere, Teen Jesus & the Jean Teasers – Glory, Tommy Talton – Seven Levels, Westerman – A Jackal’s Wedding, Whitney – Small Talk, Willie Nelson – Workin’ Man: Willie Sings Merle, ZDAN – SO WHAT!