Old Man Winter might still be clinging to relevance, but this week’s new albums are in full bloom…

On PLAY ME, her third solo album since the dissolution of Sonic Youth, Kim Gordon focuses her inimitable energy and attitude on those who carelessly clutch the levers of power. Teased with a self-perpetrated leak (and available only on physical formats), Sturgill Simpson reboots his Johnny Blue Skies persona into oversexed dark disco on Mutiny After Midnight. On her impressively ambitious debut, 20nothing, rising Texas-based singer Blessing Jolie delivers witty and thoughtful lyrics against nostalgic melodies. Chicago’s Brigitte Calls Me Baby double down on their stylish new wave-infused pop on their second album, Irreversible.

Working with Brad Cook to give his songs a fuller production than his stark 2023 release The King, Anjimile’s You’re Free to Go offers odes to trans love with shimmering finesse. Cut Worms’ Max Clarke broadcasts rollicking nuggets on his fourth LP, the Jeff Tweedy-produced Transmitter. Still There’s a Glow is the reflective second album from Philly crew Sweet Pill; it’s their first release where the whole band contributed to the writing process. The Black Crowes once again pair a retrospective release (the recent expanded reissue of 1994’s Amorica) with a new one; A Pound of Feathers finds the Robinson brothers trading wits and riffs with easy abandon.

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

Kim Gordon –
PLAY ME

CHECK OUT: “NOT TODAY”
“DIRTY TECH”

Johnny Blue Skies & the Dark Clouds –
Mutiny After Midnight

CHECK OUT: “Situation”
“Everyone is Welcome”

Blessing Jolie –
20nothing

CHECK OUT: “20teens”
“Frown Lines”

Brigitte Calls Me Baby –
Irreversible

CHECK OUT: “Slumber Party”
“I Danced with Another Love in My Dream”

Anjimile –
You’re Free to Go

CHECK OUT: “Like You Really Mean It”
“Waits for Me”

Cut Worms –
Transmitter

CHECK OUT: “Windows on the World”
“Evil Twin”

Sweet Pill –
Still There’s a Glow

CHECK OUT: “No Control”
“Glow”

The Black Crowes –
A Pound of Feathers

CHECK OUT: “Pharmacy Chronicles”
“It’s Like That”

The PRESS PLAY-list

FURTHER LISTENING

Still not enough new music?? For previous editions of PRESS PLAY, click HERE.

Spring forward into the first new albums of the month…

HELP(2) is the latest in a long series of benefit albums by the War Child organization; producer James Ford invited international superstars like Arctic Monkeys, Olivia Rodrigo, and Depeche Mode to record exclusive material at Abbey Road Studios. Reviving material written in their teenage years, Chris Difford and Glenn Tilbrook celebrate the earliest fruits of their musical partnership on Squeeze’s Trixies. Partially recorded at Berlin’s famed Hansa Studios, ‘70s home to David Bowie and Iggy Pop, Harry Styles laces up his nightclubbing duds on Kiss All the Time. Disco, Occasionally. Will Oldham’s latest album as Bonnie “Prince” Billy, We are Together Again, showcases the prolific Kentucky songwriter’s uncommon way with words and sonic textures.

On Picking Stones, their first new album in a decade, Philadelphia favorite Abi Reimold explores their country leanings with a set of lyrics-forward balladry. Shabaka drew inspiration from D’Angelo’s landmark Brown Sugar for Of the Earth; while lively rhythms occasionally arise, the overall influence is reflected in the creative freedom that comes from self-production. Multi-disciplinary Inuk artist Tanya Tagaq returns to music with Saputjiji; reimagining lyrics from her 2018 book Split Tooth (as well as serving as companion to a new stage production), her sixth album is brutal in its beauty and beautiful in its brutality. Arkansas soul-pop singer Yebba got an early co-sign from producer Mark Ronson; her second solo LP, Jean, is a heartfelt tribute to her late grandmother.

PRESS PLAY on these new releases

Various Artists –
War Child Presents: HELP(2)

CHECK OUT: Arctic Monkeys – “Opening Night”
The Last Dinner Party – “Let’s Do it Again!”

Squeeze – Trixies

CHECK OUT: “You Get the Feeling”
“Why Don’t You”

Harry Styles –
Kiss All the Time. Disco, Occasionally

CHECK OUT: “Aperture” “American Girls”

Bonnie “Prince” Billy –
We are Together Again

CHECK OUT: “They Keep Trying to Find You”
“Hey Little”

Abi Reimold –
Picking Stones

CHECK OUT: “Drinking Song”
“Phasing”

Shabaka –
Of the Earth

CHECK OUT: “A Future Untold”
“Dance in Praise”

Tanya Tagaq – Saputjiji

CHECK OUT: “Foxtrot” “Fuck War”

Yebba – Jean

CHECK OUT: “Waterfall” “Yellow Eyes”

FURTHER LISTENING

Ages and Ages – Fine Thanks and You, Amalie Dahl’s Dafnie EXTENDED – Live at Moldejazz, Aukai – Chambers, Bitter Branches – Let’s Give the Land Back to the Animals, Bory – Never Turns to Night, Bosse-de-Nage – Hidden Fires Burn Hottest, The Brook & the Bluff – Werewolf, Carbon Decoy – Crush the Sun, Charlie Puth – Whatever’s Clever!, Cobrah – Torn, Doll Spirit Vessel – Bow, Endearments – An Always Open Door, Flying Lotus – Big Mama EP, Gregory Uhlmann – Extra Stars, GUM – Blue Gum Way, Hater – Mosquito, Hunter Hayes – Evergreen, Jesper Lindell – 3614 Jackson Highway, Joshua Idehen – I Know You’re Hurting, Everyone is Hurting, Everyone is Trying, You Have Got to Try, Koko Love – The Cost of Freedom, Los Frankies – D.E.D. City, Melodi Ghazal – Idol Melodies, Morrissey – Make-Up is a Lie, Mute Swan – Skin Slip, Natalie Jane Hill – Hopeful Woman, Neighborly – Kerplunk, Odd Marshall – Seconds, Ohyung – Iowa, Rosenau & Sanborn – Two, Scout Gillett – Tough Touch, Slag – Losing EP, Snowcuffs – Sweet Gravity EP, Sons of Town Hall – Of Ghosts and Gods, Status/Non-Status – Big Changes, Surfbort – Reality Star, Teerath Majumder – Dust to Dust, Travis Bolt – Burning Bridges, VIAL – Hellhound, Waterbaby – Memory Be a Blade, Western Grip – Follow Your Nightmares, Various Artists – Scribble Benefit Compilation

Briston Maroney: “Fool’s Gold” (World Cafe Version)