The Albums You Need to Know About Every Week
This week’s release lineup feels somewhat like the calm after the storm given the insane hype of last week. There are records on this list, though, that deserve equal measures of praise, if not more. The first two from Baths and Mount Kimbie are both sophomore releases, yet they leap and bound above most music I’ve heard this year. Baths’ electro-pop is a bit more solemn and a little cleaner here than Cerulean. Not to mention, it’s entirely stunning. Trip-hop duo Mount Kimbie’s second release finds them attempting a bit more of an organic feel, tapping into a genius collaboration with King Krule on two tracks and crafting really smart, really sexy sounds to die for. Following-up last year’s smash debut, In Limbo, TEEN are back with an EP that once again shreds genres, then pieces them back together through a psych-pop lens.
Canadian folk-pop band, Imaginary Cities, also dropped their sophomore effort this week, featuring more giddy, well-crafted pop and Marti Sarbit’s sweet, distinguishable voice — they’re so kick-ass. Alex Bleeker & The Freaks is the chill, dream rock side project from Real Estate’s bassist (Bleeker). Brazos then follows to wake you up with their energetic, imaginative, colorful jolt of a record. Equal parts throwback pop and surf-rock, Hooded Fang’s latest is, not surprisingly, a strong, Tropicalia-tinged ride to indulge in. Also here to charm your pants off is Sam Cohen with Yellowbirds’ sublime flavor of psychadelic folk rock. Songs From the Vanished Frontier is a must-have summer sun-bathe record.
