The Albums You Need to Know About Every Week
Ah…January, another day, another snowstorm, it seems (at least here in New York). And if you’re somewhere else in the country that’s a bit warmer, don’t worry, at the end of February you can sympathize with this weather when our On The Mountain video series is released. At any rate, cold weather means more time inside, and all that time inside means a few things — lots of cooking, lots of Netflix and lots of naps. But another thing it can mean is lots of time to discover some really great music. There’s a slew of good new albums coming out this week, especially if you like female-fronted bands.
First up, indie noise pop it-girls Dum Dum Girls are releasing their third studio album this week, Too True. After catapulting onto the scene in 2010 with their debut album, I Will Be, they helped revive the shoegaze, noise pop and dream pop hybrid genre of sound that is so ubiquitous today. Lead singer Dee Dee put significantly more time into writing the songs on Too True than on other albums after some vocal difficulties she acquired while on tour, so we’re excited to see the band’s progression.
Next, Brooklyn’s own Hospitality are releasing their second album, Trouble, this week. I first saw Hospitality open for Tennis in 2012 shortly after they released their debut album and was immediately drawn to the band’s similar charming, reverb-y, pop sound. Trouble is a bit tighter and tougher than the band’s debut album, reflecting a maturity in the depth of the sound that we’re excited to see.
Fellow Brooklynites Habibi are releasing their debut album Habibi this week. “Habibi” is an Arabic term of affection, and lead singer and founder Rahill Jamalifard draws on her Persian background, Detroit-upbringing and experiences in New York to define the band’s sound. The girl-group’s post-punk pop has drawn equal comparisons to 60′s-era motown and garage rock, which makes for really interesting music.
Then there’s Boston-based chamber pop duo Gem Club, also releasing their sophomore album this week. In Roses is the follow up to the band’s 2011 debut album, and Christopher Barnes, the band’s primary songwriter, lead vocalist and pianist has said that the time was beneficial to the new album. Gem Club’s brand of introspective and melancholic pop, a la Seven Swans-era Sufjan Stevens is just about perfect for these gloomy winter afternoons.
Beyond the female-fronted indie pop acts, there’s also a considerable handful of psychedelic releases coming out this week. One of the newer artists on the Mexican Summer roster, Boston-based psychedelic rockers Quilt are releasing their sophomore album, Held In Splendor, this week. Next up, there’s Morgan Delt releasing his debut album this week. Delt is a native Californian and incorporates much of that sort of psychedelia into his sound. Finally, Blue Ridge Mountain-area trio of brothers Pontiak are releasing their seventh studio album, Innocence, this week.
Last but not least, there are some solid electronic albums coming out this week. British import Actress (Darren J. Cunningham) first made his mark as a producer of heavy bass electronic music in the UK, and then began releasing his own material on a variety of labels, including one he started himself. This week he’s releasing Ghettoville, his fourth studio album and follow-up to his 2008 debut Hazyville. Finally, Bibio‘s The Green E.P. is coming out this week. Bibio (Stephen Wilkinson) is another British electronic producer, but his sound is a bit more experimental, incorporating lo-fi and orchestral compliments. The EP is a follow-up to his seventh studio album, Silver Wilkinson.
