Welcome to New Music Friday, the ultimate guide to the hottest new albums each week! This week, we're diving into the latest releases, featuring a diverse range of genres and artists. Get ready to discover some incredible music and explore the best of what's new in the music world.
The Starting 5
Flying Lotus, BIG MAMA EP (Brainfeeder)
- A groovy, soul-infused EP that blends jazz and electronic beats. Recommended for fans of J Dilla and Madlib.
waterbaby, Memory Be A Blade (Sub Pop)
- This album is a blend of dreamy pop and indie rock, with a touch of Arlo Parks and Charlotte Day Wilson's influences.
Shabaka, Of the Earth (Shabaka Records)
- An atmospheric and spiritual journey, drawing comparisons to Fabiano do Nascimento and Alice Coltrane.
Joshua Idehen, I Know You're Hurting, Everyone Is Hurting, Everyone Is Trying, You Have Got To Try (Heavenly)
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The Scythe, Strictly 4 the Scythe (Loma Vista)
- A high-energy, genre-bending album that blends elements of Denzel Curry and BKTHERULA, creating a unique and exciting sound.
The Lightning Round
Here are five more albums that didn't make it into the main lineup, but are definitely worth checking out:
- Cece Coakley, Pleasant Attack EP (Tone Tree)
- Terrace Martin, Purpose (Sounds of Chrenshaw)
- V/A, HELP(2) (War Child Records)
- Alice Sara Ott, Jóhann Jóhannsson: Piano Works (Deutsche Grammophon GmbH, Berlin)
- Macha & Bedhead, Macha Loved Bedhead - Bedhead Loved Macha (Numero Group)
Dora's Corner
Our production assistant, Dora Levite, shares her favorite albums that didn't make the podcast:
- Dutch Interior, It's Glass EP (Fat Possum)
- OHYUNG, IOWA (DIY)
- Tanya Tagaq, Saputjiji (Six Shooter)
The Long List
Explore a wide range of genres with these additional album recommendations:
Pop:
- Arima Ederra, A Rush To Nowhere (RCA)
- Cobrah, Torn (Atlantic)
- Elly Kace, The Seventh Gate (DIY)
- Endearments, An Always Open Door (Trash Casual)
- Human Potential, Eel Sparkles (What Delicate)
- Charlie Puth, Whatever's Clever (Atlantic)
- Katelyn Tarver, Tell Me How You Really Feel (Nettwerk)
Country/Folk/Americana:
- Austin Michael, Lonestar (DIY)
- Jesper Lindell, 3614 Jackson Highway (Yep Roc)
- Nathalie Jane Hill, Hopeful Woman (Dear Life)
- Ted Lucas, Images of Life (Third Man)
- The Delines, The Set Up (Decor)
- Travis Bolt, Burning Bridges (Gravel Road)
- Deloyd Elze, Nellene (Concord)
Electronic/Out There:
- Andrew Wasylyk, Irreparable Parables (Clay Pipe)
- Aukai, Chambers (Apapachoa Records)
- Daniel Avery, Tremor (Midnight Versions) (Domino)
- Francesca Bono & Vittoria Burattini Ora Sono Un Lago Maple Death Records
- Fred again.., USB002 REMIXES (Atlantic)
- Mark Mothersbaugh, Hoppers OST (Disney/Pixar)
- New Age Doom, Angels Against Angels (We Are Busy Bodies)
- Sun Angels, OPUS (Cascine)
- Third Angle, New Music 1000 Airplanes on the Roof (Orange Mountain Music)
- Those Who Walk Away, Afterlife Requiem (DIY)
- Tomu DJ, Antagonist (sound as language)
- Aaron Hibell, SYNCHRONICITY (Astralwerks/Capitol)
- CVCHE, Get Fluffy (DIY)
Global:
- Lloyiso, Never Thought I Could EP (Empire)
- Pupillo, Pupillo (Amor in Sound)
Jazz:
- Amalie Dahl, Live at Moldejazz (Sonic Transmissions)
- Okkyung Lee & Explore Ensemble, Signals (Flung)
- Walter Smith III, Twio, Vol. 2 (Blue Note)
- Gregory Uhlmann, Extra Stars (International Anthem)
R&B/Soul:
- Emeline Emotional Virgin United Masters
- Pat Kelly Hook Glamour Gowns
- Yebba Jean RCA
Rap/Hip-Hop:
- Deltron 3030, Making Deltron 3030 (Deltron Projects/RBM Records)
- Joey Cool, Time Will Tell (Virgin)
- Paul Russell, Miracle Mile (Arista)
- Gnarls Barkley, Atlanta (Atlantic)
- Nettspend, early life crisis (Grade A/Interscope)
- Ty Dolla $ign, girl music vol. 1 EP (Atlantic)
Rock/Alt/Indie:
- Ages and Ages, Fine Thanks and You (Needle and Thread)
- Arima Ederra, A Rush To Nowhere (LAB/RCA)
- Bitter Branches, Let's Give The Land Back To The Animals (Equal Vision)
- Black Lung, Forever Beyond (Magnetic Eye)
- Bonnie 'Prince' Billy, We Are Together Again (No Quarter)
- Bory, Never Turns To Night (Bleak Enterprise)
- Bosse-de-Nage, Hidden Fires Burn Hottest (The Flenser)
- ERRA, silence outlives the earth (UNFD)
- Field Commander Ali, The Next From Field Commander (World of Echo)
- Hater, Mosquito (Fire)
- Katherine Priddy, These Frightening Machines (Cooking Vinyl)
- Marlon Magnéem Dark Star (Disque Pointu)
- Matt Corby, Tragic Magic (Island Australia)
- Melodi Ghazal, Idol Melodies (Anyines)
- Morrissey, Make-Up Is a Lie (Sire)
- Mute Swan, Skin Slip (Hit The North)
- Nova One, How To Kiss (Community)
- Pacific Avenue, Lovesick Sentimental (BMG)
- Scout Gillett, Tough Touch (Slouch Records)
- SLAG, Losing (Big Scary Monsters)
- Solya, Queen of Texas (Version III)
- Squeeze, Trixies (BMG)
- Status/Non-Status, Big Changes (You've Changed Records)
- Surfbort, Reality Star (DIY)
- Swell Maps, C21 (Tiny Global)
- Talking Heads, Tentative Decisions: Demos & Live (Rhino)
- The Notwist, News from Planet Zombie (Morr Music)
- The S.E.T., Self Evident Truth (Flatspot)
- Void, Live - 1982 (Outer Battery Records)
- Savage Beat, Bright Lights, Tall Shadows (Wap Shoo Wap)
- V/A, Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man (Sony)