Friday Refrain: A bit of what's new in music

The List. Bam. Right at the beginning. Take that.

Time to catch up, here are some of the big-hitters of the week. Our big pop release is from Jennifer Lopez with A.K.A. Lana Del Rey's sophomore release Ultraviolence also hit the shelves this week, as well as Mutineers by David Grey, and Overboard from The Verve Pipe. Sam Smith has the bees buzzing this week with In The Lonely Hour. Willie Nelson released his first original work in years on Band of Brothers too. And then, I never thought I'd say this, but Linkin Park's new album, Hunting Party, isn't too shabby. In fact, enjoyable at times even. Huh. Good for them.

Let's break it down all fast-like this week again. There's some good stuff out there and I need to hop on the half-way-done-with-the-year-listening list again.

Let's Dance

Tïesto, A Town Called Paradise

Big Freedia, Just Be Free - It can be intense and a lot of booty shaking, but this list would be remiss without it.

Favorite Album Art of the Week

Say Hi, Endless Wonder

Sunny Happy

Miniature Tigers, Cruel Runnings

Trummors, Moorish Highway - sunny happy sometimes in a melancholy way

Possibly Lawn Lounging and Icy Drinks?

Karl Hector & the Malcouns, Unstraight Ahead

John Robinson, Modern Vintage

Clothesline Revival, The Greatest Show On Mars

Fouma System, Mind Me Dem

Hands on the wheel, coasting down the road

Death Has No Dominion, Death Has No Dominion - I thought it was going to be metal. It's not. Chilled and reflective, this album has a good sound to it and deserves a front to back listen.

The Delines, Colfax

Worth A Shot

Dead Stars, Slumber

The Antlers, Familiars

Ian McLagan & The Bump Band, United States

Hiromi, Alive

Boris, Noise

Cocktails, Adult Life

Recess Monkey, Wired

I hope that you have a wonderful summer solstice this weekend - whether you're just chilling with friends or at home with your pets, or heading out to catch some artlife. Stay hydrated and don't forget your sunscreen - Happy listening!

Friday Refrain is a weekly post regarding what new releases have caught my ear for the week. I try to compile a pretty comprehensive list of releases of the week and see what is available for me to listen to on the web. This is just my non-scientific, highly-subjective, randomly-listened-to list of stuff from the week. Oh, and I don’t always listen to lyrics or look at album art/music videos, so appropriateness is left up to the listener