The Friday Refrain: A bit of what's new in music - Spring Break Edition

Wooo! Spring break! Well, spring break from the new releases for me this week. I started to feel like A.J. Jacobs in the last few weeks on one of his experiments while doing this whole compiling new releases list/listening to as much as possible. Like an 80's montage, music has become a bit of a blur for the last month for me. My ears needed a vacation, and so that's what's being done.

Until this morning, and bang! I randomly picked some great new music from this week.

But in case you haven't heard: George Michael, Kylie Minogue, Black Lips, John Oates, Enrique Iglesias, Jo Dee Messina, The War On Drugs, Skrillex, and Foster the People all have albums out this week. Also Sisyphus, which if you've been fortunate enough to live in Minnesota and enjoy this lovely winter, you have actually had the chance to buy this album for awhile now at the Walker Art Center. But now the rest of you can buy it! Who is Sisyphus? Sufjan Stevens, Son Lux and Serengeti. So there you go.

And the list. So added some genres this week for the ones that were on Spotify. I mean, I can dig deep and figure out the rest too, but that will be dependent on time and energy in the future. Also, a lot of those assigned genres are after a few samples down the album, so take those with a grain of salt.

But now for this morning's revelations. Ruby the Rabbitfoot, New as Dew, is laid back and fun and nice. In fact, I think I might go buy it right now, or when record stores open because it's too early for record store people as I'm writing this. I bet record store people aren't even eating their oatmeal yet. (Because I'm having oatmeal, so isn't everyone?) It's okay record store people, eat your oatmeal, I can wait.

The Socks, Socks. This is a very annoying thing to google. These are The Socks I'm talking about. In fact, sometimes with these not-so-popular-yet bands, it's impossible. Remember when Boy first came up? That was The. Worst. because you're instinct is to add "band" after the name of the band. Yeah, google "boy band." Now it's easy, or google's just getting to know me so well. Anyway - The Socks = Rock. And they're French? Huh. Well, I do love Phoenix, so play on The Socks!

Ex Hex, "Hot and Cold" - Poppy rock and roll fun. Honestly, I don't think I've steered you wrong yet today, so just give it a go. At least as far as I'm concerned, you'll be satisfied with these three, but who am I to say? That's the whole reason I did this in the first place. Just some info on the new stuff all in one spot without having to click on a million different reviews without all that "I know all" feel to the speaker. I'll try to keep that away. As much as possible while speaking one's mind, that is. What am I doing? Just give it a whirl if you want. You know what you like.

By the way, my release list isn't as diverse this week as usual because of the aforementioned spring break to my ears and also research fingers. So there's a bit of different stuff, but not as much as usual. Well, there you have it The Friday Refrain Spring Break Edition. Hope you have a great weekend and eat some oatmeal (with bananas is the best)!

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

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

Happy Friday! First off, an amazing discovery this week: Cheetos Mix-ups. My husband and I couldn't decide between puffs or crunchy, and then spied the bag of Mix-ups - puffs, crunchy, parmasan balls and waffle-fry looking ones. It is my new favorite.

I'm still combing through the music this week, but here's what I've found so far. First: The List

Pop/R&B:

Bend Sinister, Animals - I'm just taking a wild guess after listening to the first track, but I'm guessing Queen is a pretty big influence.

Aloe Blacc, Lift Your Spirit

Curtis Harding, Keep On Shining - Single with a throwback sound. Full album due out in April

Yacht Club, Tropicana - 80s all the way

311, Stereolithic

Elder Brother, Heavy Head

Macy Gray, Stoned

Dirty Guv'nahs, Hearts on Fire

Cody Chesnutt, Landing on a Hundred: B Sides and Remixes

Matt Sorum's Fierce Joy, Stratosphere

Ledisi, The Truth

Playground of Rock:

Battleme, Future Runs Metallic - Rock.

The Silver Palms, Superstar - A single that is more rock than the playground, while a little poppy.

Dean Wareham, Dean Wareham

Bobby Bare, Jr., North of Alabama by Mornin' - A single from upcoming full length on April 15th. Give a listen

Ozomatli, Place In The Sun

Metronomy, Love Letters

Laibach, Spectre  - This is going to the dark shadowier side of the playground, but I really got a kick out of "Eat Liver!"

The Shrine, Bless Off - Hard rock and fun

Black Submarine,  New Shores

Spotlight Kid, Ten Thousand Hours

Dena, Flash

Tunabunny, Kingdom Technology - Electronica rock.

Lissie, Cryin' To You - I'm a Lissie fan and while I think she could've taken the One Direction cover a bit further, there was nothing but glee in me as I heard "Mother" start up.

Hands & Teeth,  Before the Light

Trudie Dawn Smith, No Pop

Wake Up, Forever Home

World:

Juanes, Loco De Amor

Alsarah & The Nubatones, Silt - The single came out a few weeks ago, here's the full length now

Coréon Dú, Bailando Kizomba - Dancey Single

Country:

Don Williams, Reflections

Matt Wallace, For A Season

Sara Evans, Slow Me Down

Cowboy Troy, King of Clubs

Electronic:

Albin Myers, Ganesha EP - I really enjoyed the club mix of "Ganesha." But I'm a sucker for some 8-bit sound.

Uberjak'd, The Moment - single track, dance pop fun

Sleepers Work, No Turn Before the Shoreline

Clark, Superscope

Ekoplekz, Unfidelity

Reggae:

Gappy Ranks released 3 singles this week, "False Promises," "Maybe," and "Star Sign."

Hezron, "Good Reggae Music"

Rap/Hip Hop:

Young Money, Rise of an Empire

Metal:

Our Last Enemy, Pariah

Insain, Enlightening The Unknown

Havenside, Living Our Darkest Days

Armageddon Rev. 16:16, Sundown on Humanity

Nervosa, Victim of Yourself

Eisbrecher, Zehn Jahre Kalt

Psyclon Nine, Disorder: The Shadow Sessions

Jazz:

Nicky Schrire, To The Spring - I liked the first track a lot.

Ambrose Akinmusire, Imagned Savior Is Easier To Paint

Watters/Felts Project, Watters/Felts Project

Well, I have cabbage, potatoes and corned beef sitting around the homestead for the weekend because I love celebrating holidays that have food associated with them. And while I know it isn't St. Patrick's Day until Monday, that is also the busiest day of my week and I can't wait until 9 in the evening for that goodness. Anyway, try this Irish inspired recipe on for size - steam some whole leaves of green cabbage just til pliable. Shred some potatoes and carrots. Add a little caraway and salt. Or just salt. Put carrot/potato mix in middle of cabbage of leaf, and make a cabbage roll. Wrap with a strip of bacon, and bake for 20-30 minutes (this is from memory, I can't remember exactly the timing but it sounds right) at about 350 Fahrenheit. If you use half leaves and half pieces of bacon, they are a perfect 2-bite appetizer too. I might have put a little minced onion in the roll as well. Anyway, happy weekend!

 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 pop/rock 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.

The Friday Refrain: A bit about what's new in music

Happy Friday! Well, this week Fuel is back with Puppet Strings and their original singer, Brett Scallions. Pharrell Williams released GIRLS this week as well. It's a fun listen, including the Oscar-nominated song, "Happy." Drive-By Truckers released English Oceans and definitely check out Real Estate, Atlas.  And to make this even more interesting, I'm just going to throw out there: Lea Michele, Louder; Zibba & AlmaLibra, Senza Pensare All’Estate; Rick Ross, Mastermind, and Ektomorph, Retribution. Now there's a cornucopia of music.

And now: The List.

Playground of Rock:

Soft White Sixties, Get Right - Just a fun listen

Arthur Beatrice, Working Out - The singer sounds like Florence & the Machine without the loud

We Are Scientists, TV en Français

Eagulls, Eagulls

Anne, Pulling Chain - Electronica Rock

Eternal Summers, The Drop Beneath - Kinda noisy California rock

Ava Luna, Electric Balloon

Axxa/Abraxas, Axxa Abraxas - One of my favorites of the week

Carla Bozulich, Boy - Electronic Rock. Wait, is that a thing? If not, now it is. I've used it twice this week. Think synthy or non-real instruments but there's singing. I'll refine this soon.

Trust, Joyland - Electronic rock

Nick Waterhouse, Holly - That throwback sound

Stone Jack Jones, Ancestor

Ghost Beach, Blonde - it's got a definite 80's vibe

The Revivalists, City of Sound

Rock:

PINS, Girls Like Us - Check this one out

Ume, Monuments - I think I'm just on a female vocal/rock kick this week. This one too.

Birth of Joy, Prisoner

Lushes, What Am I Doing

Slates, Taiga

Singer-Songwriter:

Charlotte Sometimes, By Request

Stanley Brinks & The Wave Pictures, Gin

John Gorka, Bright Side of Down

Pop

American Authors,  Oh, What A Life

Barcelona, Cure - single off upcoming album

The Whistles & The Bells, The Whistles & The Bells - Lumineers sounding

Country:

Ags Connolly, How About Now - My style of country and a good morning listen

David Nail, I'm A Fire

Eli Young Band, 10,000 Towns

Chad Brownlee, Fallin Over You

Robben Ford, Day In Nashville

???

Pink Martini & The Von Trapps, Dream A Little Dream

The Unsemble, The Unsemble

Current 93, I am the Last of all the Field That Fell

Linda Perhacs, The Soul of all Natural Things

Christian Rock:

The Royal Royal, The Return of the King

Jason Gray, Love Will Have the Final Word

I'm feeling in the thick of this season and it's made me introspective and mute, it seems. My hibernation of the mind is in full effect. The skin on my knuckles is tough and cracked. I can feel the change happening though. The sun is hot when it shines. Birds are active and freaking out my cat. The eaves are dripping. Slowly, but it's there. My brain will thaw, my witticisms and eccentricity will come back. It's just on hiatus right now, sleeping in the back of my mind. Until then, Happy Weekend! <"Grow" by Prisoner kicks into full effect in foreground, credits roll>

 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 pop/rock 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.

The Friday Refrain: A little bit about what's new in music

Happy Final February Friday! There are so many albums warranting a further listen this week, that I think it would take me a month to get through it all. I've been doing this little project of mine for two months of writing on here and I've been listening for three, and I feel as though I showed up to a pop quiz without a #2 pencil this week.

New this week - Here's a link to my list of releases, including all the ones I don't get to listen to on Spotify. So if you just want to dive in, go for it. I'm going to add genre to the list in the future as well, but one step at a time. And I try to catch everything and make sure it's accurate, so I apologize for any mistakes or miscalculated dates.

Tally ho! So big names this week: Dierks Bentley, RISER; The Fray, Helios; St. Vincent, St. Vincent; and Beck, Morning Phase. But I'm sure you knew that already, what else is there? Let's take a walkabout

Instrumental guitar? Try Harry Taussig, The Diamond of Lost Alphabets, or Suni McGrath, Seven Stars. Need a little blues? Joe Louis Walker released Hornet's Nest as well this week.

Something to go with that new Beck album?

Greg Ashley, Another Generation of Slaves - Loungy jazzy singer-songwriter with a hint of Dylan.

New Madrid, Sunswimmer

Barzin, To Live Alone In That Long Summer - Perhaps I'm feeling a bit behind because I had to listen to this album every day since I listened to it on Tuesday. It would seamlessly work after Morning Phase by the by...

Reed Turchi, When You're Lost, It's All A Sign

Let's jump onto that Playground of Rock - never know what you're going to find

Pillar Point, Pillar Point - Synthy and 80s if you'd like. Check out "Touch"

Real Estate, Talking Backwards - maybe everything sounds California-like and cheery to me at this point, but that's what I'm going with. 2 songs, worth checking out.

Priscilla Ahn, This Is Where We Are - I had to take a second stab at it. There are some really beautiful moments and great songs ("Remember When I Broke Your Heart") on this album

DVA, Nipomo - I almost don't know what to say about this but to give it a whirl.

New-Electric-Ride, Balloon Age - You can pretty much figure this one out yourself, right? Yep, psychedelic and good.

The Family Crest, Beneath the Brine - Orchestral rock. I'm excited to dive into this one more.

Lo-Fang, Blue Film; I really like the closing track, "Permutations."

The Notwist, Close to the Glass

Yellow Ostrich, Cosmos

Neneh Cherry, Blank Project - My husband had me listen to/sang along with "Buffalo Stance" and when he told me she's related to Eagle-Eye Cherry, I sang along word for word to "Save Tonight."

Cloud Becomes Your Head, Rocks or Cakes

Kelis released a new single Jerk Ribs from her upcoming album Food

Also out this week: Menace Beach, Lowtalker; SKATERS, Manhattan; Death Vessel, Island Intervals; She Sir, Go Guitars; Guiye Frayo, Electric Boundaries; FKA x inc., FKA x inc.; VERIDIA, Inseparable; Qui, Life, Water, Living; Mike Gordon, Overstep; Milagres, Violent Light; Have Mercy, Split EP; Blackbird Blackbird, There is Nowhere; Caramel Snow, You Walk On Air

Rock

Revolution, I Love You, The Atlantic Ocean EP

Marvin Berry & The New Sound, Bootleg

Vertical Scratchers, Daughter of Everything

Bleeding Rainbow, Interrupt

Keel Her, Keel Her

Flagland, Love Hard

Tacocat, NVM

Creative Adult, Psychic Mess

Hard Rock and Metal

The Wounded Kings, Consolamentum -  I'm coming back to this album. Think it's going in my like list

The Kindred, Life in Lucidity

House of Lords, Precious Metal

Vanden Plas, Chronicles of the Immortals

Mother of Millions, Human

Bury Tomorrow, Man On Fire

Or maybe some Folk Rock?

Twin Forks, Twin Forks LP - Leans to the Americana side

Run River North, Run River North

Natural Child, Dancin' With Wolves- More like Hippie Country

Speaking of Country

Already mentioned Dierks, but here's a couple others:

Bob Frank, Bob Frank

runaway dorothy, The Wait

WORLD! (love this part)

Alsarah & The Nubatones, Soukura EP - Full album in March, and I'll be excited to hear it.

Flaco Jimenez, Max Baca, Flaco & Max Legends & Legacies - yes!

The Souljazz Orchestra, Inner Fire - double yes!

Celtic Woman, Emerald: Musical Gems

Maybe you want to dance?

Brandt Brauer Frick, DJ-Kicks

Major Lazer, Apocalypse Soon

Podgy Figures,  MAD

DCUP, Someone Told Me - This will be on my list this weekend

Electronica

Patten, Estoile Naiant

Christina Vantzou, No.2

Costa Profunda,  Trabajo

Chymera, Tidal/Moot Point

Heterotic, Rain

World Tour, Surreal

Wow, I got quiet at the end there. Maybe because it's snowing again outside. If it's snowing where you are - put on "Snow Day" by Tacocat now. You're welcome and happy weekend!

 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 pop/rock 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 I enjoyed 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.

The Friday Refrain: Rounding up the new music

Yeti in my driveway

Happy Friday everyone! Hope you're either enjoying a 3 day weekend or staying safe out there! It is an exciting week in music. First you have two different TV show winners releasing their first albums -American Idol's Candice Glover, Beloved and The Sing-Off's country acapella Home Free with Crazy Life. Also out this week are a trio of my favorites from my younger days: Presidents of the United States of America, Kudos to You!; Suzanne Vega, Tales From the Realm of the Queen of Pentacles; and Jonatha Brooke, My Mother Has Four Noses! So maybe that's enough, and you're satisfied, ran off to the record shop and have them in your hand now, listening happily. Maybe you didn't do that, those didn't really work for you and need something else or, wait, welcome back - already finished listening? Hungry for more? Well, let's see what else came out this week, shall we?

Two musicians who are also artists released albums this week: David Krakauer, The Big Picture and Dan Zimmerman, Dreams of Earth. Google them, Krakauer is known for his work in Klezmer music and Dan Zimmerman's bio was a really interesting read.

Some worldly sounds

J Alvarez, De Camino Pa' La Cima and Idale, La Dulce Mordida can fill your Latin Pop needs. While Jarabe De Palo, Somos  and AJ Davila, Terror Amor have a bit more bite to them. For more of a laid back time, check out Manu Ferrón, Misericordia. And for a little bossa, Bossacucanova, Our Kind of Bossa is just right to pretend you're somewhere warm.

French-wise - these two are so good. Alexandre Désilets, Fancy Ghetto and Gaël Faure, De Silences en Bascules.

I can't wait to dig into the rest of Israeli musician, Alma Zohar, and her album, Dabri.

More Poppy

Liv Warfield, The Unexpected - There are some really great songs on this, including the title track and her voice is just a powerhouse

Years & Years, Real

Bear Hands, Distraction - Spoon meets MGMT but poppier? Maybe?

80s fix: Katy B, Little Red and Evan Ønly, No Matter What

90s kinda: Nine Times Blue, Matter of Time (it made me think of Empire Records)

That Massive Playground Called Rock

Phantogram, Voices, was released this week and is a great addition to that band's work, keeping their sound without seeming to repeat themeselves.

Art Decade, Art Decade -  There is a very Elliot Smith vibe in some of the songs (especially "All That's Left"), while others are just a bit more Beatles than anything ("Greylock Hill").

Lost in the Trees, Past Life - Yesterday I listened to this entire album while it snowed and the world became a wonderland. It fit perfectly with that.

Nebelung, Palingenesis - maybe I'm just in a meditative mood right now, because this was very high on my list for the week as well. Guitars, a bit of violin and cello sometimes.

NO, El Prado - if you liked their single from January, lucky day! They released the full album. The singer swings between sounding like The National frontman to The Magnetic Fields. I sampled only a few tracks so far, but am looking forward to delving in.

"I'm Rolling Under," King Black Acid - Speaking of singles, try this one on for size. Trippy and pleasant.

Also out this week: Solids, Blame Confusion; The Jezabels, Brink; Tigermonkey, OCD ADD; We Are In The Crowd, Weird Kids; The Oddfathers, Part I; Shocking Pinks, Guilt Mirrors; Planningtorock, All Love's Legal; Ketamines, Stay Awake; Mark Rivera, Common Bond; Skindred, Kill the Power; Issues, Issues

Hard Rock to Hardcore

From lightest to hardest (mostly): Slough Feg, Digital Resistance; Junius, Days of the Fallen Sun;  Eldritch, Tasting the Tears; God Module, False Face; Def Con One, II; I Killed the Prom Queen, Beloved; Artificial Brain, Labyrinth Constellation; Cripple Bastards, Nero in Matstasi; Benighted, Carnivore Sublime

Singer/Songwriters

Benmont Tench, You Should Be So Lucky; James Armstrong, Guitar Angels; Jimbo Mathus,  Dark Night of the Soul; William Fitzsimmons, Lions

Jazz

Donald Edwards, Evolution of an Influenced Mind; Misha Tsiganov, Artistry of the Standard; Machine Mass, Inti; Seamus Blake, Reeds Ramble; Takuya Kuroda, Rising Son; Tommy Banks, Old Friends

Country

Ralph Stanley, Side by Side - made with his son, Ralph Stanley II (thus the title)

Cole Swindell, Cole Swindell - First album but already touring with Lee Brice and Luke Bryan. Check out "Swayin'" and "Ain't Worth the Whiskey"

Dawn Landes, Bluebird - Beautiful voice

Also out: Kevin Seconds, Off Stockton; Lydia Loveless, Somewhere Else

To Listen List

The Doppelgangaz, Peace Kehd; Cynic, Kindly Bent to Free Us; The Caribbean, Moon Sickness; Talk West, Black Coral Sprig; Sabina, Toujours

The end of another week and another Friday Refrain. Thanks for checking it out and 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 pop/rock 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 I enjoyed 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.