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

And I'm back! Well, I am the worst at staying connected on vacation and all plans for pre-planning fell through, but this week here I am with new music for you to fill your music coffers with.

I didn't have as much time to dig into the music this week, but here is The List.

As for popular releases this week, there aren't as many of the headliners as usual. Spoon released They Want My Soul, Godsmack is out with 1000hp, and Al Jarreau released My Old Friend: Celebrating George Duke. Let's see what else we've got...

Rebranded (or a releases from artists formerly of a different band/name)

EDJ, EDJ - The guy behind Fruit Bats is the name behind EDJ. He maintains his singer-songwriter sound with lyrics that tell a story.

Flux Forteana, September - From the bassist of Coheed & Cambria comes this solo project

Operators, EP1- Dan Boeckner (Wolf Parade, Handsome Furs, Divine Fits) teams up with Divine Fits drummer, Sam Brown for this new band.

Owl John, Owl John - Scott Hutchinson of Frightened Rabbit released this new solo project. The album is pretty solid and falls soundly in the category of Playground of Rock.

The 69 Cats, Transylvanian Tapes

The Empty Hearts, The Empty Hearts

Tuatara, Underworld - more of a supergroup than a rebrand, but still. Mike McCready of Pearl Jam joins up for this album.

Wovenwar, Wovenwar - As I Lay Dying bandmembers sans frontman paired up with a new singer to do that modern metal thing.

The To-Listen List:

Billy Joe Shaver, Long in the Tooth  - classic country sound

Alestorm, Sunset on the Golden Age - Pirate metal, do you really need any more convincing? Well, then listen to the first track, "Walk the Plank." Or just save this one for September 19th, Talk Like A Pirate Day

Goodnight, Texas; Uncle John Farquhar

Angus & Julia Stone, Angus & Julia Stone - It's got that boy and girl duet fun to it that is playful and intriguing at the same time.

Twin Peaks, Wild Onion - It's got that vintage record store sound to it.

The Rosebuds, Sand + Silence

Wildcat! Wildcat!, No Moon At All

Albums with throwback covers

Roses, Dreamlover

Family Force 5, Time Stands Still

Mozart's Sister, Being

Blues Pills, Blues Pills

Well there we have it, 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

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

Happy weekend all! Lots of releases this week, but not many that you might know. Jesse Mccartney and 5 Seconds of Summer released albums this week, just in time to slip into the summer pop rotation. Yes released Heaven & Earth, Richard Thompson released Acoustic Classics, and that's about it for the recap.

Ugh, what a letdown recap with barely an ramp-up for The List. Ah well, sometimes it's just how the cookie crumbs roll.

Well this week, let's just roll through the vague genres and cast out a few suggestions, shall we?

Playground of Rock

The buzzy ones are probably Got A Girl, I Love You but I Must Drive Off This Cliff Now; PS I Love You, For Those Who Stay; Alvvays, Alvvays; The Raveonettes, Pe'ahi; and Nico Vega, Lead to Light. Also consider:

Monomyth, Saturnalia Regalia! - My husband and I batted around a few comparisons last night. His was that it reminded him of DTCV (which came out late last year, if you're not listening to that regularly, go listen now.) and I decided it was what might've happened if They Might Be Giants decided to be a trippy Beach Boys influneced band.

Sugar Stems, Only Come Out At Night - also my favorite album cover of the week.

WORKING, More Weight - Fuzzy guitared female singer rock

Bleached, For The Feel - another female singer rock band

Electronica

Nunca Duerma, Shapeshifter - an actual album you can put on and party to. Not just for the DJs.

Metal

This is such a hard category for me. I'm so picky, and I probably don't have a taste that's particularly shareable. But I am going back to listen to more of Rage Nucleáire, Black Storm of Violence.

Country/Americana

Sammy Kershaw, Do You Know Me: A Tribute to George Jones

Hook & Anchor, Hook & Anchor

World

Quraishi, Mountain Melodies: Rubab Music Of Afghanistan - I know just one recommendation for a category is weak, but this has started playing in my mix and continued for several songs without me interrupting it several times now.

Soul

Bobby Patterson, I Got More Soul! - so good.

Allright, short, sweet and simple. Next week The Refrain might be on a bit of a hiatus, but there will be something. I just haven't decided what. That should keep you on the edge of your seat, but until then - 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

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

The world is delicious this morning. And the music is interesting. I'm realizing as I eat my brownie (thank you to my niece and her mom), that the diversity of my compiled list this week is lacking - but it's not yet 11 and I'm sitting down to write, my belly full of yummy goodness (even though the brownie had cherries), so I'll just go with it.

"Weird Al" Yankovic is out with Mandatory Fun this week and while I haven't gotten the chance to listen to it, I'm sure if you are a fan you have already listened to it at least once already. Because if there is anything I learned seeing Weird Al live in concert during a late night Bonnaroo set, it's that those who love Weird Al, love him very much. It was like watching a huge screening of a cult classic movie, people saying their favorite lines, laughing at their favorite jokes, and delighting in the new medleys.

After weeks of releasing one single after another from the his new album, Morrissey's World Peace is None of Your Business has finally been released. And if you're from Minnesota, you're probably well aware that favorites Trampled By Turtles have released Wild Animals this week. It's pretty awesome from the few tracks I sampled, and I'll be delving in for a further listen this weekend. As far as popularly known acts, that's about the news this week. Oh, wait, Jasan Mraz with Yes! and Kidz Bop 26 are also new this week. There, now I think that was all the big ones.

And now it's time for The List

And if you're hankering for something new to listen to but don't know what, here are a few ideas.

Girls playing music

Anna Calvi, Strange Weather EP - Nothing directly grabbed me while listening to this, but I also didn't turn it off. I kind of feel like she is a siren luring me back in, not letting me go. I can't believe it, but while trying to figure this out, my best stab at it was "She has that je ne sais quoi quality to her." It's haunting singer-songwriter and short, so give it a whirl why don'tcha?

Luluc, Passerby - this is the acoustic guitar playing singer-songwriter woman that gets me everytime. It's my personal weak spot. Oh, and since I've been mentioning this lately, good album cover.

Pop women releases: Marsha Ambrosius, Friends & Lovers, and Micha Ciselle, Lover's Leap

Moriah Peters, Brave - Christian pop music that sounds current.

Honeyblood, Honeyblood - You might hear more about this one. A bit more rock into it that has to have a Neko Case influence.

Upbeat Music

Little Daylight, Hello Memory - combining so many different elements Playground of Rock favorites. It has poppy hooks; the music has that jumpy Matt & Kim feel at times; that sunny modern 80s pop sound?

Melted Toys, Melted Toys - Beachy guitar sounds with a vague barely-there Smiths feel to it.

Bleachers, Strange Desire - Feels like one of those bands that could cross genres from pop to alternative stations and appeal to lots of people.

Wunder Wunder, Everything Infinite - Bright and sunny with lots of layers

Rock

Pennywise, Yesterdays - more punky and fast

TRAAMS, Cissa - Very The Strokes-like

Betraying the Martyrs, Phantom - they had me at the metal cover of "Let It Go." Which of course that song is metal, it's so obvious now.

Grave Digger, Return of the Reaper - another metal pick for the week.

You'll just know if you like it by the first or second song...

My Brightest Diamond, None More Than You

Jungle, Jungle

Landlady, Upright Behavior

Cloud Boat, Model Of You

Roman Ruins, Source of Pride

Slow Club, Complete Surrender

Vintage Sound

Viet Cong, Cassette

Reigning Sound, Shattered

Other Stuff I Was Digging

Perfume Genius, "Queen"

ODESZA, Memories That You Call/Sun Models

Merchandise, "Enemy"

Anand Wilder & Maxwell Kardon, Break Line The Musical

EULA, Orderly/Meadow

Dead Fingers, Big Black Dog

Jack Clement, For Once And For All

John Hiatt, Terms of My Surrender

Veen, "Babylon"

Well it's the weekend of the Pitchfork Music Festival, and holy cow, I just looked over the lineup - that's pretty much awesomesauce. Beck, Kendrick Lamar, Sharon Van Etten, St. Vincent, Speedy Ortiz, nice... Anyway, that about wraps it up for me. Now I just need to save at least one brownie for my husband. I think I can. I am the little engine that could. Hope you have a good weekend and happy listening!

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

Happy Friday! So this will be a bit short today because we are dogsitting this weekend. Which wouldn't be so bad, but our cat is very anti-dog so the house is kind of on a timeshare. So this weekend is just toeing a thin line between semi-contented animals and no urine/feces launching.

Well this week is kinda fun for music - Ted Nugent released ShutUp&Jam, which is pretty fun to take for a spin; Judas Priest with Redeemer of Souls; Sia's 1000 Forms of Fear also came out this week and Chicago is back with Now: Chicago XXXVI.

Attack of The List! (less genred than usual, apologies. Been a light listening week)

There is a lot of chill-out music this week. Or at least that's what has stuck out in my head. So if it's not metal, good chance it's kinda laid back. Here are a few things I'm going to dig into this weekend:

Gingerlys, Jumprope - I want this album on vinyl just because it'd look cool in my house. The sound is sunny Cali-rock and fun.

Cumba All Stars, Tigres En Fuga - Admittedly, my first two picks are both upbeat. Thus making it seem my previous statement of laid back music is a lie. But it's not.

Dale Watson, Truckin Sessions Trilogy - Country fun for the weekend

The Mastersons, Good Luck Charm - Maybe if The Both were an americana/country album, this is what it would be?

Comet Gain, Paperback Ghosts - kinda has a retro sound to it.

Gulp, Season Sun- It's my favorite album cover of the week. And the sound matches the cover.

Eugene McGuinness, Chroma - Not what I was expecting. I thought it would be falsetto singing poppy synthy but it's more Talking Heads and shuffle rock with something else... what is it? All my mind can think is "wet dog smell" and that has more to do with the ambience of my house currently than the music I'm listening to.

Well there you have it. Another Friday, another Friday Refrain. Thanks for checking it out and I hope you find something new to indulge your ears in. Happy listening everybody!

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

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

Happy Independence Day! Taking a break from the barbecues, parades and fireworks to give you a taste of this week's new music. I try to stay positive when talking about new music, but I have to admit something - this week has some of the ugliest/weirdest/awkward album covers to come out in one week. Mostly I've been trying to not look at the album art before listening because it probably does skew my thoughts.Though OOIOO, Gamel definitely wins prettiest album cover art for this week. Kudos where it's due. And kudos to some of those other covers out there that went for most awkward cover ever (here's looking at you Benge and MatthewDavid).

The List!

There is a slew of reissues/anniversary albums this week including: Bob Marley & the Wailers Legend; Bon Jovi New Jersey; Wreckless Eric The Donovan of Trash; The The Soul Mining; Emerson, Lake & Palmer Brain Salad Surgery; and last, but not least, Pink Floyd The Division Bell.

Holy Singles, Batman!

Including some from well-known acts:

Lenny Kravitz, "The Chamber;" Melissa Etheridge, "Take My Number;" Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, "Forgottten Man;" Ryan Adams, "Gimme Something Good;" and Spoon, "Do You?."

And some from not-as-well-known too:

Elle Belle, "You Better Mean It" - Looking at the band name and title, I thought to myself "Oh neat, a fun summery pop song." Nope. It's a fun rock song that you should check out for sure.

Moist, "Mechanical"

Real Friends, "I Don't Love You Anymore" - it's as angsty as it sounds.

Matt Nathanson, "Headphones" - a poppy little ditty

Toni Rodriguez, "Stupid Boy" - this jumped right onto next year's lovelorn Valentine's Day mix

Flyying Colours, "Not Today"

Kloot per W en de Beesten, "In Mijn Kop" - I think it sounds like a Belgium? Guided By Voices.

Expand Your Ears

OOIOO, Gamel - It's interesting. It's different. I don't know what to say.

Marcos Ciscar, Wisdom of Mountains - Here's some meditation music for y'all.

Remember Remember, Forgetting the Present - Um, they have a song called "Pterodactyl" which sounds like the musical soundtrack that would play in a pterodactyl's mind as it flew around the world. Which is pretty much the awesomest thing this week. Excuse me while I become a pterodactyl and listen to this song again.

Vulkano, Live Wild Die Free - kinda like Karen O and Bjork made music baby. Or something.

Vacant Lots, Departure - it kinda meanders the line between pyschedelic and loose rock.

Summer Listening

Man you'd think this would be bursting at the seams being the middle of summer time and wouldn't everyone want to be the album being rocked out to in the backyard, or on the beach, or wherever you light a fire and cook some food? But there's just a few this week really.

Musicanti di Grema, Musicanti di Grema - I don't know what he's saying, but it's upbeat and fun.

Beverly, Careers - California rock-pop, sun, summer, surf, you know all that stuff.

Jonah Tolchin, Clover Lane - bluesy country americana-y type of singer-songwriter. I'd insert it sporadically into a mix for the weekend.

King Friday, This Is Supposed To Be Fun - Fleet Foxes style harmonics, Simon & Garfunkel sounding, good for some light listening.

David Sauzay, Meeting with Harold Mabern - a little light jazz for chilling out or that transition into evening twilight, hopefully with some fireflies dancing around the lawn right before the fireworks appear above the horizon.

Need a little rock?

Minot, Equal/Opposite - instrumental rock

Turn to Crime, Can't Love - I liked the title track and the 10 minute jam at the end a lot.

...Or a little pop?

Magic!, Don't Kill The Magic - currently with a single on Billboard's top 100

Tessanne Chin, Count On My Love - first release post-The Voice

Well there you go. Hope you can find something new to tune to for this weekend, seems to be something for everyone. And I hope you have a safe, fun weekend. Remember to stay hydrated and use 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