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

Still in the thick of it, music is being bombarded at us each week. This week includes the posthumous 50 St. Catherine's Drive album from Robin Gibb of The Bee Gees; Prince's Art Official Age; along with a release from his band, 3rdeyegirl, Plectrumelectrum; Bryan Adams has Tracks of my Years; Melissa Etheridge released This Is M.E.; and Engelbert Humperdinck dueting it up on Engelbert Calling. Pop country is alive and well with Blake Shelton's Bringing Back The Sunshine and Lady Antebellum is back with 747. On the Playground of Rock, The Preatures have Blue Planet Eyes; and Rural Alberta Advantage is out with Mended With Gold.

Heads up, it's the list.

So there are a lot of things to try out and listen to this week, but here are a few picks out of the bunch:

Pop

Tove Lo, Queen of the Clouds

Tragic Thrills, Tragic Thrills

Yelle, Complètement Fou - Fun French Pop

Folk/Old Country

Marty Stuart & His Fabulous Superlatives, Saturday Night/Sunday Morning

Alice Gerrard, Follow the Music

Rock

Estrogen High, Hear Me On the Number Station - No frills.

Black Crown Initiate, The Wreckage of Stars - I put this on first thing this morning so I can't completely say I'm unbiased. For some reason, 90% of the time, any metal I put on before breakfast on Friday morning makes my liked list.

Playground of Rock

Madi Diaz, Phantom - Give it a whirl and see what you think.

Filthy Huns, Leopard On My Right - it's pretty much instrumental, and there's not much that happens. It kind of builds on itself, but it's got this intensity to it.

Blues

Luke Winslow-King, Everlasting Arms - more blues than blues rock and just laid back.

World

Vaudou Game, Apiafo

Sally Nyolo, Tiger Run

Well there you have it, another list, another week. Hope you have a good weekend and happy listening!

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

Well last week I was a bit distracted lining all my ducks in a row for my piano studio recital picnic last Sunday. It was gorgeous, my students are fun and amazing, and it was worth it. But here we are again, another Friday, another refrain, and another week of amazing music being released. Like what?

Like everything on this list and more probably because it is pretty much impossible to catch it all. bam. Sneak attack list. You might notice the lack of listening to certain letters of the alphabet... 1. there is a lot of music again. 2. I kept getting entranced by an album and listening to 90% of it before moving on to the next.

Now let's get some highlights, you know, the big ones. Leonard Cohen, the writer of great things including "Hallelujah," released Popular Problems  to celebrate his 80th birthday. Let's take care of the rest of the L's while we're at it: pop star Lenny Kravitz, Strut; singer-songwriter Lori McKenna, Numbered Doors; country star Lee Ann Womack, The Way I'm Livin'; and if we just back up one letter, we've got country superstar Kenny Chesney out with The Big Revival. Jennifer Hudson seems to be taking a page from Jennifer Lopez with the title of her new album, JHUD. Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga teamed up to release Cheek To Cheek. Electronic music's Aphex Twin is finally back after over a decade with Syro. Imelda May with a strong rock pop release in Tribal. Oh wait, and John Mellencamp is back with Plain Spoken.

On the alternative or underground or playground side of it all, you know, those bands that easily fill a festival stage yet somehow aren't household names. Alt-J released their sophomore try, This Is All Yours. Jeff Tweedy and son join together with Tweedy, Sukierae. Sondre Lerche released Please. Perfume Genius with Too Bright. Finally Julian Casablancas + The Voidz released Tyranny because any longer and we would've had that entire album in singles. 

A Random Smattering of Recommendations From This Week

Christian Bland and the Revelators, The Unseen Green Obscene- Trippy rock

Cruel Hand, The Negatives - in case you just need to rock it out.

The Well; Samsara- I must have some pent-up something in me this week because the distorted guitar and heavy drums thing is really sitting well with me.

Danielle Woodrow, Turning - a little singer-songwriter for you this week.

Fickle Friends, For You - A little 80s heavy but in the good way like Haim. Not as complex as that though. So different but similar to Haim, got it?

Jack + Eliza, No Wonders - One of my weaknesses are female and male vocals paired up well, and this is definitely that. Playful, they have a good chemistry together with just a light accompaniment behind them. Give it a try if you are a She & Him fan.

DieAlps!, DieAlps! - Lighter fare that's got potential for multiple listenings.

Keys N Krates, Every Nite - to get your night/weekend started off right with some dancing and booming bass.

LIGHTS, Little Machines - a poppy little album

Goat, Commune - If you like Asian psychedelic rock of the 60s and always wanted to a new interpretation of that, here you go, this band from Sweden. Huh.

Aeges, Above & Down Below - Foo Fighters-ish in the good way.

Lighter and synthy these go together I think

Beach Beach, The Sea

Ennui, Telepathic Beat

Erasure, The Violet Flame

Astronauts, Etc.; Sadie

The Drums, Encyclopedia

Well that's some to start out with anyway. I have to go deal with some tomatoes now because it's that time of year and all. Chopping, sauteing, steaming, freezing, got to get the bounty into the freezer. And then we're off to go pumpkin picking for our annual engagement pumpkin because picking out pumpkins is way more fun than just getting a ring one year. Happy listening!

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

Hey ho music lovers! It's a big week in music, so let's get down to it with a bunch of fragmented sentences. Of course U2 dropped Songs of Innocence this week. Ryan Adams released the self-titled, Ryan Adams. Metal band In Flames had Siren Charms. Veteran pop-rock band Better Than Ezra with All Together Now. New pop up-and-comer Banks released Goddess. Rock legend Robert Plant keeps us all guessing with Lullaby and... The Ceaseless Roar. American Idol alum Lee Brice released I Don't Dance. Former Destiny's Child member Michelle Williams released Journey To Freedom. Loudon Wainwright III  is back with Haven't Got the Blues (Yet).

Then there are all the alternative/Playground of Rock releases this week. The Kooks are back with Listen - and you should, it's pretty good. Delta Spirit is bringing it with Into The Wide. Interpol - they're back! They made an album! It's El Pintor. Julian Casablancas + The Voidz released another single, "Where No Eagles Fly," in the lead-up to the new album. Speaking of singles, Ariel Pink put out "Put Your Number In My Phone" ahead of the November 18th, pom pom. Most importantly though, Karen O released Crush Songs which is kinda like an entire album of the end of Yeah Yeah Yeah's Fever To Tell. So pretty much awesome.

Watch it - it's the List

Sure, there's all that but what about...

Popular Classical artist duos? Dos! Francesco Tristano, Scandale and Chris THile & Edgar Meyer, Bass & Mandolin

World music perfect for a dinner party or a romantic evening? Moreno Veloso, Coisa Boa

something synthy? Try Megan Washington, There There; Ballet School, The Dew Lasts An Hour; Lemonade, Minus Tide

Mumford & Sons sounding? Judah & The Lion, Kids These Days

Some angsty music? Tiny Moving Parts, Pleasant Living

Noise Rock? PC Worship, Social Rust

if Wilco and Flaming Lips combined? Avi Buffalo, At Best Cuckold specifically the track "Oxygen Tank"

if Conor Oberst fronted Sigur Ros? Maybe it'd sound like Vio/Miré, You Will Be Spending Time Outdoors, in the Mountains, Near Water

Well that's about all I have. Though it is a lot, so much big stuff and all. Mainly I was distracted all week. Distracted by what you might ask? Well, like where did candy corn come from? Why don't they just have plain shortbread cookies at Trader Joe's?  Is grapefruit the best fruit ever? (yes is the answer) And trying to figure out how long it will take me to remove all the staples and reupholster a chair in my garage. You know, a real nail-biter of a week. Happy listening!

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

Happy first Friday of September! There is a chill in the air, the leaves across from us are turning yellow and it seems that the seasons are ready to change. I love fall, it's my favorite season. I love the crunch of fallen leaves under my feet. The air smells wonderful. Apples, pumpkins, nights gathered around a fire, there is so  much to fit into such a short season.

We're in the home stretch of music for this year as well. It's a pop heavy week this week. Maroon 5 released V. Nick Carter teamed up with Jordan Knight to release Nick & Knight. Counting Crows are back with Somewhere Under Wonderland. On the more alternative side of the pop/rock spectrum, Blonde Redhead released Barragán - which made me super excited. However everytime I tried to listen to the album, I kept getting interrupted so you can bet that this girl is going to be unplugging from everything, putting on the headphones and not giving up until I have listened in full to the new album. (I might really really like Blonde Redhead a lot, and can't even believe I saw them the first year I went to Lollapalooza oh so many years ago...) I digress. The Vines released Wicked Nature also this week. Macy Gray is gearing up for her new album out in October with the release of the single, "Hands" this week.

Bam. The List.

A few more I'll be tossing on this weekend

TOPS, Picture You Staring - Listen to the first track "Way To Be Loved." The guitar riffs are fun and playful, just a great song. I noticed that future tracks lean a bit more 80s but I still think this will pair nicely with the new Blonde Redhead album this weekend.

Coves, Soft Friday - It's got that rocky vibe with shimmering synths and reverbed vocals on the top.

The Canyon Rays, West Coast Babes - I bet you can guess the sound of this album just by looking at the band and album names.

Zeus, Classic Zeus - Psychedelic and fun. Give it a try if you like later MGMT.

Serenata Guayanesa, Canta Con Venezuela! - Acoustic Venezuelan music, yes.

Los Angeles Police Department, Los Angeles Police Department - Not what I was expecting. With the band name, I figured something harder not the hippie laid back music that came on.

Alexis Cole, A Kiss In The Dark - some jazz for your weekend. Seems like a good dinner party prepping segue to beginning of dinner party music.

To-Listen (the list of those I didn't give a good listen or need a second listen)

The Roys, The View

Jim & Jesse, I'm Gonna Sing, Sing, Sing

Homeboy Sandman, Hallways

Helado Negro, Double Youth

Half Japanese, Overjoyed

Grey Gordon, Forget I Brought It Up

Anthony D'Amato, The Shipwreck From The Shore

Mutual Benefit, The Cowboy's Prayer

BELLA LOKA, Escape EP

Well that's it for this week. I hope everyone has lovely weekend and happy listening!

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

Happy Labor Day weekend! The last hurrah, the final countdown, the end of a season, the time of hot dogs and beer. And for me the end of a decade. I hit 30 this week. I am no longer in my twenties. It's a whole new bold frontier and I am ready for it, I think. I like to reflect around my birthday, seems like a good time for it, and so this week you're getting a couple lists of reflecting. Maybe it will inspire a bit of music for your weekend, maybe it won't but it's what you're getting.

First though, let's make you smarter in the new music of the week. Ariana Grande, that one with the "Problems" song co-starring Iggy Azalea, well she released My Everything this week. Billy Idol joins the leagues of veteran acts releasing new material with the single, "Can't Break Me Down." Go listen. Country fans -  Brad Paisley released Moonshine in my Trunk, but you probably already knew that. On the alt-rock/playground of rock field, we've got a couple of big ones: Cymbals Eat Guitars, LOSE, and The New Pornographers, Brill Bruisers. More? Okay, Ty Segall, Manipulator; The Bad Plus, Inevitable Western; Robyn Hitchcock, The Man Upstairs; and J Mascis, Tied To A Star all came out this week or so as well.

Duck! It's the list! (birthday/vacation/work-on-the-house week has made this list not the most complete and without genres, but don't worry, it will be back to all its glory next week.)

30 albums I liked this year, in no particular order

1. Clear Plastic Masks, Clear Plastic Masks

2. BRONCHO, Try Me Out Sometime/Please Try Me

3. Hell Beach, Welcome To Hell Beach

4. Cherry Glazerr, Haxel Princess

5. Señor Flavio, Nada Especial

6. Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks, Wig Out At Jagbags

7. Fulhäst, Broken (I really thought I'd get sick of this album but I keep putting it on from time to time. Not often, but once a month)

8. Quilt, Held In Splendor

9. Vertical Scratchers, Daughter of Everything

10. Moonrise Nation, Moonrise Nation

11. Bombay Bicycle Club, So Long, See You Tomorrow

12. Exmortus, Slave To The Sword

13. Ex Hex, "Hot and Cold"

14. Ruby The Rabbitfoot, New As Dew

15. "Get My Dough," Ester Dean

16. Damon Albarn, Everyday Robots

17. Natalia M. King, Soulblazz

18. Lovey James, "Rollercoaster"

19. My Bubba, "Feverish"

20. Shawn Amos, The Reverend Shawn Amos Tells It

21. De Lux,  Voyage

22. WV White, West Virginia White

23. The Bamboos, Fever in the Road

24. La Dame Blanche, La Dame Blanche

25. Yonatan Gat, Iberian Passage

26. Walter Martin, We're All Young Together

27. Sylvan Esso, Sylvan Esso

28. Barrows, Red Giant

29. Big Freedia, Just Be Free

30. Bobby Patterson, I Got More Soul!

30 songs or albums that transport me back

1. "How Bizarre," OMC

2. "Song 2," Blur

3. "In Particular," Blonde Redhead

4. "New York I Love You, But You're Bringing Me Down," LCD Soundsystem

5. The Microphones

6. "Saeglópur," Sigur Rós

7. "Batdance," Prince

8. I'm From Barcelona, I'm From Barcelona

9. They Might Be Giants, They Might Be Giants

10. "Pumpin Blood," NONONO

11. "No Duh," K.Flay

12."Put Your Arms Around Me," Pearl Jam

13. Run Lola Run soundtrack

14. "Uncle Ray," Looper

15. "Kiss From A Rose," Seal

16. Sea Change, Beck

17. "Art Star," The Yeah Yeah Yeahs

18. II, Led Zeppelin

19. Stars For A Summer Night, Various Artists, 1961

20. Brother For Sale, Mary-Kate & Ashley Olsen

21. Symphony #40, Mozart

22. "Let's Pretend We're Bunny Rabbits," The Magnetic Fields

23. Arcade Fire

24. "Victory Dance," My Morning Jacket

25. "Too Many Rappers," Beastie Boys (and "Sabotage")

26. "Rainy Day Woman," Bob Dylan

27. "Wonderful (The Way I Feel)," My Morning Jacket

28. "Live And Let Die," Paul McCartney

29. "Old Friends," Simon & Garfunkel

30. Stevie Wonder's whole set at Bonnaroo.

Oh my goodness, do you ever touch a hot pepper and are forever paranoid thereafter to touch anything, especially your eyes, lest you start to feel that burning sensation? Then awhile later, you do touch your eye and suddenly you're ultra sensitive and wondering, "Oh no. Does my eye feel weird? Didn't I wash my hands 20 times? But still, maybe I should go look at it.." Yeah... So be careful with those spicy peppers this weekend and happy listening!