Recently, we got the title of The Weeknd’s new album named Kiss Land. Well, we didn’t have to wait too long to get new music from the release. Abel Tesfaye has dropped the title track to the forthcoming album. Don’t fret, it is another great one from him. A 7-minute song with all sorts of twists and turns that makes it feel like two songs in one. Listen below.
Birmingham, AL native Duquette Johnston has seen a lot during his time. He was a founding member of such bands as Verbena and Cutgrass and shared the stage with such influential acts as Pavement, Foo Fighters, Bonnie Prince Billy, The Strokes, Jesus Lizard, amony many more. On May 21st, he will be releasing his fourth album, Rabbit Runs A Destiny, via Pipe and Gun / Communicating Vessels.
On this record, we see a departure from the more straightforward, acoustic approach with more emotive uses of drums, strings, and vocal harmonies to create a fuller sound. Much of the credit for this departure can be attributed to Armand Margjeka who was brought to help with production, a first for Johnston. It has paid off, as he has recieved such recent accolades as being selected by NPR as an “Artist to Watch” and Paste Magazine highlighting him as an Alabama artist to keep your eye on. The latest single from the forthcoming LP is “Cherry Blossom.” The track seamlessly bridges the gap between Americana of yesteryear with the more robust musical sounds permeating throughout the modern musical landscape. Find it below.
Mayer Hawthorne is going next level on his new LP, Where Does This Door Go, out July 16th via Republic. He enlisted production assistance from the likes of Pharrell Williams, Greg Wells, Jack Splash, among others. Hawthorne described the LP as “Steely Dan meets the Beastie Boys” and “a journey into the unknown.” Sounds intriguing, right? The first single, “Her Favorite Song,” enlists the help of Jessie Ware and was produced by Oak of Oak & Pop. Listen below.
Real Estate bassist Alex Bleeker has rebooted his project Alex Bleeker & The Freaks and will be releasing a new album, How Far Away, via Woodsist on May 28th. On the release, he has recruited members of Real Estate, Mountain Man, and Woods to assist. The project is easy listening as you’d expect from a member of Real Estate with more Earthy tones scattered throughout. “Step Right Up (Pour Yourself Some Wine)” follows this line of description. Late 60s/early 70s influences can be heard throughout. Listen below.
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“Confidence” isn’t the raucous, in-your-face jam we were hoping for as the first sample of The Dodo’s fifth album, Carrier (out August 27th via Polyvinyl), but that is not to say it isn’t a great introduction. The song starts off more restrained to only to culminate in a pretty satisfying all out guitar assault with pounding drums. Throughout we get the warm vocal harmonies that have become a staple of sorts for the twosome. Listen below.
LA’s Superhumanoids are releasing their new album Exhibitionists on June 11th via Innovative Leisure, but that didn’t stop them from taking the time to record a dreamy cover of the Nine Inch Nails helter-skelter classic “March of the Pigs” from the 1994 album The Downward Spiral. The trio smooths out the abrasive of the original to almost make you forget about the political nature of the lyrics and turning it into a completely different song. Check it out below.
Being based out of Indianapolis, Indiana, it is difficult to not check out an artist who goes by the name of Indiana. While there is not a lot out their in regards to background, she is from Nottinghama and puts subtle vocals over minimalistic production in a similar vein to The xx. The singer has made quite the name for herself in a very short period of time and just released a video for “Smoking Gun.” The clip is more of a dark warning to all of those men who have ignored or are ignoring the women in their life with Indiana becoming more and more manic throughout. For those in the UK, she will be playing select dates in May and July. Watch below.
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