New Album Releases #11
Friday 3 May 2024
Hello good morning and finally Friday! Oh my god, what a week!
Quite a bunch of albums I’m keen to check out today, like London rapper Jawino and Jon McKiel. Personally I’m most excited about the new Camera Obscura album, looking forward to see them live next week. Some big releases from Kamal Washington and Dua Lipa also.
I’m trying to not mention too many songs here, since it’s a slippery slope, but I’m going to have to make an exception for Kendrick Lamar’s “euphoria” which is his reply to Drake’s diss tracks etc, because it … goes hard.
Been a busy work week, but I did go to the cinema last night to watch “The Fall Guy” that was brilliant fun. I’ve also made a great lasagna, watched a dour danish historical costume drama called “The Promised Land” (it was good, 7/10), and last weekend was a bit too busy - I went to see Adrienne Lenker at The Barbican which was one of the best gigs I’ve seen in a while and on the Sunday I went to see Blindboy Boatclub do his podcast thing with Grayson Perry as his guest, which was a lot of fun.
Tomorrow I’m going to see the play “This Memorial Device” which is based on the brilliant Scottish book of the same name and about a fictious post punk band, with The Pastels having done the music. Looking forward to that!
Kamasi Washington
Fifth album from renowned Cali jazz saxophonist Kamasi Washington. Some fun guests on it, including Andre 3000, George Clinton, Thundercat.
10/10 The Skinny / Spin 8/10 Mojo 7/10 Uncut / The Wire / Glide
Jawnino
Debut album (or is it a mixtape? We will never know) from the south London rapper. Sounds ... vibey.
7/10 Pitchfork
Mdou Moctar
6th album from the Tuareg desert blues band Mdou Moctar. It was recorded over five days in upstate New York by bassist and producer Mikey Coltun.
10/10 Popmatters / 8/10 Rolling Stone / Exclaim! / Uncut / Mojo
Jessica Pratt
The fourth album rom Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter Jessica Pratt.
9.5/10 Paste 9/10 Under the Radar 8.0/10 Pitchfork / The Line of Best Fit / Mojo
Camera Obscura
The first album from Scottish band Camera Obscura since the death of founding member Carey Lander from cancer in 2015, and their 5th since 2001. I love this band so rather hyped up about this one.
8/10 Uncut / musicOHM 7/10 Exclaim! / PopMatters / Slant
Rachel Chinouriri
Debut album from British indie pop artist Rachel Chinouriri feat. contributions by producer Rich Turvey and Kenny Beats. 4/5 NME / The Telegraph 8/10 Clash / The Telegraph / The Skinny
Jon McKiel
Second album by Canadian songwriter and musical collage constructor. Sounds like a pretty NICE album.
8/10 Loud and Quiet 7.6/10 Pitchfork 7/10 Uncut
Dua Lipa
Third album since 2017 from the English and Albanian singer. Apparently influenced less by disco and more by 1970s-era psychedelia.
5/5 The Independent 4/5 The Telegraph 8/10 Slant 6.6/10 Pitchfork 6/10 Rolling Stone 3/5 NME 3/8 The Line Of Best Fit (Lowest score I think I've seen tLoBF ever give?)
Ibibio Sound Machine
The fifth album from the London-based electronic afro-funk collective.
8/10 PopMatters / Uncut / Far Out Magazine 7/10 Clash
Mammoth Penguin
Fourth album from the Cambridge indie twee trio.
Home Counties
London based dance pop punk (that's a genre right?) six-piece finally delivers their debut album.
10/10 The Skinny 8/10 The Line of Best Fit 8/10 Overblown 7/10 Clash
Hana Vu
Second album from the Los Angeles-based indie singer-songwriter.
8/10 Line of Best Fit 7.5/10 Paste 7/10 Clash
The Lemon Twigs
Fifth album from New York rock duo The Lemon Twigs. One track is co-produced by Sean Ono Lennon, which I'm not sure is a good thing to be honest.
9/10 Uncut 4/5 NME 8/10 Mojo / Glide
Adam Taal
New jazzy album from Swedish rapper Adam "formerly Tensta" Taal
3/6 DN (Sweden)
Frank Turner
10th full-length front he English punk and folk singer. I can't stand him, but I guess lots of people ... love him!?
9/10 XS Noise 6/10 Kerrang / Far Out Magazine
Dalmatin
Debut album from Umeå indiepop band. Sounds like Karakou.
3/6 Gaffa Sweden
The Radio Dept. - Running out of love
The Radio Dept. are shoegazy indiepop band from south Sweden who formed in 1995. They've released 5 albums since 2003, and they are all great so it was difficult to pick one but this one from 2016 is my current favourite. They almost signed with XL in the early 2000s but I think XL pulled out from the deal.
MOST PLAYED ALBUMS IN LAST 7 DAYS
01. St. Vincent - All Born Screaming (it’s growing on me, this one)
02. Iiris Viljanen - Själsligt uppvaknande vid Slussen (one of my favourite Swedish artists)
03. Pet Shop Boys - Nonetheless (one should always listen to Pet Shop Boys)
04. Sibille Attar - Brutal (another Swedish favourite)
05. Fireside - Do Not Tailgate (a classic Swedish emo rock album from 1995)
06. Chiedu Oraka - Misfit (Yorkshire rapper!)
07. Hurula - Vi är människorna våra föräldrar varnade oss för (10th Anniversary Edition) (once again, another Swedish favourite, former punk, now more indie punk)
08. Phosphorescent - Revelator (some great songs on this)
09. Corridor - Mimi (best album cover of 2024 so far)
10. Den Svenska Björnstammen - Med sång / Utan sång (Swedish melodic synth pop indie, with Swedish lyrics)
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Have a great weekend and don’t overdo it!
Simon