Our Most Anticipated Albums (Quarter 3)

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Dirty Projectors album art courtesy of Domino

While much of the country is in a drought, we are not want for new music during the summer months. Your grass might be brown, and your air conditioner might be bending under the burden of 100 degree weather, but your new album release cup runneth over. Don't believe us? Check out the albums we're most looking forward to from July - September.

July 10th
Dirty Projectors – Swing Lo Magellan (Domino)

July 17th
Alberta Cross - Songs of Patience (ATO)
Com Truise - In Decay (Ghostly International)
JEFF the Brotherhood – Hypnotic Nights (Warner Bros.)
Old Crow Medicine Show – Carry Me Back (ATO)

July 18th
Pet Shop Boys - Elysium (Astralwerks)

July 24th
The Antlers – Undersea [EP] (ANTI-)
The Gaslight Anthem - Handwritten (Mercury)
Passion Pit – Gossamer (Columbia)

August 7th
Antony and the Johnsons - CUT THE WORLD (Secretly Canadian) 
Birds and Batteries - Stray Light (Eightmaps)

August 21st
Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti - Mature Themes (4AD)
Yeasayer – Fragrant World (Secretly Canadian)

September 4th
Animal Collective – Centipede Hz (Domino)
The Fresh & Onlys - Long Slow Dance (Mexican Summer)
Stars - The North (ATO)

September 11th
The Avett Brothers - The Carpenter (American)
Cat Power – Sun (Matador)
Firewater - International Orange! (Bloodshot)
St. Vincent and David Byrne – Love This Giant (4AD/Todo Mundo)

September 18th
Aimee Mann - Charmer (Superego)
Menomena - Moms (Barsuk)

September 25th
Murder by Death - Bitter Drink, Bitter Moon (Bloodshot)
Tristan Prettyman - Cedar + Gold (Capitol)

On Our Radar: 
The Love Language - TBA (Merge)
Matt & Kim - Lightning (FADER)

Jam of the Day | Wild Beasts - All the King's Men

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Falsettos have recently been tied to comedy or musical spoofs (insert The Darkness reference here), with most artists too afraid of the delicate tactic to actually implement it into their sound. Like Antony and the Johnsons, however, it works damn well for some.

Wild Beasts somehow retain a sort of seductiveness on our Jam of the Day, "All the King's Men," that pertains more to the revolutionary performers of the ‘50s, even if the percussion and thick guitar progression sound distinctively from recent years. They effortlessly elude to the stereotypes of melodramatic post-punk with a youthful, finger-snapping impression that prepares their style for a generation full of romanticized drama kings and queens.

“All the King’s Men” is more than apt for that sort, being direct in its respective descriptions of death and desperation over mumbled vocals that weep and yelp over anguished guitar lines. The bass lines are subtler than typical post-punk, but the dramatics are still there, stuffed with pop-oriented theatrics that make the style more accessible for those somewhat opposed to the likes of Joy Division or The Cure.

Give it a spin below - and if you like it, pick up their Mercury Music Prize nominated album Two Dancers which is out now.

Wild Beasts - All the King's Men

Jam of the Day | Active Child - Wilderness

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I, for one, happen to like the recent saturation of synth in the once downtrodden genre of bedroom pop. I mean, it's still pretty awesome music to play when I'm finally laying down for the night, but it somehow makes things seem all dark and mysterious now. That is - until my dog Angus hops into bed with me, then things seem far less cool.

Our Jam of the Day,"Wilderness" is the second single off the the recently released debut EP from L.A.'s Active Child and the first to feature such an icy and ethereal tone. It's chill bassline sweeps over the mouse quiet keyboards while vocals that recall Justin Vernon perfectly usher in quivering lyrics.

It sounds at times like TV on the Radio, then like Antony and the Johnsons, then like Bon Iver - and since I really enjoy two of the three aforementioned groups I can recommend you click below with a clear conscious.

And if you enjoy, he'll be in playing The Cat's Cradle in Carrboro on July 2nd or The Firebird in St. Louis on July 9th. Both dates are with Islands.

Active Child - Wilderness

Antony and The Johnsons Announce New Album, 'Swanlights'

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Good news! Antony and The Johnsons have announced the release date and covert art for LP4, titled Swanlights. Out October 4th on Secretly Canadian, the band will also release a special edition of the album which includes a 144 page artbook containing Antony's paintings, collages, photography, and writing. Get that on your iPhone calendars stat, you crazy hipsters.