Future Islands are back with a fantabulous record called People Who Aren't There Anymore. The introspection on this one combined with their usual amazing style lead the listener to reflect on the people we sometimes leave behind. Or leave us behind.
Here is one of my faves...
After a ten year hiatus, Bristol's own shoegaze outfit, The Fauns, are back with How Lost. The opening track lets us all know how much they have been missed.
Ah, the soft and sweet sounds of NYC's Sy Smith. Her latest record is called Until We Meet Again and it's like a refreshing waterfall on a hot summer's day. So so happy that music like this is still being made
Find a loved one and curl up by the fire...
The pride of Galway, Ireland has finally dropped their debut LP. Madra is a shoegaze wonder filled with goodness. I expect New Dad to be fathering themselves all over the world.
Love the hooks on this one...
The pride of Laguna Beach is back with his fifteenth long player. Three Bells is an epic in garage rock drone. Ty Segall has officially become a master.
Opening track...
K Pop sensations Le Sserafim latest has been sticking with me for several months now so it most certainly deserves a shoutout. Unforgiven explodes towards the listener in a wonderfully aggressive way. Man oh man, those grooves!
We are Fearless...
Toronto has a fabulous dudes with guitars band called Ducks Ltd. Their second long player, entitled Harm's Way, just dropped and it's an absolute corker. The opening track lets jangly pop fans know that they are home...
London's own Iraina Mancini has a corker of a debut record out called Undo The Blue. There are so many genres present on this album that I honestly find myself at a loss to describe it. One key one is Kennedy Era Cool chanteuse...my fave!
Cue the martinis...
Lil' Yachty's latest record, Let's Start Here, resets all expectations of what rap and hip hop should be. In fact, it strives for and reaches new horizons that I honestly thought wasn't possible for music in general.
The tone is set immediately with the opening track...
K Pop Sensation Soojin have a most excellent EP out called Agassy and I have to say it makes this old lounge lizard happy as heck that people are still making music with an early 60s, Kennedy Era Cool vibe.
Soft and cool...just like a martini...
Laura Veirs latest offering is yet another gem. The record is called Phone Orphans and, once again, the Portland, Oregon native brings her soft sweetness combined with lyrical beauty to the world of music.
Always love the nature themes...
Fusion fans will completely rejoice at the latest offering from Idris Ackamoor & The Pyramids. Afro Futuristic Dreams is an enchanting trance of a record that sends my mind palace on mythical journeys into the cosmos and beyond.
Example...
And also fall in love...
His songs explore romance in a very unique way that goes along with his style (Daniel Lanois, Chris Isaak, Ryan Adams).
LeBlanc has a keen sense of the human condition. Combine that with the fact that he is a musician's musician (The Cactus Blossoms attended the show and were standing behind me) and it's a powerful sonic concoction.
Then he and the band cranked it up and played the louder stuff, ending with a four song encore that blew the roof off of the place.
His signature sound of loads of echo really sounded amazing on these heavier songs.
LeBlanc is on tour for the next several weeks. I highly recommend you check out his show when he comes to your town.
The latest EP by K Pop sensations, Kiss of Life, is quite the rager. The dance moves just flow out of you in merely the first few seconds of the record and, quite honestly, lift the spirit...
