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Fresh Album Fridays: Swans, Kelly Clarkson, Young Thug, and more
Good morning. This is a thread to discuss new album releases arriving at our doorsteps today.
I'll be experimenting this week with posting each album as a comment. Do share releases you'd like to raise by leaving a comment with that release.
Discussion Points
Have you listened to this release?
What are you looking forward to listen to?
What are your thoughts?
What have you enjoyed from these artists in the past?
Why Friday?
Most (but not all) new music releases on a Friday, as labels want to give the the release a full week of sales before entering the charts.
~~ Any feedback on the format welcome!
Artist:
Swans
Album:
The Beggar
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Release: 23rd June, 2023
Genre(s): Post Rock
Country: United States
Bandcamp
Spotify
Definitely the big album of an otherwise fairly slow week. Swans have a pretty dedicated fan-base, and this record seems to be very well received so far. Given its now-Swans-standard 120 minute runtime, this won't be an album to dip toes into, and one I'll probably be working my way up to this week.
The Seer was my first Swans album, and I think a good introduction to their post-2010s era. It's huge, but pretty steadfast in its sound and scope.
Seer was such an amazing, impactful record. "Lunacy" and "Mother of the World" are two tracks that make this album so special for me.
The Beggar Lover (Three) is one hell of a track to listen to with a nice set of headphones. I don't even really know how to explain how it made me feel. I get GY!BE, mixed with Justice, mixed with.. well, lets just say there's a certain area that made me feel very uncomfortable like the first time entering Deepnest in Hollow Knight.
The album as a whole is a bit hard to rate for me. I will certainly come back to it but not sure it will be part of my rotation.
Artist:
Young Thug
Album:
Business is Business
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Release: 23rd June, 2023
Genre(s): Hip Hop, Trap
Country: United States
Spotify
Artist:
Arthur Russell
Album:
Picture of Bunny Rabbit
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Release: 23rd June, 2023
Genre(s): Avant-Folk, Ambient Pop
Country: United States
Bandcamp
Spotify
For the last ten years I have described Arthur Russell as my favourite musician. Following his death in 1992 (having only released one studio album), the record label 'Audika' have been working through his archive and delivering some pretty fine posthumous compilations, this being the latest.
'Picture of Bunny Rabbit' has some important pieces, but I think it's one for completionists of his discography.
I was hoping it would be a good launch point for those trying to get into Russell, given it's variety and short runtime, but I think Another Thought is still the best place to start, or Calling Out of Context for something more colourful.
I was the one who decided to check out World of Echo first. That album is such a masterclass in melody and experimentation, and was waaay ahead of its time. Russell has had an interesting career going from disco and electronic music, to experimental compositions as a cellist.
Artist: The Teskey Brothers
Album: The Winding Way
An Aussie take on classic r&b. These guys embody the old style of someone like Otis Redding. Beautiful songs with beautiful voices. Really excellent live too (and they’re touring Europe and the UK currently, and America next month! Really recommend seeing them if you can). Their other albums Run Home Slow and Half Mile Harvest are also well worth a listen.
https://music.apple.com/au/album/the-winding-way/1670237828
(Sorry, I don’t know how to do a hyperlink on mobile)
Artist:
Kelly Clarkson
Album:
Chemistry
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Release: 23rd June, 2023
Genre(s): Pop, Pop Soul
Country: United States
Spotify
Artist:
Kim Petras
Album:
Feed the Beast
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Release: 23rd June, 2023
Genre(s): Pop, Dance-Pop
Country: United States
Spotify
Bandcamp
Tidal
Elza Soares - No tempo da intolerância
23 June 2023
I've heard only four of her albums, but a couple of them are fruitful, creative, and interesting collaborations. I recommend this artist to anyone who wants to check out what a super-old but still rockin' woman can do. (She died last year at a very old age.) Soares started back in the 60s with Samba-Canção music but in her later years moved more in Art Rock territory. And she doesn't shy away from politics!
What have I enjoyed from Soares in the past?
Elza Soares - Deus é mulher
Released: 18 May 2018
Genres: Vanguarda paulista, Art Rock
Subgenres: Art Punk, Math Rock, Experimental Rock
My thoughts: Old woman whose voice holds a lifetime of experience and confidence teams up with a rock band to put another notch in her axe. Not much more I can say about this, since I don't understand the lyrics, but it's a fun romp.
Artist:
Cable Ties
Album:
All Her Plans
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Release: 23rd June, 2023
Genre(s): Post-Punk, Indie Rock
Country: Australia
Bandcamp
RYM
I enjoyed this, plenty of raw energy, similar formula to earlier albums, shouty vocals and thumping bass. Worth checking out if you like post punk :)
Artist:
Gwuak!
Album:
Summertime Concrete
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Release: 23rd June, 2023
Genre(s): Alternative, Pop Punk, Punk Rock
Country: United States
Spotify
Apple Music
I really cannot get enough of this album. Math-rocky pop punk without sounding like math-rock, if that makes any sense. Instead of the overly structured and twinkly guitars that you may think of when you think of the genre, this is a bit more subdued.
I don't want to oversell the release but I think it could be a good stepping stool for people to get into more math rock heavy bands.
Stuff I'm interested in today:
Mental Cruelty - Zwielicht
Tsjuder - Helvegr
Persekutor - Snow Business
Soul Grinder - Filth Encrusted
Artist:
Carbon Based Lifeforms
Album:
Seeker
Release: 26th June 2023
Genre: Ambient
Country: Sweden
Links: Wikipedia | Bandcamp