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Fresh Album Fridays: Aesop Rock, PinkPantheress, Beirut and more
Good morning ~ This is a thread to discuss new album releases that have arrived on our doorstep this week. Feel free to share albums and EPs that have caught your eye and interest.
Discussion Points
What are you looking forward to listen to?
Have you listened to any of these releases?
What are your thoughts?
What have you enjoyed from these artists in the past?
Why Friday?
Most (but not all) new LPs release on a Friday, as labels want to give the release a full week of sales before entering the charts.
~~ Feedback on the format welcome
Aesop Rock - Integrated Tech Solutions
Single
Genre(s): Abstract Hip Hop, Conscious Hip Hop
Country: United States
Bandcamp
Spotify
RYM
I am a fan of Aesop and think that this album does not disappoint. I would highly recommend it to anyone who has even a casual interest in hip-hop. His style is not like anything else that I've heard, and the storytelling in this album really makes it something special.
See Aesop Rock - 100 Feet Tall for a song about meeting Mr. T and Aggressive Steven for a song about a chance encounter with a stranger.
Notable remasters/re-releases (aka you feel old now, you're welcome)
Non-metal releases
KC Rae - Think I'm Gonna Die
album.link
This is my most-anticipated of the week, including all the metal releases. I loved Now, Now and have loved all three singles KC has released so far from this new solo venture. Continues in the synthpop/indie realm that Now, Now's Saved brought that group into- and I'm glad because it's probably my favorite Now, Now record.
Metal releases
Left Cross - Upon Desecrated Altars
album.link
Death metal with war metal influence. No surprise as it features the drummer from Antichrist Siege Machine.
Vastum - Inward to Gethsemane
album.link
In usual Vastum form, beefy death metal with wild lead guitars and constantly changing tempos.
Pyrolatrous - Inveterate
album.link
Angular black/death with some firey soloing. Features members of other well-known acts (Krallice, Woe, etc)
Plaguemace - Reptilian Warlords
album.link
Stompy knuckle-dragging club(mace?)-wielding death metal with some caveman gang vocals thrown in to complete the feel. Somehow I like it and think it's funny at the same time.
Halvar - State of the Nation
album.link
Punky political South African thrash, with vocals ranging between a black/thrash style, more typical thrash yelling, and gang vocals.
PinkPantheress - Heaven Knows
Single
Genre(s): Contemporary R&B
Country: United Kingdom
Spotify
RYM
Beirut - Hadsel
Single
Genre(s): Indie Folk
Country: United States
Spotify
RYM
I've been a huge fan of Beirut ever since I first saw this Blogothèque video of them performing Nantes live on the streets of Paris. It absolutely blew me away, and was like nothing I had ever heard before, with the accordion and Zach Condon's incredibly unique voice gradually leading into the drums, violin, guitars, and brass instruments. I became obsessed with listening to it... and still am, TBH. I have probably gone back to watch/listen to that video a thousand times over the years. Crazy to think that it's already been 16 years since it was first released, and I first heard of Beirut!
Even though I much prefer listening to / watching their live performances (e.g. Beirut, full concert @ NPR), every new studio album of theirs since then hasn't disappointed either. And Hadsel is no different. It still has the same beautiful instrumentation, Zach's unique voice, and embodies the same spirit as that video from 16 years ago.
p.s. https://album.link/i/1700341218