Most albums are released on Tuesdays, apparently because Billboard Magazine, as the leading publication for the music industry, comes out on Wednesdays, thus allowing a full week of sales data on a song or album that came out the week before. Well at The Quad, we’re not too interested in sales data, but we have the lucky ability that comes with being an online publication to publish things in a timely matter. For some reason, this Tuesday in particular seems to be a big day for releases, so here’s an overview of five albums that are dropping today to get a glimpse of what’s coming out into the music scene.
Blitzen Trapper – American Goldwing
For Fans Of: Fruit Bats, Dawes, Dr. Dog
This Portland-based band blurs the lines between folk and alternative/experimental, with six band members creating a sound full of guitars, bass, and keyboards.On their latest release, they really amp up the rock with grating but strong guitar chords and more aggressively lyrics. However, Blitzen Trapper are good at blending genres into a catchy, approachable album. While the first track, “Might Find it Cheap”, starts out hard and fast, it blends easily into the more country-infused second track, “Fletcher”. Whether you prefer one over the over, it is all delivered in a way that keeps you listening and tapping your feet along.
Check Out: “Love The Way You Walk Away”—a slower, folky song that sounds like home with comforting choir-sung choruses; “American Goldwing”—the title track and an all-American song that’s still full of funky elements.
Girls – Father, Son, Holy Ghost
For Fans Of: Smith Westerns, Cults, Yuck
Two years after their debut and a year after their follow-up EP, Girls is back with their most accomplished recording yet. The album begins with a build-up of drums and bass, and a surf-rock twang and pop rhythm, with soft-song lyrics that come off almost like someone having a lot of fun doing karaoke (you know that person that gets really into it and dances along the whole time). This album is easy-yet-entertaining lo-fi listening, and the tracks blend together with an effortless air that you end up listening to the whole thing without even realizing.
Recommended Tracks: “Honey Bunny”—the opening track that half-way through has a dramatic melancholy breakdown (in a good way); “Die”—where things get fuzzier and fast-paced to pick up the energy halfway through the album.
Das Racist – Relax
For Fans Of: OFWGKTA, Domo Genesis, Shabazz Palaces
The Brooklyn-based rap group have gained some internet fame from their 2009 jam “Combination Pizza Hut and Taco Bell,” but this group has a lot more to offer than fast-food commentary. Relax is actually their first commercially released album and includes production from Diplo, Rostam Batmanglij of Vampire Weekend, and Anand Wilder of Yeasayer. This album is a little more straight-laced than the groups previous mixtapes, but their humor comes through and their lyrical flow is highlighted, with alternative hip hop beats that are first unusual but instantly become appreciated for their sharpness. These backing tracks are unique as a mix of synthesizers and instruments.
Recommended Tracks: “Michael Jackson”—which was the single released on iTunes previously, blends techno-background noises with a rock sounding percussion and the boys almost shouting “You feel me?!” which just demands attention; “Relax”—the title track, which starts with dreamy strung-out etherial notes that chill you out, then adds more beats to bring it all back up.
St. Vincent – Strange Mercy
For Fans Of: Andrew Bird, Grizzly Bear, Joanna Newsom
St. Vincent has been building up her sound through her albums, and this latest release continues to add on to the ornate pop songs and darker, intricate arrangements she’s done in the past, as well as build her sound with overlapping, synth-inspired melodies and adding more depth to each track, which highlights her unique, slightly-rough-yet-elegant voice. As she sings higher, she balances the song with deep, lo-fi guitar chords or finger-plucked guitar notes that dance over her lyrics. She has fun trying out differnt styles (successfully) on the album, allowing the listener to go on a figurative voyage with her quickly-addiction voice as the guide through various instruments and up-beat rhythms.
Recommended Tracks: “Cruel”—buoyant and catchy, but at the same time complicated and full of varying, over-laden sounds that she sings over effortlessly; “Strange Mercy”—the title track taps into a slightly darker, sadder side that instantly catches your ear with the stronger vocal tracks and the trance-like sounds that support it.
Wild Flag – Wild Flag
For Fans Of: Sleater-Kinney, Helium, The Static Sea
This quartet is a true supergroup composed of four girls who have played in multiple bands such as Sleater-Kinney, Helium, Quasi, The Minders, Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks, and more, but are finally united to bring their extensive-girl-rock experience together. With an indie-rock foundation, the girls very obviously (and successfully) add in their influences, without sticking too rigidly to anything they’ve done before. Through this album, they create a kind of girls-just-wanna-have-fun atmosphere with retro-inspired singing over surf rock bass lines and good ol’ alt rock guitar progressions.
Recommended Tracks: “Romance”—where the girls sing out “shake, shimmy, shake!” and you’re at the mercy of their catchy, percussion-heavy commands; “Endless Talk”—instantly catchy with synth hooks and vocals that jump up and down along with the melody to make everything more dramatic and generally fun.
