With a decidedly more lo-fi bend than last year’s New Music Tuesdays, this week’s music is a great soundtrack for an energized and forward-looking new year. The Decemberists, the Smith Westerns, and the Eulogies all have new albums available, and you’ll get a preview of albums-to-come with singles from the new Kanye West and Jay-Z collaboration, the sweet Submarines, and Asobi Seksu.
Playlist Notes
Eulogies, Tear the Fences Down: The first and second time were a charm—will the third be as well? Here is another album from L.A. band Eulogies, with hooks and good-times aplenty.
The Decemberists, The King is Dead: Colin Meloy and his merry band of music makers strike again, this time with the help of legend Gillian Welch. Come for the instrumentation, stay for the enjoyable songwriting.
Mogwai, Rano Pano b/w Hasenheide: This Mogwai release features a single from their upcoming album as well as a B-side for old times sake.
Smith Westerns, Dye it Blonde: The Chicago band Smith Westerns have grown up a lot since their self-titled debut album. This sophomore album is full of the same fuzziness but with defined song writing that is a pure pleasure for rocking-out.
Kanye West, Jay-Z, H.A.M.: It turns out that the many rumors of ‘Ye and Z holing up together in the studio to create music aren’t falsehoods. Here’s the first song they’ve released off their upcoming new album.
WIN WIN, RELEASERPM: When a former Spank Rock producer and collaborator come together and throw the vocals of a Gang Gang Dance singer into the mix, you get a high-brow party song ready for the circuit.
