Arizona-born, New York-based singer Jake Shears isn’t just the lead singer of Grammy-nominated glam-pop troupe Scissor Sisters. He’s also an outspoken gay rights activist (Scissor Sisters themselves are GLAAD Award recipients) and a prolific songwriter for artists including Kylie Minogue, Andy Bell, and Tiga, with whom he collaborated on songs such as “You Gonna Want Me” and “What You Need”.
Also check out his playlists, each carefully themed and crafted over time. His new fall playlist includes artists such as Spank Rock, Justice, the Drums, and tUnE-yArDs — see “Autumn Changes... Fall Jams 2011”below.
This week’s set of new releases features music from artists who play with genre conventions without alienating listeners. In that mold there are new albums from Feist, DJ Shadow, Scott McCreery, and We Were Promised Jetpacks. Additionally there are singular albums from saxophone auteur Colin Stetson and Paul McCartney, who today releases his fifth classical album. Lastly, there are hot new singles from B.o.B. and Estelle.
Radio Moscow - The Great Escape of Leslie Magnafuzz This week Rdio is exclusively streaming the latest from psychedelic blues-rock trio Radio Moscow. Signed years ago by the Black Keys’ Dan Auerbach, those looking to satisfy a blues-rock hankering will find plenty to love in their third album, The Great Escape of Leslie Magnafuzz.
Feist - Metals Canadian sensation Feist returns this week with another strong offering of her quirky folk-pop. Metals shows her musical muscle, as both her voice and arrangements ring with power and confidence. If you liked The Reminder, don't miss the next chapter of this exciting musician’s career.
DJ Shadow - The Less You Know, The Better DJ Shadow has always been known for his prodigious use of samples, but The Less You Know, The Better finds the California DJ/producer really testing himself, mixing together every genre you can think of. To hear where Shadow’s been musically since 2006, definitely check out this album.
Jack’s Mannequin - People And Things Andrew McMahon is the singer for emo quartet Something Corporate, but it’s for the piano-based Jack’s Mannequin that the leukemia survivor pours his soul most vividly. People And Things is another great offering of his clear-eyed view on the world around him.
Scott McCreery - Clear As Day Newly-crowned American Idol Scott McCreery is ready to make good on his tenth-season win with Clear As Day, his first full-length recorded offering. He won the nation’s heart singing country tunes for enraptured audiences — check out his album for more from the North Carolina native.
It’s been two years since Kentucky indie-rock duo Phantom Family Halo released their last full-length studio album, Monoliths & These Flowers Never Die, but that doesn’t mean they haven’t been busy. The band is currently on tour with Bonnie “Prince” Billy, with whom they’ve also been working on new music. Recently they released a split ten-inch record with the indie-folk idol, titled Mindeater. Listen to the new EP and the band’s “Songs That Make Me Feel Right” playlist, hand-picked by the Phantom Family Halo’s Dominic Cipolla, and don’t forget to check out our Five Questions with the band below.
Five Questions with Phantom Family Halo
Who do you think is an important musician that most people have never heard of before? Dominic Cipolla: Experimental guitarist Lowe Sutherland from Louisville, KY.
If you had access to any record in the world, what would you listen to right now? DC: Roxy Music - For Your Pleasure.
Which album or artist do you most associate with your childhood? DC: The Night Chicago Died by Paper Lace.
We hope people are ______________ when they listen to our music. DC: Happy.
We were thinking about ______________ when we wrote music for the new album. DC: Hedonism.
Choose the music you want to play and listen as much as you want — from the web or your phone, even when you’re offline. Find new music by following what your friends are listening to. No ads.
