Rdio Blog

No matter your musical tastes, this week’s New Releases have something in store for you. Need your indie rock fix? Check out the debut album by King Tuff. Blues? Dr. John’s new career retrospective should do. Dance, hip-hop, and hardcore fans will find something to like in Simian Mobile Disco, Cadence Weapon, and For Today’s new ones.

Did we miss your musical niche? Read our playlist notes below and listen to the New Music Tuesday playlist and New Releases to find something new to love.

Playlist Notes

• Scissor Sisters - Magic Hour
  The Scissor Sisters make the kind of disco-rific pop music that plays as well at parties as on headphones. If Calvin Harris-produced first single “Only the Horses” is any indication, this new album should be another party.

• Azealia Banks - 1991
  Finally the brash, silver-tongued emcee behind viral hit “212”, drops her debut release. The 4-song EP is composed of her hits to date, re-recorded in a professional studio.

• Sigur Rós - Valtari
  The cinematic Icelandic troupe admitted that their sixth album is heavy on electronics. Listen to their new sound on Valtari.

• Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros - Here
  The folk-pop outfit behind the charming, ramshackle single “Home” are ready to release their sophomore album.

• The Walkmen - Heaven
  The Brooklyn indie-rock five-piece tones down the edges of their past albums for more conventionally pretty songs that gel together nicely.

• Sun Kil Moon - Among The Leaves
  Indie-folk icon Mark Kozelek’s new album under his Sun Kil Moon moniker is recorded almost solely on nylon-string guitar, lending his tunes even more poignance.

By now, your summer playlists should at least be started, if not already well on their way to road trip-ready perfection. But don’t sign, seal, and deliver just yet — there’s still plenty of new music to add. UK garage-pop outfit The Cribs, Jack Black’s tongue-in-cheek rock duo Tenacious D, and party-starter Rye Rye all have new albums for your waiting playlists.

There’s more, too — listen to our weekly New Music Tuesday playlist, read our playlist notes to ensure you get all that’s good this week and cruise the New Releases for a peek at what’s new.

Playlist Notes

• Best Coast - The Only Place
  Break out the sunglasses and beach towel: California girl Bethany Cosentino and cohort Bobb Bruno return with their second album of sunny SoCal pop this week.

• Beach House - Bloom
  Beach House’s break-out 2010 album Teen Dream was lauded for its sweeping grandeur and haunting melodies. Their new album builds on that formula with even more majesty imbued into each track, so expect to hears lots about Bloom this year.

• Craft Spells - Gallery
  Craft Spells is the one-man project of Justin Paul Vallesteros. His new EP melds his love of dreamy melodies with his penchant for uplifting, beat-driven electronic dance music.

• Willie Nelson - Heroes
  Country hero Willie Nelson’s new full-length is an inclusive mix of covers and originals, featuring cameos by Kris Kristofferson, Sheryl Crow, Snoop Dogg, and other celebrity collaborations.

• Scissor Sisters - “Only The Horses”
  The Sisters are back — Jake Shears, Babydaddy, Ana Matronic, Del Marquis, and Randy Real teamed with producer and DJ Calvin Harris to create this single off their upcoming fourth studio album, Magic Hour.

Looking for some new tunes to add to your collection? Got some holes in your latest playlist? Relax — it’s Tuesday once more, which means we’ve got a whole smorgasbord of new music for you. Blur vocalist and renaissance man Damon Albarn has a new solo full-length, as does Bon Iver bandmate and collaborator S. Carey. For something a little more upbeat, go with Brooklyn indie-pop outfit Here We Go Magic’s new album, or listen to the new OFF! for your hardcore fix.

Still jonesin’? As always, there’s even more music on our weekly New Music Tuesday playlist, in Rdio's New Releases and more suggestions among our playlist notes.

Playlist Notes

• Keane - Strangeland
  English piano-rockers Keane release their fourth album today, which marks a return to the simpler, minimal sounds of their first album.

• Silversun Pickups - Neck of the Woods
  The LA shoe-gaze quartet are following up their 2009 breakthrough, Swoon, with an album produced by Jacknife Lee, the man behind albums by Bloc Party and Snow Patrol.

• Porter Robinson - “Language”
  DJ/producer Porter Robinson’s new single is a sunny, euphoric mix of synths and drums.

• Passion Pit - “Take A Walk”
  The electro-pop outfit finally recorded a sophomore album to their hit 2009 debut, Manners. The album is schedule for July, but until then, we have this first groovy taste to tide us over.

• Fiona Apple - “Every Single Night”
  The 90s queen of confessional, passionate songwriting has a new single out this week in the form of the elegantly-traipsing, conversational “Every Single Night.” A new album’s on the way, but we’ll have to patiently wait until June.

By this time, April showers should have brought May flowers to where you are, but if not, don’t fret — plenty of new music should brighten the new month for you. This week, SoCal punkers Pennywise, horror-rock maestro Marilyn Manson, cerebral indie-pop outfit Lower Dens, and San Francisco metal troupe Wild Hunt all have new full-lengths for your Rdio collections. Former Menomena member Brent Knopf also returns this week, with a debut album from his band Ramona Falls.

As always, there’s even more music for your waiting ears this week — read our playlist notes below, explore New Releases and listen to our New Music Tuesday for a preview.

Playlist Notes

• Norah Jones - Little Broken Hearts
  The former soft-rock and jazz chanteuse developed an edge on her fifth studio album thanks to a new sound, produced by Danger Mouse.

• B.o.B. - Strange Clouds
  The hip-hop singer-songwriter returns with his second full-length this week, including guest spots from Taylor Swift, Lil Wayne, Nicki Minaj, and T.I.

• Santigold - Master of My Make-Believe
  Eccentric pop singer-songwriter Santi White impressed fans with the way she blended a seemingly infinite number of influences on her first album — hip-hop, pop, R’n’B, punk, and electronic. Four years later, hear what else she has in store for fans on her much anticipated follow-up album.

• Carrie Underwood - Blown Away
  Underwood’s success as a solo country singer-songwriter has nearly erased the fact that she was once a hopeful on American Idol. Today, she releases her fourth album of twangy pop tunes, rendered in her mellifluous croon.

Now that Coachella’s over, we all need some new music to fill the void, right? Say no more — this week’s new releases include a live EP from retro-futurist Toro Y Moi, a long-awaited new full length from SoCal punk-poppers Eve 6. It also includes the new Torche album, an EP of hazy pop noir from The Raveonettes, the latest album from Canadian piano singer-songwriter Rufus Wainwright, and former model Lissy Trullie’s indie pop effort.

For still more new music, consult our notes below, listen to our New Music Tuesday playlist and browse the New Releases yourself.

Playlist Notes

• Jack White - Blunderbuss
  Jack White is now solo, and his first full-length is more personal than anything he did as a White Stripe.

• Electric Guest - Mondo
  Los Angeles electronic pop duo Electric Guest drop their debut album this week. The Danger Mouse-produced album is punctuated by chanted vocals, pop hooks, and groovy bass — it’s perfect for your summer playlist.

• Ed Sheeran and Yelawolf - The Slumdon Bridge EP
  This collaborative EP from UK vocalist Ed Sheeran and Alabama rapper Yelawolf is the product of a 10-hour recording studio marathon. Try out the four tracks born from their whirlwind session.

• Azealia Banks - “212’”
  The internet sensation’s debut single, “212,” is a rollicking ride through Banks’ multiple talents — her silver tongue, filthy mouth, and soulful croon, all delivered in broad strokes via her larger than life personality. If you haven’t heard this track yet, do yourself a favor.

It’s Tuesday again, which means another serving of new music for your Rdio playlists and collections. Comedy fans will be thrilled to know that stand-up comedian Lisa Lampanelli is releasing a new album today, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg: Wolf Parade’s Spencer Krug releases an ambitious new Moonface full-length. Not only that, Hank Williams III has a new rock-tinged country album, glam-pop outfit Neon Trees are back with a sophomore effort, and surf-pop specialist Jack Johnson has a collaborative new live recording.

For those with sundry taste, there’s still something for you — listen to the New Music Tuesday playlist and read the playlist notes below for the low-down on even more new tunes.

Playlist Notes

• Spiritualized - Sweet Heart Sweet Light
  Beloved British space-rock outfit Spiritualized release their seventh album this week. Sweet Heart Sweet Light is their first album since 2008, and was influenced by the band’s recent tour playing the entirety of their 1997 opus, Ladies and Gentlemen, We Are Floating in Space.

• Maroon 5 - “Payphone”
  Chart-burning Maroon 5’s new album comes out in June. The first single is “Payphone”, featuring rhymes from rapper Wiz Khalifa.

• Rick Ross - “Stay Schemin’”
  Rozay’s new track is a bumping mid-tempo think piece featuring Drake, with French Montana on the chorus.

• Jason Mraz - Love Is A Four Letter Word
  According to the man himself, pop-rock troubadour Jason Mraz’s much-anticipated follow-up to We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things. features mellow, mid-tempo tunes.

• Train - California 37
  Train’s new album was written on the road, over the last three years. If new single “Drive By” is anything to go by, the group still has a knack for punchy pop tunes with sweet melodies.

With festival season about to begin, a lot of very summery albums are seeing the light of day this week: Florence + The Machine, dubstep DJ Bassnectar, Canuck indie troupe Eight and a Half to start. There's also folk songstress Bonnie Raitt, UK balladeers Scars on 45, surf-infused punk rockers FIDLAR, and Aussie dance outfit Gold Fields who have new albums ready for your waiting ears. Want even more new music? Listen to the New Music Tuesday playlist and read the playlist notes below.

Playlist Notes

• Alabama Shakes - Boys & Girls
  Garage quartet Alabama Shakes are finally releasing their debut album, which blows up the bluesy goodness of single “Hold On” to album size.

• Kanye West - “Mercy”
  The biggest name in hip-hop releases a taste of his forthcoming collaborative mixtape in the form of “Mercy,” an unusually dark instrumental featuring Big Sean, Pusha T, and 2 Chainz.

• Grace Potter & The Nocturnals - “Never Go Back”
  The slinky “Never Go Back” is the first single from The Lion the Beast the Beat, the fourth album by this Coachella-bound folk-rock quartet.

• M. Ward - A Wasteland Companion
  The singer-songwriter, also known as the male half of She & Him, releases his seventh studio album today. It's his first in three years.

• Curren$y - “What It Look Like (feat. Wale)
  Two prolific hip-hop champs unite over a stirring instrumental of sweeping strings and undulating harp.