7/17 New Music Roundup
This week brings us Dan Andriano’s second album, a wonderfully upbeat debut album, and a quietly steady veteran album. Also, a few amazing singles from albums that are only a week away!
Albums
I did not like this album on my first listen. Like, at all. I thought there were a few good songs and a whole bunch of weird ones. However, just a few listens later, my tune has changed drastically. I now think this is a rather ambitious effort from Andriano that he pulls off quite well. It is as far from his emo-tinged punk songs with Alkaline Trio as it is from the quiet folk songs of his first solo album, which came out four years ago.
Instead, as indicated by the singles that trickled out early on, this is something entirely new from Andriano. While there are a few acoustic songs and a straightforward rocker here and there, much of this album is angular, meandering, and bordering on psychedelia at times. These songs are definitely weird, but that weirdness is put to good use, creating unnerving atmospheres and powerful shifts in tone and dynamics. Andriano has always been known for his ability to write heartwrenching and/or angry lyrics over sweet and/or angry melodies, but he has not had much opportunity to show off his considerable ability as a creative musician until now. Very impressive stuff from the bassist of a punk band.
Listen: Full album (Spotify, non-Spotify), “Wait”
This album is a little all over the place. It’s part raucous indie-punk, part acoustic indie-pop, and part semi-obnoxious indie-noise. One moment, it sounds like Defiance, Ohio; the next, it’s suddenly a Regina Spektor demo; then, before you know it, you’re listening to a Surfer Blood song. There’s actually some very strong pop songwriting here, full of good melodies and catchy beats, but it’s just a little too buried beneath distracting genre-hopping. Still, it’s quite an entertaining listen and actually does settle into a nice indie-pop groove on the back half. Definitely worth checking out.
Listen: Full album (Spotify, non-Spotify), “Things We Never Say”
Jason Isbell is at the point in his career where you have a pretty good idea of what his next album will sound like. If you’re familiar with his work, Something More Than Free sounds exactly how you think it does, if only a tad quieter than usual. That’s not to say this is a bad album. “24 Frames” rightfully got a lot of press early on, and much of the rest of the album is solid as well. As a whole though, this album is not as strong as 2013's Southeastern, which was really quite a beautiful and special album, the kind that an artist can only hope to release once or twice in his or her career. Big fans of Isbell will certainly find a lot to love here, while more casual fans and the unacquainted will probably not be spending much time on this one.
Listen: Full album (Spotify), “24 Frames”
Singles
Antarctigo Vespucci — “Losing My Mind”
ANTARCTIGO VESPUCCI IS BACK!!! The best thing to happen to music last year will happen again this year with the release of Leavin’ La Vida Loca, which comes out this Friday! The album was only announced a few weeks ago and it’s already almost here! I was so excited about the announcement that I forgot to post the first single from the album last week:
In case you can’t tell, I love this band a whole lot. Chris Farren’s sweet pop melodies paired with Jeff Rosenstock’s proclivity for musical weirdness makes for the greatest combination known to man, and this album is set to take over the world. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.
Diet Cig is still very early in their career, but they seem to be finding their footing a bit with their new single, which is somehow just the sixth song they’ve ever released (and their longest song yet). The sound is more self-assured and fuller, fleshed out with backing vocals, multiple guitar tracks, and louder drums. This song is still very much a Diet Cig song though, which is a good thing. As long as they keep writing songs that make their adorable lead singer want to dance like this, I’ll keep listening.
Last but not least, Elway returns with the title track from their forthcoming LP, Better Whenever. From the sound of this song, the new record will likely continue in the slower, moodier direction hinted at by Elway’s fantastic contribution to last year’s Red Scare compilation. The band’s sound changed rapidly in the span of just two years between Delusions and Leavetaking, but it’s still a bit of a surprise to hear the band evolving so much again for their third album after being so successful with their second. I’m definitely liking the new direction though, and their last record isn’t going anywhere either. Oh, and I also forgot to post the first single from this album last week, so here’s a second bonus song for the week!
