It's the first day of Autumn, and the new releases are falling all over the place. The sophomore release from Alt-J is finally officially out. KEXP's Music Director Don Yates notes, "this English band carries on with their second album, a generally more subdued, organic and atmospheric take on the band’s quirky, expansive prog-pop, combining intricate, unpredictable arrangements with Joe Newman’s warbling, high-pitched vocals and cryptic lyrics."
We just had a live in-studio session with local artist Perfume Genius, whose third album, Too Bright, hits stores today. "Co-produced by Portishead’s Adrian Utley along with Ali Chant, Too Bright features a fuller, edgier and more dramatic sound than his previous releases, combining stately piano, buzzing synths and guitars and ominous noise with his tremulous vocals and intimate, often-biting lyrics."
Yesterday's in-studio guest S (a.k.a. Jenn Ghetto of Carissa’s Wierd) worked with Death Cab for Cutie's Chris Walla as producer on her fourth album, and as a result, "Cool Choices is an excellent set of emotionally cutting indie pop-rock with a crisp, clean sound combining jangly guitars, propulsive rhythms and occasional piano and synths with her breathy vocals and intimate lyrics of a failed relationship."Aphex Twin shares his first album in 13 years, "a typically masterful set of acid techno flavored with funk, hip hop, jungle and other styles, with intricately arranged jams combining squiggly synths, funky breakbeats, jittery bass lines and warm melodies." Wilco frontman Jeff Tweedy teams up with his son, Spencer, for a new project, Tweedy, whose debut is "a 20-song double album ranging from hook-filled psych-pop and subdued folk-rock to sprawling prog-influenced jams." Mr. Twin Sister (the band formerly known as simply "Twin Sister") release an "impressive, beautifully executed blend of club-friendly electro-pop and reflective dream-pop, combining glittering synths, sleek guitars and propulsive rhythms with smooth vocals and lyrics revolving around identity and isolation." Legendary singer-songwriter Leonard Cohen celebrates his 80th birthday with a new album, "ranging from bluesy ballads to slinky funk-pop, combining a mostly spare sound with his deep, growling vocals and evocative lyrics ranging from personal concerns of love and mortality to reflections on 9/11 and the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina."
And there's a ton more: just scroll down and check it out.
As we mentioned in today's Music News round-up, Prince has returned with not one, but two new albums this week: a solo album titled Art Official Age, and one with his band 3rdEyeGirl called PlectrumElectrum.
It's another busy fall week, but KEXP's Music Director Don Yates definitely spots some highlights, like the latest from NYC's The Juan Maclean. Now "officially" a duo, producer/musician Juan MacLean and vocalist Nancy Whang share "a strong set of muscular disco, house and related styles, combining …
