New Music Reviews (1/25)

Each week, KEXP’s Music Director Don Yates (joined this week by DJ Alex) shares brief insights on new and upcoming releases. See what's coming up this week below, including reviews for new releases from Kiwi Jr., Shame, Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio, and more.

Kiwi Jr. – Cooler Returns (Sub Pop)
This Toronto-based band’s second album is an impressive set of ‘90s-influenced slacker-rock with jangly guitars, rollicking piano and occasional organ, harmonica and other instrumentation, along with observational, often-sardonic lyrics and an abundance of catchy song hooks. — DY

Shame – Drunk Tank Pink (Dead Oceans)
This London band’s excellent second album is a more varied and adventurous take on the band’s incendiary post-punk, combining jagged, squalling guitars, jittery, at times funk-inflected lyrics, declamatory vocals, boisterous harmonies and anxiety-fueled lyrics of boredom and alienation. — DY

Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio – I Told You So (Colemine)
This Seattle band’s second full-length is a first-rate set of funk and soul instrumentals, combining searing organ riffs, fiery funk guitar and in-the-pocket rhythms. — DY

Sleaford Mods – Spare Ribs (Rough Trade)
This British duo’s latest album is a strong set of acerbic post-punk combining a spare, beat-driven sound with Jason Williamson’s snarling vocals and cutting lyrics aimed at government corruption and incompetence, elitist privilege, xenophobia, class tourism and other ills. — DY

Still Corners – The Last Exit (Wrecking Light)
This British-American duo’s fifth album is a well-crafted blend of psych-tinged dream-pop and desert noir, combining shimmering guitars, atmospheric synths, soft, ethereal vocals and haunting melodies. — DY

Statik Selektah – The Balancing Act (Mass Appeal)
The latest album from veteran Boston-raised, NYC-based DJ/producer Statik Selektah is a sharp set of assured hip-hop that finds him supplying his trusty boom-bap beats for a stacked roster of guest MCs that includes Nas, Black Thought, Method Man, Killer Mike, Joey Bada$$, Jadakiss, Styles P, 2 Chainz, Conway The Machine, Dave East, Benny The Butcher, Jack Harlow, and more. — AR

Teen Creeps – Forever ([PIAS])
This Belgian band’s second album is a fine set of ‘90s-steeped indie-rock with fuzzy guitars, driving rhythms and angst-fueled lyrics. — DY

Pearl Charles – Magic Mirror (Kanine)
This LA artist’s second album is a well-crafted set of hook-filled, ‘70s-influenced indie-pop incorporating elements of folk-rock, country, disco, psych-pop and other styles, combining a warm sound with wistful melodies and often-melancholy lyrics of lost love. — DY

The Besnard Lakes – The Besnard Lakes are the Last of the Great Thunderstorm Warnings (FatCat)
This Montreal band’s sixth full-length is a double album of majestic, psych-tinged art-rock combining a densely produced sound with soaring melodies and lyrics of loss, death and resurrection. — DY

Yung – Ongoing Dispute (PNKSLM)
This Danish band’s second album is a solid set of expansive post-punk with chiming guitars, driving rhythms and soaring song hooks. — DY

Jahari Massamba Unit – Pardon My French (Madlib Invazion)
Jahari Masaamba Unit is a collaborative project between legendary beatsmith Madlib and revered drummer/producer Karriem Riggins. Tapping into their roots in the hip-hop realm, their debut album is a stellar set of expansive, spiritual-tinged, beat-centric jazz that sounds like a long-lost astral jazz gem from the 1970s. — AR

Palberta – Palberta5000 (Wharf Cat)
This New York trio’s fifth album is a fine set of arty post-punk with angular guitars, disjointed rhythms, bright harmonies and lyrics revolving around friendship and connection. — DY

Cub Scout Bowling Pins – Heaven Beats Iowa EP (Guided By Voices, Inc.)
The debut release from this Guided By Voices side-project is a solid six-song EP ranging from hook-filled, Farfisa organ-led power-pop to crunchy hard rock. — DY

fuvk – imaginary deadlines (Z Tapes)
Following a handful of excellent EPs that have led to a devoted online fanbase, Austin, TX artist Shirley Zhu (aka fuvk) delivers her first full-length album and it's another wonderful set of emotional, dreamy, orchestral-tinged indie pop that pairs her intimate vocals atop charming, cinematic, winsome backdrops. Opening track "Take Me Back" is a duet that distinctively blends conscious hip-hop with her sensitive bedroom-pop vibe while album highlight "Subside" showcases her expanding towards a more polished and produced sound. — AR

R.A.P. Ferreira & Scallops Hotel – Bob's Son (Ruby Yacht)
The latest album from prolific Maine-raised, Nashville-based rapper/producer Rory Ferreira (fka milo) under his recently launched R.A.P. Ferreira alias is another solid set of adventurous left-field hip-hop that showcases his creative vocal style, exceptionally robust vocabulary, labyrinthian storytelling, and crafty wordplay over warm jazzy beats. — AR

Widowspeak – Honeychurch EP (Captured Tracks)
This Brooklyn duo’s latest release is a solid five-song EP of folk-tinged dream-pop combining an atmospheric sound with breathy vocals and hypnotic song hooks. — DY

The Animals at Night – Future Colors EP (self-released)
The latest release from this Seattle project spearheaded by Graig Markel is a solid four-song EP of atmospheric, groove-driven instrumentals featuring modular synths and inflected with soul, funk and other styles. — DY