New Music Reviews (10/7)

Each week, Music Director Chris Sanley and Associate Music Director Alex Ruder share brief insights on new and upcoming releases for KEXP's rotation. These reviews help our DJs decide on what they want to play. See what we added this week below (and on our Charts page), including new releases from Caribou, Naked Giants, A Place To Bury Strangers, and more. 

Caribou - Honey (Merge)
The sixth studio album from Dan Snaith’s Caribou project is a thrilling, exuberant set of electronic dance music. With layered synths, driving beats, manipulated vocals and excellent samples, Honey is nothing but infectious and uplifting, begging for listeners to pump up the volume at every turn. –CS

Naked Giants - Shine Away (DevilDuck)
The third album from this Seattle trio is another stellar set of magnetic indie rock and energetic garage rock that deftly mixes in grunge, psych, and New Wave styles into their muscular, expansive, alternative sound. Ten years since forming as teenagers, the band showcases a more mature side on Shine Away to reveal “the sound of a band coming into, and becoming, themselves,” capable of expressing themselves more intimately through their songcraft, while still bringing in doses of the explosive, infectious, youthful sound that defined their earlier output. -AR

A Place To Bury Strangers - Synthesizer (Dedstrange)
Don’t even think about playing this one quietly. Synthesizer, the seventh studio album from noise rock masterminds A Place To Bury Strangers and their first with the new collaborative lineup, transports listeners straight to a dark, loud club show; you can feel the guitars making the hair stand up on your arms and the bass and drums thumping through your body. With walls of sounds, compelling hooks, and dizzying distortions, this album represents a thrilling reinvention of this innovative project. –CS

Baby Schillaci - The Soundtrack (self-released)
The debut album from UK outfit Baby Schillaci is a frenetic exploration of tense, hard hitting post-punk. With ferocious guitars, thunderous drums and razor sharp lyricism, The Soundtrack serves as a bold introduction, offering anti-establishment commentary on the tumultuous political atmosphere across territories through these potent, infectious tracks.–CS

Cool Out Sun - A LION IS A LION (House of Beige)
Cool Out Sun is a Melbourne-based hip-hop collective centered around Australian/Sierra-Leonean rapper N'fa Jones and Australian/South African drummer and producer Sensible J, both artists long-ingrained within Australia’s hip-hop scene as members of regionally groundbreaking and award-winning acts 1200 Techniques and REMI, respectively. Their second album is a top-shelf set of vibrant, soulful, socially-conscious hip-hop infused with elements of Afrobeats, Afro-soul, R&B, and roots music that brilliantly displays their distinctive Afro-centric “Oz” hip-hop vision. With refreshing organic boom-bap-leaning beats that are enhanced by live instrumentation and captivating lyrics that grapple with social, racial, and political issues while also celebrating life and music, A LION IS A LION emerges as one of the sharpest hip-hop records of the year that deserves to be heard outside of its regional scene. -AR

Fousheé - Pointy Heights (RCA)
The sophomore album from singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer Brittany Fousheé is an exuberant fusion of ornate pop, R&B, reggae and soul, featuring colorful percussion and dance-worthy grooves alongside her stunning, breathy vocals. Through heartfelt lyricism, Fousheé honors family, love and home while showcasing her impressive songwriting prowess.  –CS

Leon Bridges - Leon (Columbia)
The fourth studio album from Texas singer-songwriter Leon Bridges is all heart. His soul sound has evolved immensely since his 2015 debut, peeling back layers with each release to reveal the true, authentic artist that we see and hear today. His smooth, buttery vocals guide listeners through tales of home, love, growth and all that has shaped Leon, while the layered sonics honoring the Lone Star State provide the perfect backdrop. –CS

Mo Dotti - opaque (self-released)
The debut full-length album from this Los Angeles band is a strong set of soaring, dreamy, confident shoegaze. While much of ‘opaque’ showcases Mo Dotti’s refreshing take on the classic shoegaze formula, the album also offers up gritty jolts of noise-pop and blissful, gauzy fuzz-pop numbers, and the band showcases a sharp pop sensibility throughout with an assured fusion of big guitars, enveloping feedback, and Gina Negrini’s warm, ethereal vocals. -AR

Seun Kuti & Egypt 80 - Heavier Yet (Lays the Crownless Head) (SKE80/Record Kicks)
Heavier Yet (Lays the Crownless Head) is an exhilarating collection of Afrobeat, jazz, soul and funk that honors the Kuti family legacy. Each of these six epic, spellbinding tracks advances Seun’s socially conscious musical vision, committed to resistance and revolution, fueled by fiery horns, electrifying percussion, his signature vocals and legendary guests Damian Marley and Sampa The Great. While steeped in tradition, he continues to weave contemporary influences into his sonic landscape, enriching the genre created by his grandfather and bridging the past with the present. –CS

The Hard Quartet - The Hard Quartet (Matador)
This supergroup composed of Stephen Malkmus (Pavement, the Jicks), Matt Sweeney (Chavez, Superwolf), Jim White (Dirty Three) and Emmett Kelly (Cairo Gang, Ty Segall) deliver a consistently solid and delightfully diverse debut album that finds these longtime friends casually finding their own expansive lane. Record in NYC and Malibu with only their families and close friends being aware of the sessions, The Hard Quartet’s four illustrious members each write, sing, play, and produce the songs, allowing them to tap into an eclectic yet cohesive sound that seamlessly roams from scuzzy stormers to doo-wop ballads, sweet slacker rock to gritty alternative anthems. -AR

The Smile - Cutouts (XL Recordings)
Cut from the same sessions that yielded their excellent sophomore album Wall of Eyes, Cutouts marks the third The Smile album (and second of 2024) from Thom Yorke, Jonny Greenwood, and Tom Skinner and the trio dive deeper into their beautifully brooding art-rock that pairs Yorke’s singular vocal style with the band’s hypnotic, atmospheric, locked-in arrangements. There’s a delicately sophisticated balance of spacious, minimal, cinematic pieces with more kinetic and immediately engaging songs here that gives the album an engaging, engrossing dynamic and further establishes The Smile’s alluring sound. -AR

Thee Sacred Souls - Got A Story To Tell (Daptone Records)
The sophomore studio album from SoCal dynamos Thee Sacred Souls finds the outfit elevating their craft. Their endearing, dusty soul straddles the line between past and present, as their retro-soul harkens back to the glory days of Motown while propelling the genre into contemporary spaces with psych influences and Gabriel Roth’s masterful production. Josh Lane’s smooth vocals sound as sweet as ever, accompanied by beautiful harmonies, guitar, strings, piano, horns and conga, ensuring that each song on Got A Story To Tell leaves a lasting impression. –CS

Vitesse X - This Infinite (Music Website)
The second album from this solo project of Brooklyn-based electronic producer and vocalist Jordan Stern (aka Vitesse X) is a fantastic set of glistening synth-pop that finds her adding an addictive dream-pop filter to her sophisticated high-energy club rhythms, sparkling synths, and ethereal vocals. With plenty of euphoric highs, This Infinite is a consistently thrilling adrenaline rush from an evolving artist learning to trust her intuition. -AR

Wild Pink - Dulling The Horns (Fire Talk)
The fifth studio album from NYC-based Wild Pink is an expansive set of Americana-tinged indie rock. With lush, vibrant soundscapes created by thrilling electric guitars, pedal steel, horns, keys and bit of fiddle for good measure, Dulling The Horns is anything but dull, sweeping listeners up in its big hooks, driving rhythms and emotive lyricism, offering an immersive aural fever dream. –CS

Abstract Crimewave - The Longest Night (Chimp Limbs)
Previously known as Smile, Abstract Crimewave is the collaborative project between veteran Swedish musicians Björn Yttling (of Peter Bjorn and John) and Joakim Åhlund (of Teddybears, Caesars, and Les Big Byrd). Their third album marks their first as Abstract Crimewave and it’s a sweet set of shimmery, melodic, dreamy psych-pop that pairs a sharp indie pop sensibility with the exploratory curiosity of two seasoned musicians with deep résumés eager to tap into something fresh. The album ironically arrives on the same day as the third album by the band that they had to change their name for. Lykke Li, Dungen’s Gustav Ejstes, and the legendary Chrissie Hynde make guest appearances. -AR

Ben Böhmer - Bloom (Ninja Tune)
The third studio album from German producer and DJ Ben Böhmer is a technicolor fusion of house, techno and electro-pop, achieving stunning, cinematic results. With soundscapes reminiscent of Massive Attack, these breathtaking arrangements feature vocal collaborations from the likes of Lykke Li, Oh Wonder, JONAH and more creating an engaging, memorable journey. –CS

Bright Eyes - Five Dice, All Threes (Dead Oceans)
The tenth studio album from indie-rock mainstays Bright Eyes is a compelling collection of intricate new anthems. Featuring lavish arrangements with keys, horns, pedal steel, strings, glockenspiel and samples of Frank Sinatra’s 1954 film Suddenly, Conor Oberst’s pointed lyricism and signature vocals unite listeners as they navigate this flawed world. –CS

cumgirl8  - the 8th cumming (4AD)
The debut album from NYC’s cumgirl8 (referred to on-air as CG8) is a futuristic expression of art-rock and post-punk. Described as “a utopian, chaotic Greta Thunberg fever dream,”’ the songs on the 8th cumming are fiercely feminist. With a dynamic blend of industrial, new wave, punk and shoegaze soundscapes, the sonic and lyrical range is vast and provocative, marking a solid first official coming from this exciting outfit with a clear vision. –CS

Dar Disku - Dar Disku (Soundway)
Dar Disku is a collaborative project of Bahraini-born, UK-based DJs and producers Mazen Almaskati and Vish Mhatre. Taking their name from the 1970s Egyptian pop culture magazine, Dar Disku is a “celebration of their Arabic heritage and multicultural influences that melds golden age West Asian and North African sounds with a contemporary dance floor focus.” Their debut album is a top-notch set of global grooves that brilliantly filters colorful worldly styles – Egyptian folk, Turkish psych, Algerian rai, Sudanese funk, Ethiopian jazz, Khaleeji disco – through a vibrant disco-pop lens with the album’s five standout tracks featuring guest vocalists from Algeria, Turkey, and Bahrain, as well as an appearance from legendary Indian singer Asha Puthli. -AR

Half Waif - See You At The Maypole (ANTI-)
The sixth studio album from singer-songwriter and producer Nandi Rose is a heartbreaking yet beautiful examination of loss, grief and recovery. Written during a profound period of anguish after a devastating miscarriage, Rose pours her emotions into See You At The Maypole, using these stunning songs to connect with others in moments of despair. Showcasing the broad spectrum of healing, the songs range from sparse, intimate reflections of isolation to lush, radiant tapestries with violin, synths, epic percussion and a choir, resulting in a rich, all-consuming listen. –CS

Jonah Yano - Jonah Yano & The Heavy Loop (Innovative Leisure)
The third studio album from Montreal-based Japanese-Canadian musician and producer Jonah Yano is an intimate, meditative fusion of indie-folk, jazz and soul. With his robust, long-curated band, they craft luminous, vivid soundscapes featuring intricate guitar work, keys, horns and Yano’s rich and ethereal vocals. Jonah Yano & The Heavy Loop seamlessly glides from track to track, keeping listeners engaged while levitating through the journey. –CS

MICHELLE - Songs About You Specifically (Atlantic)
The third studio album from the NYC outfit is a playful and honest exploration of desire and regret. Blending pop, R&B, shoegaze and funk influences, MICHELLE serves up catchy guitar riffs alongside slinky synth and bass lines, creating compelling hooks and captivating grooves. –CS

Montell Fish - CHARLOTTE (JCM)
The eighth studio album and second chapter of the JCM trilogy from Montell Fish finds the innovative musician leaning into all of the feels with his compelling alt-R&B sound. Ranging from woozy, atmospheric guitars to bold riffs, CHARLOTTE features stunning, layered vocals, keys, and driving drumbeats, continuing his exciting evolution. Of the new album, he says: “The second chapter of the JCM Trilogy, the chaos after peace. My goal was to make an art piece inspired by Theological Ideas through the lens of a breakup with a slight to psychological concepts for answers." –CS

Rahim Redcar - HOPECORE (Because Music)
The visionary formerly known as Christine and the Queens dives deep into expressive house music with HOPECORE. Across these seven dynamic, transformative tracks, he achieves rich, cinematic soundscapes with layered synths, mesmerizing beats, catchy drum fills and his signature vocals. Of the new album, Redcar says: “Hopecore was made with tears, blood, and mostly an unwavering faith in the raw, pure expression of the soul. Music took here its full prophetic vastness, got wilder, and called for an absolute quest where no one else came in to tamper with intentions. A call of the flesh, a prayer for justice and freedom.” –CS

Various Artists - Jazz Is Dead 021 (Jazz Is Dead)
The latest in the always exhilarating Jazz Is Dead series finds Adrian Younge and Ali Shaheed Muhammad teaming up with living legends Ebo Taylor, Hyldon, Dom Salvador, Antonio Carlos e Jocafi, Carlos Dafé and Joyce e Tutty Moreno for an exploration of jazz, psych, funk, soul and samba. Embracing classicism within these innovative arrangements, JID021 is another timeless collection of absolute gems.  –CS

Wiseboy Jeremy - Pumpkin Seeds (Equity)
The sophomore album from New Jersey-bred MC Wiseboy Jeremy is a solid set of contemplative hip hop with jazz undertones and his throaty vocal delivery. With expert production by Kirti Pandey, Pumpkin Seeds features soulful, futuristic instrumentation, chill grooves and heartfelt lyrics deeply rooted in his experiences. –CS

Dawn Richard & Spencer Zahn - Quiet in a World Full of Noise (Merge)
The second collaborative album between versatile New Orleans artist Dawn Richard and Brooklyn-based producer/multi-instrumentalist Spencer Zahn is another sublime, powerful, cinematic set of atmospheric R&B. With help from violinist Bryan Senti, horn player CJ Camerieri, and contributions from the Budapest Film Orchestra, Spencer crafts lush, exquisite, painterly soundscapes that blend jazz, ambient, neo-classical, and downtempo styles through rich acoustic instrumentation and subtle electronic flourishes, serving up a captivating backdrop for Dawn’s raw, vulnerable, deeply intimate lyrics. -AR

Diary - Speedboat (Kanine)
For their third EP, this NYC band delivers four solid rock songs that roam around shoegaze, psych, new wave, and classic alternative rock territory. Here’s the band succinctly breaking down their latest offering: “Musically, we turned to Sister-era Sonic Youth, early Dinosaur Jr, Brian Jonestown Massacre’s Methodrone, Swirlies, and Drop Nineteens. But at the end of the day, we just love big pop songs that run super loud and fuzzy." -AR

Drug Church - PRUDE (Pure Noise)
The fifth album from this Albany, NY band is another confident showcase of their gripping post-hardcore and aggressive rock sound distinguished by pummeling guitars, propulsive rhythms, and lead singer Patrick Kindlon’s emphatic, impassioned vocals. -AR

Haich Ber Na - The Everyday (self-released)
The debut album from this emerging British artist is an expansive set of alternative R&B/pop that serves as “a deeply personal coming-of-age narrative set against the backdrop of his adolescence in the working-class suburbs of Peterborough, an often-overlooked city named “the most depressing city in the UK.”” With its sleek pop-tinted production, gritty widescreen scope, and Haich Ber Na’s expressive delivery, The Everyday is a diverse offering with intermittent standout moments that recall fellow R&B adventurists Q, 1010benja, Majid Jordan, The Weeknd, Kevin Abstract, Steve Lacy, and N.E.R.D. -AR

Hot Moms Club - Happy You’re Here (Tone Tree Music)
The third EP from this quickly evolving solo project of San Diego’s Eliza Vera is a promising set of “sultry-sad-pop” music that finds her bringing a more polished, “bigger, and more developed” sheen to her charming, honest, DIY pop. Early single and standout song “Big Time” is a poignant anthem that captures Eliza’s “desire to hear my dad admit that he messed up by not being around when I was growing up.”  -AR

Mr. Gnome - A Sliver of Space (El Marko)
The sixth studio album from Cleveland duo Mr. Gnome is a strong set of art-rock infused with enticing psych, dream pop and punk influences. With dynamic arrangements featuring bright keys, hazy vocals, ripping guitars and propulsive drum patterns, A Sliver of Space is composed of varied sonic landscapes to sink into. –CS