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 Alabama Shakes, Dahi, Erykah Badu & The Alchemist, and more.
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Alabama Shakes - I Must Be Dreaming (Island)
Everything about Alabama Shakes’ ‘I Must Be Dreaming’ is transcendent: the textures, guitar tones, emotional weight, Brittany Howard’s singular vocals. It’s been eleven years since their last album, the inimitable ‘Sound & Color,’ and the trio’s psychedelic soul sounds as inspired, focused, and expressive as ever. Confronting the societal ills that plague the crazy world we live in, their kaleidoscopic sound swirls through the light and dark, drawing listeners in deeper with each measure. Welcome back, Shakes. –CS
Dahi - Black Boy (Alternative) (ALTER)
The highly anticipated debut album from Inglewood-based producer extraordinaire Dacoury Natche, aka Dahi, is a star-studded tour de force. Featuring guitar-driven live instrumentation, masterful production, and appearances from Vince Staples, Moses Sumney, Mez, Kendrick Lamar, Amber Mark, Childish Gambino, Obongjayar, Baby Rose, and Ravyn Lenae, to name a few, ‘Black Boy (Alternative)’ is a brilliant display of textured, rock-infused alt-R&B and contemporary hip-hop. After honing his craft behind the boards for artists like SZA, Nas, and Kali Uchis, Dahi is finally, and deservedly, stepping into the spotlight with this sensational debut. –CS
Erykah Badu & The Alchemist - Before the World Blows (Young)
Erykah Badu returns! For her first project in 11 years and her first official album in 16 (!!!) years, the legendary Dallas artist teams up with revered hip-hop producer The Alchemist for an intoxicating set of enigmatic R&B and blunted neo-soul with The Alchemist’s syrupy, hypnotic, psych-tinted beats providing a brilliant foundation for Badu’s singular voice and mesmerizing storytelling. From the opening 7-minute seance of “Echoes” to the smoky, jazzy touch of closing track “Black Box,” ‘Before the World Blows’ is a transportive 62-minute experience, a portal into a sonic world with Badu confidently at the helm and serving as a gravitational force that draws in contributions from Steve Lacy, Kamasi Washington, Thundercat, Earl Sweatshirt, DRAM, Westside Gunn, Joi, DJ Creole Princess, and more. -AR
Interpol - This Mirror Weighs A Ton (Partisan)
Interpol make a dark, heavy splash with their eighth studio album, their Partisan Records debut. Expansive, densely layered arrangements of moody guitars, dynamic keys, and nuanced percussion propel the weighty subject matter delivered by Paul Banks’ unmistakable baritone. Nearly playing like a retrospective, ‘This Mirror Weighs a Ton’ encapsulates all facets of the beloved post-punk outfit, recalling the magic that first drew fans in with ‘Turn On The Bright Lights’ while taking their sound into new, contemporary territory. Nearly three decades into their career, Interpol proves, not that they needed to, that they have true staying power. –CS
Sera Cahoone - I’ve Missed You All These Years (Sub Pop)
Seattle-based musician Sera Cahoone makes a triumphant return to Sub Pop Records with her sixth studio album. Across eleven engrossing Americana tracks, ornate arrangements featuring guitars, strings, banjo, piano, pedal steel, and her heartfelt, evocative vocals create a sound equally suited to the honky-tonk, quiet nights by the fire, and everything in between. Deep emotion pours out of every note played and every word sung, showcasing her immense talents as a singer, songwriter, and producer. Timeless, original, and profound, ‘I’ve Missed You All These Years’ is a true treasure. –CS
Chelsea Wolfe - The Dark (Loma Vista)
The ninth studio album from singer, songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist Chelsea Wolfe is an epic, otherworldly body of work. Guided by her dynamic, commanding vocals, ‘The Dark’ finds Wolfe embracing just that as she effortlessly moves between tender ballads and sweeping gothic rock with textured, larger-than-life arrangements brought to life with contributions from members of Nine Inch Nails, Queens Of The Stone Age, Warpaint, and more. Working in tandem with longtime collaborator Ben Chrisholm and producer Jennifer Decilveo, Wolfe destroys old worlds while creating new ones, resulting in a bold, transformative statement that finds her emerging more powerful than ever. –CS
Dinosaur Jr. - There Near (Jagjaguwar)
Dinosaur Jr. just can’t miss. The legendary Amherst, MA trio return with their exceptional thirteenth studio album, ‘There Near.’ With incendiary guitars, explosive percussion, and flourishes of piano and organ (courtesy of one Ken Mauri), J Mascis delivers his signature relaxed vocals with effortless cool (“I try not to think too hard about any of it”). The result is an enduring album that sounds as at home in today’s contemporary indie rock space as it would have 30 or 40 years ago, assuring fans that they can always, always rely on the Dinos. –CS
Dogwood Tales - Every Star in Rockingham County (Born Losers)
Following their stellar collaborative album with Euphoria Again earlier this year, Virginia four-piece Dogwood Tales return with their third full-length. With an entrancing blend of alt-country, indie rock, and power pop, the songs on ‘Every Star in Rockingham County’ feel lived in; warm, rich, and storied. Layers of guitars, pedal steel, distortion, video game samples, and percussion provide the bedrock for personal lyricism rooted in small-town life, resulting in an immediate, inviting collection. –CS
Latroit House Ensemble - Classics Vol. 1 (House of Latroit)
Producer, songwriter, DJ, and composer Latroit, aka Dennis White, assembles a crew of bona fide "beautiful people” to not only honor the legacy of house music, but to shapeshift and propel it into new thrilling territory. Enlisting Nick Clow, Nomvula, Jonathan Mouton, Soweto Gospel Choir, and Ron Carter, this dynamic ensemble blends jazz, gospel, Afro-house, and more to reimagine certified classics from Barbara Tucker, Sade, and Soulsearcher, among others. The result is a vibrant, groove-forward collection of dancefloor ready bangers. –CS
MASS OF THE FERMENTING DREGS - Iwaou (祝おう) (FLAKE SOUNDS)
The latest from Japanese trio MASS OF THE FERMENTING DREGS is an immersive set of cinematic alt-rock. Blending shoegaze, post-punk, J-rock, and post-rock, their densely layered guitars, explosive drums, and impassioned vocals craft an entrancing sonic tapestry to disappear into for all glorious 29 minutes. –CS
Nina Winder-Lind - Wild Love (Transgressive)
The debut solo album from Brighton-based Swedish singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Nina Winder-Lind (of The New Eves) is a gripping, delightfully quirky set of folk-tinged indie rock. Centered on her vivid poetry and distinct vocals, she artfully crafts playful arrangements that twist and turn through themes of feminism, liberation, love, and inextricable connection. Brimming with emotionally intense, unbridled energy, ‘Wild Love’ establishes Winder-Lind as a solo artist with extraordinary vision. –CS
Squirrel Flower - Say A Prayer to the Gods of Getting Going (Polyvinyl)
On her sixth full-length, Chicago-based singer-songwriter Ella Williams, aka Squirrel Flower, dishes up an expansive, deeply emotive gut punch of a record. Artfully dancing between hook-laden rockers and pensive indie folk reflections, she crafts atmospheric soundscapes driven by her expressive vocals, delicious guitar licks, and adornments of keys, accordion, recorder, and strings. With her intimate lyricism at the heart of it all, ‘Say A Prayer to the Gods of Getting Going’ is a timeless and impactful collection bound to tug at listeners’ heartstrings. –CS
Ty Segall - Chrome (Drag City)
Hot on the heels of a scorching performance at the KEXP BBQ, Ty Segall unveils another ripping collection of garage, psych, and glam rock heaters. His 18th studio album may just be his most collaborative to date, bringing in the full band (Ben Boye, Evan Burrows, Mikal Cronin and Emmett Kelly) for jam sessions to lay the foundation for ‘Chrome.’ Veering back into heavier territory this time around, these nine-tracks boast seething guitar riffs, thunderous percussion, melodic keys, and Segall’s signature expressive vocals to electrifying effect. –CS
Diego Raposo - hola como estas? hola, bien y tú? bien, y qué haces? nada y tú? nada (Point)
The second full-length album by this versatile multi-instrumentalist and electronic producer from the Dominican Republic is a fresh set of hard-hitting club rhythms sprinkled with some visionary electronic-pop moments. Lead single “PERMANENTE” featuring rising Berlin/NYC-based Guatemalan artist Sofía Insua (aka aLex vs aLex) is the album’s most pop-focused offering and it’s an addictive fusion of Diego’s futuristic electronic beats with her airy, magnetic vocals. “QUIERO ser MEJOR EN TUS oJos” features Argentinian artist heartgaze for another head-spinning vocal-laced highlight, and Diego flexes his production prowess throughout the rest of the record for a run of adventurous dancefloor-primed rhythms. -AR
Elephant Stone - ASHA (Elephants on Parade)
The latest full-length album from this veteran Montréal band led by Rishi Dhir (also of MIEN, formerly of The High Dials) is another solid set of expansive psychedelic music that pairs a love of Western psych-pop and psych-rock with traditional Indian and Southeast Asian elements, the latter enhanced by Dhir’s talents on the sitar, tabla, and dilruba. Named in honor of Dhir’s late mother who graces the album cover, ‘ASHA’ (”Hope” in Sanskrit) features both intense, stormy blasts – “”Everything Evil,” “Fascists Killed Yer Rock'N' Roll” – and wonderfully buoyant, dreamy, hopeful moments for a cathartic, open-minded journey that serves as a “meditation on finding sanctuary within an increasingly dark world.” -AR
Empanadas Ilegales - LABORATORIO TROPICAL (We Are Time)
The fourth album from this Vancouver, BC-based ensemble composed of members with roots in Colombia, Ecuador, Argentina, and Canada is another colorful, confident, and lively blend of psychedelic cumbia, salsa, surf rock, and jazz that’s heavy on robust instrumental arrangements while a few tracks – including standout early single “Agua e’ Coco” – add vocals into their celebratory mix. -AR
John Vanderslice - FOCUS (Tiny Telephone)
The latest album from this veteran American musician and longtime Bay Area figure is a return to his honest, idiosyncratic, fragmented indie-pop and cerebral electronic-pop that marries his distinctive voice and unique storytelling with his recent forays into adventurous electronic production. Spurred by a recent relocation from Los Angeles to the Netherlands, and inspired by his wife Maria’s desire for John to make another vocal-focused album after a run of instrumental-heavy records, ‘FOCUS’ features lyrics written by Maria – except for “Song For Maria,” which was written by JV – and marks yet another reinvention from an ever curious musician consistently adding new shades within his sonic palette. -AR
Marci - Mask Lady and Late Night Girl (Arbutus)
The second solo album from Montreal-bred artist and TOPS member Marta Cikojevic (aka Marci) is a marvelous set of scintillating, playful, anthemic pop songs that filters her sharp pop sensibilities through a euphoric big-screen lens. Largely written in collaboration with fellow TOPS member David Carriere and inspired by her recent relocation to Los Angeles, ‘Mask Lady and Late Night Girl’ features the flirty, slinky, addictive disco-pop she’s well-known for, as well as some cheeky tunes that dip into hair-metal territory (CFCF-produced “Chaotic Princess”), twangy dancefloor grooves (“Edge of the Knife”), and delightfully over-the-top 80s-inspired jams (“Hot Sexy USA”) that make this Marci’s boldest album yet, filled with top-notch “party girl anthems for when the party is over.” -AR
Mike D - Thank You (Capitol)
The official debut solo album from legendary Beastie Boys co-founder Michael Diamond (aka Mike D) marks the first new music from a Beastie Boy since the death of Adam “MCA” Yauch ended the group in 2012 and it’s an eclectic, dizzying, and cathartic collection of songs that zigzags through hip-hop, post-punk, noise, indie rock, psych-pop, and more. Created in collaboration with the 5D band that features his two sons Skyler and Davis Diamond, Eddie Ruscha (aka E Ruscha V aka Secret Circuit), Milo Ruscha, and Will Graefe, as well as some co-production assists from the likes of Knox Fortune, Ging, Carter Lang, and TDE’s Tyran Donaldson, ‘Thank You’ finds the reinvigorated 60-year-old artist and his iconic voice delivering some heady experimental raps over consistently frenetic, dubby, blown-out beats, but also diverging into melancholic-rock (“I Don’t Care”), kaleidoscopic psych-pop (“Back To Start”), and reflective singer-songwriter (“Thank You”) modes in the back-half for some of the album’s more nuanced standout moments. -AR
Saul Williams - Leap Life (Big Dada)
Activist, poet, musician, philosopher, and bonafide visionary Saul Williams returns with his new album, ‘Leap Life,’ his first solo full-length in over seven years. Ever the wordsmith (“All that words cannot contain. A mattress of books opened to every favorite page.”), his tongue is sharp and calculated, wielding language as a weapon against the systems he seeks to dismantle. With avant-garde soundscapes crafted through a fusion of jazz, electronic, hip-hop, and cosmic sensibilities, he asks, “What does it mean to trust the moment?” Through fluid, kinetic energy and his commanding spoken-word delivery, he comes to unearth the answer: “The weapon is music.” –CS
Spike - Spike (Gob Nation)
The debut album from this solo project of London-based artist Hannah McLoughlin is a sweet set of glistening, icy, nostalgia-soaked synth-pop that brings to mind contemporaries like Hannah Lew, Molly Nilsson, and Madeline Goldstein. -AR
Sweeping Promises - You Say I Romanticize (Sub Pop)
The third album, and Sub Pop debut, from Boston-formed, Kansas-based outfit Sweeping Promises is a scrappy set of frenetic yet melodic indie punk. With Lira Mondal’s captivating vocals and bouncy basslines at the helm, Caufield Schnug’s memorable guitar lines and stellar production chops elevate their sound without sacrificing its raw, urgent, lo-fi sensibility. Featuring propulsive percussion from touring drummer Spenser Gralla, ‘You Say I Romanticize’ finds Sweeping Promises at the top of their game. –CS
waltzerr - Tomorrow Will Be Better (Share It Music)
The debut album from Seattle outfit waltzerr, led by singer-songwriter Emily Waltzer, is a stellar introduction to this new three-piece. With compelling song structures brought to life by big, bright guitar lines, killer hooks, and Waltzer’s emotive lyricism delivered with fervor, ‘Tomorrow Will Be Better’ is an infectious set of grunge-inflected indie rock that officially marks the arrival of a very promising PNW band. –CS
Wine Lips - TV Dinner (Stomp)
The fifth album from this Toronto band led by guitarist/vocalist Cam Hilborn and drummer/vocalist Aurora Evans is another ripping set of charismatic garage/psych/punk/rock jams packed with sweet riffs, incisive and often humorous lyrics, and a propulsive, infectious, relentless energy. -AR
