This week’s Best New Releases is an eclectic mix of new albums and EPs from a wide variety of artists and genres. Among the best new drops this week include San Francisco’s newest rising band, Weekend, Sweden’s indie rock outfit, The Radio Dept., plus new music from Swedens’ The Concretes as well as Philly’s Nightlands. Each of those releases we have double-shots from; hopefully, they’ll help some folks to want to buy these three recommended releases.
But that’s not all: we have fresh tracks from new releases by Neitzer Ebb, Last Year’s Men, The Parting Gifts, Gary Wilson, Botany, and many others. You may want to check back with this post tomorrow as we’ll be adding some other artists and doing a free album giveaway. Enjoy.
San Francisco’s Weekend Is One of IRC’s Best New Bands of 2010
First up, is the debut LP from San Francisco‘s rising indie band, Weekend. Right off the bat, we were smitten with this band. As you may have figured out, searching online for information about a band named Weekend is a difficult task. But we think the music says all you need to know for right now.
“Coma Summer” – Weekend from Sports
Double shot: “End Times” – Weekend from Sports
Sweden’s The Radio Dept. Drop New EP; Announce Singles Collection
The Radio Dept. have been one of the most popular indie bands to come out of Sweden in the past decade. This week, the band drops a new EP, and announced the release of a singles collection, Passive Aggressive: The Singles. Only 1,000 12-inch vinyl EPs have been pressed. The EP contains five tracks.
“Follow Suit” – The Radio Dept. from Never Follow Suit EP
“The New, Improved Hypocrisy” – The Radio Dept., unreleased single
New Moonlight Band, The Parting Gifts, Drop Debut LP
Greg Cartwright (Reigning Sound, Oblivians) & Coco Hames (The Ettes) teamed up to form the musical project, The Parting Gifts, featuring appearances from members of The Black Keys and The Raconteurs.
“Keep Walkin” – The Parting Gifts
Sweden’s The Concretes Drop First Album in Three Years
After a three-year break, the popular indie pop band and residents of Stockholm, Sweden, The Concretes, drop their sixth studio album since forming in 1995. Starting out with just two members, over the years the band’s fan based has grown in multiples as the band added more members for a total now of eight musicians.
“Good Evening” – The Concretes from WYWH
“All Day” – The Concretes from WYWH
Botany’s Sound is Anything But Organic
Texas musician Spencer Stephenson, who plays drums for the band Sleep Whale, is moonlighting as the one-man band, Botany. On his debut EP, Feeling Today, Botany cleverly weaves rich instrument infusions with programmed drum beats and almost robotic musings.
“Feeling Today” – Botany from Feeling Today EP
Philadelphia’s War On Drugs Drummer Drops Solo Debut as Nightlands
One of our favorite new ‘bands’ in recent weeks is Nightlands. This week, Nightlands, which is the moniker for Philadelphia musician Dave Hartley, releases the debut LP, Forget The Mantra. Hartley is the drummer of the indie band, War On Drugs.
“Suzerain (A Letter to the Judge)” – Nightlands from Forget The Mantra
“300 Clouds” – Nightlands from Forget The Mantra
Nitzer Ebb Break 15-Year Hiatus With Industrial Complex
Industrial-electro pioneers Nitzer Ebb are returning from a 15-year hiatus with a new album – Industrial Complex – that, upon listening, reaffirms their unique signature of hardcore industrial-electro-pop mixed with a variety of different genres to create a musical melting pot of powerful rhythms, minimal sequencer bass and hook lines, and fierce, chanted vocals. After originally reforming in 2006, the band’s increasingly active profile included 2010 European tour with Depeche Mode.
“Promises” – Nitzer Ebb from Industrial Complex
Valleys Drop 3-Track EP, Stoner
Following the acclaimed debut album Sometimes Water Kills People, Valleys’ members Matilda and Marc return with a new, three-song EP Stoner. While still rooted in their haunting dreampop world, Valleys continue to experiment with the jagged textures and silent power that have always crept in the shadows of their sound.
“Ordinary Dream” – Valleys from Stoner EP
“The Cold Cold Skinny” – Valleys from Stoner EP
Blending the ambient synth sounds of Cocteau Twins and Sisters of Mercy with blistering guitar textures evoking Crass and Minor Threat, Violens‘ Amoral presents psychedelic sonic collages layered with 60’s vocal harmonies. The New York trio first broke through in 2008 and have finally released their debut LP.
“Violent Sensation Descends” – Violens from Amoral
“Acid Reign” – Violens from Amoral
More Worthy Singles from New Releases
“Paralyzed” – Last Year’s Men from Sunny Down Snuff
“Like A Wheel” – Tallest Man on Earth from Sometimes The Blues is Just A Passing Bird
“4312” – Tyvek from Nothing Fits
“If You Must Follow Me” – Jonah from The Wonder & The Thrill
“Electric Endicott” – Gary Wilson from Electric Endicott
“Manhattan Project” – Jesse Payne from Nesting
“Landscapes” – Gregory & The Hawk from Leche
“You Don’t Know Me” – Gross Relations from Fuzzy Timelines