It’s April and the sun has popped out early to bathe the campus in warm, sunny weather. How great this must be for the student who bought or unpacked her bathing suit months ago, waiting for the day she could finally study and sun bathe out on the green. Inevitably, what comes along with that luxury is the growing anticipation for the fast approaching summer break and graduation day. I have been experiencing a musical anticipation that began growing back in early fall. A little birdie told me that spring was going to be filled with plenteous new record releases and I realize that my lips are chapped due to having been licked at the sight of all the diverse new music forming in the sound waves. These spring months hold loads of new albums, and I’ve sampled as many of them as I could and pulled out the records that I find particularly exciting. Hopefully you’ll like what I’ve selected enough to add some tracks to your music libraries as you prepare for long listening stretches in the upcoming summer months.
Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings, I Learned the Hard Way
Released April 6
If you’re still wondering what your summer plans are, Sharon Jones and her cohort of Brooklyn musicians will inspire you to take a VW bus trip back to the 1960s and ‘70s soul and funk era. I Learned the Hard Way is the group’s fourth full-length record.
Love this track: “I Learned the Hard Way”
The New Pornographers, Together
Releases May 4
The Canadian indie-rockers release their fifth album, this time leaning more on their tough rock sound. Neko Case appears again as vocals with Carl Newman and Dan Bejar. The record also features guests such as Annie Clark of St. Vincent and Zach Condon of Beirut.
Love this track: “Your Hands (Together)”
Jamie Lidell, Compass
Releases May 18
Jamie Lidell is a British soul singer who has teamed up with Beck, Feist, members of Wilco and Grizzly Bear for his follow-up to his 2008 record JIM.
Love this track: “Compass”
The Hold Steady, Heaven Is Whenever
Releases May 4
Heaven is Whenever is The Hold Steady’s fifth album. If you’ve been on the fence before about their music, give this record a listen because the sound this time around is more varied and complex than before.
Love this track: “Hurricane J”
Flying Lotus, Cosmogramma
Releases May 4
Flying Lotus is a music composer based out of Los Angeles and he describes Cosmogramma, his third full-length album, as a “space opera”.
Love this track: “Dance of the Pseudo Nymph”
The Fresh & Onlys, August in My Mind
Released March 2
The Fresh & Onlys are a psychedelic folk-revival band from San Francisco. August in My Mind is an exploration into the pop sound of psych folk and the trippy dream-like summer jams that flow into each pitch. The record is a fresh approache to psychedelic pop and manages to exhibit a tone of Californian nonchalance.
Love this track: “You’re Known to Wander”
Gayngs, Relayted
Releases May 11
Gayngs’ first release consists of tunes from several North American and international musicians. On one track, Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon and the group Megafaun weave their sounds with the raps of Dessa and P.O.S. This entire album consists of artists combining their individual sounds which make it tough to describe the overall style of this record, but Gayngs is certainly a strong and multi-faceted new force in the music world.
Love this track: “The Gaudy Side of Town”
Justin Vernon, Broken Hearts and Dirty Windows, The Songs of John Prine
Releases June 22
Justin Vernon of Bon Iver compiled a tribute album to American country/folk singer and songwriter John Prine. The record features cover songs by Vernon himself, the Avett Brothers, Conor Oberst, Justin Townes Earle, My Morning Jacket, and seven other musicians.
Love this track: “Bruised Orange”
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