Since I
recently learned that March 1st is the meteorological start of spring, I won’t
hesitate to share this playlist as the official one for the next season.
Besides, there are plenty of new albums to check out – from faves like
Santigold, Peter Yorn, Wild Nothing and Bibio to new bands such as James
Supercave and Bob Moses. And check out teaser singles from upcoming releases by
Andrew Bird, Bear Hands, Caveman, The Boxer Rebellion and Woods. Listen via Spotify or as a YouTube playlist.
1. “Can’t
Get Enough of Myself” – Santigold
Santigold is
the stage name of Santi White, a Philly singer and producer whose artistry
extends into costumes and choreography for her live shows. This bouncy pop
single lambasting our self-absorbed culture is off her third studio album since
2003, 99¢.
2. “Burn” –
James Supercave
L.A. trio
James Supercave recorded its debut album Better
Strange, with a solid psych-pop credo. According to singer Joaquin Pastor,
this song “Burn” was “born from a bass line and wants to suck you in.” Done.
3. “Nobody
Dies” – Thao & The Get Down Stay Down
San
Francisco based Thao & The Get Down Stay Down is an alt folk group that
just released a fourth album since 2003, A
Man Alive. The new collection was produced by Merrill Garbus of Tune-Yards
with a focus on accentuating the playful percussive textures.
4. “Hour” –
Porches
Porches is
the musical project of Aaron Maine, who has released a second album called Pool after four years on the scene.
“Hour” is a lush synth reverie with sweet backing vocals by his life partner,
Frankie Cosmos.
5. “Never
Ever” – STRFKR
Portland’s
indie rock band STRFKR has released this stand-alone single, “Never Ever,” with
a trademark danceable groove. The group
is gearing up for a fifth album since the band formed in 2007.
6. “Feeling”
– Bibio
Bibio,
a.k.a. Stephen Wilkinson, is an English music producer with a love for mixing
new and retro sounds with gusto. He just released his eighth studio album since
2005, A Mineral Love.
7. “Tearing
Me Up” – Bob Moses
Bob Moses is
an electronic duo from Vancouver but now based in Brooklyn. Singer/songwriter Tom Howie and Berlin-style
techno geek Jimmy Vallance joined their skills for a post-club aesthetic,
creating pop melodies over cool house music.
8.
“Capsized” – Andrew Bird
Chicago’s
prolific songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Andrew Bird will soon release his
thirteenth album since 1996, Are You
Serious. The single “Capsized” serves as the opening track with a typical
timeless musicality but more personal lyrics that open up about marriage and
parenthood.
9. “To Know
You” – Wild Nothing
Virginia
based musician Jack Tatum steps out of the bedroom recordings vibe for his
third studio album since 2009 as Wild Nothing, Life of Pause. Tatum admits “there’s a different kind of ‘self’
this time around,” by using a full band in production and it shows.
10. “Voices
in My Head” – Bob Mould
San
Francisco alt rocker Bob Mould (best known as the vocalist for Hüsker Dü
and Sugar) is ready with his twelfth solo album since 1989, Patch the Sky. He confidently returns
with a straightforward, storytelling style in “Voices in My Head.”
11. “2AM” –
Bear Hands
Brooklyn’s
raucous indie rock quartet Bear Hands will release its third album since 2006, You’ll Pay for This. The catchy tune
“2AM” extols the world of late night partying with a tongue-in-cheek wit.
12.
“Spirits” – The Strumbellas
Canadian
indie rock/alt country six-piece The Strumbellas is releasing a third album
since 2008, Hope. The collective mindset
of the song’s sing-along style complements the band’s fake family moniker.
13. “Never
Going Back” – Caveman
The sweeping
composition “Never Going Back,” serves as the first single from the upcoming
album by Brooklyn indie rock/pop quintet Caveman. It is the band’s third
release since 2010, called Otero War.
14. “Cold
Light” – Operators
The driving
force behind “Cold Light” is the gritty vocals of Montreal’s Dan Boeckner (Wolf
Parade, Handsome Furs, and Divine Fits). His latest band will soon release a
debut album, Blue Wave.
15. “Big
Ideas” – The Boxer Rebellion
London indie
rock quartet The Boxer Rebellion brings its lush, dreamy sound to the new song “Big
Ideas.” It is the single for an upcoming fifth album since 2001, Ocean by Ocean.
16. “Exit
353” – Damien Jurado
Seattle’s indie
rock singer/songwriter Damien Jurado will release the final album of a trilogy,
Visions of Us on the Land. This is
Jurado’s twelfth album since 1995, and the majestic song “Exit 353” revolves
around the character being left behind on a vacant earth.
17. I’m Not
the One” – Pete Yorn
New Jersey
raised now L.A. based singer/songwriter Pete Yorn is ready with his seventh solo album since
2010, Arranging Time. After The Olms
side project, Yorn returns to his roots – an outpouring of personal emotions as
evidenced in “I’m Not the One.”
18. “Can’t
See at All” – Woods
Brooklyn folk rock band Woods will release its ninth studio album, City Sun Eater in the River of Light. The single “Can’t See at All” is imbedded with the group’s distinctive laidback musicality.