I certainly did not think I’d be posting another playlist so
soon. But the surprise album by new band Nice as Fuck and a new collaboration
between Hamilton Leithauser and Rostam Batmanglij plus singles galore (Woods,
Wilco, Jagwar Ma, Allah-las, The Head and the Heart, Father John Misty, and
more) filled my inbox and online radio listening sources, so here we go
again! There are also releases
from veterans The Avett Brothers and Fruit Bats to keep the summer soundtrack
chill, along with some solid electronica from Mark Pritchard to zone out on a
hot day. Listen on Spotify or as a YouTube playlist.
1. “In These Fine
Times” – Classixx (featuring De Lux)
Production and DJ duo Michael David and Tyler Blake enlisted
fellow L.A. musician Sean Guerin of De Lux to double the vocals for this breezy
tune. It is off the band’s second album of electronica since 2008, Faraway Reach.
2. “O B 1” – Jagwar
Ma
Australian trio Jagwar Ma are getting ready to release a
follow up album since its debut in 2013, Every
Now & Then. This stellar psychedelic dance rock single includes drums
by Warpaint’s Stella Mozgawa.
3. “Could Be You” –
Allah-Las
L.A. based surf rock revivalists Allah-Las are back with
“Could Be You,” a teaser single for its third album, Calico Review. The tune is
full of signature harmonies and fuzzed out guitar, along with new additional
instruments to expand the sound: viola, harpsichord and theremin.
4. “Door” – Nice as
Fuck
Jenny Lewis’s latest band with Erika Forster (Savoir Adore)
and Tennessee Thomas (The Like) dropped a surprise album of smirk-inducing
catchy tunes such as “door.” The self-titled LP comes complete with a theme
song for the new group.
5. “All We Ever Knew”
– The Head and the Heart
Seattle’s indie folk band The Head and the Heart will soon
release its third album since 2009, Signs
of Light. “All We Ever Knew” is brimming with the optimistic attitude this
six-piece is known for.
6. “They Want More” –
Ages and Ages
Portland based sextet Ages and Ages just recorded a third
album since 2009 at Ice Cream Party Studio, owned by Modest Mouse’s Isaac Brock
(he also wielded a guitar on another track). The single “They Want More”
confronts commercialism with a infectious melody and trademark sing along
chorus.
7. “Know Your Minute”
– Woods
“Know Your Minute” is a limited edition, tour-only 7” and
digital download single by this Brooklyn folk rock band formed in 2005. Led by
laid-back vocals of guitarist Jeremy Earl, Woods continues on its own path of
quirky Americana.
8. “If I Ever Was a
Child” – Wilco
Chicago’s resident indie juggernaut Wilco has another album
ready less than a year since Star Wars. The
tenth LP since 1994 is called Schmilco
(with a nod to Harry Nilsson’s Nilsson
Schmilsson) and this single shows the softer side of the band, led by Jeff
Tweedy’s melancholy vocals.
9. “Ain’t No Man” –
The Avett Brothers
The Avett Brothers reunited with mega producer Rick Rubin
for the North Carolina band’s ninth album since 2000, True Sadness. This foot
stomping song finds brothers Scott and Seth energetically attacking the music
with an infectious beat.
10. “Throw Down Your
Guns” – Wild Belle
Natalie Bergman’s commanding vocals on “Throw Down Your
Guns” leads the charge with her bandmate/brother Elliot for this song off the
band’s second full album since 2011, Dreamland.
11. “Real Love Baby”
– Father John Misty
L.A.-based singer/songwriter, guitarist and drummer Joshua
Michael Tillman released this lush stand alone single after two albums as
Father John Misty since 2012. This melodic ode to married life is in a
irresistible classic pop tune style.
12. “A 1000 Times” – Hamilton Leithauser and Rostam
“A 1000 Times” is a single by the new collaborative project
between Vampire Weekend’s Rostam Batmanglij and The Walkmen’s Hamilton
Leithauser, highlighted by Leithauser’s earthy vocals. Batmanglij provided an
assist to Leithauser’s debut solo album and the pair clearly took to the collaborative
writing process well.
13. “The Industry” – Okkervil River
Brooklyn-based Will Sheff of Okkervil River has been working
on another album with a different band configuration with songs about moving on
and finding new beginnings. “The Industry” is the single for the eighth
collection since 1998, Away, conveyed
by Sheff’s original yearning vocals.
14. “Run Run Blood” –
Phantogram
“Run Run Blood” is the single for the synthpop duo
Phantogram’s third album since 2007, simply called Three. Josh Carter and Sarah Barthel of Saratoga Springs find a
confident vibe for this epic dance tune.
15. “Birthday Drunk”
– Fruit Bats
Chicago’s folk rock band Fruit Bats released its sixth album
since 1997, Absolute Loser. The sweet acoustic tune “Birthday Drunk” showcases
the wry vocals of singer/songwriter Eric D. Johnson.
16. “Division” –
Tycho
San Francisco-based ambient musician Scott Hanson,
performing under the stage name Tycho, released this fluid single with the intention
of another full album in the future, the fifth since 2002. His music encompasses both lo-fi analog
equipment and a futuristic electronica style, completely mesmerizing at
the same time.
17. “Khufu” – Mark Prichard
English electronic musician Mark Prichard is now working out
of Australia, testing the musical boundaries with new collaborations and
various genres. “Khnufu”
is from his fourteenth album since 1992, Under
the Sun.