The Friday Refrain: Your Weekly New Music Digest
It's a bit late in the game but here we go. I know you all were worried - determined that I had finally been crushed under the onslaught of releases but nope. Here I am. And oh my what a wonderful world of music:
Let's begin with April 28th. The Cranberries released an album of acoustic versions of their songs. Thurston Moore released Rock N Roll Consciousness and it still hurts that he and Kim aren't together. Sometimes you just really root for a couple. Anyway, Trombone Shorty had Parking Lot Symphony. Sylvan Esso released the awesome What Now. New Found Glory relased Makes Me Sick. Mary J. Blige was back with Strength of a Woman. Jonathan Coulton for all you Ask Me Another fans released Solid State. John Mellencamp had Sad Clowns & Hillbillies. And let's not forget: Foster the People, III; Feist, Pleasure; Lea Michele, Places and Booka Shade, Galvany Street.
Line break because that was a lot and it's going to get crazier. Fasten your seatbelts everybody, here's what hopped up for you ears on Friday: Country singer Chris Stapleton released From A room: Vol 1. Indie Rockers At The Drive-In had In.Ter A.Li.A which is really annoying to type. Black Lips released Satan's Graffiti or God's Art? (which means we just need the Black Keys to release something so we cover that trio of bands alogng with the Black Angels in April
). Jazz Pianist and Vocalist Diana Krall with Turn Up The Quiet. Taj Mahal and Keb'Mo' teamed up for TajMo. Perfume Genius released No Shape. Patti Labelle returns with Bel Hommage. Ozomatli and Julio Iglesias released albums on Cinco de Mayo - Non-Stop: Mexico to Jamaica and Mexico & Amigos respectively. Singer-Songwriter David Bazan released Care. Rapper Brother Ali released All The Beauty in This Whole Life. Blondie (!) released Pollinator. Pond released The Weather. Kasabian with For Crying Out Loud. The Afghan Whigs are back with In Spades. And for some household favorites: Amanda Palmer goes goth with I Can Spin A Rainbow, Brandi Carlile teames up with other awesome musicians for Cover Stories (I think that's half true), Ear Worm Indie Pop San Cisco have a fun album titled The Water, Slowdive released an eponymous album, Walter Martin is back again with My Kinda Music and... that's it. Finally. Phew. I'll get some aggregated lists up this week in a follow-up and hopefully a fun list but man, that was tiring. I gotta go lay down and watch some Office episodes now. I hope you find something you've been anticipating to feast your ears on and Happy Listening!