New Music Friday: April 19, 2024

b.liebman

April 19

I know this might sound shocking, but here's the truth: There are other albums coming out today besides the new Taylor Swift guaranteed-smash. And trust me, these ones deserve to be listened to just as much (no hate to TayTay).

For example; the latest rocking album from grunge pioneers Pearl Jam. Or the beautiful harmonizing of folk rock band Local Natives. And while they aren't household names, Cloud Nothings, Pillow Queens and The Family Rain are all bands worth of your ears with their new albums.

One of our favorite Canadians, Dan Mangan, is back with a new song about haunting his wife after death (and he makes it work). We also get the second new song from Strand of Oaks next album, a lovely drop from Belle and Sebastian, and more emo-goodness from The Early November. Los Angeles folk rockers Wax Owls have written the first song ever titled "Overpriced Buffets", while Dublin post-punks Fontaines D.C. go big with their new one "Starburster". There's some fresh folk and folk rock from Neil Young & Crazy Horse (yup, Young is back on Spotify), Joy Oladokun, American Authors and Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats, and of course we'll always give new Kings of Leon a chance.

Other familiar names returning to the list this week include Sybs, Band-Maid, Isaac Watters, Niamh Regan, The Gleeman, Rosalie James, Charm of Finches, Islands, Jack, Guided By Voices, Buffalo Tom, Soraia, Friday Pilots Club, Lana Naphaul and Peter Bradley Adams. And after much careful listening, some of the new names I've chosen to join our list this week are Monica Aben, Jessica Boudreaux, Runaway Ricochet, Big Skull, Don Sechelski, Boulder Fields, Eamon Fogarty, Sadie Jean, Big Skull, Gold Stars for Everyone, PJ Far-West Selecta, Bones Owens, The Corps, Zoë Fromer, Boy Jr., Happy Landing, Ivory Layne, Derek Smith & The Cosmic Vultures, Fonella, Guilded Creatures, Plàsi and Berra.