Jul 13, 2017 By Mark Redfern Big Thief

In the past we’ve avoided posting midyear best albums lists. It seemed somehow impatient and premature to evaluate the year’s albums halfway through. And how do you decide which period the list covers, which arbitrary release date do you work out is the cut off point, as every midyear list seems to cover a different period? But 2017 is a year that demands a partial evaluation. More

Jul 13, 2017 By Christopher Roberts Arcade Fire

Arcade Fire are releasing a new album, Everything Now, on July 28 via their new label Columbia. Now they have shared another new song from the album, “Electric Blue,” via its video. More

Jul 13, 2017 By Christopher Roberts Feist

Leslie Feist released a new album, Pleasure, back in April via Interscope. The album’s highlight might be “Century,” which climaxes with a spoken word section by Pulpfrontman (and solo artist) Jarvis Cocker. More

Jul 13, 2017 By Christopher Roberts Alvvays

Toronto-based indie-pop four-piece Alvvays are releasing a new album, Antisocialites, on September 8 via Polyvinyl. Previously the band shared its first single, album opener “In Undertow.” Now “In Undertow” has a trippy lo-fi video. Watch it below, followed by the band’s upcoming tour dates. More

Jul 12, 2017 By Christopher Roberts Zachary Cole Smith

DIIV frontman Zachary Cole Smith has shared a spirited cover of Sparklehorse’s “Cow.” The original version of the song can be found on Sparklehorse’s strangely titled 1995-released debut album, Vivadixiesubmarinetransmissionplot. More

Jul 12, 2017 By Christopher Roberts Martina Topley-Bird

Trip-hop pioneer Tricky has announced a new album, ununiform, and shared its first single (and closing track), “When We Die,” which featured longtime collaborator Martina Topley-Bird. Ununiform is due out September 22 via False Idols/!K7. Below is “When We Die,” followed by the album’s tracklist. More

Jul 12, 2017 By Christopher Roberts Hundred Waters

Hundred Waters have announced a new album, Communicating, and shared a new song, “Blanket Me.” Communicating is due out September 14 via OWSLA. Check out “Blanket Me” below, followed by the band’s upcoming tour dates. More

Jul 12, 2017 By Christopher Roberts David Bowie

Parlophone have already released two excellent and exhaustive David Bowie box sets, Five Years (1969-1973) and David Bowie - Who Can I Be Now? (1974-1976). Now the third in the series has been announced, A New Career In a New Town (1977-1982). More

Jul 12, 2017 By Christopher Roberts Algiers

Algiers released a new album, The Underside of Power, last month via Matador. They have previously shared the album’s title track, “The Underside of Power,” “Cleveland,” which references Tamir Rice, the 12-year-old African American boy who was shot to death by police in Cleveland in 2014 because he was playing with a toy gun in a playground, and fierce album opener “Walk Like a Panther.” More