Look, I got a shitload more September releases to go through and can't find the time, but I don't want to disappoint my millions of readers who expect regular updates so here's a bunch of them, there's more coming hopefully when I catch my breath, OK?
THE BELLRAYS – Heavy Steady Go!
I’ve always been a fan and their mix of hard rock, punk, and soul is always a blast live but the truth of it is, they haven’t been world-class since Tony Fate left the band. (7)
DOROTHY CARTER – Troubadour (reissue)
Originally released in 1976, this album offers you the opportunity to get to know an outsider artist who successfully blended folk and the avant-garde into some sort of New Age, pre-New Age. (8)
NICK CAVE AND THE BAD SEEDS – Wild God
In terms of song structure this is a more “traditional” Cave album than the three albums released since 2013, and it’s tremendous. (8)
ENUMCLAW – Home In Another Life
90’s-style grungy and melodic alternative rock (think Dinosaur Jr.?) by these young guns from the Northwest USA. (7)
FONTAINES D.C. – Romance
Bye-bye post-punk, hello arenas, Fontaines D.C now sound like the Arctic Monkeys but they pull it off brilliantly. (8)
FLOATING POINTS – Cascade
I’m not a big EDM fan and you won’t catch me dead on a club dancefloor, but this is good. (8)
NELLY FURTADO – 7
Her debut album is one of the 21st century’s best pure pop albums but she’s been shape-shifting ever since and her latest dancefloor-friendly transformation is decent but not really wow. (7)
TIGRAN HAMASYAN – The Bird of a Thousand Voices
A jazz pianist who has previously made The List rocks out and goes full-on prog, with a 90+ minute double concept album that owes more to Yes and Meshuggah than to Keith Jarrett or whatever. Impressive, albeit a bit overwhelming. (8)
MJ LENDERMAN – Manning Fireworks
Wednesday guitarist and acclaimed solo artist plays rugged country-informed indie rock with smart/funny lyrics. You’ll see this on many year-end lists in 3 months’ time. (8)
NICK LOWE & LOS STRAIGHTJACKETS – Indoor Safari
Rockabilly, surf, British invasion and tons of fun! (8)
MERCURY REV – Born Horses
Heavy on the atmosphere and vibe it’s more jazzy/cinematic than psychedelic indie rock-y, but it’s disappointingly light on the hooks. (6)
OCEANS OF SLUMBER – Where Gods Fear To Speak
Heavier than the last
one but at the same time more gothic-y (the Moonspell guy as special
guest is a dead giveaway), I think that this is as close as they will
ever get to nailing that death/prog sound they have in their heads.
Another cool cover, this time Chris Issacs’ “Wicked Game”. (8)
AMY RIGBY – Hang In There With Me
A delightful album about growing older from Rigby, who comes from the NYC punk scene but incorporates influences as diverse as Bob Dylan and Warren Zevon into her sound. Hubby Wreckless Eric produces. (8)
COLIN STETSON – The Love It Took To Leave You
The incredible sounds this guy manages to squeeze out of his sax never cease to amaze me. (8)
MOLLY TUTTLE & GOLDEN HIGHWAY – Into The Wild
Bluegrass star’s new EP features the usual stellar playing plus fun Jefferson Airplane and Olivia Rodrigo covers. (8)
GILLIAN WELCH & DAVID RAWLINGS – Woodland Studios
Americana royalty duo in life and art, they invite some friends to their own titular studio and record some gorgeous songs. Great acoustic guitar work, beautiful vocals, and an atmosphere at point reminiscent of Neil Youngs folkier/countrier moments. Fun fact for metalheads reading this: Jim Matheos is a huge fan. (8)
NILÜFER YANYA – My Method Actor
A really cool indie rock record from London that sounds like it was made 30 years ago, sort of Garbage meets Nirvana. (8)
