An overwhelming amount of music is released daily, and we're here to help you weed through it all. Every week, we share select releases we are all looking forward to and personalized picks from a few of our editors.
Welcome to our New Releases to Check Out guide featuring the most notable music released the week of August 23.
And don't forget to check out our YouTube, where DeVán reports on the latest music news every Friday.
BLIGATORY Picks
Body Meat - Starchris
Glitch Pop, Deconstructed Club, Alt. R&B
via Partisan Records
write-up by Cameron Benson-Davis
After eight years of mixtapes and mini-albums, recent Partisan signee Christopher Taylor (AKA Body Meat) has released his debut, semi-self-titled album, Starchris. It flits between skittering super-melodic beats (like the bubbly “The Mad Hatter,” or the slippery OIL OF...-inspired “Starchris”) and sparse ambient chords (see the cello-led reflective intro “A Tone In The Dark,” or the climactic opus “Ōbu No Seirei”). However, it still makes space for meaningful new forays that flesh out Taylor's existing palette. This includes new pitches to already heavily altered vocals, or tapping into the outer reaches of genres new to the project. Starchris pulls from metal and footwork as much as it does from club and mainstream pop; you could even argue “Demons” is a jazz song. Among the swathes of genres, Starchris miraculously manages to pull them into one cohesive entity. Simply, noone is doing it quite like Body Meat. This was my most anticipated album of the year—and it does not disappoint.
Fontaines D.C. - Romance
Glitch Pop, Deconstructed Club, Alt. R&B
via Partisan Records
write-up by Peter Doherty
Romance is the fourth album from the Fontaines D.C. camp and the band’s debut on industry giants XL Recordings. Romance, in comparison to previous efforts, is aesthetically upholstered. The engine, well-oiled and more than stable, runs the same; the look and feel, updated. From a mesh of maroon and burnt brown to neon green and glowstick pink, the surrounding worlds of Fontaines D.C. have been colour-injected. The clouds have a silver lining however dark, dreary, and undoubtedly anguished the pastures may be. There is a fragility to the material, however confident the results come across.
Mura Masa - Curve 1
EDM
via Pond Recordings
write-up by Atticus Deeny
Curve 1 continues to diversify the personal catalog of English producer Mura Masa. From his tropical-inspired early hit “Love$ick” with A$AP Rocky, to 2020’s alternative singer-songwriter project R.Y.C, and a sexy dance-heavy album Demon Time in 2022, Alex Crossan has dipped into many different sounds. But Curve 1 seems like a callback to how everything started; very electronic and very personal, purposefully trading out pop radio sensibilities for those of a dance club DJ set.
The project’s lead singles, “Whatever I Want” and “Drugs,” feature original and intriguing vocal phrases; “I’m allowed to fuck up whenever I want” and “I don’t do drugs, but with you I do.” Tracks like “gimme” and “SXC” dice their vocals into words that barely exist, leaving the listener to decide what they think is being said. Many songs on the latter half of the album contain energetic tempos and drums while building a softer, dreamier soundscape around them. It is impressive, as well as necessary, to create pace without losing attention throughout what is essentially a 45-plus-minute, pre-recorded DJ mix (with multiple six-minute tracks).
After a year-long rollout, Mura Masa delivers top-notch consistency on Curve 1. With a tour yet to be announced, we all must resort to taking 49 minutes out of our busy lives to devote our bodies to the album, pretending to be in a packed London nightclub.
SPIRIT OF THE BEEHIVE - YOU'LL HAVE TO LOSE SOMETHING
Indie Rock, Neo-Psychedelia, Hypnagogic Pop
via Saddle Creek
write-up by Peter Doherty
Spirit of the Beehive(SotB)'s fifth full length continues the bands lineage of producing sonic worlds that change like the weather. Like traversing a staircase put together by heavily inebriated builders, Spirit of the Beehive construct offset, unlevelled, heaven-and-hell entangled platforms. Different levels of cerebral range and understanding converge to clusterfuck the earholes of those that decide to tune in.
YOU'LL HAVE TO LOSE SOMETHING flows in and out of consciousness like a slow-motion, yo-yo-ing FM dial picking up on different aspects of numerous stations as it glides on by. An opalescent outline contorts around the material. It's all here—and by the time you've grasped it, it's moved on, or gone.
Chat Pile - "Masc"
Noise Rock, Alternative Metal
via The Flenser
write-up by Peter Doherty
The build-up to Chat Pile's new album is now two singles (and two music videos) deep. “Masc” is home to that sludge-fuelled sound that we've come to love and somewhat expect from the Oklahoma City natives. However, the path home is becoming more and more ill-lit and dingy. Self-hatred masked as self-deprecation.
The narrative-based video is an illustrious addition to the single and it can be found on The Flenser’s YouTube channel. Stin of Chat Pile had this to say about the filming of it:
“This is our first time collaborating with Stephen Mondics and it goes without saying that the band is completely blown away with how well he was able to capture the spirit of the song. As huge movie buffs, it's also a legitimate dream-come-true to have a music video shot completely on film under our belts.”
Chat Pile's sophomore record, Cool World, releases October 11 via The Flenser.
Atticus' Picks
Sabrina Carpenter - Short n' Sweet
Pop
via Island Records
For mega-mainstream pop, Sabrina Carpenter’s Short n’ Sweet is one of the more enjoyable albums of 2024 so far. Carpenter is able to even out the jarring nature of her quirky punchlines by fully committing to this style of songwriting, flooding each song with goofy lyrics. This is still an easy turn-off, but when ingested as a whole, the juvenile comedy is easier to enjoy. Giant singles like “Please Please Please,” “Espresso”—and soon-to-be “Taste”—work in the same way; they are easier to appreciate as genuinely fun pop hits when heard all the way through, surrounded by similar tracks.
The album’s production is also well-varied, with a decent range of grooves, tempos, and instrumentation choices. While the ballads are not exactly Carpenter’s strong suit compared to how easily she slays her big upbeat singles, the softer alternative styles of “Sharpest Tool,” “Slim Pickins,” and “Don’t Smile” are fairly different for mainstream pop.
While the Olivia Rodrigo comparison has always been there (along with the original teen drama that gave Carpenter her first Billboard Hot 100 hit back in 2021), she set herself apart from the competition on Short n’ Sweet by being way less self-serious than most and diversifying her production. If you’re at all curious about this album, it’s worth a listen.
Blondshell - "What's Fair"
Indie Rock, Power Pop
via Partisan Records
Singer-songwriter Sabrina Teitelbaum made her big solo debut last year as Blondshell, releasing a self-titled pop rock album while also taking on a heavy touring regiment—including an almost-too-accurate opening slot for Liz Phair’s Guyville anniversary tour.
Taking no time off, “What’s Fair” is Blondshell’s second single of 2024. It sticks to her brand of big-voiced pop rock that touches on her misadventures with love and relationships in wincing detail. What is a Blondshell song without a few painfully uncomfortable lyrics that make you question if you will ever come back to the song again?
However, that’s part of the Blondshell experience. The “headphones only” aspect of her writing is unique when done well, and it gives the material a layer of shocking honesty that most singers would rather not touch, in fear of scaring away their audience. Blondshell continues to be one of the more bold artists in pop, and with the breakout critical success of her 2023 debut album, her bravado seems to be working.
Dominick's Picks
Fake Fruit - Mucho Mistrust
Post-Punk, Art Punk
via Carpark Records
Oakland post-punk trio Fake Fruit share their sophomore record with the release of Mucho Mistrust. The band started out as the songwriting project of Hannah "Ham" D'Mato, but expanded into a more collaborative effort in 2018 when she enlisted guitarist Alex Post and drummer Miles MacDiarmid. While their debut was a collection of songs written primarily by D'Mato--and in different places with different lineups--their latest is the result of the three working in unison.
“Through all of our extensive touring with so many bands we look up to, we have grown so much as musicians and people,” says D’Amato. “There's a lot more confidence and direction for how we write. I had always wanted to write more collaboratively. What does Fake Fruit sound like? How do we all write together? We do it so easily. It's incredible."
Mucho Mistrust is Fake Fruit's first release with Carpark Records and it is out now.
22° Halo - "Virtual You"
Indie Rock
via Tiny Library Records
Earlier this year, 22° Halo—the project of Philadelphia-based musician Will Kennedy—shared the catchy single, “Bird Sanctuary.” This week, Kennedy shares the loving but bittersweet “Virtual You” and announces his new album, Lily of the Valley.
In an Instagram post, Kennedy says:
“My new album “Lily of the Valley” comes out 11/8 on Tiny Library Records. It’s about life with Kate’s brain cancer and holding onto hope. It was therapeutic for me to make this. I’m so grateful for music. Sharing the 2nd track, called virtual you. It’s about looking back at old pictures and videos.”
Lily of the Valley is out November 8 on Tiny Library Records.
Feeling Figures - "Co-operator"
Post-Punk, Art Punk
via K Records / Perennial
In June, the Montreal band Feeling Figures announced plans for their new album, Everything Around You. We’ve heard two singles in “Swimming” and “Doors Wide Open,” and the band deliver a third this week with “Co-operator.”
Truly one of the finer rock bands out right now, The Figs’ latest single is another impressive switch-up. In slight contrast to the bouncy noise pop of “Doors Wide Open” or the chunky and dense “Swimming,” “Co-operator” feels very much spiritually aligned with the likes of Television; ramshackle art punk with phenomenal guitar work leading the way.
While technically the band’s second release, Everything Around You was recorded prior to their 2023 debut, Migration Magic. As such, it is said to be “a considerably deeper dive into the Figs universe, a more deliberate collection that includes compositions which push into the expanse, drawing from a broader palette of art rock influences.”
Everything Around You is out September 27 via K Records / Perennial.
Tall Juan - "Talking To Myself"
Jangle Pop, Neo-Psychedelia
Self-Released
“Talking To Myself” is the second single from Tall Juan’s upcoming album, Raccoon Nights. A downtrodden but soothing psych-pop cut, this one features guest vocals from none other Mac DeMarco.
"In those moments when you're barely managing to get out of bed and need support from friends, it's easy to get trapped in your own thoughts, convincing yourself that no one wants to hear about your struggles,” Tall Juan explained in a statement.
He continues:
"This mindset can make it increasingly difficult to reach out for help or find someone to talk to. Sometimes, all it takes is a phone call to pull yourself out of that place.For this song, I needed a friend to sing alongside me and create a dialogue through music. I reached out to my friend Mac, and singing together helped bring the entire concept to life...In our music video, directed by Dana Greenleaf, we aimed to portray the experience of sleep paralysis—feeling immobilized and trapped. We incorporated the idea of different cultural demons associated with sleep paralysis, but we designed our own version. As a fan of Butoh, I wanted our representation to reflect the expressive, haunting quality of Butoh dance.”
Raccoon Nights is out September 6.
Alien Nosejob - "Trapped in Time"
Buzzy punk from Australian musician Jake Robertson. It’s the second single from his new album, Turns the Colour of Bad Shit. The full album is out September 20 via Total Punk (US) / Drunken Sailor (UK) / Anti Fade (AUS).
Pixel Grip - "Stamina"
Raunchy EBM/synth punk from the Chicago trio on their new single.
They Are Gutting A Body of Water - "ana orint" (ft. Sword II)
Incredible linkup as two forces in the world of noise pop/shoegaze/dreamy goodness—Philly’s TAGABOW and ATL’s Sword II—share the new collaborative single “ana orint.”
UV-TV - "The Optimistic Wrench"
Cool and groovy tunes from the NYC band as they announce their latest EP with its title track and lead single. The Optimistic Wrench is out October 11 via Papercup Music.
Peter's Pick
julie - "very little effort"
Slacker Rock, Noise Rock, Post-Grunge
via Atlantic Records
Up-and-coming noise rock renegades julie edge closer to their full-length debut with "very little effort,” the second single released in the run-up to my anti-aircraft friend.
The LA band began their rise a few years back in 2020, but as they gear up for the release of my anti-aircraft friend, expect a bolder, confident, and more definitive sound from them.
Their highly anticipated debut is set for release on September 13 via Atlantic. julie will also head out on a 22-date US tour in October with support from They Are Gutting a Body of Water, Frost Children and Her New Knife on select dates.
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