featuring Tyler, The Creator, Lil Uzi Vert, Mount Eerie, The Garden, & MORE
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 November 1.
And don't forget to check out our YouTube, where DeVán reports on the latest music news every Friday.
BLIGATORY Picks
Tyler, The Creator - CHROMAKOPIA
Hip-Hop, Neo-Soul, Neo-Psychedelia
via Columbia Records
Atticus' Picks
Lil Uzi Vert - Eternal Atake 2
Trap, Pop Rap
via Generation Now / Atlantic
Lil Uzi Vert has returned with a shockingly smooth and simple rollout process for Eternal Atake 2, the sequel to the monumental 2020 project Eternal Atake, which is remembered as one of the last great events in music before the COVID-19 pandemic began. While that album, its large deluxe edition, and 2023’s Pink Tape all received large amounts of anticipation online, Eternal Atake 2 seemed to arrive with less hype and confusion…but why?
After the wildly experimental and aggressive rock-rap sound of Pink Tape, fans likely had no idea what to expect or desire from Uzi (who now seems to mainly be using he/him pronouns publicly). What we received is a mixed bag of odd, loud, and slightly evil bangers backed by a small serving of poppy, R&B-inspired tunes with multiple production credits from none other than Cashmere Cat and Charlie Puth. Uzi has had great success in the past with in-your-face, somewhat abstract rapping on tracks such as “444+222” and “Early 20 Rager,” but most of the songs here fail to recapture that excitement, with less catchy hooks and tighter production. The front half of Eternal Atake 2 is very overwhelming and kind of messy.
From “Chill Bae” to “Conceited” however, the vibes drastically change and the tracks feel far more focused and pleasant. With Cashmere Cat being fairly absent or undercover this decade (aside from assisting The Kid LAROI’s “Stay”), it was refreshing to hear his trademark retro synth leads on “PerkySex” and reverbed string plucks on “Conceited,” which ends with a classic vocal-stack outro that is clearly sung by Puth. If this is not the side of Uzi you prefer–maybe your favorite projects of his are pre-Luv Is Rage 2–this small section might not be for you. However, it seems like the most focused, palatable, and coherent direction Uzi took on Eternal Atake 2.
Matt Champion - "Hacker"
Alt-Pop, Neo-Soul
via RCA Records
Many of the former BROCKHAMPTON members have been very active this year, with new solo albums from JOBA, Ameer Vann, Dom McLennon, and Matt Champion, who seemed to begin pushing another batch of singles in October. His newest track, “Hacker,” follows the same indie R&B direction that his album Mika’s Laundry took, which was clearly inspired by the recent work of singer (and album feature) Dijon and his frequent producer Henry Kwapis.
Champion’s vocals have always contained a nonchalant swagger whether he’s rapping, singing, or doing something in between, like on this track. The chorus of “Hacker” isn’t outwardly large or bombastic, but the slight swell coming off the bass-heavy groove of the verses is impactful in building momentum while still keeping the track subdued. There’s a head-bobbing swing to the drums throughout the track as well that keeps everything moving.
Even if Champion’s solo work shows its influences very openly, he has succeeded in completely rebranding his style and sound from BROCKHAMPTON’s.
Wishy - "Planet Popstar"
Shoegaze, Indie Rock
via Winspear
Wishy presents a quick follow-up to their debut album Triple Seven, released back in mid-August. The single “Planet Popstar” is a Kevin Krauter-sung electric jam that is most definitely pop, but not quite conventional.
Both Krauter’s voice and lead guitar are textured with spiky distortion. With the backing of both drum machines and a cymbal-heavy drum kit, the overall palette of the song is a bit bright and shrill. However, the song's composition plays into this, feeling shiny and upbeat as many of Krauter’s tracks do. It’s not as memorable as some of the best of Triple Seven (see “Persuasion,” “Busted,” or the title track), but it’s a solid bonus offering from a band in a genre that seems to stray away from doing deluxe albums for some reason.
The band is on tour in the U.K. now, with their U.S. stint beginning on November 18th in Pittsburgh.
Ab-Soul - "Crazier" (ft. JID)
Abstract Hip-Hop, Drumless
via TDE
HOMESHAKE - "Look Inside"
Hypnagogic Pop, Bedroom Pop
via SHHAMOKEE
Dominick's Picks
Anno - Anno
Minimal Synth, Post-Punk
Self-Released
Anno—the Washington, D.C.-based artist formerly known as 'Olivia Neutron-John'—shares their self-titled debut album. Their first project since receiving a cease and desist from Olivia Newton-John, Anno delivers seven new eclectic, minimal, and rhythmic synth-driven compositions.
About the project, Anno says, “When writing this record, I tapped into that initial energy that put my journey as a musician into motion when I started touring at 17 years old — the first sparks that sent me into the unknown, and not so much trusting, but knowing that this is my path. This record is an homage to the radical hope that got me to where I am now.”
Market - Well I Asked You A Question
Indie Rock, Noise Pop, Indie Pop
via Western Vinyl
Led by record engineer, multi-instrumentalist, and songwriter Nate Mendelsohn, the band Market released their debut in 2022 with The Consistent Brutal Bullshit Gong. This week, the Brooklyn-based group share their sophomore album Well I Asked You A Question.
Landing somewhere between angular pop and breezy indie rock, Market paint a colorful backdrop behind Mendelsohn's reflective, humorous, and oft-neurotic songwriting. In Mendelsohn's own words, Well I Asked You A Question is largely about “escaping the noise of the world by going inward” and “escaping the noise of the brain by going outward.”
Well I Asked You A Question is out now via Western Vinyl.
Military Genius - Scarred For Life
Hypnagogic Pop
via Unheard of Hope
Canadian musician and producer Bryce Cloghesy (of Crack Cloud & N0V3L) shares his second album under the Military Genius name. On the follow up to 2020’s Deep Web, Cloghesy crafts a cathartic and reflective fusion of dub, jazz, R&B, and more.
Hand-crafted by cassette while written, recorded, engineered, and produced by Cloghesy in the Mojave Desert, Scarred For Life deals heavily with themes of solitude and personal trauma. In his own words, Cloghesy says, “I found excitement in creating something naturalistic and hand-made, flawed by its own humanity. It's all about embracing the journey, stepping beyond the point of no return, and facing the future."
Scarred For Life is out now via Unheard of Hope.
Qlowski - The Wound
Post-Punk, Art Punk
via Feel It Records / Maple Death
Qlowski, the London-based collective led by Mickey Tellarini and Cecilia Corapi, share their second album The Wound. Recorded in Dublin at Sonic Studios by Daniel Fox (Gilla Band), the five-piece—rounded out by Lucy Ludlow, Christian Billard, and James Luxton—piece together a dark, but ultimately triumphant sound.
Whether tapping into the world of minimal synth or leaning into some sharp and biting anarcho-punk influence, The Wound is marked best by its themes of community and determination.
A joint release, this one comes by way of Feel It Records and Maple Death.
The Garden - Six Desperate Ballads (EP)
Art Punk
via Vada Vada
In what feels like somewhat of a holdover and/or buildup til their next full-length, the Orange County duo of Wyatt and Fletcher Shears share a new EP with—you guessed it, six new songs. A healthy dose of drum and bass mixed into high-energy, volatile punk foundation—and a dash of dreaminess to bring it home—has been more or less the primary M.O. of The Garden for a minute now. Six Desperate Ballads doesn’t do too much to expand upon this, but it’ll certainly do.
Mainly recommended for those familiar with their catalog; for new listeners, I’d suggest starting with their most recent album (Horseshit on Route 66) and working backwards.
Thirdface - Ministerial Cafeteria
Hardcore Punk, Post-Hardcore
via Exploding In Sound Records
Nashville hardcore outfit Thirdface share their second album, Ministerial Cafeteria. It rips. And it’s out now via Exploding In Sound Records.
Delivery - "Only A Fool"
Post-Punk, Garage Punk
via Heavenly Recordings / Play It Again Sam
A little over a month ago, Melbourne five-piece Delivery announced their sophomore album Force Majeure. Forming a trio of advance tracks alongside the previously released “Operating At A Loss” and “Digging The Hole,” this week the band share the new single “Only A Fool.”
Not only is it a bit more groove-based than previous singles, “Only A Fool” also sees bassist Lisa Rashleigh (who also wrote the song) take the role of lead vocals.
Force Majeure is out January 17 via Heavenly Recordings / Play It Again Sam.
Heart to Gold - "Blow Up the Spot"
Emo, Skate Punk, Indie Rock
via Memory Music
Presumably the last single before their new album drops, Minneapolis band Heart to Gold share the new single and music video for “Blow Up the Spot.” Another burst of charged and anthemic power-emo-pop, it follows previously covered singles “Mostly,” “Get It Back,” and “TNT,” as well as their February release “Can’t Feel Me.”
Free Help is out November 15 via Memory Music.
Kassie Krut - "Racing Man"
Glitch Pop, Deconstructed Club
via Fire Talk Records
Reformed from the solo project of Kasra Kurt (guitar/vocals in Palm), the trio of Krut, Eve Alpert (guitar/vocals in Palm), and Matt Anderegg—who helped produce Palm’s final record, Nicks and Grazes—shared their first collective offering as Kassie Krut last month with “Reckless.” This week, they’ve got another one out titled “Racing Man,” and it comes alongside the announcement of their debut, self-titled EP.
Centered around the stuttered repetition of warbly electronics and harsh drum hits, “Racing Man” is an entrancing affair with the off-kilter. It has an edge to it, but its pulsating rhythm is just as pronounced and undeniably entrancing.
Kassie Krut, the EP, is out December 6 via Fire Talk Records.
Snõõper - "Relay"
Egg Punk, Garage Punk
via Electric Outlet
Sticking to their guns with some bouncy and lo-fi egg punk, this one hit Bandcamp about two weeks ago before hitting the other platforms this week. Nashville’s Snõõper shared this “NEW SONG FOR NOVEMBER TOUR :)” ahead of a string of shows supporting Machine Girl on their fall tour.
Tape/Off - "Flat Earthers"
Post-Punk, Art Punk, Indie Rock
Self-Released
Tri-County Liquidators - "Protect Your Peace"
Shoegaze, Noise Pop, Indie Rock
via Smile Lonesome Records
Peter's Picks
Kokoroko - Get the Message (EP)
Jazz-Funk, Afro-Jazz
via Brownswood Recordings
Off the back of their "Three Piece Suit" single, London Afro-centric seven-piece Kokoroko provides a 15-minute refresher for their fans to warm them up for studio album number two which is due to release next year. Seen as a "signal of their incoming next phase," Get the Message turns a more introspective corner for Kokoroko.
On the EP, band drummer/percussionist Onome Edgeworth states: “Our tastes are richer and more developed. We're now creating from a completely different viewpoint and it's been quite freeing.”
Get the Message is out now via Giles Peterson's Brownswood Recordings.
Mount Eerie - Night Palace
Avant-Folk, Post-Rock, Slacker Rock
via P.W. Elverum & Sun
Phil Elverum returns under the fruitful Mount Eerie moniker for the first time in five years. Night Palace holds a very weather-like unpredictability; from one moment to the next we could be on the end of a completely different story. Sentient in feel, Night Palace bolsters that unequivocal Elverum charm, ingenuity, and artistic integrity.
A kaleidoscope of folked-up, atmospheric fuzz, forest floors, and fluorescent sparks; deep woods of prickly bristles and thick foliage; campfires and quiet resilience; manifested electricity; powers perceived on the edge of sense. If 80 minutes of Mount Eerie sounds like something that resonates with your being, then Night Palace is sure to soothe, upset, and distort your soul. We have one of the best that 2024 has to offer right here.
Night Palace is out now via Elverum's very own P.W. Elverum & Sun.
Nicolás Jaar - Piedras 1 & 2
Ambient, Electroacoustic, Microhouse
via Other People
Nicolas Jaar releases Piedras 1 & 2. Piedras 1 & 2 feature excerpts from Jaar's radio play Archivos de Radio Piedras, released in April of 2024. The play was converted into a 24-channel installation at the University Museum of Mexico City, where it was exhibited for five months. The play follows two friends mourning the disappearance of Salinas Hasbún (who is a homage to Jaar's grandmothers), a musician/writer who vanished in the early 2020s. The two friends turn to DIY radio to communicate in an age of enforced internet blackout.
Jaar initially wrote the song "Piedras" for a concert at the Museum of Memory & Human Rights in Santiago, Chile. The Museum of Memory & Human Rights commemorates the victims of human rights violations during the military dictatorship led by Augusto Pinnochet between 1973 and 1990.
Somewhere between soundscape-type pieces—places where the mind is let loose, what to think and feel is entirely up to the listener and the shackles of structure are untied—and industrial environments where the world is a potential threat at any given moment, Nicolas Jaar balances chaos and relative order through the realm of electronics.
Piedras 1 & 2 are out now via Other People.
LCD Soundsystem - "x-ray eyes"
Indietronica, Electro-Disco
via Columbia Records
LCD Soundsystem release their first single since 2022's "New Body Rhumba." Said new single comes in the shape of "X-Ray Eyes," a bouncy, bubbly piece that harks back to the more primitive early days of LCD Soundsystem.
Speaking on “X-Ray Eyes” and a potential new LCD album, Murphy had this to say:
“It's the first single of what's shaping up to be a new album. Don't ask me when that is, because we're still working on it. But it feels very good to be putting out new music.'
The upcoming LCD album would be their first since 2017's American Dream.
Public House - "London City"
UK Garage
via Nice Swan Electronic
Indie tastemakers Nice Swan switch things up and announce the launch of their electronic imprint Nice Swan Electronic. Nice Swan Electronic sets sail through the debut single of Manchester-based trio Public House. "London City" is a frosty, unforgiving track; urban streets are traversed as airy energy is manifested through brooding textures and a rather sturdy breeze.
Nice Swan had this to say about the label’s latest venture into the electronic scene: “Following the recent success of techno/punk trio, Chalk, we felt it was the perfect moment to merge our musical influences with the electronic world and launch a new imprint.... Stay tuned for more exciting releases to come.”
Public House's debut EP is to follow in early 2025.
Richard Dawson - "Polytunnel"
Contemporary Folk, Singer-Songwriter
via Domino Recording Co.
"Polytunnel" is the first single released in the build-up to Richard Dawson's upcoming studio album End of the Middle. "Polytunnel" is home to that flow-y, folk-y form that we have come to associate with Dawson.
Dawson's upcoming project centres around the family unit: “It zooms in quite close-up to try and explore a typical middle class English family home.” It is partly inspired by a love of Japanese director Yasujioō Ozu films.
You can watch a music video for Polytunnel on Richard Dawson's YouTube.
Richard Dawson's End of the Middle releases February 14, 2025 on Weird World/Domino.
Comments