featuring julie, Men I Trust, JOBA, Charli XCX, & 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 September 13.
And don't forget to check out our YouTube, where DeVán reports on the latest music news every Friday.
BLIGATORY Picks
julie - my anti-aircraft friend
Slacker Rock, Shoegaze, Noise Pop
via Atlantic Records
write-up by Peter Doherty
The Pushing Daisies EP, as well as a few scattered singles, let us in on the music scenes best kept secret. julie's my anti-aircraft friend is the debut album we've all been waiting for, whether you know it or not. The up-and-comers make their major label splash.
Intentionally rough around the edges and with a subsequent periphery jagged enough to cut steel, julie embark on a highly heated and wildly performed project. Buildings burn up and crumble on down. Beasts of burden growl at the moon. The rise and fall of an angst-ridden grit. Emotionally apathetic.
Feel the flow of the force and the fuzz. The stop/start of a fuel-driven heart.
my anti-aircraft friend is out now via Atlantic. In October, julie will start their North American tour which will include support from They Are Gutting A Body Water, Frost Children, and Her New Knife.
Men I Trust - "Husk"
Dream Pop, Jangle Pop
Self-Released
write-up by Atticus Deeny
Since 2021’s Untourable Album, Men I Trust have been teasing fans with a sparse stream of new singles. While the band has been on tour fairly consistently, no word of a new project has been heard.
“Husk” has their trademark tight grooves, breathy vocals, and intriguing chords. Electric guitar plays a big part in building atmosphere, as it feeds back and wails through sections of the songs. Men I Trust is not exactly known for taking risks, and “Husk” is no exception. Instead, it plays to their strengths and proves why they are one of the most consistent groups in indie pop.
Atticus' Picks
Montell Fish - "What's It Take To Be A Star?”
Art Rock, Psychedelic Soul
via JCM
Fish has been hovering within the gray area of mysterious Internet voices since reinventing his sound in 2021, going from bedroom-produced lo-fi beats to wide-open, “White Ferrari”-esque compositions. The shift was likely due to the viral success of his single “Fall in Love with You.” After two albums in 2022, Fish is gearing up to release CHARLOTTE on September 27 via JCM.
“What’s It Take To Be A Star?” is striking from the first piano hits. Fish uses harmony to build extreme drama—a common trait of his music that comes easily with his soft, echoey falsetto. The track features impressive instrumental dynamics, swirling with psychedelic guitar and drum work. One of the best choices this song makes is opting for a more complete instrumental palette, compared to some of Fish’s guitar-only songs. The haunting hook questions his choice of pursuing stardom, and the song ends abruptly.
Montell Fish has just begun his US tour with lowkey pop veteran Kacy Hill and fellow mysterious Internet voice CLIP.
Soccer Mommy - "Driver"
Indie Rock
via Loma Vista Recordings
"Driver" is the third single from Soccer Mommy's upcoming album, Evergreen. Alongside the single, Sophie Allison announced a 2025 tour covering North America and Europe.
Evergreen is out October 25 via Loma Vista Recordings.
Cam's Picks
JOBA - Russell Boring
Baroque Pop, Piano Rock
via WORLDSMILE
The man has production credits on records from Blood Orange and Ski Mask The Slump God, what can't he do?
There is seemingly very little when listening to the long-awaited debut solo album from former BROCKHAMPTON vocalist, producer, and engineer, JOBA. His tangential executive direction on the boyband's ROADRUNNER foreshadowed much of what is evident here.
However, much like former affiliate Matt Champion's debut Mika's Laundry, JOBA's Russell Boring moves beyond this association and cements him as a proficient songwriter. Sounds pretty timeless.
Charli XCX & Troye Sivan - "Talk talk Remix"
Dance-Pop
via Atlantic Records
Led with the formal announcement of a remix album, pop brat Charli once again joins forces with dance-pop vocalist Troye Sivan. It's a stilted sequel to the House-inspired “Talk talk” with lo-fi glitchy vox and glitzy new keys. A staple for anyone planning to attend the singers' joint mini-tour, SWEAT, this autumn.
Brat and It’s Completely Different but Also Still Brat is out October 11 via Atlantic Records.
RiTchie & FearDorian - "Cc Me"
Cloud Rap, Sample Drill
Self-Released
RiTchie of Injury Reserve/By Storm fame is gearing up for a short UK tour with FearDorian, who produced a handful of tracks from the former's recent debut solo album. They are putting out a joint EP soon and “Cc Me” is the first taster. It's pretty sparse, but serves its function fine; but will probably be easier to understand once enmeshed in the context of the full project.
Quiet Warp Xpress is out September 27.
Dominick's Picks
Allegra Krieger - Art of the Unseen Infinity Machine
Singer-Songwriter, Folk Rock, Cont. Folk
via Double Double Whammy
The latest album from NYC-based singer-songwriter Allegra Krieger flutters between perennial gratitude and restless existentialism.
Much of Krieger’s second full-length was written in the months following a late-night fire in her apartment building. It’s the focal point of “One or the Other,” in which she recalls fleeing down eight flights of stairs and a “wall of grey smoke.” Reflecting on that incident, and more broadly the fragility of life—Art of the Unseen Infinity Machine peels back the seemingly mundane and poses two questions: “What do we know about living? What do we know about dying?”
Backed by a full band, Art of the Unseen Infinity Machine is comparatively more dynamic than her sparse and poetic debut, last year’s I Keep My Feet on The Fragile Plane.
Art of the Unseen Infinity Machine is out now via Double Double Whammy. Beginning October 17 in Washington D.C., Krieger will embark on a brief but jam-packed tour with 12 shows in 14 days. She will joined by Philadelphia-based indie folk artist Greg Mendez on all but three of the stops.
Fentanyl - Fentanyl
Hardcore Punk
via Convulse Records
Brought to you by the hardcore powerhouse of a label that is Denver-based Convulse Records, Bay Area punk band Fentanyl share their debut record. Like a barbed-wire bat or a live wire explosion, the band’s S/T compiles 14 tracks across 15 minutes of unbridled punk.
Snoozer - Mid-Earth
Indie Rock, Slacker Rock
via Born Losers Records
Brothers Mike (touring drummer for Alex G) and Tom Kelly (Shyin, Orchids) have, naturally, been making music for much longer than the Snoozer discog might indicate. After a handful of EPs—and a lot more house shows—the duo released their first full-length (via Julia’s War) in 2022 with zzz.
Making their label debut for Born Losers, Mid-Earth expands upon the Philly-based duo’s tender and groove-laden indie rock sound.
Next month, Snoozer will open for Tigers Jaw’s upcoming fall tour, which features additional support from Oso Oso.
Cloud Nothings - "Halloween I & II" (Misfits Cover)
Indie Rock, Garage Rock
via Pure Noise Records
Released in conjunction with two additional covers, Cleveland indie rockers Cloud Nothings share a rendition of the Misfits’ “Halloween.” Alongside “Intergalactic” (Beastie Boys) by ‘68, Same Side’s take on “That’s the Way” (Led Zeppelin), it’s one of the first samples of an upcoming compilation by the name of Dead Formats Vol. 3.
Presented by Pure Noise Records, the third installment of their Dead Formats series will also include tracks by Knuckle Puck, Senses Fail, Ben Quad, and more. Dead Formats Vol. 3 is out October 18.
cumgirl8 - "ahhhh!hhhh! (i don't wanna go)"
Dance-Punk, Post-Punk Revival
via 4AD
NYC synth-punk band cumgirl8 share the second single from their upcoming debut album. Announced last month alongside lead single, “Karma Police,” the 8th cumming is out October 4 via 4AD.
Merce Lemon - "Crow"
Cont. Folk, Singer-Songwriter, Americana
via Darling Recordings
In July, Merce Lemon announced her sophomore album alongside the fiery alt-country/country rock lead single "Backyard Lover." She also shared the album’s title track last month with the folky and earnest “Watch Me Drive Them Dogs Wild.”
This week, the Pittsburgh-based singer-songwriter returns with her latest single “Crow.” In a similar fashion to “Backyard Lover,” the new one features brilliant pacing—starting out relatively sparse before exploding in the back half.
About the track, Lemon says:
“Every year the crows migrate over Pittsburgh. I wrote this song after sitting on my roof in 2019, watching the sky turn black with fluttering wings, flying in mass towards the blue water tower planted on the hill in the distance.”
Watch Me Drive Them Dogs Wild is out September 27 via Darling Recordings.
Show Me the Body & High Vis - "Stomach"
Post-Hardcore
via CORPUS
Taken from their upcoming CORPUS II EP II, Show Me the Body team up with UK post-hardcore outfit High Vis for the collaborative single “Stomach.”
Earlier this year, the NYC hardcore group shared the six-track CORPUS II EP I, which featured Zulu, B L A C K I E, King Yosef, and more. The second installment of CORPUS II—the successor to 2017’s collab-loaded CORPUS I—has appearances from Spellling, Alli Logout of Special Interest, Regional Justice Center, and more. It will be released on September 27.
Special Interest - "Nothing Grows Here"
Dance-Punk
Self-Released
No wave’s modern-day spiritual torchbearers Special Interest share their new single “Nothing Grows Here.” A thumping and frantic techno-influenced track, it is the New Orleans band’s first brand-new song since their 2022 album, Endure.
About “Nothing Grows Here,” singer Alli Logout says it is about “stagnancy, over-stayed welcomes and the moment you decided to confront your complacency. It’s about opening yourself to feel the earth dying underneath your feet. How do we stand and what do we stand for? It’s a song about the reeling in this moment. The next step? A call to arms.”
In the coming months, Special Interest are supporting Show Me the Body on their upcoming tour—which features additional support from High Vis and ZelooperZ.
The Garden - "Ballet"
Synth Punk
via Vada Vada
Experimental punk duo and ‘Vada Vada’ progenitors The Garden share their new single “Ballet.” A rattling and high-energy track, it’s standard fare for the Shears twins.
While yet to be officially announced—judging by the cover art—“Ballet” looks to be part of an upcoming EP titled Six Desperate Ballads.
Peter's Picks
Moreish Idols - "Pale Blue Dot"
Post-Punk, Indie Rock
via Speedy Wunderground / Play It Again Sam
South London five-piece Moreish Idols, with the release of their latest track, have the honour of being Speedy Wunderground's 50th single. Windswept, laid bare, and captivating, the journey of “Pale Blue Dot” is anchored by uncertainty.
However, one thing is certain, case studies will be done in years to come trying to work out how Speedy Wunderground do it time and time again. We don't know. We don't know. We don't know.
The 7" of “Pale Blue Dot” is available October 1 via Speedy Wunderground. Speedy Wunder's 50th single release party takes place September 30 at the Shackwell Arms, London.
Porridge Radio - "A Hole In The Ground"
Indie Rock, Art Rock
via Secretly Canadian
The second single from Porridge Radio before the release of upcoming album Clouds in the Sky They Will Always Be There For Me meets the artistic form of "A Hole in the Ground."
An accompanying music video from the band’s show at The Pompidou Centre in Paris is available on the band’s YouTube.
Porridge Radio's fourth studio album and follow-up to 2022's Waterslide, Diving Board, Ladder to the Sky releases October 18 via Secretly Canadian.
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