featuring MJ Lenderman, Toro y Moi, Dummy, Mount Eerie, & 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 6.
And don't forget to check out our YouTube, where DeVán reports on the latest music news every Friday.
BLIGATORY Picks
MJ Lenderman - Manning Fireworks
Alt-Country, Slacker Rock, Americana
via ANTI- Records
write-up by Dominick Baglivo
The MJ Lenderman hype keeps on truckin’. After an underground breakout of sorts in 2022 with the phenomenal Boat Songs, Lenderman shares his fourth solo album with Manning Fireworks. With it, the Asheville, North Carolina-based singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and Wednesday guitarist takes his borderline sardonic style of twangy slacker rock to a new level.
Coproduced with frequent collaborator Alex Farrar, Lenderman plays nearly every instrument on his latest full-length. There are a few guest contributions from fellow North Carolina musicians, including but not limited to three of Lenderman’s Wednesday bandmates in Karly Hartzman, Xandy Chelmis, and Ethan Baechtold. Roaring and reverb soaked guitars lead the way on Manning Fireworks, structuring a sound somewhere between alt-country and shoegaze.
He sings with a quasi-lackadaisical delivery that stands both in direct opposition and hand-in-hand with lyrics that could not be more earnest. Playful, sarcastic, and sometimes downright silly at times—but let Lenderman explain it (see: “Joker Lips”) and you’ll quickly see the balancing act crumble.
The witty references Lenderman seems to have an endless supply of often serve as a humorous foil; indelible one-liners inseparable from the reflections of shame and sadness they accompany. Manning Fireworks is a deeply melancholic and existential record, but above all, it feels familiar. Behind Lenderman’s poignant songwriting and voice—cracks and all—these songs exude warmth and sincerity.
Manning Fireworks is out now via ANTI- Records, marking Lenderman’s first release with the label.
MJ Lenderman (& The Wind) are currently on a U.S. tour that will conclude November 1 in Asheville. They will hit the road again in 2025, starting January 29 in Carrboro, NC. Six UK shows—in late May and early June—are also scheduled. Find more info and tour dates here.
Toro y Moi - Hole Erth
Alt. R&B, Pop Rock, Pop Rap
via Dead Oceans
write-up by Atticus Deeny
Hole Erth could end up being a highly polarizing album, mostly due to its ventures into hip-hop and pop punk. The lead single, “Tuesday,” fuses the two genres, and comes off a bit corny and performatively wordy. “HOV” is a bit better, with chords that sound rage-inspired, but these two tracks could likely be turn-offs for some. The sometimes cheesy and theatrical pop punk elements are not always a great mix with the trap drums and autotune of hip-hop.
When Toro y Moi tries hip-hop on his own here, it’s very reminiscent of Travis Scott’s earlier work (which makes sense considering their Rodeo collaboration “Flying High”). It’s cool to hear him use more expressive vocal deliveries on songs like “Walking in the Rain” and “Babydaddy,” since he usually sings without much animation. Don Toliver seems to mesh naturally with a set of features, especially on the melodic “Madonna.” The next track, “Undercurrents,” is a dark and sludgy deep cut that's a bit messy, but still sonically pleasing.
The highlight of the album might be the Kenny Mason-assisted “Smoke,” which is equally as dark but more memorable, varied, and emo than the other dark tracks on the project. Mason’s verse is smooth and beautiful over a sad piano melody, creating the best feature on the album. The album’s final track, “Starlink,” also contains a fantastic performance from glaive, providing the project with an energetic sign-off. Experimenting with new genres seems to bring Toro y Moi joy now 15 years into his run. Hole Erth seems like a more seen-through version of 2019’s Soul Trash; and it makes unapologetically clear that Chaz Bear will not conform to any one particular sound.
Dummy - Free Energy
Neo-Psychedelia, Noise Pop, Krautrock, Ambient Pop
via Trouble In Mind Records
write-up by Dominick Baglivo
A crystalline display of noise pop, Free Energy is the sophomore album from Los Angeles band Dummy. Equal parts spiky and dreamy, their second LP features an even more expansive sonic palette than that of their stellar debut, 2021’s Mandatory Enjoyment.
Built upon sticky pop choruses, shimmering synths, and confidently driven rhythms, Free Energy is a cannonball of charged psychedelic bliss. The four-piece of Alex Ewell, Emma Maatman, Nathan O’Dell, and Joe Trainor produce fruitful fusions with textured fusions of electronics and guitar-driven rock across a dozen captivating tracks.
Free Energy is out now via Trouble In Mind Records. Dummy is currently in the midst of a West Coast tour that will conclude September 21 in Oxnard, CA. After that, the band will embark on a EU/UK tour beginning in Breda, NL on October 31.
Mount Eerie - "Broom of Wind" / "I Walk"
Singer-Songwriter, Indie Rock, Post-Rock
via P.W. Elverum & Sun
write-up by Peter Doherty
Mount Eerie, the brainchild of Phil Elverum—also of The Microphones—announces his first album in five years under the Mount Eerie moniker. The double singles of "Broom of Wind" and "I Walk" sit back-to-back on the album’s tracklist and bleed into one another—so it's only fair that they're released as a one-piece of sorts.
The tracks are home to a gentle wind that caresses the material through its sonic worlds of evergreen. Feeling, and breathing on their own accord, these singles hint at something rather special.
Night Palace has a whopping 26 tracks, runs for 80 or so minutes and releases November 1 via P.W. Elverum & Sun. Elverum is playing two exclusive shows in Brooklyn, NY and Los Angeles, CA this November.
Atticus' Picks
Jane Remover - "Magic I Want U" / “How To Teleport”
Glitch Pop
via deadAir
Sometimes, all it takes is a slight adjustment in songwriting style for everything to click. In comparison to the blurry, long-winded tracks on 2023’s Census Designated, Jane Remover’s recent double single drops of 2024 seem sugar-coated. “Magic I Want U” is hyperactive—with constant rhythmic variation, a sticky hook, and possibly the cutest outro of the year so far. Just to emphasize how eccentric this song is, it manages to sneak the classic drum break from Lyn Collin’s “Think (About It)” into the soundscape of slightly industrial, jittering electronic madness.
The B-side “How To Teleport” is also impressive, but a bit less instant and catchy. Rooting both tracks in electric guitar chords gives it an edge that permeates the spamming of electronic drums and sound effects. Jane is currently opening for JPEGMAFIA on his US tour; a fitting pairing likely to gain Jane a healthy amount of new listeners.
Dominick's Picks
Peel Dream Magazine - Rose Main Reading Room
Art Pop, Ambient Pop, Neo-Psychedelia
via Topshelf Records
Taking its from the New York Public Library, Rose Main Reading Room is calming and meditative slice of droning, ambient pop set to the backdrop of New York City. Led by songwriter Joe Stevens, it is Peel Dream Magazine’s fourth full-length and first for Topshelf Records.
Prison Affair - Demo 4
Garage Punk, Egg Punk
Self-Released
Don’t let the demo designation fool you; the latest four track offering from Barcelona’s Prison Affair is ready for your ears. Seven minutes of lo-fi and erratic synth-punk, Demo 4 is a super fun listen.
Tall Juan - Raccoon Nights
Psychedelic Pop, New Wave, Indie Rock
Self-Released
Emerging from a dark hole and peaking its head out is Raccoon Nights, the latest album from Queens-based musician and producer. Joined by friends and collaborators alike, this psych-pop release includes contributions from Mac DeMarco, Juan Wauters, Andrew VanWyngarden, and more.
Machine Girl - "Motherfather"
Glitch Pop, Neo-Psychedelia
via Future Classic
About a month ago, the NYC-based digital hardcore duo Machine Girl announced their sixth studio album MG Ultra behind lead single “Until I Die.” This week, the pairing of Matt Stephenson and Sean Kelly is back with “Motherfather.”
“Motherfather” feels noticeably more palatable and approachable than Machine Girl’s usual abrasive stylings—but it is far from anything other than a step in the right direction. The verses are stamped by skittish breakbeats intertwined with (similar to the album’s lead single) some of MG’s strongest melodies to date. Crumbling in real-time, “Motherfather” is juxtaposed with a grungy chorus that chants the song’s title and sees a thick layer of guitars wash over the otherwise colorful single.
MG Ultra marks Machine Girl’s first album in over four years and their debut for Australian record label Future Classic. It comes out October 18.
Market - "Sertraline"
Jangle Pop, Indie Rock, Singer-Songwriter
via Western Vinyl
Announcing the follow-up to their 2022 debut album The Consistent Brutal Bullshit Gong is the Brooklyn-based band Market. Led by record engineer, multi-instrumentalist, and songwriter Nate Mendelsohn, the group shares another slice of anxious pop with the new single “Setraline” and announces Well I Asked You a Question.
Last month, Market shared the track “Apple,” a tender, empathetic examination of nature vs. nurture through the lens of his dad’s frustration at Mendelsohn’s twin sister showing up six minutes late. Brimming with jangly charm, “Setraline” feels noticeably more energetic and playful. And while there’s some merit to that—sonically, at the very least—“Setraline” still sees Mendelsohn grappling with a similar brand of existentialism.
Regarding the track, Mendolsohn described it (via Bandcamp) as a song about “self-mythologizing, art making, archiving, and understanding yourself through the stories you cling to, mutate, and sometimes reject.”
Market’s sophomore album, Well I Asked You a Question, is out November 1 via Western Vinyl.
Safe Mind - "6' Pole"
Synthpop
via NUDE CLUB
New duo alert! Augustus Muller—one half of electronic/darkwave duo Boy Harsher—and Cooper B. Handy (LUCY) team up for a new collaborative project by the name of Safe Mind. The two previously worked together on Boy Harsher’s 2020 album, The Runner (Original Soundtrack), a delectable slice of synthpop and an album highlight.
Muller and Handy have casually worked on music together since that fruitful collaboration, continuing to develop chemistry that shines bright on their first release. Under the name Safe Mind, they introduce themselves with the bouncy and playful single, “6’ Pole.”
While there is no official news yet, be on the lookout for more from Safe Mind. Muller and Handy will make their live debut in less than a month, with a brief tour kicking off October 2 in Amherst, MA and concluding October 7 in Los Angeles.
BLOUS3 - "I Know 101 Things"
Post-Hardcore, Noise Rock
via Cherub Dreams Records
“I Know 101 Things” is the frenetic new single from Sacramento group BLOUS3. It’s the second sample of their upcoming album, Synchronized Swimming, which is out October 4 via Cherub Dreams Records.
Post-Punk, Dance Punk, Art Rock
via untitled (recs)
London band Famous share the shaky third single from their upcoming debut album. Party Album is out October 11 via untitled (recs).
Heart to Gold - "Get It Back"
Post-Hardcore, Indie Rock
via Memory Music
Toward the tail end of July, Minneapolis band Heart to Gold announced their third album, Free Help, alongside the single “TNT.” This week, the trio share another with “Get It Back.”
Anthemic and punchy as hell, it’s the third single they’ve put out this year, as they released “Can’t Feel Me” back in February. Free Help is out November 15 via Memory Music.
Spiral XP - "Sinner"
Slacker Rock, Shoegaze
via Danger Collective Records
PNW melancholic indie rock will never die. Seattle’s Spiral XP latest single is a sweet but somber, feedback-soaked slice of bliss. Their debut album, I Wish I Was a Rat, is out October 18 via Danger Collective Records.
Peter's Picks
Artificial Go - Hopscotch Fever
Art Punk, Garage Punk
via Feel It Records
Artificial Go's Hopscotch Fever is the debut album from Cincinnati’s latest spirit of weirdly cool creatives. Artificial Go, a four-piece who converge on an aesthetic of bite-size, rudimentary garage rock, seemingly appeared out of thin air with their debut single "Pay Phone," a refreshing one-minute and fifty-four seconds of delight. As you can probably tell, the Artificial Go crew followed up the refreshing debut single with a refreshing debut album.
Hopscotch Fever is 8 tracks and 20 minutes of relatively sturdy, though-sticky-taped-together, ephemeral bursts of that rugged raw. Hopscotch Fever was released on Cincinnati labels Feel It and Future Shock.
Knitting - Some Kind of Heaven
Indie Rock, Slacker Rock
via Mint Records
Your Grandma's favourite pastime enters into 2024 with their debut studio album by the name of Some Kind of Heaven. The Montreal collective Knitting signed to Mint Records back in June and recorded their debut full-length with Scott Munro of Preoccupations. The singles of "Heaven," "Sleeper," and "Spirit Gum" alluded to tender pieces of a pensive disposition.
Some Kind of Heaven is hushed, but not from a lack of conviction. Sentimental, though not from a lack of love in the here and now.
Indie heads will adore this. Fans of the coziness of the Cocteau Twins and the guitar freakout potential of MJ Lenderman need to check out Knitting. They've even been cosigned by the man himself, Nardwuar! Doot doola-doot doooo!
Ramper - "Poderoso Puño"
Post-Rock, Slowcore
via Humo Internacional
Granada-based band Ramper once again make themselves known. In the lead-up to their sophomore project, Solo Postres (‘Only Desserts’ in English), "Poderoso Puño"('Mighty Fist') is the second single to be released. Like being caught in a riptide, Ramper's heavily melancholic sound sways between waves of crushing prowess and irreversible pull. Things may seem calm on the surface, but down below those that never made it long for some company.
Solo Postres is out September 18 via Humo Internacional.
Thank - "Do It Badly"
Noise Rock, Post-Punk
via Big Scary Monsters
Leeds-based band Thank release the second single in the run-up to their recently announced second album, I Have A Physical Body That Can Be Harmed. "Do It Badly" bears a coruscating wit with a jagged ferocity, but is also a life lesson in creative endeavors or whatever you need motivation in.
Thank vocalist and guitarist Freddy Vinehill-Cliffe had this to say about the single:
“’Do it badly' has become kind of a motivational mantra in my household. If something is important to you, I think it's really helpful to acknowledge that getting it done to any standard, even a poor standard, even a total shitshow standard, is better than not doing it at all. So this is a motivational song, but it's also kind of about the joy of malicious compliance.”
Thank's sophomore project, I Have A Physical Body That Can Be Harmed releases November 8 via Big Scary Monsters. A record release party will be held at the Brudenell Social Club in Leeds—with further details for the show yet to be announced.
Comentarios