My Top 5 New Releases :: New Music Friday :: Week of 3/21/16

1. Patch the Sky :: Bob Mould

Three-Sentence Review: Oh my stars, I was so needing some new music from Bob Mould today. Hüsker Dü and Sugar were big favorites of mine in the 90’s, and I’ve been a fan of Bob’s solo work ever since I got to see him play live at Coachella, in 2009. This album is powerful, cathartic, angsty in the best way, and is full of both 90’s alt-indie-rock sensibilities, mixed with something that is both darkly emotional, and accessibly light – Mould explains that Patch the Sky is his darkest album, but also ‘the catchiest one.’ – and I really think that sums this album up perfectly.

Initial Favorite Track(s): Voices in my Head, Losing Sleep and Black Confetti

Rating (1-5 Stars): 5+

Voices in My Head

2. Beautiful Lies :: Birdy

Three-Sentence Review: I’ve been listening Birdy’s music since I first heard her stunning cover of Bon Iver’s Skinny Love. Her covers grabbed me at the start, but it was the music that followed — including this emotionally rich, complex, beautiful new album, that has made me a big fan. I hear a Florence And The Machine influence here, which I suppose may come from working with Florence’s producer (among a few other producers), along with a bit of Sia, Ellie Goulding and Bat For Lashes, in the dramatic, cinematic powerful songs/booming ballads that make-up Beautiful Lies.

Initial Favorite Track(s): Keeping Your Head Up, Silhouette and Beautiful Lies

Rating (1-5 Stars): 5

Keeping Your Head Up

3. Radius :: Allen Stone

Three-Sentence Review: This album reminds me of a love affair pairing of Stevie Wonder and Nathaniel Rateliff (think lots of funk with a side of whiskey). There’s a little Jamiroquai (especially in the song Fake Future) and Lenny Kravitz here, too. This album requires dancing – if you don’t move while playing this I’d be a little bit worried.

Initial Favorite Track(s):  Perfect World, Love and I Know That I Wasn’t Right

Rating (1-5 Stars): 5

Perfect World

3. Potential :: The Range

Three-Sentence Review: A complete surprise/discovery album of the week for me, Potential blew me away with it’s complexity, textured melodic layering, and sonic magic that makes up The Range’s (Tyler Hinton) second album. This is music to drive to at night, to dance to in dark clubs, and, for me, to write to – I’m really taken by this album.

Initial Favorite Track(s): Regular, Florida and 1804

Rating (1-5 Stars): 4

Florida

4. Midwest Farmer’s Daughter :: Margo Price

Three-Sentence Review: Margo Price’s debut album from Third Man Records (recorded at Sun Studios) is this amazing mix of old country and alt-country that I am just big time loving. I’m reminded of Loretta Lynn and Tammy Wynette, HoneyHoney, Ryan Adams, Neko Case, Ryan Bingham and Nikki Lane. The songwriting here is stellar and the sound – part Honky Tonk and part Bluebird Cafe – makes this an impressive first album.

Initial Favorite Track(s):  Hands of Time, Tennessee Song and Hurtin’ (On the Bottle)

Rating (1-5 Stars): 4

Hurtin’ (On the Bottle)