Featured New Releases for
October 18, 2024

Tension II

BMG Rights Management
The sequel to her excellent 2023 LP continues the party on a set of irresistible originals and collaborations.

— Neil Z. Yeung

MC5

Heavy Lifting

Ear Music
Billed as the return of Detroit's rabble-rousing heroes, it's really the final statement from their great guitarist, Wayne Kramer.

— Mark Deming

Memory of a Day

Neon Gold / Virgin
The duo's best album to date finds them adding shoegaze noise and dream pop atmosphere to their predictably emotional and melodic electronic pop sound.

— Tim Sendra

I Want Blood

Double J / Universal Music
A bold and bruising nine-song set befitting an architect of grunge and alternative hard rock.

— James Christopher Monger

Little Big III

Blue Note
Parks' quartet returns to Blue Note with a compelling third chapter, reflecting a euphoric approach to adventurous composition and improvisation.

— Thom Jurek

Make It Fit

Numero / Numero Group
On their first album in 20 years, this post-hardcore band drastically changes their sound once again, adding upbeat pub rock energy to their jazz-informed approach.

— Fred Thomas

Dreamstate

DH2
The Welsh electronic artist shifts toward progressive house euphoria with collaborators like Bicep and Tom Rowlands (Chemical Brothers).

— Paul Simpson

Mad Sometimes

Fire Records
The sweetly wistful, haunted debut LP of a U.K. singer/songwriter whose influences span French pop, exotica, and Karen Dalton.

— Marcy Donelson

Slipping Away

Bloodshot
The noted funnyman shifts gears with a moody, contemplative look at adult life that's intelligent and powerful.

— Mark Deming

Lush Life

Third Man Records
Almost playing like a greatest-hits collection, the Aussie foursome's hooky, frustrated, impulsive-sounding debut landed them on Third Man Records.

— Marcy Donelson

The Neon Gate

Paradise of Bachelors
The Nova Scotians veer from their signature guitar rock to make a freewheeling D.I.Y. art-pop composite.

— Timothy Monger

The Vanishing Point

Ba Da Bing Records
An ambitious, dystopic quasi-space opera that finds vocalist and voice-manipulation whiz Eliza Bagg merging elements of hyperpop and the avant-garde.

— Marcy Donelson

The Mighty Several

EMI / EMI Records
Another incisive and tuneful set of (mostly) duets from the U.K. songwriting legend, but with Rianne Downey in for the ailing Jacqui Abbott.

— Marcy Donelson

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