By Lisa / Everett Public Library staff
Chase away the clouds with some great new music arrivals. Place your holds now:
Starchild & the New Romantic, “Language” (Ghostly International) — Down-tempo funk with a retro feel. Artist Bryndon Cook’s music may be a nod to greats like Prince, P-Funk, and Michael Jackson, but the album is far from derivative. It’s more of a homage to those who have come before with the sincerity of a creative and talented musician blazing his own path past the monuments.
Soccer Mommy, “Clean” (Fat Possum Records) — Dreamy, folky, a little gritty. Singer/songwriter Sophie Allison took what was more or less a home-grown scene of her making via her uploaded music and re-recorded her material into a full-length release for a wider audience. The album still has the intimate, personal feel of her earlier recordings but is more fully realized with the backing of a band. Her material is stripped down, autobiographical and highly relatable — giving you a window into the life of this very talented young artist on the rise.
Meshell Ndegeocello, “Ventriloquism” (Naive) — Ndegeocello’s vocals are spare, layered over production that has an almost dreamlike, ambient feel. Her work features interpretations of R&B hits that anyone who came of age in the 1980s or ’90s will recognize. Each track is less of a cover and more of a reinvention; there is a warmth and mystery to each that makes me think of them as throwback lullabies.
Shopping, “The Official Body” (Fatcat Records) — A post-punk concoction that’s a little surf rock, pop and new wave all in one. If the B-52s and The Slits had a love child, it would sound a little like this album.
No Age, “Snares Like a Haircut” (Drag City, Inc.) — Lush, full bodied noise rock. No Age’s fifth studio album shows a maturity of sound that has developed over 13 years of collaboration. The mingling of beauty and turmoil creates an explosive mix of highly enjoyable tracks. Is polished roughness a thing? If so, they’ve nailed it.
Screaming Females, “All At Once” (Don Giovanni Records) — Alt rock with venue-dominating vocals and a punk vibe. Another release from a veteran act making the list, this is the 11th album for the Screaming Females. Clearly they haven’t lost a step as they continue to push the boundaries of genrefication. Special treat for the fans of Fugazi: Brendan Canty makes a guest appearance on drums.
Dabrye, “Three/Three” (Ghostly International) — Hip hop with strong electronic production. Producer Tadd Mullinix returns to his Dabrye moniker after a long hiatus. His time “off” has been fruitful for his work in different electronic music ventures, but fans of his hip-hop material have long been awaiting this latest release. “Three/Three” does not disappoint. This album boasts a long list of collaborators staying true to Mullinix’s Michagander roots by highlighting Detroit-area MCs new and old, in particular.
Lindi Ortega, “Liberty” (Shadowbox Music) — Dramatic ballads with a Spaghetti-Western flare. Ortega’s beautifully emotive vocals lend an air of mystery to her tracks. Grab this album and be taken along on a wild ride as each track tells a tale of loss and salvation. I have a soft spot for albums that tell a story and this one delivers a Country Gothic tale worth hearing.
Be sure to visit the Everett Public Library blog for more reviews and news of all things happening at the library.
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