THE BIG UPS- BEFORE A MILLION UNIVERSES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Throwback angry, post-punk that sounds like the mid-nineties.
Buy Before A Million Universes Amazon
 

 

 

 

 

CLAMS CASINO- 32 LEVELS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Inconsistent, but top heavy debut release by influential hip hop producer.  The rap tracks hit hardest.

 

 

Buy 32 Levels (Deluxe) [Explicit] Amazon

 

 

 

 

 

 

BRANDY CLARK- BIG DAY IN A SMALL TOWN

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sophomore record by successful country songwriter takes Clark one more step toward country fame as a singer as well.
Buy Big Day in a Small Town Amazon
 

 

 

 

FRANKIE COSMOS- NEXT THING

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Twee-punk sophomore album from daughter of Kevin Kline & Phoebe Cates offers up short two minute songs with hooks and philosophical insights.
Buy Next Thing Amazon
 

 

CYMBALS EAT GUITARS- PRETTY YEARS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fourth album by indie-rock former buzz band who is now very under the radar is one of their best.
Buy Pretty Years Amazon

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DIIV- IS THE IS ARE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Second album by Brooklyn band sits midway between dream pop and shoegaze; overall sound rules over songs though a few like “Dopamine” and “Under the Sun” stand out above the rest.
Buy Is The Is Are Amazon

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

D.R.A.M.- BIG BABY D.R.A.M.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Talented Va. Beach rapper, singer & songwriter D.R.A.M.’s first full length contains huge pop hit “Broccoli” as well as standouts “Cute” and “Cash Machine” and a few other delights.
Buy Big Baby D.R.A.M. [Explicit] Amazon

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

HISS GOLDEN MESSENGER- HEART LIKE A LEVEE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

North Carolina folk rock group continues to get better on promising “Heart Like A Levee”.

 

Buy Heart Like a Levee Amazon

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

KAMAIYAH- A GOOD NIGHT IN THE GHETTO

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Debut mixtape from young female rapper from Oakland who seemed to be blowing up everywhere in 2016 both here and on features.
Buy A Good Night in the Ghetto [Explicit] Amazon
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LAKE STREET DIVE- SIDE PONY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Boston roots band major label debut (Nonesuch Records) is consistently a blast to listen to and dabbles in different genres including soul, country & old skool rock n’ roll.

 
Buy Side Pony Amazon

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CASS MCCOMBS- MANGY LOVE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Under-appreciated singer-songwriter releases “Mangy Love”, one of his best albums with standout tracks “Bum Bum Bum”, “Opposite House” and “It”.

 

 

Buy Mangy Love Amazon
 

 

 

NXWORRIES- YES LAWD!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2016 breakout all-star Anderson Paak’s other group, nxworries (a collaboration between Paak and producer Knowledge) releases debut album filled with modern soul album with hip hop flourishes.

 

Buy Yes Lawd! [Explicit] Amazon

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PINEGROVE- CARDINAL

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Montclair, NJ emo kids release roots rock record to increasing acclaim featuring standout tracks “Old Friends” and “Size Of the Moon”.
Buy Cardinal Amazon

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THAO & THE GET DOWN- A MAN ALIVE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Second album by alternative folk-rock duo, produced by tune-yards’ Merril Garbus and containing much of her influence while genre-hopping and surprising throughout.
Buy A Man Alive Amazon

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WILCO- SCHMILCO

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Low-key but rock solid late period effort by dependable yet legendary alt-country icons Wilco.

 

Buy Schmilco Amazon