News

Stream: New Albums From Mastodon, Wilco, Zola Jesus

5:31 p.m. · September 23, 2011 · by Andrew Martin

Wilco: The Whole Love at NPR
The Whole Love -- Wilco's latest album and first on their own label, dBpm Records -- is up for streaming prior to its release on Sept. 27. If you're a hardcore Wilco-head, you probably already played it several times when it was up on the band's site earlier this month. There's no time limit to this stream, though, so enjoy for the next eight days.

Zola Jesus: Conatus at The Guardian (or below)
Zola Jesus' latest full-length, Conatus, not only proves her prolific nature -- it's her third album in as many years -- but it should also continue to garner her more critical love. From the sound of it, Conatus is another winner for 22-year-old Niki Roza Danilova. The album is due out Oct. 4.

Mastodon: The Hunter at the band's site (or below)
For their fifth full-length, Mastodon returned to the more crushing and straightforward sounds heard on 2004 fan-favorite Leviathan. They also compared their approach on The Hunter to a heavier Led Zeppelin, something classic rock and metal fans should certainly take note of. It's due out Sept. 27. Via Pitchfork.

Dum Dum Girls: Only In Dreams at AV Club
Only In Dreams serves as the follow-up to Dum Dum Girls' lauded 2010 debut, I Will Be. It will certainly be interesting to see if this album, too, garners the attention of his predecessor. From the sound of its leaks and singles, we're thinking it just might.

Spank Rock: Everything Is Boring And Everyone Is A Fucking Liar at Rolling Stone
Naeem Juwan's wordy sophomore album under the Spank Rock moniker is set to drop Sept. 27. If you're looking to get the party started early, though, you can check it out right now. Just be sure to not bump certain cuts too loud, like the Big Freedia-featured "Nasty."

Geoffrey O'Connor: Vanity Is Forever on Soundcloud
Although his name might not instantly grab you right now, you should keep an eye out for Geoffrey O'Connor. The Chapter Music signee is releasing his latest effort, Vanity is Forever, next Tuesday (Sept. 27) and he's also gearing up for a tour with Jens Lekman in the coming months.

John Cale: Extra Playful at The Guardian (or below)
Next week, former Velvet Underground member John Cale will release his first project since joining Domino with Extra Playful. The five-track EP is a precursor to his next full-length album, which should be out some time in 2012. Extra Playful drops Sept. 27.

Dominant Legs: Invitation at HypeMachine
Ryan William Lynch's Dominant Legs project, which has grown from a duo into a quintet, features the Bay Area musician trading vocals with Hannah Hunt and making flat-out fun indie pop. It's difficult to not get caught up on the melodies running throughout their debut album, Invitation, which drops Sept. 27.

Various Artists: 4AD Sessions 2008-2011(stream/download it below)
Along with releasing great albums from equally great acts like Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti and Deerhunter, 4AD asks those same groups to come back to their studio for some live sessions. You can hear plenty of 'em on the vinyl-only 4AD Sessions 2008-2011, which apparently sold out so quickly that the label is offering it as a free download. Well, you have to enter your e-mail, but after that it's yours.

Radiation City: The Hands That Take You at Paste
After previously dropping The Hands That Take You on cassette earlier this year, indie charmers Radiation City landed a deal with Tender Loving Empire to give the album a proper release. The dreamy, catchy effort is due out next Tuesday, Sept. 27.

Youth Lagoon: The Year of Hibernation at SPIN
Trevor Powers, better known as Youth Lagoon, caught a strong buzz earlier this year when his bedroom pop creations began hitting the web. He would quickly land a two-album deal with Fat Possum, which brings us to now. The Year of Hibernation is Youth Lagoon's full-length debut and the start of what should be a promising career. It's due out Sept. 27.

Pallers: The Sea of Memories at FADER
Sweden's Pallers took a few years to finish their latest album, The Sea of Memories, and it shows. Also telling is the fact they chose to record it in several locations -- their native country along with Capetown and Miami. The sweeping, synth-heavy album drops Sept. 27.

Veronica Falls: Veronica Falls at Stereogum
Veronica Falls is the self-titled debut from the promising London-based act that's hitting the road this fall with the Drums. It's also one of the more anticipated albums of the month as folks have been waiting on a proper album from Veronica Falls for a minute. It's out now.

Tony Bennett: Duets II at NPR
Tony Bennett's second guest-heavy project, Duets II, features what stands as the final recorded vocals of the late Amy Winehouse. But beyond that, it boasts collaborations with a who's who of pop vocalists, from Lady Gaga to John Mayer to Michael Buble to Mariah Carey. There are also notable contributions from Andrea Bocelli, Aretha Franklin, and Natalie Cole.

The Stepkids: The Stepkids at KCRW
Bridgeport, Conn.'s The Stepkids take all the sounds of the '60s and '70s -- from punk to funk -- and combine them into a wholly cohesive approach to songwriting. Their self-titled debut, which drops Sept. 27, is psychedelic without being overly trippy and it's smooth and soul-leaning without being anything close to yacht rock.

Apparat: The Devil's Walk at NPR
Berlin, Germany's Apparat will release his fourth album, The Devil's Walk, on Sept. 27. He began working on the record last year with some help from like-minded musicians Joshua Eustis, of Telefon Tel Aviv, and Fredo Noguerira. But Apparat wouldn't complete the project until he travelled back to Europe and received inspiration from Nackt, whose touches can be heard throughout.

Twin Sister: In Heaven at Soundcloud
As fellow Prefix editor Andrew Winistorfer wrote, Twin Sister finally makes their debut Sept. 27 with In Heaven. In his words, "It all sounds like it could soundtrack parts of Lord of the Rings if it had to, and there are more glistening synths here than you can even try to count."

Sun Wizard: Positively 4th Avenue at Spinner
Positively 4th Avenue is the full-length debut from Sun Wizard, a Vancouver-based quartet with a penchant for distortion and classic rock songwriting. You hear the latter especially in their inspiration from the likes of Fleetwood Mac and Paul McCartney. It's out as of Sept. 20.

Lee Bannon: Fantastic Plastic at Soundcloud (or below)
Mysterious West Coast producer Lee Bannon caught our attention with the Search & Destroy single earlier this month and continues to impress with the Fantastic Plastic EP. Whereas the single featured verses from Chuck Inglish and Del the Funky Homosapien, this release (mostly) focuses on Bannon's forward-thinking production. It's out as of Sept. 20.

Lee Bannon - Fantastic Plastic EP by Plug Research