THIS WEEK'S KEY RELEASES
Pixies _ "Head Carrier"
Two years since their "Indie City" release, the Pixies have brought rock 'n' roll back with their new album, "Head Carrier." Essentially, it maintains the Pixies' sound we all know and love (with their various tones of rock) while also shaking things up at times by moving away from the standard formula. Because they had a lot of time to work on the LP, the Pixies have come together to create a something that truly embodies their art. _ Michael Pementel
Regina Spektor _ "Remember Us to Life"
For the most part, this is one of Regina Spektor's most holistic and potent albums. It is not as warm or lovable as "Begin to Hope" or "Far," but it substitutes the charm and the romance of those two records with a maturity and sobriety that befits Spektor. It is exciting to see what Regina Spektor can do when she conceives of an album as a holistic unit, rather than a collection of idiosyncratic parts. This quality makes "Remember Us to Life" one of her most careful, considered, elegant statements to date. _ Andrew Paschal
Opeth _ "Sorceress"
Perhaps more than "any" of its predecessors, Opeth's "Sorceress" takes several in-depth listens to reveal all of its nuances and ambitions. At first, it may seem a bit too safe and stagnant, simply resting in the foundation that "Heritage" and "Pale Communion" established instead of pushing it further. Fortunately, though, it eventually stands on its own by offering enough distinctive and cherishable moments to prove how vibrant, striving, and creative the members still are. _ Brice Ezell
Banks _ "Altar"
Bon Iver _ "22, A Million"
Danny Brown _ "Atrocity Exhibition"
Craig David _ "Following My Intuition"
Drive-By Truckers _ "American Band"
Jenny Hval _ "Blood Bitch"
Solange Knowles _ "A Seat at the Table"
Machinedrum _ "Human Energy"
Van Morrison _ "Keep Me Singing"
Slaves _ "Take Control"
S U R V I V E _ "RR7349"
Various Artists _ "Waxing the Gospel: Mass Evangelism & the Phonograph 1890-1900"
Bob Weir _ "Blue Mountain"
NOW HEAR THIS
Andre Cymone _ "Hallelujah"
Andre Cymone's place in history _ as a childhood friend of Prince who was also his early bassist, to say nothing of his own unique solo career _ is absolutely secure. For Cymone, however, that doesn't mean he's comfortable. Now, still responding to a shifting, dividing nation in the middle of one of the most contentious election years in history, Cymone is dropping a fiery new EP titled "Black Man in America" on Sept. 30. In describing the "Hallelujah's" place on the record, Cymone says that "it's a bridge between all the brutality and injustice. It's the redemption song, a celebration of the power of music and how music can speak directly to the heart." _ Evan Sawdey
(https://soundcloud.com/andrecymone/hallelujah)
Donovan Woods _ "What They Mean"
JUNO and Polaris Prize-nominated singer-songwriter Donovan Woods released a deluxe edition of his fourth album, "Hard Settle, Ain't Troubled," back on Aug. 22 that includes four bonus live performance tracks. Woods' profile is rising quickly and making his hometown of Toronto proud as he's become an in-demand songwriter in Nashville with his plainspoken but universal lyrics. _ Sarah Zupko
(https://youtu.be/HqXPxZfCR4E)
Crippled Black Phoenix _ "Winning a Losing Battle"
"Winning a Losing Battle" is taken from the upcoming Crippled Black Phoenix release, "Bronze," out Nov. 4 via Season of Mist. The nine-minute track reaches far and wide as it takes listeners from the vintage progressive rock era of Pink Floyd and Robert Wyatt to the contemporary sounds of post-rock. Along the way there are brief pauses for passages that call to mind film scores and the New Wave of British Heavy Metal. _ Jedd Beaudoin
(https://youtu.be/VLKjk9c8OTc)
WATCH THIS
Sia _ "The Greatest"
Lots of pop artists sing about overcoming adversity and "not giving up," and often it rings hollow, coming across mostly as a fear of negative emotions and insistence on positivity at all costs. When Sia sings about these things, though, I believe her. Her lyrics are no different than your typical Katy Perry or Demi Lovato anthem, but you can hear the pain and brokenness in her voice; the fact that she weaves such shattered emotions into a perfect pop tapestry, as she does on "The Greatest," speaks to a real and authentic triumph. _ Andrew Paschal
(https://youtu.be/GKSRyLdjsPA)
Beyonce _ "Hold Up"
Of all the tracks on Beyonce's multimedia tour de force "Lemonade," none better represent the transition from woman scored to the fury that hell hath none of than "Hold Up". Beyonce starts out drowning, free-floating in water and insecurity, drawing us into her most troubled times with an intimate recitation. She ends up smashing car windows with a baseball bat. The song itself juxtaposes light strings and a sweetly crooned chorus with quick verses reminding you that you're an idiot if you cheat on Beyonce. Without the video, it's a pretty simple song, but "Hold Up" was never meant to be a two-dimensional earworm. Instead, it's a slice of art that engages the senses of sight and sound, and it's beautiful. _ Adriane Pontecorvo
(https://youtu.be/PeonBmeFR8o)
