THIS WEEK'S KEY RELEASES
Steve Hauschildt _ "Strands"
"Strands" is a very sad, elegiac ambient record. Based on this sentence alone, you probably already have a fairly accurate guess as to what Steve Hauschildt's latest album sounds like. You perhaps imagine something like, oh I don't know, endless slow washes of melancholy synths that evoke forgotten, deserted landscapes stretched out to the horizon. And you would be exactly right. The sonic evocation of such imagery is a hallmark of ambient music at this point, and Hauschildt adheres to this tradition reverently and faithfully on the follow-up to 2015's "Where All Is Fled." _ Andrew Paschal
Kenny Chesney _ "Cosmic Hallelujah"
The Hidden Cameras _ "Home on Native Land"
Michael Mayer _ "&"
The Pop Group _ "Honeymoon on Mars"
Aaron Lee Tasjan _ "Silver Tears"
TOY _ "Clear Shot"
NOW HEAR THIS
Rafter _ "XYZ"
San Diego's Rafter, otherwise known as Rafter Roberts, concocts little, brilliant nuggets of off-kilter pop with an experimental spirit. No two songs on Rafter's new album "XYZ" sound alike and ideas aren't repeated as the album exhibits a real flash of originality blending Beatles, XTC and Queen influences with electro pop and really inventive rhythms and texture. Tossing a bit of R&B into the mix as well, "XYZ" is a super fun album that should be a true delight to all pop fans who appreciate out-of-the box thinking. _ Sarah Zupko
(http://popm.at/2erado1)
Jackie Bristow _ "Whistle Blowin'"
New Zealand folk artist Jackie Bristow released her fourth album, Shot of Gold, back on Oct. 7 and garnered praise from Stuff, who said "her tunes have a dark, classic quality to them, set off by haunting melodies and thoughtful acoustic guitar chording. The songs are so perfectly formed that their titles sing themselves." Bristow seems primed for success on the now global Americana scene with beautifully composed music and straight from the heart lyrics that should thrill fans of Holly Williams, Ashley Monroe and Angaleena Presley. Having previously opened for the like of the Steve Miller Band, Bonnie Raitt, John Oates, John Waite, Marc Cohn and Rick Springfield, Bristow's profile is sure to rise over the coming year as she tours extensively with Raitt. _ SZ
(https://youtu.be/YeRsWqwiq5s)
Dinowalrus _ "Tides"
Brooklyn's Dinowalrus recently released their fourth album, "Fairweather," which extends the psychedelic rock band's palette into the mesmerizing, trippy, dancey vibes of late '80s/early '90s Manchester and the more dreamy side of Britpop. The band's latest single is "Tides," a song that wraps you up inside its swirling textures. The video honors the music beautifully with its inventive use of color and shifting tones. This is some seriously great psych music that proves Dinowalrus are very much masters of their psychedelic domain. _ SZ
(https://youtu.be/6O7tWeTCQbs)
WATCH THIS
Kimbra _ "Sweet Relief"
Retro, fun and unabashedly sexy. Kimbra sings, squeals, and shouts, possessed by the spirit of a low-key disco diva. She's all over the place in the best way, as strange as she is sultry on this electric downtempo track. Whether whispering or growling, Kimbra's voice is always powerful, and here, it may even be at its strongest, a warm blend of soul, jazz, and pop. Everything from handclaps to oohs melts together, and it's a hedonistic kind of heavenly. _ Adriane Pontecorvo
(https://youtu.be/cSzBG8awAW0)
Crystal Fighters _ "Lay Low"
London's Crystal Fighters are one of the more interesting contemporary bands as they mash up musical styles to create the most memorable of catchy earworms. Melodies and instruments from Basque folk music are intertwined with electronic music beats. Acoustic, electric, and electronic elements coalesce utterly naturally in their music. This Friday the band is due to release their third album, "Everything Is My Family," and we've got the premiere of Crystal Fighters' brand new anthemic single "Lay Low," which rises to rousing crescendos and wall of sound vocal choruses. It's a stellar, joyous, glorious tune, with killer melodies and it promises that the band's new record may be the very best yet. _ SZ
(https://youtu.be/PZ9crxKL-qU)
The Band of Heathens _ "Oklahoma Gypsy Shuffler"
Tim Easton said of Texas singer-songwriter Adam Carroll, "Adam Carroll is East Texas' own Shakespeare of song.... His songs belong in Texan and Bayou anthropology courses, but mostly they should belong to your car stereo speakers." We couldn't agree more as Carroll's songs are genuine, poetic, literary and relatable tales of life in Texas, Louisiana and Oklahoma. This Friday, Austin-based Eight 30 Records is releasing a tribute to the influential Carroll entitled "Highway Prayer: A Tribute to Adam Carroll," which includes takes on Carroll's music by leading Americana luminaries like the Band of Heathens, Hayes Carll, Tim Easton, James McMurtry and Slaid Cleaves. _ SZ
(http://popm.at/2eBWqdp)
