New Release Album Cycle for 5-16-2025
With playlists for Apple and Spotify and full album list and my thoughts on some of them.
HERE IS THE APPLE MUSIC PLAYLIST
Happy Sunday! Well, let's pretend it's Sunday—that's when I usually put this out. If this is the only weekly post you open, here’s why it’s arriving on Wednesday: I took a vacation, spent time at festivals, and didn’t have a chance to write beyond my daily calendar posts. So, here I am playing catch-up.
I could skip a week, but I’m committed to keeping this weekly album list consistent throughout the year. Mainly for myself-as I use to make my best of the year list. Below, you'll find this week’s playlists for Apple and Spotify—they’ll update again this Sunday, so grab them while you can! I’ve also included the full album list and my thoughts on some of them.
Thanks for your patience—I appreciate it!
:
Alexandra Savior – Beneath The Lilypad – This is easily my favorite album out this week. It's frustrating that I can't find a physical copy on vinyl or CD, though her other albums were released physically. You can buy a deck of cards from her website—but not the album! Streaming it is, and I’ve streamed it a lot. This has that reverby retro feeling, which can sometimes be a schtick covering up mediocre songs, but here the sound enhances strong songs that I find immediately appealing.
Billy Nomates – Metalhorse – Billy Nomates is still a bit odd to me. Her 2023 album CACTI caught me off guard. It wasn’t a style I usually connect with—it reminded me of a rock or blues singer trying their hand at pop, which usually doesn’t land for me. The lyrics also felt a little on the nose and silly in places. Yet somehow, I kept going back to that album until it became a favorite. Metalhorse has much of the same vibe, except she really channels Chrissie Hynde here. Overall, it's a synthy pop album, with vocals reminiscent of a local cover band singer who can actually write infectious songs.
Cautious Clay – The Hours: Morning – Clay’s last album KARPEH was a mind-blowing, super-cool modern soul album with indie rock overtones, jazz influences, and a bit of a Blood Orange feel. An instant classic. On first listen here, I’m not sure what’s going on. This is a concept album about different hours of the morning, and it's much more R&B-based and mainstream than his previous work. It's solid within the genre, and the songs might grow on me. Kudos to him for mixing things up. I’m not sure if this sound will connect for me personally, but it won’t stop me from watching where he goes next.
EKKSTACY – Forever – I’m probably too old to like EKKSTACY, but he played at Maha, and I was stage-managing his set. His sound, along with talking to him and watching his performance, had an urgency that reminded me of artists I loved growing up. So why not enjoy the next generation too? His last couple of albums were more dancey in a dark-emo, bedroom-dream-pop way. Forever has more of a rock feel in places, has a bit of a shoegaze influence, and definitely shows some maturity. The urgency of a young artist is being replaced by someone evolving and honing their craft. I'm looking forward to diving deeper into it.
Ezra Furman – Goodbye Small Head – Ezra mixes things up on this new album, which is a good thing and probably needed to happen. This is an excellent record that rewards repeated listens. There’s some light electronic production, strings, and of course, some guitar-driven tracks. The variety adds more musical depth compared to Ezra’s punkier guitar stuff, though you’ll still find that energy here, like on Jump Out—but with accompanying strings. One of her strongest efforts to date, in my opinion.
Friendship – Caveman Wakes Up This is the fourth album from the Philly band. It’s a wonderful mix of slacker indie rock with a little Songs: Ohia and a touch of Lou Reed and VU. Talky vocals, off-key delivery, wonky jammy Americana slow slogs—full of emotions, with lyrics that may or may not land, but you’ll find yourself listening anyway.
Gold Dust – In the Shade of the Living Light I think this band is from Massachusetts. J. Mascis guests on a song. It’s a decent psych-rock album—not blowing me away, but it’s also not a sound I typically get super into. You might love it, though.
Goldie – Rufige Kru – Alpha Omega I’m surprised this isn’t getting more hype. Goldie doesn’t put out much music, and this is a comeback of sorts under his old crew name. Goldie was an innovator of jungle and drum & bass, and the great thing about electronic music is that you can get older and still sound fresh. While he’s not reinventing the genre again with Alpha Omega, it’s a nice throwback for those who grew up listening to him. Younger listeners might also enjoy it, as it's not far off from many current electronic sounds.
Ken Pomeroy – Cruel Joke This is the second album from Ken Pomeroy. Yes—she is a Native American country singer, and one of the best new artists in the genre. I’d place her more in the Kacey Musgraves realm, sonically, but she’s a stronger storyteller when it comes to songwriting. Cruel Joke is a solid album that will hold up to multiple listens. Nothing groundbreaking, just great songs. She’s coming to town this fall, opening for Turnpike Troubadours, I think.
Mourning [A] BLKstar – Flowers for the Living Well-played and inspired soul, funk, hip-hop, jazz, and more. Some songs lean into poetry, while others showcase stunning vocals—like Letter to a Nervous System, which reminds me of the obscure ‘80s and ‘90s band Family Stand. It’s all over the place stylistically, but absolutely worth a listen. The horns, when they come in, really get to me.
M(h)aol – Something Soft-Second album from post punk band Mhaol and it’s a great one. Maybe this is my favorite album this week. Anyway-it’s urgent, cold, dark and honestly, it’s a lot of fun also. They don’t take themselves too seriously and the lyrics for “You Are Temporary, But the Internet Is Forever” are funny, but also true. They sing “I thought these shoes, I’m wearing would help me run away from you” in the song “Pursuit” and
I also put on songs from Tune-Yards, Spill Tab, Triathlon and Shanti Celeste that I liked, but am just out of time to write up any more thoughts.
Here is the full album list
Alexandra Savior – Beneath The Lilypad
Animé – 13 Months of Sunshine
Arm’s Length – There’s a Whole World Out There
Arrows in Action – I Think I’ve Been Here Before
Avicii – Avicii Forever
Ben Frost – Under Certain Light and Atmospheric Conditions
Billy Nomates – Metalhorse-
Bryce Leatherwood – Bryce Leatherwood
Bury Tomorrow – Will You Haunt Me, With That Same Patience
The Callous Daoboys – I Don’t Want to See You in Heaven
Cautious Clay – The Hours: Morning
Charlie Musselwhite – Look Out Highway
Damiano David – Funny Little Fears
Dan Mangan – Natural Light
DRAM & Ellis Quinn – LEORPIO
EKKSTACY – Forever
Erin Durant – Firetail
Ezra Furman – Goodbye Small Head
Friendship – Caveman Wakes Up
Gold Dust – In the Shade of the Living Light
Goldie – Rufige Kru – Alpha Omega
Grails – Miracle Music
JIN (of BTS) – Echo
Jon Lindsay – Big Stage
José James – 1978: Revenge of The Dragon
Ken Pomeroy – Cruel Joke
Matt Maltese – Hers
M(h)aol – Something Soft
Miso Extra – Earcandy
MØ – Plæygirl
MonoNeon – You Had Your Chance…Bad Attitude
Morgan Wallen – I’m the Problem
Mourning [A] BLKstar – Flowers for the Living
NYTT LAND – Songs of the Shaman
Paul Di’Anno – In Memory Of
Pelican – Flickering Resonance
Pretty Rude – Ripe
Rico Nasty – Lethal
Shanti Celeste – Romance
Sir Woman – If It Doesn’t
Sleep Theory – Afterglow
Slow Joy – A Joy So Slow At Times I Don’t Think It’s Coming
SOFI TUKKER – butter
Spill Tab – Angie
Steve Von Till (of Neurosis) – Alone in a World of Wounds
Tarja – Circus Life
Thor & Friends – Heathen Spiritual
Triathalon – RIP
Tune-Yards – Better Dreaming
Tyler Braden – devil and a prayer
Vacation Manor – Back to Town EPE
Windser – Windser
Yuno – Blest