New Release Album Cycle For April 18th

Thoughts on some albums, album list and playlists for Apple Music and Spotify

HERE IS THE APPLE MUSIC PLAYLIST

Happy 4/20 to those who celebrate, Happy Easter to those who celebrate, and Happy WrestleMania to those who celebrate! I celebrate new music, and I have some for you. Included here are my thoughts on a few albums, the full list of albums, and playlists for Apple Music and Spotify.

On the playlist:

- Julian Baker and Torres’s new album, which I write about below.

- The new Beirut album, also discussed in my write-up.

- The Convenience and Chime Oblivion.

- Songs from Adrian Younge’s latest project, Something About April III — his third release this year so far.

- UK singer-songwriter Domino Kirke.

- Portland band quickly, quickly.

- Rhiannon Giddens and Justin Robinson (Carolina Chocolate Drops) reunite for a new album.

- Edgy UK punk band Scrounge.

- Tunde Adebimpe from TV on the Radio with his debut solo album.

- Rapper Blu with his latest release.

- An indie pop album by Avery Friedman—I was going to write more about this, but am short on time. Fans of acts like Snail Mail and Soccer Mommy might enjoy it.

- The playlist needed some dance, so here is UK electronic band Real Lies.

- For some rock, Beddy Rays.

- And finally, UK R&B band Sault, who quietly released a new album. They typically don’t announce these releases, and I stumbled upon it this morning. They usually don’t keep them up long.

Julien Baker and TORRES – "Send a Prayer My Way"

The country album from indie rocker TORRES and songwriter and boygenius member Julien Baker could have been very mid— as the kids say— or this project could really work, and they would knock it out of the park. Happily, I think it’s the latter.

Now, I may be enjoying this a little more for different reasons than you might. I am a massive Indigo Girls fan, and some of this gives me big Indigo Girls vibes. Their voices both offer something very different but come together so wonderfully. Also, the songwriting is just stellar, and they didn’t just put this project together with some throwaway songs they had lying around. Songs like “Sugar in the Tank” would be a gem on either of their albums.

While this isn’t an upbeat hoedown album, there is a lot of stellar and gorgeous Nashville instrumentation on this record, and I cannot wait to see all of this performed live. This will definitely be among my top albums of the year.

Check it out!

Chime Oblivion – "Chime Oblivion"

This project features John Dwyer of Osees, David Barbarossa of Bow Wow Wow and Adam and the Ants, as well as members of Lydia Lunch’s band. It is very proto-punk, dub, and vocals from a woman named HL Nelly, whom I had never heard of before.

This came at just the right time for me. I’ve been exploring some very deep underground music from the ’80s, diving into a few rabbit holes I’ve gone down recently. To have such authentic and genuine post-punk emerge in 2025 is pretty thrilling. I think there are a lot of incredible elements on this album, and if you give it a few listens, you’ll see them for yourself.

As a massive Adam Ant fan and also a fan of Bow Wow Wow, it’s wild how much of that sound underpins this music, and how it still sounds just as powerful now as it did back then.

Beirut – "A Study of Losses"

Beirut is Zach Condon, and this is their seventh album. It was commissioned by the Swedish circus troupe Kompani Giraff. While it does sound like a Beirut album, it is certainly not what you think of as circus music by any means.

The album features some instrumental tracks, but also plenty of traditional Beirut songs, showcasing all the world music and classical influences that you have come to love. His vocals seem to improve with age, and the really cool thing about this album is the inclusion of some synth tracks, such as “Ghost Train,” as well as the pop song “Guericke’s Unicorn.”

It’s a truly beautiful album.

The Convenience – "Like Cartoon Vampires"

This New Orleans duo has an angular indie rock sound that takes some time to sink in. I was actually wondering if it would, but it did during a ride through town last night. They remind me a bit of another band I like, Cola. These guys are a little more tongue-in-cheek and are having fun with both the sound and lyrics.

Definitely an album you need to sit down with.

A Bigger MOUTH – Band Stand

Adrian Younge – Something About April III

Beddy Ray-Do What You Wanna

Beirut – A Study of Losses

Blu and August Fanon-Forty

Chime Oblivion-Chime Oblivion

The Convenience – Like Cartoon Vampires

Cumulus – We’ve Got It All

Davido-5ive

Divide and Dissolve – Insatiable

Domino Kirke – The Most Familiar Star

Dormant Ordeal-Tooth and Nail

EMPYREAN SANCTUM – Detachment From Reality

Avery Friedman-New Thing

Iron Lung – Adapting // Crawling

JP Saxe – Articulate Excuses

Julien Baker and TORRES – Send a Prayer My Way

Little Barrie & Malcolm Catto – Electric War

Lostboycrow – The Sound of God Laughing

Ludwig Göransson – Sinners (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack and Score)

Mayday Parade – Sweet

Melvins 1983 – Thunderball

MIEN – MIIEN

Neil Young – Coastal: The Soundtrack

Pigeons Playing Ping Pong – Live at The Capitol Theatre

Quade – The Foel Tower

quickly, quickly – I Heard That Noise

Rachel Reis-Divina Casca

Terno Rei-Nenhuma Estela

Rhiannon Giddens and Justin Robinson – What Did the Blackbird Say to the Crow

Scrounge – Almost Like You Could

Soft Play – Heavier Jelly

Superheaven – Superheaven

Tunde Adebimpe (of TV on the Radio) – Thee Black Boltz

Taylor Rae – The Void