Kele Okereke Announces New Solo Album

In October, Bloc Party's Kele Okereke will release his new solo album, Fatherland. The album features appearances by Olly Alexander and Corinne Bailey Rae.

Read Our 2014 Interview with Kele Okereke

Take  a look at the cover, above, and the tracklisting, below, and hear the new single, "Streets Been Talking."

01 Overture
02 Streets Been Talking
03 You Keep On Whispering His Name
04 Capers
05 Grounds For Resentment [ft. Olly Alexander]
06 Yemaya
07 Do U Right
08 Versions Of Us [ft. Corinne Bailey Rae]
09 Portrait
10 Road To Ibadan
11 Savannah
12 The New Year Party
13 Royal Reign

Quick News

via GIPHY


Since R.E.M.'s split in 2011, Michael Stipe has kept a low profile. Occasionally he would sing with Patti Smith and earlier this year he contributed to a series of David Bowie tribute concerts in New York City, now, Stipe said he would like to get back into music. "I’m not ready to go completely into pop stardom again, as a 56-year-old,” he told the New York Times. "I want to work in music again.” Stipe also produced the latest Fincherspooner album.

Save Ferris will release their first new music in 15 years in February with the New Sound EP.

Matt Berninger was interviewed by Conor Oberst for the TalkHouse Podcast and discussed the forthcoming National album and how his side project El Vy helps him find direction. "There's a part of my personality that I used to really try to force into The National, to prove that, no, we're not depressing, we're not dark -- we're happy people. I'm not a downer, I don't hate myself or life. I'm filled with joy and lightness. But now there's El Vy, I can kind of dig into that -- there's plenty of dark stuff there. But with the new National record, I'm like, I don't need to tell any jokes... I'm finding myself going right to some very, very direct emotionally dark areas and complicated areas. So I have a feeling doing this El Vy thing is going to make this new National record even more [dark]," he said.

In the same interview Oberst said that his latest album, Ruminations, was supposed to not come out and it was just demoed songs. "Honestly... Ruminations is basically, I mean they're just like demos, my demos, recorded very nicely at our nice studio. But I had every intention of making them into a record. And then the guy from the label... he was like, 'That's it, this is the way it should be' and I was like, 'Really?'... I guess it was just stopping the process before it was going to start," he said.

Nelly Furtado will release her new album, Ride, in March.

Bloc Party's Kele Okereke has told The Guardian that he is working a new solo album and said: "Over the years, with Bloc Party, I’ve been moving away from playing the guitar to exploring more electronic textures, but this record is the opposite of that. It’s something that is very intimate and it’s really for my dad. But it’s not finished yet, so I don’t want to talk about it too much.”

Playlist

April's Playlist of 26 musical musings is here. Take a listen!

Bloc Party on Seth Meyers

Watch Bloc Party perform "The Love Within" on Late Night with Seth Meyers.

QUICK SPINS

David Bowie – Blackstar

It has been nearly two weeks since David Bowie passed on and two weeks since he released his final studio masterpiece and body of work, Blackstar. The record, which was made during his battle with cancer, is indeed his goodbye letter to fans and the parting gift of his courage, spirit and true artistry. It is in fact, one of the finest albums of his in a very long time.

FINAL GRADE: A

Savages – The Answer

The London based post-punk band returns and defies the sophomore slump. Building on the critically acclaimed debut they unleashed to the world two years ago, they fire back with The Answer. A record that mixes the hop of new wave, the despair of cold wave and the attitude of the 21^st Century post-punk sound they are after.

FINAL GRADE: A

Suede – Night Thoughts

After their blockbuster return in 2013, Suede are back again with Night Thoughts. The record dips more into the darkness that they are known for while giving the savvy and slick musical ability to make a pop song about death sound sexy.

FINAL GRADE: A-

Hinds – Leave Me Alone

The fine Spanish export that is Hinds arrives to North America with their debut Leave Me Alone. It is a firey album of Latin fury and angst that mixes so well over the ladies fine garage pop hooks. Certainly one of the year’s best new artists already and one to keep an eye out on.

FINAL GRADE: A-

NEVERMEN

The long awaited debut from Tunde of TV on the Radio, Mike Patton and Doseone is an album of strange noises and funky riffs. The record is an experiment into what they can do together but what they can give to fans as a collective piece of art. You can’t say you are surprised by the record but you are still left feeling uncomfortable.

FINAL GRADE: B

Chairlift – Moth

The Brooklyn duo are back with a record that finds the perfect way to balance old and new schools of synth pop. Taking influences from Yaz, New Order and Boy George and mixing it with a fresh blend of contemporary ideas, Moth flies pretty high for them.

FINAL GRADE: B  

Rihanna – ANTI

After much anticipation and excitement, Rihanna unleashed ANTI to the world and even at her popularity the singer still does not give a fuck what people think of her and does her own thing. While the record feels brave parts of it do feel disjointed, maybe it is a reflection of what she is going through as someone who is brave in the public eye? Could she be giving us a clue in the feel of the record? That is a conspiracy we will let you figure out but in the meantime, listen to the album and have a feel for yourself.

FINAL GRADE: B-

Bloc Party – Hymns

It says Bloc Party on the title, it has some members of the original Bloc Party that put out four records together but it doesn’t sound nor feel like a Bloc Party record. Hymns is this band trying something new, both in members and in sounds. Dabbling and progressing in areas that they have not gone before like using acoustic guitars, world music and more melody rather than funk. Hymns is certainly not the best album they have put out however, it is a shift if who they were.

FINAL GRADE: B-

Daughter – Not To Disappear

The English trio return with a record that was crafted in Brooklyn and bring their alternative pop to a new level. Leaving England behind, the record feels less British and more American influenced as they look to broaden their horizons.

FINAL GRADE: B-

Sia – This Is Acting

Australia’s best pop songwriter of this century returns to shake up the radio friendly world of music and certainly succeeds but gives us more of the same of what she has already done.

FINAL GRADE: B-

What's Coming in 2016

via GIPHY

A new year brings along new music. We look at the most anticipated records arriving in the first quarter of the year and albums that are allegedly coming in 2016.

January:

Suede – Night Thoughts

Bloc Party – HYMNS

Daughter – Not to Disappear

Yoko Ono – Yes, I’m a Witch, Too

Savages – Adore Life

David Bowie – Blackstar

Sia – This is Acting

NEVERMEN

Chairlift - Moth

February:

The 1975 - I Like It When You Sleep, For You Are So Beautiful Yet So Unaware Of It

School of Seven Bells - SVIIB

Elton John – Wonderful Crazy Night

The Cult – Hidden City

Ra Ra Riot – Need Your Light

Wolfmother – Victorious

Wild Nothing – Life of Pause

Flowers – Everybody is Dying to Meet You

Animal Collective – Painting With

Nicolas Godin- Contrepoint

Chuck Ragan – The Flame and the Flood

Santigold - 99¢

March:

Jeff Buckley – You and I

The Coral – The Distance InBetween

Underworld - Barbara Barbara, we face a shining future

Nada Surf – You Know Who You Are

Brain Fallon – Painkillers

April:

De La Soul – And The Anonymous Nobody

Read: The 20 Best Gigs of 2015

Other Albums and Artists Allegedly Coming in 2016:

U2 – Songs of Experience

Run the Jewels – Run the Jewels 3

Rihanna – ANTI

Modern Baseball – Holy Ghost

Miike Snow - iii

GZA- Dark Matter

Major Lazer – Music is the Weapon

Ty Segall – Emotional Mugger

The Big Pink – Empire Underground

Anthrax – All The Kings

The English Beat – Here We Go Love!

Action Bronson – The Human Highlight Reel 
Gorillaz

Deftones

Captain Murphy

Gorjira

Lady Gaga

Soundgarden

Red Hot Chili Peppers

Frank Ocean

Nas

The Afghan Whigs

Kendrick Lamar / J. Cole

Royal Blood

Catfish & The Bottlemen

Band of Horses

Kanye West

DOOMStarks

MF DOOM

The I Don’t Cares

The Rolling Stones

Jay Z

Band of Horses

Naked Raygun

Against Me!

Metallica

Jake Bugg

Save Ferris

The Killers

King Diamond

Brand New

The Last Shadow Puppets

The xx

Bayside

Explosions in the Sky

Sigur Ros

The Arcs

Banquet

Kings of Leon

AFRO

Snow Patrol 

M83

Read: The 10 Best Albums of 2015

Quick News

A biopic on Amy Winehouse is currently being developed with Girl with Dragon Tattoo actress Noomi Rapace set to play the late singer.

It is being reported that the Gallagher brothers are set to participate in the upcoming Oasis documentary made by the team that did Senna and Amy. No release date has been set.

Laura Jane Grace spoke to Rolling Stone about the new Against Me! album and how it will be different than last year's best record, Transgender Dysphoria Blues. She said: "The last record was an isolating experience and a solo endeavor in a lot of ways – not to diminish anyone else's roles, but it was a really personal record. I want this one to feel like we're all in it equally. We've been having a really good time playing with each other. We'll see what that means sonically, but that's the vibe."

Bloc Party's Kele Okereke has finally opened up about the departure of drummer Matt Tong and bassist Gordon Moakes to NME. The frontman said it was a collective of "deep seated" issues that led to them leaving and "I can tell you it was about someone doing cocaine and someone not being into it. That’s all I’m gonna say." He continued: "People think bands breaking up is sexy but often it’s super mundane, like not flushing the toilet or washing up. It’s often not about the flashpoints but deep-seated issues.”

Apparently OutKast was once asked to play the Super Bowl Half Time show in 2004 but opted to decline because they were not allowed to play their hits "Hey Ya" and "The Way You Move" in full. The news was delivered on ESPN by Big Boi on Thursday. Had they played, they would have changed the course of media history since that was the year Janet Jackson had nipplegate.

Santigold has detailed that her new album 99¢, will arrive in January and features production by Vampire Weekend's Rostam Batmanglij, Hit-Boy, TV on the Radio's Dave Sitek, Patrik Berger, Justin Raisen, Sam Dew, John Hill, and Doc McKinney. Take a look at the tracklisting, below:
01 Can’t Get Enough of Myself [ft. B.C.]
02 Big Boss Big Time Business
03 Banshee
04 Chasing Shadows
05 Walking in a Circle
06 Who Be Lovin Me [ft. iLoveMakonnen]
07 Rendezvous Girl
08 Before the Fire
09 All I Got
10 Outside the War
11 Run the Races
12 Who I Thought You Were

Bloc Party on Corden

Watch Bloc Party perform "The Love Within" on The Late Late Show with James Corden.

Bloc Party Announce Fifth LP 'HYMNS'

In January, Bloc Party will release their fifth album, HYMNS. The record is the first to be done without the original line-up and seem to be going in a more electronic direction which is what they did with their third record, Intimacy and what singer Kele Okereke has done with his solo work.

Take a look at the cover, above, and the tracklisting, and hear the first single, "The Love Within," below:

01 The Love Within
02 Only He Can Heal Me
03 So Real
04 The Good News
05 Fortress
06 Different Drugs
07 Into the Earth
08 My True Name
09 Virtue
10 Exes
11 Living Lux
12 Eden
13 Paradiso
14 New Blood
15 Evening Song

Quick News

Bloc Party have confirmed that their new album will arrive in early 2016.

Earl Sweatshirt is reissuing his first two albums, Doris, and I Don't Like Shit, I Don't Go Outside, in December.

Third Man Records will be releasing The White Stripes: Live at the Golden Dollar Vol. III at the end of the month. The live set comes from a 1999 performance from the duo.

Butch Walker will be producing Brian Fallon of The Gaslight Anthem's solo debut. No release date has been set.

Speaking at the New Yorker festival, Patti Smith has confirmed she is working on a companion memoir to her Best Selling autobiography, Just Kids.

Quick News

Lana Del Rey has confirmed she will release her new album, Honeymoon, next month.

Bloc Party are hard at work on their fifth album with a new line-up leaving Kele Okereke and Russell Lissack as the only original members. Okereke told news.au.com: "The range of the songs is quite extreme and quite diverse. In terms of an overall aesthetic, it definitely feels like we’ve moved into a different place in terms of recording and arranging. It’s us but it feels like it’s us in a way that we haven’t ever been before. It’s been very interesting watching Russell play the guitar, he’s using his instrument in a way I’ve never seen anyone use it. He’s always had a mind for effects and gadgets and whatnot, but with this record he’s taking his playing off the fretboard and it’s something else. I’m excited to get in front of people. When we go in and listen to the new songs they feel like they’re coming from a different place. That’s a good feeling to have."

Speaking to Shortlist, Kendrick Lamar has said he is going to take a stand against LA gang violence, saying: "That's a lot of responsibility. I definitely think that God put something in me that I'm not even aware of, I know it's there and I know it has the power to not only conquer what's going on in LA, but also a little deeper and further than that. I just don't know when.''

Billboard is reporting that Danger Mouse is working with Adele on her long awaited third album and Red Hot Chili Peppers for their latest venture. No release has been set for either but both records were expected to arrive this year.

This fall, Squeeze will release their first album of new material in 17 years, Cradle to the Grave. Take a look at the cover, below:

Quick News

Bloc Party has lost two members while making their fifth album -- drummer Matt Tong and bassist Gordon Moakes. Now, for the first time since their departure, singer Kele Okereke spoke to Australia's Triple J and said that he and original guitarist Russell Lissack are carrying on. He said of the troubles: "We are a band." He continued: "I do know what the make-up of the band is going to be but I don't think I'm allowed to talk about it just yet because I think things are still being finalised. We are a band. We're better than we ever have been so I'm excited to showcase that." He then went on to describe the record's new sound, as the "most gentle music we've ever made and most abrasive." He continued: "It's sounding awesome, if I do say so myself, but right now we're kind of in the middle of it... beavering away at it." No official release or title has been given.

Singer Bruce Loose has left Flipper citing two decades of back problems as the reason for his departure. The band however, will continue with David Yow of The Jesus Lizard as their new front man.

Arca will release his new album, Mutant, later this year. The producer and singer confirmed the news via Twitter:

!! my next full length album is out late fall and it's called Mutant and I CANNOT w8 to share with u all !! pic.twitter.com/PmwMAcVRZJ

— Arca (@arca1000000) August 3, 2015

Motion City Soundtrack will release their sixth album, Panic Stations, next month. Take a look at the tracklisting, below:
1. Anything At All
2. TKO
3. I Can Feel You
4. Lose Control
5. Heavy Boots
6. It’s A Pleasure To Meet You
7. Over It Now
8. Broken Arrow
9. Gravity
10. The Samurai Code
11. Days Will Run Away

Quick News

Modest Mouse have confirmed that their next album, the follow-up to Strangers to Ourselves, will arrive next year and will feature Nirvana's Krist Novoselic.

Jamie xx will release his solo debut, In Colour, later this year. The album will feature The xx's Romy Croft, Four Tet, and others. Meanwhile, The xx plan on releasing their third album this year as well.

Elvis Costello is releasing his memoir, Unfaithful Music & Disappearing Ink, in October.

Speaking to DIY, Ben Gibbard says that he and the rest of Death Cab for Cutie knew that Chris Walla's departure was coming. Gibbard said, "I think that, knowing this was something that was coming - for years, honestly - there’s a particular kind of relief that comes when you know that the outcome that you’ve expected on the horizon is finally here, and you can finally move on with your life. I’m certainly not overflowing with joy that Chris left the band,” he added, “but at the same time, just having - finally after all these years - the catharsis of somebody who’s had - in some ways - one foot out the door for years, finally leave the band, it comes with a particular sense of relief. I mean, honestly, I found it very bittersweet,” Gibbard continued. "But also, frankly very liberating. I think that when you’re making a record with a band and you’ve been doing it as long as we have, sometimes you do have to tiptoe around people and make sure you don’t hurt their feelings if you tell them that something’s not working. You know that you’re gonna be living with this person for the next year and a half, playing these songs. Particularly Chris and I’s relationship has been a complicated one over the years and I think that sometimes neither of us have said the thing we needed to say at the time because we were fearful of setting one another off."

Taking to Twitter Bloc Party bassist Gordon Moaks has confirmed he has left the band and is not working on their fifth album.

A$AP Rocky has confirmed that his new album will be called At.Long. Last.A$AP. No release date has been set.

Speaking to NME, Raekwon is calling out Wu-Tang Clan's management and saying that the hip-hop collective's last effort, A Better Tomorrow, was weak. He said, "That album felt kinda bored. And that’s not just my opinion. The music was just too soft. Too humble. I felt like the album could have been better. I voiced my opinion, like, 'Yo, let's give them some real shit!' The album was driven more to [producer and fellow founding member] RZA’s expectations. He was coming from one way, we was wanting to try something new. I ain't going on the road with Wu-Tang this year. Fans will think it’s beef in the group, but it’s all management. I didn't know shit about the tour. They just assume I’m good to be there and put it all together, but by then I got obligations, a fucking schedule. It’s frustrating, ‘cos I’d love to be there."

Speaking to Gigwise, producer Flood defended U2's delivery via Apple of their last album, Songs of Innocence. The iconic producer said, "I think what it did was raise whether music is valued in society right now, and I think that's something that still hasn't been answered correctly. It brought about the question of 'What are peoples' listening tastes?' And maybe the biggest question it raised was 'Are people allowed to have choice or is choice actually being eliminated?'"

For the first time ever, the Decline of Western Civilization triology will arrive on Blu-Ray this June. The films. which chronicle the underground punk, metal, and hardcore scene's of the 1980's have been hailed as some of the greatest documentaries of all time and shed serious light as what those scenes were like back in the day. The new box set comes with four discs and a 40 page book. Take a look at the cover below:

 

Quick News

To celebrate his 70th birthday, Eric Clapton is releasing a three-disc set of material that spans his remarkable solo career. The 51-song set, Forever Man, will arrive next month.

Speaking to Australia's Triple J, Kele Okereke has confirmed that Bloc Party have begun work on their fifth album. The singer said, "I guess it's the first time that I have talked about it but we are making a record at the moment. It's sounding like nothing that we've done before but that's what everyone always says. We're at the writing/recording phase. We've started recording - I think we have about 18 [song] ideas and we're going to lay them down properly in the next few months."

The Wall Street Journal reports that Kendrick Lamar's To Pimp A Butterfly broke Spotify's streaming record for one day with an estimated 9.6 million streams from 12:01 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. on Monday.

Ryan Adams will release the live album, Ryan Adams Live at Carnegie Hall, which was recorded during the singer / songwriter's 2014 concerts at the historic New York venue.

Mew Announce 1st Album in 6 Years!

Danish band Mew will release their first album, +- in April. This will be the band's first album since 2009's acclaimed No More Stories Are Told Today. +- also features a guest spot from Bloc Party's Russell Lissack on the song "My Complications." 

Take a look at the cover, above, and the tracklisting, below, and hear the first single "Satellites." 

01 Satellites
02 Witness
03 The Night Believer
04 Making Friends
05 Clinging to a Bad Dream
06 My Complications
07 Water Slides
08 Interview the Girls
09 Rows
10 Cross the River on Your Own

EXCLUSIVE! Kele INTV!

Kele Okereke came into music lovers lives as the bombastic front man to Bloc Party. As the band displayed a Gang of Four meets New Order style of danceable punk and rock, Kele has been turning dancefloors upside down as a solo artist. During Bloc Party's hiatuses, he has managed to release a couple EP's as well as two full length records, 2010's The Boxer and this year's TRICK. With TRICK, he explores more electronic and dance music further than ever before, while still laying down very seductive and intimate lyrics. We had the privilege of speaking with Kele about his new album, how New York played an important part in his work and if or when Bloc Party will come together again.  Take a look at our interview below:

The title of your new album is called “TRICK” what does it signify?

Well I heard the term when I was living in New York. My friends would use it to describe people they had been intimate with briefly in the past. To me the title signifies the deception that occurs between lovers, negotiations in which half truths are told.

This is your second solo album, what did you do differently on this record that you did not do the first time around?

Stylistically for sure, it’s a different record but that’s because I am a different person. However I don't see as serving any other function than the function of self-expression. TRICK is what I wanted to express in 2012 to the start of 2014, that’s all. With The Boxer I was super excited about being in a studio on my own, I was sampling everything sound that I could get my hands on, I was trying every plug-in, I feel the record reflected this. With TRICK I was super conscious about space, I wanted everything to feel a little underdone.

Each record is a candid look at who you are as a person and is a different form of a expressing yourself. What is it about “TRICK” that audiences will learn this time around about you?

I don't really know. I guess it’s the first time I'm sung about desire. I was always slightly repulsed by that sort of "I love you" egotism in pop music and I'm glad with this record I've managed to avoid those pitfalls but still talk about what it means to relate to other human beings.

This record is like a time warp through British dance / club culture. What are the clubs and artists that have inspired “TRICK?”

Pop music as a principle is built on the idea of salvage and renewal, there is a constant sense of lineage to explore but there weren't really any artists I was trying to emulate. It was more the fact that I was DJing every weekend for the last 2 years. It’s kinda changed how I listened to music. It’s now more of a meditative experience. I was trying to capture that feeling on the record.

This is your first record since Bloc Party released Four, what was it like to go it alone again without the band?

It was actually fine. I love being in BP, I love the sweating and jamming and the all of it but I am also very happy to stand on my own.

Will there be another Bloc Party record?

Lets wait and see.

Aside from doing your own music, you also DJ. What is it about DJing that you have fallen in love with that art form?

Well I like how selfish it is. I mean of course you are entertaining a room full of people but you are playing the music that you want to hear. For me it’s all completely spontaneous, you are talking the club on a journey and you are in the driving seat.

Would you ever consider releasing an EDM album or a record where you would provide beats and have singers like you did with Tiesto?

I don't think I would make a EDM record, but I do like the idea of a project where I got to work with other singers. I loved producing Heartbreaker and Candy Flip on Crosstown Rebels earlier this year so a project like that would be next logical step for me.

You are associated with New York as much as you are with London. What have these two cities done to influence your career?

Well I am very receptive to my surroundings and I guess I’ve spent the most time in both London and NY. Now I actually see NY as being synonymous with my creativity. It’s where 3 of my last records were made. What I love about New York is also what i hate about New York; the speed of the city. If you have money you can do anything you want in NY, you can get whatever you want delivered to your door but I know I could never live there again. Everyone is so caught up in themselves and staying a float, no one has time to let anyone into their hearts.

QUICK SPINS

 

Thom Yorke – Tomorrow’s Modern Boxes

Surprise! We got a new Thom Yorke record and like his main band, Radiohead, Yorke found a creative way to release his latest offering, this time, via BitTorrent. Tomorrow’s Modern Boxes is officially the second solo album from Yorke, and he has confirmed with this record that Atoms For Peace are now their own separate entity. Working with longtime producer Nigel Goodrich, Yorke released a record that showcases his musical thumbprint with some of his most introspective and straightforward lyrics to date.

FINAL GRADE: A-

Death From Above 1979 – The Physical World

Ten years after their landmark debut, Canadian post-hardcore thrashers DFA 1979 regrouped and released their sophomore record. The Physical World is a bit more polished then their debut, You’re a Woman, I’m a Machine, and it is also much more political than ever before. Still this band made us all wait to hear them again and this proves it was worth the wait.

FINAL GRADE: A- 

Statik Selektah - What Goes Around

One of the hottest indie producers in hip-hop looks to really show the world what his craft is and why he is one of the most important people in the business right now when it comes to controlling the decks. Statik Selektah hones all of that in on What Goes Around, his later offering that features a slew of guests that reads like a "whose who" of hip-hop. Featuring the likes of Action Bronson, Joey Badass, Styles P, Talib Kweli,  Snoop Dogg, B-Real, Black Thought, NORE, Sheek Louch, Dilated Peoples, and many more.

FINAL GRADE: A-

Hozier

The Irish singer / songwriting rising sensation is not afraid to wear his heart on his sleeve and his brilliant debut is a showcase of emotion, creativity, and passion.

FINAL GRADE: A-

Foxygen - …And Star Power

Foxygen bursted onto the scene last year with their incredible album, We Are The 21^st Century Ambassadors of Peace and Magic, and return with another incredible dive into the musical sonicsphere.  …And Star Power is the third album from this ambitious California duo and clocking in at over 80 minutes, the venture further into physcadelica that fans of Tame Impala, Flaming Lips, and Frank Zappa would love.

FINAL GRADE: B+

Kele – Trick

For the Bloc Party frontman’s second solo album, he dabbles more into ambient and personal territory but also sticks to his love of electronic and rock in the same retrospective collection of new tracks. Trick is a treat for fans of Kele and Bloc Party around the world and while this record won’t be getting a party started like his main band’s albums or his solo debut would, it still brings enough emotion and attention to his craft.

FINAL GRADE: B+

Robert Plant – Lullaby and the Ceaseless Roar

The iconic voice of Led Zeppelin returns in a much more stripped down fashion with his new band, The Sensational Space Shifters and brings forth another dimension to a career that could have ended a long time ago, yet, Plant still forges ahead making new music and sounds to challenge himself and keep busy.

FINAL GRADE: B+

Julian Casablancas and the Voidz – Tyranny

The second solo album from The Strokes front man hears Casablancas do his typical garage rock meets 80’s new wave vibe. He also ventures off into punk, funk, and space rock on a record that has the singer showcasing nearly every type of music he likes and throwing it into one record.

FINAL GRADE: B

Black Map

Members of dredg, Far, and The Trophy Fire team up for a post-hardcore showdown and their debut does not disappoint. Combining thunderous rhythm sections and heavy riffs, this is a band to look out for.

FINAL GRADE: B

Leonard Cohen – Popular Problems

The legendary poet and singer returns to celebrate his 80^th birthday and to show that he still has it and still has something to say.

FINAL GRADE: B

The Drums – Encyclopedia

The fun in the sun New York City surf rockers return with their third record and following the pattern of their first two albums, they still bring heartfelt lyrics to a very pop-friendly sound.

FINAL GRADE: B

Stars – No One Is Lost

The Canadian rock ensemble return with more joy, fun, and dance anthems than one could imagine. No One Is Lost is Stars at their usual greatness and still loving what they are doing.

FINAL GRADE: B

SBTRKT – Wonder Where We Land

The second album from British producer SBTRKT hears the electronic guru making sharp turns in his sonic scope of musical landscape. With special guests Ezra Koenig, Jessie Ware, A$AP Ferg, Sampha, Wonder Where We Land plays like an event rather than a record.

FINAL GRADE: B

John Mellencamp – Plain Spoken

Twenty-two albums in, John Mellencamp still has so much to say about the world around him and while his roots rock, folk influences shine through, we are glad he still has something to get off his chest.

FINAL GRADE: B

Melvins – Hold It In

The second Melvins record to be released this year and features a totally different line-up than previous records, in fact, this is a classic Melvins record line-up and still making classic Melvins noise.

FINAL GRADE: B

Tennis – Ritual in Repeat

The third album from the husband and wife duo hears them still making fun in the sun surf pop that is playfully romantic, cute, and charming.

FINAL GRADE: B-

Michael Cera – true that

Scott Pilgrim himself, Michael Cera, surprised fans last month with the release of his lo-fi solo debut, true that, and what is even more surprising is that the actor actually has pretty good chops holding his own on a full record.

FINAL GRADE: B-

The Flaming Lips – With a Little Help From My Fwends

Like they did with Dark Side of the Moon a few years back, The Flaming Lips call in their friends Miley Cyrus, Moby, Phantogram, My Morning Jacket and more to cover The Beatles’ masterpiece, Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. While the idea of having this mixture of music together to cover the greatest album of all time sounds amusing and entertaining, the record should not be touched, even by the biggest of Beatles fans.

FINAL GRADE: D

Kele Announces Sophomore Album

Bloc Party's Kele Okereke will release his sophomore album, Trick, in October on Lilac via Kobalt. The album was recorded in New York and London and is said to be darker than his solo debut, Boxer. Take a look at the cover, above, and the tracklisting below:

1.     First Impressions

2.     Coasting

3.     Doubt

4.     Closer

5.     Like We Used To

6.     Humour Me

7.     Year Zero

8.     My Hotel Room

9.     Silver and Gold

          10.  Stay the Night

Playlist

Take a look at June's 27-song playlist and hear / get it on Spotify!

Quick Spins

Against Me! – Transgender Dysphoria Blues

The much delayed, much anticipated new record from Against Me! has finally arrived and no doubt about it, Transgender Dysphoria Blues was worth the wait. The most important punk rock record since Green Day’s American Idiot and up there in importance with The Ramones debut, The Clash’s London Calling, and Sex Pistols' Never Mind The Bullocks, frontwoman Laura Jane Grace reveals her transformation from the man formerly known as Tom Gable to the woman she is today. The record is heroic as it is heartbreaking, brave as it is brutal, scary as it is hopeful and most importantly triumphant as it is bold.

FINAL GRADE: A+

Burial – Rival Dealer EP

Last month, as Beyonce surprised the music world with a brand new album, enigmatic British beatmaker Burial did the same, on a smaller scale of course. The three song Rival Dealer EP is brings out the best in what we have love about Burial after all these years and most of all, still leaves us in awe and wanting more.

FINAL GRADE: A+

Q-Tip and Busta Rhymes – The Dragon and Abstract

Two titans of hip-hop team-up for a mixtape that brings about the glory days of when these two were guesting on each other’s records during their heydey and show the new class how it is done after all these years in the game.

FINAL GRADE: A

Africa Express Vol. 2: Maison de Jeunes

Damon Albarn brings Idris Elba, Nick Zinner, Brian Eno, and many others to link up with Malian musicians to another installment of taking traditional native tunes and giving them a beautiful alternative twist.

FINAL GRADE: A

Beyonce

It has been over a month since Queen B surprised us all with her self-titled LP and she managed to close out 2013 with a bang. Beyonce proved by doing this her artistic, business, and forward thinking credit is not only in tact, it proved that she is the biggest female star of this generation and will be for years to come.

FINAL GRADE: A-

Step Brothers – Lord Steppington

The much anticipated debut from Step Brothers aka The Alchemist and Evidence has finally arrived and it is pact with a slew of stars from Action Bronson, Roc Marciano, Blu, Domo Genesis, Oh No, Fashawn and more. It takes the flavor of new school hip-hop and gives it a interesting twist.

FINAL GRADE: B+

Broken Bells – After the Disco

The sophomore album from Danger Mouse and The Shins’ James Mercer’s Broken Bells arrives and is much more poppy and lively than their 2010 debut. After the Disco also more lush and layered in sound and production from Mouse than their prior efforts.

FINAL GRADE: B+

The Lawrence Arms – Metropole

After seven years, the sixth album from The Lawrence Arms finally arrives and the band picks up right where they left off. The album was inspired by a trip to Italy but one would never know, it contains textbook Arms riffs, choruses and most of all the energy that has made them the band they are after all these years.

FINAL GRADE: B

Del the Funky Homosapian – Iller Than Most

Beyonce and Burial closed 2013 with surprise releases and Del the Funky Homosapian  kicked off the year with one. Iller Than Most was a free album from the iconic emcee that as he described as “Lyrically ill but fun to listen to, nothing super heavy,” needless to say, he was right.

FINAL GRADE: B

Young the Giant – Mind Over Matter

Four years after their extremely popular debut, Young The Giant return with their sophomore effort and while not as commercially poppy as their debut, it still packs a fun punch of energy and eclectic sounds that have made them a fan and festival favorite in recent years.

FINAL GRADE: B

Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks – Wig Out Jagbags

The former Pavement singer returns with The Jicks to give their sixth album and in fans of Malkmus will be pleased but does not do much to change the formula that have made them who they are.

FINAL GRADE: B

Dum Dum Girls – Too True

The Dum Dum Girls return with their fourth album and bring a great sense of British cold wave bands like Siouxsie And The Banshees, The Cure, The Stone Roses, Suede and The Jesus And Mary Chain.

FINAL GRADE: B

Mogwai – Rave Tapes

The eighth release from the Scottish noisemakers does not disappoint and as usual, these songs are going to kill live more than they do on disc.

FINAL GRADE: B

Bruce Springsteen – High Hopes

The Boss is back and this time he is bringing along Tom Morello to add an extra crank to his sound. Morello, much like the songs on High Hopes has been jamming with Springsteen and E-Street for a few years now as a guest of the band on stage and like some of these songs, which have been featured in the Springsteen setlists for over a decade, including some of the covers on the record like one’s of Suicide and The Saints, are now packaged together. Springsteen brings the road to a record but for fans it will be a forgettable affair for most of the tracks.

FINAL GRADE: B-

Warpaint

The much delayed and anticipated second record from Warpaint arrives and now, produced by Flood, the band bring a darker side to their sound and come off much more moody than ever before.

FINAL GRADE: B-

Kele – Heartbreaker

The Bloc Party front man goes back to his DJ and dance roots for his second solo EP but fails to make the sound he loves so much interesting.

FINAL GRADE: C