100 Best Albums of the Decade

via GIPHY


This list has been 10 years in the making. Here are my picks for the 100 best albums of the decade.

1	To Pimp A Butterfly	Kendrick Lamar	2015
2	DAMN.	Kendrick Lamar	2017
3	Run The Jewels 2	Run The Jewels	2014
4	Transgender Dysphoria Blues	Against Me!	2014
5	Black Star	David Bowie	2017
6	Body Talk	Robyn	2010
7	James Blake	James Blake	2010
8	Plastic Beach	Gorillaz	2010
9	The Epic	Kamasi Washington	2015
10	We Got it From Here…	A Tribe Called Quest	2016
11	Suck It and See	Arctic Monkeys	2011
12	Overgrown	James Blake	2013
13	21	Adele	2011
14	Ceremonials	Florence & The Machine	2011
15	In Spades	The Afghan Whigs	2016
16	Until the Quiet Comes	Flying Lotus	2012
17	The Suburbs	Arcade Fire	2010
18	Beyonce	Beyonce	2013
19	Good Kid, M.A.A.D. City	Kendrick Lamar	2013
20	The Far Field	Future Islands	2017
21	Recovery	Eminem	2010
22	4:44	Jay Z	2017
23	High Violet	The National	2010
24	A Loud Bash of Teenage Feelings	Beach Slang	2016
25	The Magic Whip	Blur	2015
26	Post Pop Depression	Iggy Pop	2016
27	Adore Life	Savages	2016
28	Channel Orange	Frank Ocean	2012
29	Wasting Light	Foo Fighters	2011
30	AM	Arctic Monkeys	2013
31	Everything is Love	The Carters	2018
32	Everything is Recorded	Richard Russell	2018
33	LP1	FKA Twigs	2014
34	Dogrel	Fontaines D.C.	2019
35	Remind Me Tomorrow	Sharon Van Etten	2019
36	Songs of Innocence	U2	2014
37	DAYTONA	Pusha-T	2018
38	The King of Limbs	Radiohead	2011
39	Koi No Yokan	Deftones	2012
40	Biophilia	Bjork	2011
41	Well Done	Action Bronson	2011
42	Life Is Good	Nas	2012
43	Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds	Noel Gallaghers High Flying Birds	2011
44	My Beatiful Dark Twisted Fantasy	Kanye West	2010
45	Reflektor	Arcade Fire	2013
46	Ghosteen	Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds	2019
47	III	BADBADNOTGOOD	2014
48	MASSEDUCATION	St. Vincent	2017
49	The Skeleton Tree	Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds	2016
50	Do to the Beast	The Afghan Whigs	2013
51	Vulnicura	Bjork	2015
52	Cuz I Love You	Lizzo	2019
53	Hamilton	The Cast of Hamilton	2015
54	This Is Happening	LCD Soundsystem	2010
55	El Pintor	Interpol	2014
56	Cocoa Beware	Young Fathers	2018
57	Run The Jewels	Run The Jewels	2013
58	Nightmare Logic	Power Trip	2017
59	Everybody	Logic	2017
60	Kill For Love	Chromatics	2012
61	Sweet Heart, Sweet Light	Spiritualized	2012
62	Otta	Solstafir	2014
63	The Monitor	Titus Andronicus	2011
64	CTRL	SZA	2017
65	Awaken, My Love	Childish Gambino	2016
66	House of Balloons	The Weeknd	2011
67	St. Vincent	St. Vincent	2014
68	Chasing Yesterday	Noel Gallaghers High Flying Birds	2016
69	IV	BADBADNOTGOOD	2016
70	Skying	The Horrors	2011
71	In Colour	Jamie xx	2015
72	David Comes to Life	Fucked Up	2011
73	Royal Blood	Royal Blood	2014
74	El Camino	The Black Keys	2011
75	Infest the Rats Nest	King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard	2019
76	… Like Clockwork	Queens of the Stone Age	2012
77	What Did You Expect From the Vaccines?	The Vaccines	2011
78	American Ghetto	Portual. The Man	2010
79	Apocalypse	Thundercat	2013
80	We're New Here	Jamie xx & Gil Scot Heron	2011
81	Czarface	Czarface	2013
82	Black Messiah	D'Angelo	2014
83	2014 Forest Hills Drive	J. Cole	2014
84	Diamond Eyes	Deftones	2010
85	Coloring Book	Chance the Rapper	2016
86	Go	Jonsi	2010
87	Hurry Up, We're Dreaming	M83	2011
88	Handwritten	The Gaslight Anthem	2012
89	Coexist	The xx	2012
90	Hot Sauce Committee Pt. 2	Beastie Boys	2011
91	Gang Signs and Prayer	Stormzy	2017
92	12 Reasons to Die	Ghostface Killah	2013
93	Bloodsports	Suede	2013
94	The Hunter	Mastodon	2011
95	Everyday Robots	Damon Albarn	2014
96	You're Dead	Flying Lotus	2014
97	Ukulele Songs	Eddie Vedder	2011
98	The Last Days of Oakland	Fantastic Negrito	2016
99	R.A.P. Music	Killer Mike	2012
100	The 1975	The 1975	2013

Quick News

ALADDIN SANE 45TH ANNIVERSARY SILVER VINYL DUE - “Just in time for sunrise...” - April sees the release of two limited edition Bowie vinyl albums, Aladdin Sane and CHANGESTWOBOWIE. This strictly limited one run only silver vinyl edition of Aladdin Sane will contain Ken Scott’s approved 2013 remaster and will be released on 20th April, 2018, 45 years to the day since the original release date for the album. Previously thought to have been issued on 13th April, 1973, new evidence has come to light that proves the release date was officially the 20th, but being Good Friday in the UK the album was 'made available' on the 19th. This silver vinyl edition of Aladdin Sane will only be available to ‘bricks and mortar’ retail stores and not through on-line stores. CHANGESTWOBOWIE will be reissued on the 13th April with all tracks remastered on CD in a digipak sleeve, high-resolution 192/24 and 96/24 digital and standard digital for streaming and download, as well as a 180gram vinyl edition available randomly on its initial limited run in black and blue vinyl before reverting solely to black vinyl. Finally, 192/24 and 96/26 high-resolution digital versions of CHANGESONEBOWIE will be released for streaming and download on April 13th too. - Go here for the full press release: http://smarturl.it/AS45thANNIsilverBNet - #AladdinSaneSilver #BowieVinyl

A post shared by David Bowie (@davidbowie) on Feb 14, 2018 at 7:58pm PST

This year marks the 45th anniversary to David Bowie's landmark album, Aladdin Sane, and to celebrate, his estate is releasing a silver vinyl of the record. The announcement came on Instagram, for more details see above.

After 8 years of waiting, Robyn is teasing a new album following her 2010 Body Talk series. A fan recently asked her on Twitter: "Who decides your next album release date tbh?” Robyn then replied: “I do. Some time this year honey.” No further details were given.

The Sword will release their new album, Used Future, next month.

Flatbush Zombies will release their new album, Vacation in Hell, in April.

Soft Cell will reunite for one night only in September for a farewell concert at London's O2 Arena.

Speaking to Double J in Australia, The National's Matt Berninger has revealed that he, his wife, and brother are developing a sitcom based on their lives. The singer and his filmmaker brother, Tom, will star in the series. "My brother and my wife and I have been creating it, and then we teamed up with Trent and his wife […] It’s something we’ve been cooking for a while," he said. Trent O’Donnell (New Girl, Brooklyn Nine-Nine) will also assist in developing the show. No network or release date has been given.

Recommended Reading: 'Meet Me in the Bathroom'

The greatest book about music and New York City is the classic Please Kill Me which is the oral history of the birth of punk in the 1970s. Last year, a spiritual sequel of sorts was released by author Lizzy Goodman who documented the New York City garage and indie scene of the turn of this century with the brilliant and instant classic Meet Me in the Bathroom. 

Meet Me in the Bathroom is the oral history of those who lived in New York pre and post-9/11 and how the city was shaped by the artistic boom coming from the Lower East Side and eventually spilled over to Brooklyn. With first person accounts from The Strokes, Ryan Adams, LCD Soundsystem, Interpol, TV on the Radio, The National, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, the artists discuss their origins and how things progressed for them to get to the status they are currently at. Goodman takes us on a tour of the city in the way she formulates the interviews to flow like a narrative and timeline of places and events which transpired over the years. Meet Me in the Bathroom is not just a love letter to New York City, it is a love letter to rock and roll and how in every generation the cycle will not destruct and for better or worse keeps pushing. This is for any music fan.

The National on 'Ellen'

Watch The National perform "The Day I Die" on Ellen.

The National on 'Jools Holland'

Watch The National perform "The System Only Dreams in Total Darkness” and “Day I Die” on Jools Holland.

QUICK SPINS

The Horrors – V

With each album, The Horrors find a way to gradually reinvent themselves but stay true to the common core of who they are as a band. The English rockers return with V, their fifth record and their best since 2011’s Skying. The band find groovy undertones will flirting with industrial and new wave on a record that not only hears them mature over time but show they are here to stay.

FINAL GRADE: A-

LCD Soundsystem – American Dream

This was a record that should be loathed considering the news that James Murphy and co. staged their infamous 2011 to sell tickets but the truth of the matter is, their “comeback” record is fantastic. It is a ton of fun to listen to and the band find their footing in the years they were away on what is the best LCD Soundsystem album.

FINAL GRADE: A-

The National – Sleep Well Beast

The National have become such a massive phenomenon that they no longer stay near each other like they once did in Brooklyn. Singer Matt Berninger has moved to the West Coast and the rest of the band is scattered across the New York tri-state area but after their frontman almost went through a divorce, they gathered in Upstate New York to record one of their most progressive records to date. What makes Sleep Well Beast a National record, aside from the obvious that the band did it, is that it keeps the dark undertones they are known for, however, they push things beyond what anyone expected as they dabble with samples, additional percussion, electronica, and even some industrial sounds to create a chaotic but hypnotizing album. It certainly is the most interesting record in their catalogue but also the hardest to digest.

FINAL GRADE: A-

Listen to Our Essential National Playlist on Spotify

Wolves in the Throne Room – Thrice Woven

The comeback record from one of the most brutal bands of the 21^st century does not disappoint. If you want your ears to bleed and heart to pound, this is the record.

FINAL GRADE: B+

Metz – Strange Place

The Canadian garage punks return with more thrashing rhythms and chords that just make you want to go out and break something.

FINAL GRADE: B+

Orchestral Maneuvers in the Dark – The Punishment of Luxury

The new wave icons return with new material that will be enough to delight their fanbase but they fail to capitalize on trying to make any progress in keeping with 2017. While that is not a bad thing, it would have been nice to hear OMD push themselves a bit more.

FINAL GRADE: B

The Black Kids – Rookie

After a decade apart, the once indie it band is back with their sophomore album. As they try to win back old fans they manage to show off that they are a new band that still knows how to have fun with the basic elements of rock and roll.

FINAL GRADE: B

Gary Numan - Savage (Songs from a Broken World)

Given the state of the world, it was the perfect time for Gary Numan to come around with new music. Numan has crafted a concept album centered on the blending of Western and Eastern cultures in a post-apocalyptic world that has become a desert as a result of global warming. Given the way things are going, he might have made a soundtrack to what might come.

FINAL GRADE: B

Godspeed! You Black Emperor - Luciferian Towers

The Canadian experimental ensemble returns with more demonic and dark prowess to scare the shit out of you.

FINAL GRADE: B

King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard with Mild High Club – Sketches of Brunswick East

The hardest working band of the year has released their third and final album of 2017 and this time get some help from fellow Australian’s Mild High Club. Their latest is a love letter to the town they grew up in and is easily the most accessible album for non fans of the band and showcases that King Gizzard can do other things aside from amazing weird shit.

FINAL GARDE: B

Death From Above – Outrage! Is Now

Death From Above have officially dropped 1979 from their moniker and are back with their third record. While Outrage! Is Now has the rawness of previous efforts it fails to back a punch like its predecessors.

FINAL GRADE: B- 

Tori Amos – Native Invader

The chamber pop princess returns with a record based off of the cycle of life and death and sticks to the infamous script that has gotten her acclaim and devotion over the years.

FINAL GRADE: B-

Living Colour – Shade

On their first album in nearly a decade, the Brooklyn metal funk icons return. Living Colour are a national treasure – an underrated one at that and are total unique to the American experiment and experience. They have the best rhythm section in music with one of the greatest living guitarists and singers. Shade, a record about being black in America in 2017 is not only poignant but mandatory listening.

FINAL GRADE: B-

Ted Leo – The Hanged Man

The indie icon is back and this time is on a solo mission to show off that he can do all of it on his own. Spoiler alert! He does.

FINAL GRADE: B-

Pains of Being Pure at Heart – The Echo of Pleasure

Four albums in, the New York City darlings are back and continue to make solid indie pop that not only fits into a Michael Cera movie but the soundtrack to your life.

FINAL GRADE: B-

Neil Finn – Out of Silence

The former Split Enz and Crowded House singer returns with a brand new solo record that shows like a fine wine, he gets better with age.

FINAL GRADE: B-

Foo Fighters – Concrete and Gold

The Foo Fighters were expected to take a longer hiatus than two years when they said they needed a long time off. When the announcement that Concrete and Gold was coming, fans were thrilled but also stunned. The record, which weighs heavily on Dave Grohl’s love of The Beatles, feels rushed at points but also hears them doing things that are unexpected like harmonizing, letting some of the music breathe and not competing with one another. Yet, all of this should make for a fascinating Foo Fighters record but in some areas some of the songs sound flat and rushed while others sound lush and evocative.

FINAL GRADE: B-

Listen to Our Essential Foo Fighters Playlist on Spotify

The Killers – Wonderful Wonderful

There was a time when The Killers were one of America’s most exciting and creative bands. That time has come and gone and over the years, it feels as if the Vegas glam rockers are now just making records for the sake of making them which should never be the case for any band to make music. Wonderful Wonderful not only sounds evident of that theory but is easily forgettable.

FINAL GRADE: C

Ringo Starr – Give More Love

While no one asked for a new Ringo record, it isn’t going to stop the iconic drummer. However, what shines on Ringo’s record everyone but him as Paul McCartney, Joe Walsh, Dave Stewart, Gary Nicholson, all play on the record and elevate his sound.

FINAL GRADE: C

Prophets of Rage

20 years ago, the concept of ¾ of Rage Against the Machine teaming up with Chuck D and B-Real would have been something to love. However, the world doesn’t need this version of Rage, they need RATM. Chuck D’s booming bass vocals can’t keep up with the raw power of what the Rage musicians have in store for him and B-Real, while his flows match, isn’t the lyricist that D or De La Rocha are, therefore the whole record and project sounds disjointed and disorganized.

FINAL GRADE: D

The National on 'CBS This Morning'

Watch The National perform a series of songs off their new record, Sleep Well Beast, on CBS This Morning. 

Listen to Our Essential National Playlist on Spotify

The National on 'Colbert'

Watch The National perform "Day I Die" on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. Also, take a look at the band backstage at the show.

Pre-show defensive crouch September 7 // @colbertlateshow #preshowdefensivecrouch

A post shared by The National (@thenational) on Sep 7, 2017 at 2:34pm PDT

Soundcheck: @colbertlateshow.

A post shared by The National (@thenational) on Sep 7, 2017 at 10:29am PDT

Sufjan Stevens, Bryce Dessner, Nico Mulhy on 'Colbert'

Watch Sufjan Stevens, The National's Bryce Dessner, Nico Mulhy, and James McAlister perform "Mercury" on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.

The National Detail New Album

As previously stated, The National will release their new album, Sleep Well Beast, in September. 

Now, the band has released the cover, tracklisting, and first single, "The System Only Dreams in Total Darkness." That is the cover is on top, take a look at the details, below.

Nobody Else Will Be There

Day I Die

Walk It Back

The System Only Dreams in Total Darkness

Born to Beg

Turtleneck

Empire Line

I'll Still Destroy You

Guilty Party

Carin at the Liquor Store

Dark Side of the Gym

Sleep Well Beast

Quick News

Our album SOMETHING TO TELL YOU is out 07/07/17. Pre–order Friday, 05/12.

A post shared by HAIM (@haimtheband) on May 10, 2017 at 11:42am PDT

Haim have shared the cover to their new album, Something to Tell You. Take a look at it, above.

The National will release their new album, Sleep Well Beast, in September.

Radiohead's Thom Yorke is going to score his first film. The remake of the Italian horror classic Susperia, will be directed by Luca Guadgnino and will star Tilda Swinton. No word as to when the film will arrive but Yorke has some shoes to fill as the horror band Goblin made their name with the original and classic score.

Academy Award winning director Steve McQueen will helm an upcoming documentary on Tupac which has been approved by the late rapper's estate. “I am extremely moved and excited to be exploring the life and times of this legendary artist,” McQueen said in a press release. “I attended NYU film school in 1993 and can remember the unfolding hip-hop world and mine overlapping with Tupac’s through a mutual friend in a small way. Few, if any shined brighter than Tupac Shakur. I look forward to working closely with his family to tell the unvarnished story of this talented man.” No word as to when the film will arrive.

Phoenix will provide the score for Sofia Coppola's new film, The Beguiled, which is slated to arrive later in the year. Phoenix frontman, Thomas Mars, is married to Coppola. 

Gorillaz may have just released their new album, Humanz, but the animated band are already talking about making new music. In an interview with UK's Channel 4, artist Jamie Hewlett said: "There has to be a gap between the albums because they’re quite exhausting. They take a lot of work. But we’re already talking about the next album, so there might not be a gap this time… It starts with one idea. Like, there’s a conversation one night, you have one idea a sentence, and that is the basis for a whole album. And then we never talk again until it’s finished. And we had that one idea again the other night. So we have to get started on the next one." 

Quick News

Next month, a massive 112-song song soundtrack to the fantastic animated series, Bob's Burgers will arrive. The soundtrack includes songs used in the series and sung by the cast as well as tracks by St. Vincent and The National. Take a look at the unboxing of the massive vinyl box set, above.

Rihanna has been named Harvard University's Humanitarian of the Year and will be presented the prestigious award on Tuesday. "Rihanna has charitably built a state-of- the-art center for oncology and nuclear medicine to diagnose and treat breast cancer at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Bridgetown, Barbados,” Harvard Foundation director S. Allen Counter told the Harvard Gazette. "In 2012, she founded the nonprofit the Clara Lionel Foundation Global Scholarship Program [named for her grandparents] for students attending college in the U.S. from Caribbean countries, and supports the Global Partnership for Education and Global Citizen Project, which provides children with access to education in over 60 developing countries, giving priority to girls, and those affected by lack of access to education in the world today."

Misfits guitarist Doyle will release his new solo album, Doyle II: As We Die, in May.

Eurythmics member Dave Stewart has taken to Facebook to showcase that he is working with Chvrches on their new album. 

What's Coming in 2017?

via GIPHY

The new year is here and with it comes new music. 

Run the Jewels, who were supposed to dominate January, surprise released their RTJ3 record causing nearly everyone to change their Top 10 lists, thanks guys. That being said, their is other fresh music on the horizon. 

Take a look at what is projected to arrive in 2017: 

January

Frank Carter and the Rattlesnakes – Modern Ruin

Austra – Future Politics

Cloud Nothings – Life Without Sound

Steel Panther – Lower the Bar

AFI – AFI (The Blood Album)

Japandroids – Near to the Wild Heart of Life

Foxygen – Hang

Bonobo – Migration

Bash & Pop – Anything Could Happen

The xx – I See You

Major Lazer – Music is the Weapon

Sepultura –  Machine Messiah 

February

The Mezingers – After the Party

Marilyn Manson – Say10

Tinariwen – Elwan

Surfer Blood – Snowdonia

Los Campesinos! – Sick Scenes

Power Trip – Nightmare Logic

Save Ferris – New Sound EP

Elbow – Little Fictions

Thievery Corporation – The Temple of I & I

Ryan Adams – Prisoner

Big Sean – I Decided

Lupe Fiasco – DROGAS Light

March

Nelly Furtado – Ride 

Tennis – Yours Conditionally

The Magnetic Fields – 50 Song Memoir

Craig Finn – We All Want The Same Things

Other Artists Expected to be Releasing Albums in 2017

Depeche Mode – Spirit

U2 – Songs of Experience

Living Colour – Shade

Paloma Faith – The Architect

The Shins – I Gleek on Your Grave

GZA – Dark Matter

Glassjaw

Brand New

Erik B & Rakim

Liam Gallagher

Gorillaz

Spiritualized

The National

Arcade Fire

Tears for Fears

Danzig

The Roots

The Black Kids

Stone Roses

Afghan Whigs

Nas

Jay Z

Phife Dawg

Justin Timberlake

The Lemon Twigs

Wu-Tang Clan

Ride

Portugal. The Man

Leon Else

Dej Loaf

Pete Rock & CL Smooth

Lady Leshurr

Joey Bada$$

The Jesus and Mary Chain

At the Drive-In

Bjork

Ed O'Brein

Pearl Jam

Modest Mouse

Broken Social Scene

Schoolboy Q

Chic

Phoenix

Grizzly Bear

Neutral Milk Hotel

LCD Soundsystem

Fleet Foxes

Mastodon

Spoon

St. Vincent

Slowdive

Lana Del Rey

Queens of the Stone Age

Foo Fighters

Quasimoto

Bruce Springsteen

Slonk Donkerson

Beck

Haim

Syd

Internal Bleeding

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.”

Quick News

via GIPHY


On November 19, Linden Boulevard at 192nd Street in the St. Albans neighborhood of Queens, New York will officially be renamed "Malik 'Phife Dawg' Taylor Way," in honor of the late Tribe Called Quest member, Phife Dawg, who passed away earlier this year. Phife's wife, Deisha Head Taylor was instrumental in working with Councilman Miller's office in choosing the name of the street as well as the logistics regarding the unveiling. She says, "The thought of having Linden Boulevard at 192, renamed to Malik 'Phife Dawg' Taylor is indescribable. This is a perfect representation of who Malik was, and what Queens meant to him. Whenever he mentioned Queens, Linden Boulevard at 192, was a focal point of reference, so I am certain he would be pleased with having it renamed in his honor. We are extremely grateful for those who were part of the entire process; from the initial effort to the signing of the bill, this historical moment means so much to his family, friends, and fans."

The Mezingers will release their new album, After the Party, in February. Take a look at the tracklisting, below:
1. Tellin’ Lies
2. Thick as Thieves
3. Lookers
4. Midwestern States
5. Charlie’s Army
6. House on Fire
7. Black Mass
8. Boy Blue
9. Bad Catholics
10. Your Wild Years
11. The Bars
12. After the Party
13. Livin’ Ain’t Easy

Next month, Refused will release the Servants of Death EP containing new songs and live cuts. Take a look at the tracklisting, below:
1. Servants Of Death
2. Stolen Voices
3. Thought is Blood (live)
4. Dawkins Christ (live)
5. The Shape of Punk to Come (live)
6. Tannhäuser / Derivé (live)

Matt Berninger of The National gave an update to Rolling Stone about the band's new record, saying it is going to be "dark." He said: "I’m going very dark with the new National record, which is a place I love to go. People have always described our music as dark and say it goes very melancholy, somber places. They haven’t heard anything yet! This next thing is crazy.” He added: "It’s about marriage, and it’s about marriages falling apart,” he said. “I’m happily married, and but it’s hard, marriage is hard and my wife and I are writing the lyrics together about our own struggles and it’s difficult to write, but it’s saving my marriage. Not saving my marriage, my marriage is healthy, but it’s good for everything! And so it’s gonna be a strange record, and I’m crazy about it.”

Nick Valensi of The Strokes discussed what it is like to shift into the frontman role in his new band, CRX. He told NME: "It took a little bit of time for me to figure out how my voice sounded the most natural and, to be perfectly honest, at first I really hated my own voice. I could barely stand to listen to it and I obviously didn’t want to feel that way so I just woodshedded with the singing and figured out the different ways I could sing and how I could sing in a way that wouldn’t bug me, so it did take a little while. And with the lyrics too, it did take me a little while to get the hang of being a lyricist too."

Nathan Followill of Kings of Leon discussed how the band nearly fell apart following the success of Only By The Night and trying to recreate that. He told Rolling Stone: "You put so much pressure on yourself after that – to at least maintain that momentum you’ve got going — and we really had a shitty time in the studio trying to do that. Trying to chase a hit or trying to recreate success you had on previous things. So going into this record we had the frame of mind of no pressure to recreate any success we’ve had prior to this.”

Quick News

The Strokes' Nick Valensi has formed a new band called CRX. While not much is known about the new group, it does feature Ralph Alexander of The Dose, Richie Follin of Guards, Darian Zahedi, and Jon Safley of The Reflections. Take a look at their promo shot, above.

BBC Radio is streaming a special 2-hour long tribute to David Bowie curated by Iggy Pop. Take a listen HERE.

It has been quiet on the Mike Skinner front since he disbanded The Streets in 2011. Skinner, who has DJ'ed and formed The DOT with Rob Harvey of The Music has laid low for the most part. Now, in an interview with Shortlist, Skinner said he could not reactivate The Streets if he wanted. “People get it wrong when they think I’m being a bit belligerent about it,” Skinner said. “If someone asked me to make a Streets album tomorrow, I honestly don’t think I could do it. I wouldn’t know how to – it’s been that long. It’d just sound weird. I’m not sure if people want to hear an instrumental Streets album. All I did before The Streets was DJ. It’s like with Idris Elba – people know him as an actor, but he was a really good DJ before that. With The Streets, I wanted to be a producer and I ended up writing songs that – thank goodness – became popular.”

Speaking to NME, The National's Matt Berninger spoke about the making of their forthcoming album and it sounds as if they are still working on it. The singer said: "We’re playing together in a room, which means we’re jamming more. But it’s not a jam record at all — the songs are much more like weird, math-y, electronic-y stuff. A lot of songs are going in completely different directions. But that’s a really fun place to be. We’re in the middle of the wilderness, in a rainforest full of really fun noises. We could probably crank out a great National record in a weekend, but none of us are interested in following up with another record that sounds like Trouble Will Find Me. That record was a great accomplishment and I’m so proud of it. But even if we could make a record that good and put it out tomorrow, we wouldn’t, because we’ve already made that. We’d rather make a terrible record that opens up new possibilities. It’s going to be great!" No release date nor any other info has been given.

The Chromatics, who were supposed to release their sophomore album, Dear Tommy, last year, may have given an other update.... or not. The band's management, Echo Park Records, tweeted an image of what appears to be singer Johnny Jewel holding a guitar drenched in blood with the caption: "Dear Tommy." Take a look.

Dear Tommy pic.twitter.com/XIPGbY9Qgp

— echoparkrecords (@echoparkrecords) August 1, 2016

The National Cover A Song About Bathrooms From 'Bob's Burgers'

Bob's Burgers is probably one of the best shows around and it is no wonder The National wanted to be apart of it. The band covered the "Bathroom Song" which was featured in the most recent season finale. Take a look!

EL VY Performs on 'Live at 9:30'

EL VY performed on the new public access show Live at 9:30, which showcases artists performing inside D.C.'s iconic 9:30 Club. Take a look at the band performing "Return to the Moon."

The National Cover The Grateful Dead on 'Colbert'

Watch The National cover The Grateful Dead's "Morning Dew" from Day of the Dead, the tribute record they curated, on The Late Show.

Quick News

The Hold Steady have reunited with keyboardist Franz Nicolay for an upcoming series of concerts to celebrate the 10th anniversary of their landmark third album, Boys and Girls in America. Nicolay left the band in 2010 to pursue a solo career. The band are also planning on reissuing their first two albums, Almost Killed Me and Separation Sunday, later this year.

The National have confirmed that they will begin work on their new album "soon." Guitarist Aaron Dessner told the news to Pitchfork.

Liam Gallagher has praised a rough cut of the upcoming Oasis documentary that is being done by the same team that did the award winning Senna and Amy. Gallagher tweeted his review:

Just seen the 1st cut of the OASIS film BIBLICAL what ever happened to my ROCKNROLL LG x

— Liam Gallagher (@liamgallagher) May 5, 2016

A REAL FILM ABOUT A REAL BAND FOR REAL FANS NONE OF THEM FAKE 1s YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE LG X

— Liam Gallagher (@liamgallagher) May 5, 2016

Warner Bros. will being rolling out Prince reissues later this year. The label plans on reissuing many of his records between 1985-1992. Here is the official list:
June 21st: “Around the World in A Day” (1985)
July 19th: “Parade (Under the Cherry Moon soundtrack)” (1986)
August 23rd: “Sign o’ the Times”(1987)
September 20th: “The Black Album”(1987 recorded; 1994 released)
October 18th: “Lovesexy” (1988)  and “Batman” soundtrack (1989)
November 22nd: “Graffiti Bridge” soundtrack (1990) and “Diamonds and Pearls” (1991)
December 13th: “The Love Symbol” (1992)

James Blake has surprised fans by releasing his third album, The Colour In Anything, this evening. Take a look at the cover, below: