Music Monday (3/30): This Week's New Albums + Videos

This week's new album releases

Each title listed below will go on sale beginning Tuesday, March 31 unless otherwise indicated.

8:58
8:58

Electronic music pioneers Orbital recently disbanded (again) after 25 years in the business, but one half of that brother duo, Paul Hartnoll, has restarted his solo career under the name 8:58. (A previous solo LP, The Ideal Condition, was released under his given name in 2007.) His first 8:58 album, out today in the UK, features a new version of one of that previous album's tracks, "Please," with vocals from The Cure's Robert Smith and Witchknot's Lianne Hall. Other contributors on 8:58—which, unlike the more acoustic Ideal Condition, doesn't sound all that different from Hartnoll's work with Orbital—include Ed Harcourt, The Unthanks (guesting on a cover of The Cure's "A Forest"), and actor Cillian Murphy.

Death Cab for Cutie
. Kintsugi LISTEN (NPR)

The band's first album since 2011's Codes and Keys marks their final recordings with founding guitarist/producer Chris Walla, who has left the band after 17 years. He did, however, stick around long enough to contribute every one of Kintsugi's 11 tracks—though it's the first DCFC album he didn't produce (with those duties falling to Rich Costey instead).

Death Grips
the powers that b LISTEN–Pt. 1 (YouTube) LISTEN–Pt. 2 (YouTube)

For a group that broke up last year, Death Grips remain remarkably prolific. This week (following a leak last week) brings The Powers That B, a new album which combines a previously released digital album (the Björk-sampling Niggas on the Moon) with the new companion set Jenny Death.

Godspeed You! Black Emperor
. Asunder, Sweet and Other Distress LISTEN (Guardian)

The acclaimed Canadian post-rock band's follow-up to 2012's 'Allelujah! Don't Bend! Ascend! (and 6th album overall) is a four-song LP clocking in at just 40 minutes—the band's shortest album since their 1997 debut.

Sufjan Stevens
. Carrie & Lowell LISTEN (NPR)

Billed as a return to his "folk roots," Carrie & Lowell is also a return, period: it'll be Stevens' first proper album since 2010's The Age of Adz, ending an unusually long absence for the once-prolific artist. (Not that he has been away completely; he has been working with his side project Sisyphus, among other endeavors.) The new 11-song set is titled after Stevens' mother and stepfather and features contributions from artists like Laura Veirs and Sean Carey. Critics think it's his best album yet.

Additional releases

The Apartments The Evening Visits ... and Stays for Years
Arling & Cameron Good Times LISTEN (3voor12)
First album in 9 years [out digitally Friday 3 Apr]
Boxed In Boxed In
Dead Sara Pleasure to Meet You
The-Dream Crown EP
One of two mini-albums due this spring
Elsa Never Come Down EP LISTEN (AV Club)
Faith Healer Cosmic Troubles LISTEN (Rookie)
Föllakzoid . III LISTEN (Stereogum)
Robben Ford Into the Sun
Fort Romeau Insides
Geronimo! Buzz Yr Girlfriend: Vol. 4 – Why Did You Leave Me? EP
Grandbrothers Dilation
Hall & Oates Daryl Hall & John Oates: Live in Dublin Blu-ray/DVD+2xCD
Hollywood Undead Day Of The Dead
Houndstooth No News From Home
iLoveMakonnen Drink More Water 5 MIXTAPE
Jerry Paper Carousel
Johnny Jewel Lost River OST LISTEN (YouTube)
[30 Mar] Soundtrack to Ryan Gosling's forthcoming directorial debut features original music by Jewel and his various projects (including Chromatics and Glass Candy)
Jodeci The Past, The Present, The Future
First new album for the R&B act since 1995
Simon Joyner Grass, Branch & Bone LISTEN (Stereogum)
Angelique Kidjo Sings with the Orchestre Philharmonique Du Luxembourg LISTEN (NY Times)
King Mono Bump In The Night
Lost Boy ? Canned LISTEN (Stereogum)
Lower Dens . Escape From Evil LISTEN (NPR)
Ludacris Ludaversal
Madeon Adventure
The 20-year-old French producer's debut album features appearances by Passion Pit's Michael Angelakos, Bastille's Dan Smith, and Foster The People's Mark Foster
Jesse Malin New York Before the War
Marching Church This World Is Not Enough
Debut LP for new band led by Iceage frontman Elias Bender Rønnenfelt
Missy Mazzoli Vespers for a New Dark Age LISTEN (NPR)
Merchandise (Strange Songs) In The Dark
Reissue of out-of-print 2010 debut album
Nightwish Endless Forms Most Beautiful
Only Real Jerk at the End of the Line LISTEN (YouTube)
The Prodigy . The Day Is My Enemy
Sleaford Mods and Flux Pavilion guest on the UK electronica act's 6th studio album and first since 2009
Reptar Lurid Glow
Darius Rucker Southern Style
Runaway Brother Mother
Boz Scaggs A Fool to Care
Ron Sexsmith . Carousel One
The Soft Moon Deeper LISTEN (NPR)
The Sonics This Is the Sonics
First new album in 48 years for the Washington state garage rockers
Speak Low If You Speak Love Everything But What You Need
Ringo Starr Postcards From Paradise
The Staves . If I Was LISTEN (Stereogum)
Justin Vernon produces
Teenage Bottlerocket Tales From Wyoming
Three Days Grace Human
Ufomammut Ecate
Van Halen Tokyo Dome Live In Concert 2xCD
The band's first live album with David Lee Roth as frontman was recorded during a 2013 tour
Violent Reaction Marching On LISTEN (Blow the Scene)
Wale The Album About Nothing
Ryley Walker . Primrose Green LISTEN (NPR)
We Are Harlot We Are Harlot
Scott Weiland Blaster
Former Stone Temple Pilots frontman's first album with his new band, the Wildabouts
William Elliott Whitmore Radium Death
Zero 7 EP3 EP

Stream upcoming albums and new tracks

Jessie Baylin
ALBUM Dark Place streaming until its 4/7 release at NPR.
The Darkness
TRACK "Open Fire" streaming at YouTube.
Tom DeLonge
TRACK "The Invisible Parade" streaming at YouTube (lyric video).
Drenge
ALBUM Undertow streaming until its 4/7 release at NPR.
Dutch Uncles
TRACK "Realm" (new B-side) streaming at NME.
Earl Sweatshirt & Action Bronson
TRACK "Warlord Leather" streaming at SoundCloud.
Glass Candy
TRACK "Shell Game" streaming at SoundCloud.
How to Dress Well
TRACK "Pour Cyril (Live With Orchestra)" streaming at SoundCloud.
Hudson Mohawke
TRACK "Very First Breath" (feat. Irfane) streaming at SoundCloud.
Jamie xx
TRACK "Gosh" streaming at YouTube.
Leftfield
TRACK "Universal Everything" streaming at SoundCloud.
Memory Tapes
TRACK "Fallout" streaming at SoundCloud.
The Mountain Goats
ALBUM Beat the Champ streaming until its 4/7 release at NPR.
Róisín Murphy
TRACK "Exploitation (Single Edit)" streaming at SoundCloud.
Muse
TRACK "Dead Inside" streaming at YouTube (lyric video).
Prurient
TRACK "Dragonflies To Sew You Up" streaming at YouTube.
Roots Manuva
TRACK "Facety 2:11" (prod. by Four Tet) streaming at SoundCloud.
Royal Thunder
ALBUM Crooked Doors streaming until its 4/7 release at NPR.
Say Lou Lou
ALBUM Lucid Dreaming streaming until its 4/6 release at NPR.
SBTRKT
TRACK "FLAREtWO" streaming at SoundCloud.
TRACK "nO less" streaming at SoundCloud.
TRACK "Roulette" streaming at SoundCloud.
Son Lux
TRACK "Change Is Everything" streaming at SoundCloud.
Omar Souleyman
TRACK "Enssa El Aatab" (prod. by Modeselektor) streaming at SoundCloud.
Mavis Staples
TRACK "Your Good Fortune" streaming at SoundCloud.
Tanlines
TRACK "Invisible Ways" streaming at YouTube.
Toro Y Moi
TRACK "Run Baby Run" streaming at SoundCloud.
ALBUM What For streaming until its 4/7 release at NPR.
Turbo Fruits
TRACK "No Reason to Stay" streaming at SoundCloud.
WATERS
TRACK "What's Real" streaming at SoundCloud.
Patrick Watson
TRACK "Places You Will Go" streaming at SoundCloud.
Waxahatchee
ALBUM Ivy Tripp streaming until its 4/7 release at NPR.
Paul Weller
TRACK "Saturns Pattern" streaming at YouTube.

On TV this week (new episodes only)

  • Monday: Børns (Meyers), Mac DeMarco (Conan), Hundred Waters (Carson Daly), The Suffers (Letterman), Van Halen (Kimmel), Wale (Fallon)

  • Tuesday: Alt-J (Fallon), Dead Sara (Meyers), Echosmith (Corden), Hidden Ritual (Carson Daly), Houndmouth (Letterman), Van Halen (Kimmel)

  • Wednesday: Death Cab for Cutie (Kimmel), Milky Chance (Fallon), Olly Murs (Corden), Waters (Conan), The Wolf (Carson Daly)

  • Thursday: Above & Beyond (Carson Daly), Calexico (Conan), Fat White Family (Letterman), The Smashing Pumpkins (Fallon), Van Halen (Ellen), Brian Wilson (Kimmel), Years & Years (Meyers)

  • Friday: Banks (Letterman), Elle King (Fallon)

  • Saturday: Carly Rae Jepsen (Saturday Night Live)

Recent artist and industry news

  • Jay Z (along with Kanye West, Arcade Fire, Daft Punk, Rihanna, Jack White, Beyoncé, and other artists revealed today as co-owners of the company) has launched Tidal, a new streaming music service that costs $19.99/month but provides higher quality audio than some of its competitors. Billboard rounds up a bit of industry reaction to the new service.

  • The Elliott Smith documentary Heaven Adores You will screen at a number of theaters worldwide on select dates in May; check the official site for theaters and showtimes.

  • Radiohead's OK Computer is among the recordings selected this year for preservation in the Library of Congress National Recording Registry.

  • Apple is working on a revamped music streaming service (a successor to Beats Music) with the help of Trent Reznor. - NY Times

  • As previously reported, the worldwide release day for albums will shift to Fridays later this year. Now we know when the change will happen: Friday, July 10th.

The latest music videos

Run The Jewels feat. Zack de la Rocha, "Close Your Eyes (And Count To F**k)":

Death Grips, "I Break Mirrors With My Face in The United States":

Built to Spill, "Living Zoo":

Dan Deacon, "When I Was Done Dying":

tUnE-yArDs, "Wait for a Minute":

Passion Pit, "Lifted Up (1985)":

Jamie xx feat. Romy, "Loud Places":

Martin Gore, "Europa Hymn":

Unknown Mortal Orchestra, "Multi-Love":

Torche, "Annihilation Affair":

The Smashing Pumpkins, "Drum + Fife":

Brandon Flowers, "Can't Deny My Love":

In the studio / coming soon

  • The xx's Jamie xx will release his solo debut album, In Colour, on June 1st. Members of The xx guest, along with Four Tet and Young Thug.

  • De La Soul have turned to Kickstarter to fund a new album that will feature collaborations with David Byrne, Damon Albarn, Little Dragon, 2 Chainz, and more.

  • Put together Danny Seim of Menomena and The National's Bryan Devendorf, plus horn player Dave Nelson, and you have the new band Pfarmers. Their debut, Gunnera, arrives May 12. - Pitchfork

  • Though Modest Mouse's Big Boi collaboration will apparently remain in the vault, their work with Krist Novoselic will surface on the next Modest Mouse album, which is expected to arrive in the first half of 2016. - CoS

  • A reunited System of a Down have written new music and could return to the studio soon to record their first album since 2005. - CoS

  • Omar Souleyman's next album (Bahdeni Nami, out 7/28) will once again feature production from Four Tet, this time joined as well by Modeselektor and Gilles Peterson.

  • Electronica outfit Leftfield will release Alternative Light Source, their first album since 1999, on June 8th. - Rolling Stone

Visit Metacritic's Album Release Calendar for a full listing of upcoming release dates, updated daily.

Tours and festivals

  • The lineup for this summer's Lollapalooza includes Paul McCartney, Metallica, and Florence + The Machine.

  • San Francisco's Outside Lands festival in August will feature Elton John, Mumford and Sons, the Black Keys, Sam Smith, Kendrick Lamar, and more.

  • Action Bronson will be on the road into the fall. - CoS

  • Neko Case has new dates in April and June. - CoS

  • Death Grips will tour this summer (despite recently breaking up). - Pitchfork

  • Hamilton Leithauser has a 17-date solo tour planned for late spring. - CoS

  • Van Halen's summer tour stretches from July into October. - Billboard