Featured Crucial Releases (June 14 edition)
Last week had a handful of releases I enjoyed. At first listen I didn’t think any one of them would qualify for a featured release, but I gave two a second listen and I’m glad I did. These two records are well worth your listening investment, not to mention they are kind of opposite ends of the spectrum in terms of genre – so there’s a perfect time and place for both in your life.
Body of Light by The Dead Tongues (Listen) – Indie folk, alt country, Americana… whatever category you want to put in… I hear influences of Ryan Adams, Fleetwood Mac, Neil Young, War on Drugs, maybe Zach-Bryan-genre country. Super good.
I was originally put on to this release via Jenn Wasner’s (Wye Oak, Flock of Dimes) Instagram story. She played and sang on a few songs, so given my affection for her two bands, I figured it was worth a listen. I’m also glad I gave it a second listen, as I absolutely love this record now. My favorite songs include: “Dirt for a Dying Sun”, “Body of Light”, “Moonshadow”, and “Wolves”.
Ryan Gustafson has been making music as The Dead Tongues for over 15 years and has released five full-length albums prior to this year. Body of Light is the first half of a double album, with the rest (I Am a Cloud) due out in August.
Next up is the newest record from Anderson .Paak and hip-hop producer Knxwledge: Why Lawd? by NxWorries (Listen).
It’s everything you’d expect from these two – a mix of R&B/soul and hip hop. Not to mention high quality. Beyond the music, Why Lawd? has some great features: Thundercat, H.E.R, Earl Sweatshirt, and Snoop Dogg.
While most people probably know Anderson from Silk Sonic, his collaboration with mega star Bruno Mars, Why Lawd? is actually a followup to 2018’s stellar Yes Lawd! (Listen). Anderson has a pretty solid solo discography as well: I quickly picked up on his first two albums — Venice (Listen) and Malibu (Listen) – which are both worth a listen in their own right.
Honorary Mentions
- The Sweater Club by Jelani Aryeh (Listen) – a very solid bedroom indie pop release – I also really dug his 2021 debut album I’ve Got Some Living to Do.
- s/t by The Early November (Listen) – emo in the vein of Death Cab for Cutie and Jimmy Eat World. A very solid listen from a band that’s been around since 2001.
- Box for Buddy, Box for Star by This is Lorelei (Listen) – the solo work of Nate Amos from the band Water From Your Eyes. A little bedroom pop, little slacker rock, a little noisy rock. Paste Magazine put it best: “This is Lorelei is Guided by Voices for those of us with unmedicated ADHD.” So true and so compelling. If any of that sounds intriguing, I think you will really dig this band.
