What's New 4-25-25
After six albums of Beelzebub-bothering, Ghost's melodic metal is more tempting than ever. And while it may not boast the same instant hooks of some earlier albums, Skeleta instead offers something more substantial. Through a rich exploration of genres and a new level of emotional depth, it becomes clear that this was made with a new vision in mind, and comes as the promising start of a new Ghost chapter.
A testament to momentum, Unatoned is honed to its sharpest edge, forged on creative discipline and the hunger to push forward. It drips with melancholy melodies, and yet hammers with bludgeoning riffs, soars with anthemic sing-a-longs of love-lost and sadness, to bellowing power and undeniable confidence. Eleven albums deep, Machine Head remain as fierce, relevant, and unstoppable as ever.
The latest (recorded from May to December 1977) of Young's great “lost” albums to be released as part of his Analog Original Series. For most songwriters, an album this potent, hauntingly performed, would be an all-time classic. For Young, it’s one of many that were originally shelved in favor of even stronger material, or simply because it didn’t match the mood of the moment.
Withered completes the story laid out in his 2023 EPs, Petals to Thorns and The Lost Petals, as he continues to articulate a relationship’s ricocheting emotions: the coruscating highs and bleak lows, all set to music that’s intimate, hook-heavy, and refreshingly direct. Heartbreak has rarely sounded so pristine
Clever, relatable lyricism backed by moody undertones and infectious grooves showcases the band's pivot into more confessional songwriting and finding their sonic step. Across 11 tracks, Obsession explores themes of love, longing, and loss through a uniquely captivating sonic profile rife with electric riffs, robust synths, and strong drums.
From triumphant opener “Long Is The Road” to the emotionally resonant “Found A Friend In You” to the raucous “Rum Boogie”, the music is a vibrant blend of Memphis soul and blues, warm sister harmonies, and positive messages reminiscent of The Staple Singers. With the closing, ruminative “We Are”, Family unveils hard-hitting, universal truths about the unshakable power of togetherness.
One of the most formidable guitarists in recent history, Samantha Fish brings both mind-blowing power and extraordinary emotionality to everything she creates. For help in shaping Paper Doll’s magnificently rowdy but deeply nuanced sound, Fish reunited with Detroit garage-rock icon Bobby Harlow, marking the latest entry in an uncompromising and adventurous catalog.
Co-founding members of The Carolina Chocolate Drops, banjo player Giddens and fiddle player Robinson reunite for an exuberantly rootsy duo album. Recorded largely outdoors at the home of their late mentor, fiddle legend Joe Thompson, the album has the warm glow and relaxed feeling of a back-porch summer jam session… and the joy is palpable.
This is a band following their muse with smarts and muscle, allowing for some new wrinkles and trips down less traveled detours. After over four decades, the Melvins still sound utterly uncompromised and full of swampy vigor, and Thunderball confirms they haven't finished challenging themselves or their audience, not by a long shot.
Filipino-Australian Gen-Z crooner grentperez explores the sweet and surreal world of relationships in his debut album. From the tingling-pop of "Fuzzy Feeling" with Benny Sings and fresh coolness of "2DK" to the heartfelt longings of "Dandelion" with Ruel and "Movie Scene", Backflips in a Restaurant is grentperez’s most sonically diverse body of work to date.
OK GO has built its reputation on creativity through visual mediums like unique videos and unexpected collaborations. But all of those creative outlets are fed by the band’s music, and on its fifth album, And the Adjacent Possible, OK GO further tests the unorthodox while maintaining their signature core of hooky bops.
In the making of their latest, the Mobile-bred country duo dug deeper into their roots than ever before, dreaming up a batch of songs inspired by the places they know best: the blue-collar melting pot of their coastal hometown, bustling Cajun fishing villages and desolate timberlands, the untamed and idyllic spaces where they ran wild as children.