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Best New Music Releases, Week of Nov. 6th – Dirty Projectors, Califone, Joshua James, Barbarian, Melody’s Echo Chamber

Because Election Day collided with album release day (most albums in the U.S. are released on a Tuesday) this week,  it’s no surprise that there were very few “big” album releases. That said, there were still plenty of releases of new material, and lead singles, from lesser-known artists this week that are worth listening to.

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The new EP from Dirty Projectors, titled About To Die, features three new tracks, and at least on the Amazon version of the EP, two additional bonus tracks. See our Album of the Week post for a review and more songs from the EP, as well as the trailer for the band’s indie short film and a brand new music video for the single “About To Die.” But first, here’s the title track, which was also one of the standout tracks on the band’s July release of their latest LP, Swing Lo Magellan.

Note: To purchase any of the albums or EPs dropped this week, see the end of this post, where there are one-click purchase links for MP3, CD and vinyl versions from Amazon.

“About To Die” – Dirty Projectors from About To Die EP

Califone Reissue First Two EP’s, Plus a Previously Unreleased Single; Teen Daze Drops Second LP This Year

Next is the previously unreleased song, “Pastry Sharp,” from Califone‘s new drop, Sometimes Good Weather Follows Bad People, a reissued compilation of the Chicago neo-folk band’s first two E.P.’s. Switching gears now; Canadian artist known as Teen Daze released his debut LP, All of Us, Together, last May, which received considerable praise for its rich chillwave textures and synth pop layers. Six months later, Teen Daze has dropped a second LP, Inner Mansions, from which the single, “Spirit,” is taken.

“Pastry Sharp (previously unreleased)”Califone from Sometimes Good Weather Follows Bad People on Jealous Butcher Records

“Spirit”Teen Daze from Inner Mansions

New Singles from Melody’s Echo Chamber; New LPs by Grape Soda, Calvin Love, Crushed Out

French multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and vocalist Melody Prochet, who goes by the moniker Melody’s Echo Chamber, is starting to get more attention stateside largely due to the release of her self-titled debut album. Intricately blending layers of fuzzy, psych-tinged synth notes, sound effects, percussion and her incredibly sensual vocals, Melody’s Echo Chamber has gotten the notice of French and other European music lovers, DJs, bloggers, press, and is now lapping on the shores of America.

“Endless Shore”Melody’s Echo Chamber from Melody’s Echo Chamber

This past week marked the U.S. release of Melody’s Echo Chamber‘s debut. The single that has been receiving the most play and buzz, “Endless Shore,” is a shimmering, psych rock collides with new wave gem infused with thin layers of sounds and effects, ranging from trippy distorted guitar riffs to a throbbing bass line and, the ever constant element – Prochet’s sensual and heavenly vocals. It was recorded by Tame Impala band member Kevin Parker. The second song, “I Follow You,” is awash in melodies, sweeping instrumentation, and swirls of synths. Another standout track from the debut LP is “You Will Not Be That Missing Part of Me,” with its video game-like sound effects, drum machine back beat, and Prochet’s soothing vocals.

“I Follow You”Melody’s Echo Chamber from Melody’s Echo Chamber

Also, check out this post about the new Team Genius release.

Next, the new-to-us band, Grape Soda, released their debut LP, Form A Sign, this week, featuring the single, “Obvious Signs.” With a touch of 70’s AM radio sound, Desert Noises provides plenty of melodies and a tight-knit sound on the title track to the band’s debut EP, I Won’t See You. Retro new wave synths and the excellent vocals of musician Calvin Love shine through on the single, “Magic Hearts,” from his fresh release, New Radar. At somewhat of a contrast, we’re not completely sold on the new Crushed Out lo-fi garage rocker, “Weigh You Down.”

“Obvious Signs” – Grape Soda from Form A Sign on Kindercore Records

“I Won’t See You”Desert Noises from I Won’t See You EP

“Magic Hearts”Calvin Love from New Radar

“Weigh You Down”Crushed Out from Want to Give

Farmer/Musician Joshua James Teams with Shins’ Richard Swift on Single; Plus, Tyler Daniel Bean and Barbarian

The new single, “Queen of the City,” is a track from a new album by Joshua James, a Provo, Utah farmer by day, and musician by night. Accompanying James on the single is bandmate Evan Coulombe and Richard Swift, best known as the multi-instrumentalist for one of the best indie bands ever – The Shins. Following James is an uptempo new track from singer/songwriter Tyler Daniel Bean. Thanks to ThisWheelisStillinSpin for these two tracks. Plus, we have the new single, “Daze of Youth,” from San Diego band Barbarian (more on them in a few days).

“Queen of the City”Joshua James from The Top of Willamette Mountain

“Heather Lane” – Tyler Daniel Bean from Longing

“Daze of Youth”Barbarian from Barbarian 7″

DIY Portugese Surf Rocker Juba and Ukraine Math Rock Band Colaars

From Lisbon, Portugal, Juba is a DIY “Hindu surf roit” band with an admiration for The Beach Boys, Real Estate and Tame Impala. Juba’s new single, “Bloodvessels,” is upbeat and intricate.  Next, Colaars is a DIY math/dance rock band from Kiev, Ukraine, ground zero for the 1986 Chernoybol nuclear meltdown that ultimately killed hundreds of people and remains to this day the world’s worst nuclear accident. The band’s debut EP, Wood Arsenal, dropped this week.

“Bloodvessels”Juba from Juba

“Wood Arsenal”Colaars from Wood Arsenal EP

Charleston Indie ‘Croon Rock’ Band Drop Debut LP

Elim Bolt is an “indie croon rock” band from Charleston, South Carolina that formed in 2011 and were quickly signed to Hearts & Plugs, a small indie label in Charleston. Gotta admit: we’ve never heard of ‘indie croon rock’ before, but we’re willing to roll with it and see what listeners think. Elim Bolt’s musical influences include Arcade Fire, Roy Orbison, Deerhunter, and Elvis Presley. That’s an interesting variety of favorite artists, and it shows in their sound. Nude South is the band’s debut release, dropped earlier this week. The album is inspired by the small-town southern upbringing of singer/songwriter Johnnie Matthews “filtered through the love, sex, and drugs found in his adopted city life.”

“Farm Kid” – Elim Bolt from Nude South

“Only You” – Elim Bolt from Nude South

Other Singles This Week: Pretty & Nice, Boots of Danger’s RAC Mix of TPC; Vitalic and Neil Nathan Inc.

The indie pop band, Pretty & Nice, dropped an EP this week, which includes the cheeky twee pop track, “Capsules.” Also, listen to Boots of Danger’s RAC mix of Tokyo Police Club‘s “Wait Up,” as well as the original from TPC’s stellar 2010 album, Champ. Vitalic goes hardcore techno on the track “Stamina” followed by the southern rocker, “Sweep The Nation,” the title track from Neil Nathan Inc.’s self-released new album.

“Capsules” – Pretty & Nice from Us You All We EP on Pledge Music

“Wait Up (Boots Of Danger RAC Mix)” – Tokyo Police Club from RAC Chapter One on RAC Records

Original Song: “Wait Up”Tokyo Police Club from Champ

“Stamina”Vitalic from Rave Age

“Sweep the Nation”Neil Nathan Inc. from Sweep the Nation (self-released)

 

Get LPs, EPs and Reissues for the Week of Nov. 6th from Amazon

AerosmithMusic From Another Dimension | CD Deluxe CD Vinyl MP3 Deluxe MP3

Ana NeverSmall Years | MP3

Tyler Daniel BeanLonging | MP3

Candy HeartsThe Best Ways to Disappear | CD Vinyl MP3

The Casket GirlsSleepwalking | CD Vinyl MP3

The Casket LotteryReal Fear | CD MP3

The ChawThe Chaw [EP] | MP3

Matt CostaSacred Hills [EP] | MP3

Crushed OutWant to Give | MP3

Jon DeRosaA Wolf in Preacher’s Clothes | CD MP3

Dirty ProjectorsAbout to Die [EP] | Vinyl MP3

Mike DoughtyThe Flip Is Another Honey | CD MP3

EmeraldsJust to Feel Anything | CD Vinyl MP3

The EpiloguesCinematics | CD Vinyl MP3

ErrorsNew Relic | CD MP3

FearThe Fear Record | CD Vinyl MP3

B. FleischmannI’m Not Ready For the Grave Yet | CD Vinyl MP3

GraveyardLights Out | CD Vinyl

Great Lakes USALive Fast, Die Whenever | MP3

Holy ShitYou Made My Dreams Come True [EP] | Vinyl MP3

IsisTemporal | CD Vinyl MP3

Joshua JamesFrom the Top of Willamette Mountain | CD Vinyl MP3

Paul KellySpring and Fall | CD MP3

Habib Koité & Eric BibbBrothers in Bamako | CD MP3

LindstrømSmalhans | CD Vinyl MP3

Log Across the WasherThe Season Opener Against Ohio | MP3

Calvin LoveNew Radar | Vinyl MP3

Jo MangoMurmuration | MP3

Maus HausLight Noise | CD MP3

Motion City SoundtrackMaking Moves [EP] | Vinyl MP3

Mouse on MarsWow | CD Vinyl MP3

The Murder BarnGotta Good Man [EP] | MP3

Ne-YoR.E.D. | CD Deluxe CD MP3 Deluxe MP3

Night MovesColored Emotions | CD Vinyl MP3

Non / Boyd RiceBack to Mono | CD Vinyl MP3

O’BrotherBasement Window [EP] | Vinyl MP3

O.K. PressWe Killed Disco [EP] | MP3

Pretty & NiceUs You All We | MP3

Prince RamaTop Ten Hits of the End of the World | CD Vinyl MP3

Slim TwigA Hound at the Hem | MP3

Andy StottLuxury Problems | CD Vinyl MP3

Sylver TongueSomething Big [EP] | MP3

Team GeniusNew York Songs | MP3

Teen DazeThe Inner Mansions | MP3

ToyToy | CD Vinyl MP3

Troubled CoastAwake and Empty | CD Vinyl MP3

VitalicRave Age | Vinyl MP3

Dionne WarwickNow | CD MP3

Brian WhelanDecider | CD MP3

Listen to Top 10 Songs for October, and the weekly Top 10 Songs, are in.