Every Friday, 88Nine music director Erin Wolf and Lilliput Records co-owner Tanner Musgrove tell you about the new albums you can’t miss on a new episode of On Vinyl. Check out their top picks and a list of this week’s other releases, and listen to their full conversation using the player on this page or on the 88Nine airwaves at 1 p.m. every Friday.
(Mostly) everyone loves Jack Antonoff. Why do you think he’s been such a present producer for so many artists? So when Antonoff releases an album of his own, there’s a pretty good deal of buzz behind it, y’betcha.
Even if you’re not into the buzz, everyone for ten minutes is for you if you need “anthemic, life-affirming pop rock” to bless your life right about now (and who doesn’t?). Going into a holiday weekend, we all need something to beat the doldrums and make these three days feel triumphant.
We’re also celebrating two solid decades of the beautiful indie dance pop-rock animal that is Future Islands, led by Samuel T. Herring — as much a dynamic vocalist as he is a dancer for the band’s live performances. If you want to chronicle the epoch of time from the band’s roots to branches, their new retrospective From a Hole in the Floor to a Fountain of Youth will be a delightful venture.
Speaking of ventures, Lowertown’s acoustic single “Big Thumb” is akin to a hitchhiking experience without the roadside gravel. For fans of Elliott Smith and Dirty Projectors, the Atlanta duo has broken up their acoustic sound with elements of punk and electronica for a playful vibe on their latest full-length.
Finally, if you want something that’s solidly in that punk + electronica vein, you can have both with Victoryland’s new album, My Heart Is a Room With No Cameras In It. Those two genres enable a lot of movement within the layers of instrumentation, and it’s quite the engaging listen for those who just want to put on their headphones, crank things up and shut things out.
Happy New Music Friday!
Best new albums out May 22
Bleachers, everyone for ten minutes
Described as making “anthemic, life-affirming pop rock,” Bleachers are the decade-ish old project fronted and formed by singer, songwriter, musician and producer Jack Antonoff. Since they’ve been around, the New Jersey-based band have built a pretty big fanbase, and Jack’s been busy creating a name for himself with loads of Grammy nominations for his work across projects.
Antonoff himself described this release as an “optimistic record that feels lovestruck and hopeful,” and the lead-up singles were indeed life-affirming with a little extra sweetness. Bleachers fans can find both a lilac and a transparent version of the album via Dirty Hit Record, and the band itself will land at Milwaukee’s Landmark Live on Sept. 27.
Future Islands, From a Hole in the Floor to a Fountain of Youth
The Baltimore synth-pop band picked a pretty long title for this album, but it’s warranted for something that looks back in the rearview to chronicle 20 years together.
Led by the deep-voiced Samuel T. Herring, Future Islands skyrocketed to indie fame pretty quickly and have been playing the steady game since then. On this collection, they release a pile of songs that will likely be fresh to most folks; half of them have never even appeared on streaming services and include alternate hits, rarities and fan favorites that show off their sonic palette. We’ve been fans from the start, so this will be a fun journey.
The new album comes as a double LP at your local shop with one blue and one apricot-colored vinyl. Orders from 4AD Records will also include a newspaper/zine.
Victoryland, My Heart Is A Room With No Cameras In It
The Brooklyn-based experimental indie-pop project of musician Dan Howard and Julian McCamman (formerly of the band Blood) released their debut album on digital earlier this year and are back to make another splash with this physical release. Their pop-centric, gritty, chaotic and overall fun vibe has been compared to bands like The New Pornographers and Clap Your Hands Say Yeah (if you need a little RIYL action), and you can hear for yourself by snagging this one on gray vinyl via Many Hats Records at a record shop near you.
Lowertown, Ugly Duckling Union
Formed while they were still in high school in 2018, this New York-based duo started in the Atlanta DIY scene and are now in the Big Apple as they release their third album.
Lowertown have gained pretty rapid success, signing to Dirty Hit Records and supporting acts like Wet Leg, Porches and labelmates Beabadoobee. Initially leaning folk-adjacent, the band has recently expanded their sound to bring bits of electronica and occasional punk influences to this new album, which can be found on an emerald green exclusive vinyl via Summer Shade Records at an indie record shop near you.
More of our picks
- The Deslondes, Don’t Let It Die: Vol. 1
- J. Cole, The Fall-Off
- Amyl & The Sniffers, Giddy Up / Big Attraction (10th Anniversary)
