Five New Music Releases Announced This Week
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Now that anyone with a laptop and an internet connection can create and share their music from the comforts of their own home, there’s anything but a shortage of music available for listening. However, this week has felt especially hectic for new music release announcements. A plethora of musicians ranging from mainstream stars to indie icons have all announced albums and EPs this week, so here’s a list of five new music releases announced this week, in chronological order of release date.
Lil Nas X, 7
(June 21, Columbia)
The musician behind the viral sensation and Billboard #1 single “Old Town Road” announced his debut EP only six days before its release. Although 7 isn’t a full-length album, it follows a debut single that has achieved successes that most artists can only dream of for their first song, so it has the potential to do for Lil Nas X what albums tend to for other artists: act as the make-or-break points of their careers.
Maxo Kream, Brandon Banks
(July 19, Big Persona/88 Classic/RCA)
Houston rapper Maxo Kream has spent the past four years delivering mixtapes through which he’s become a favorite with both critics and listeners. Kream has just announced his major-label debut, Brandon Banks, named for an alias his father used. Kream says the album is about how his dad, despite his flaws, was ultimately a great father. Household names such as Travis Scott and rapidly rising hip-hop stars such as Megan Thee Stallion will contribute guest verses.
Frankie Cosmos, Close It Quietly
(September 6, Sub Pop)
Frankie Cosmos is capable of churning out albums at a rapid clip. The band, led by Greta Kline (the daughter of actors Kevin Kline and Phoebe Cates), released an album called Vessel in spring 2018. On September 6th, the band will follow Vessel with Close It Quietly, which will be the group’s second album for legendary indie label Sub Pop. Close It Quietly was co-produced by Gabe Wax, who has co-produced many of recent years’ most beloved albums, including Fleet Foxes’ Crack-Up, Soccer Mommy’s Clean, and The War on Drugs’ A Deeper Understanding.
Devendra Banhart, Ma
(September 13, Nonesuch)
Devendra Banhart has long been a leader of the freak-folk movement, especially following his revered 2004 album Rejoicing in the Hands. Ma, out September 13th on Nonesuch, is Banhart’s tenth album to date. Alongside the album’s announcement, Banhart released a music video for the track “Kantori Ongaku” in which he asks viewers to donate to the I Love Venezuela Foundation. Banhart was raised in Venezuela, which has seen strife in recent months.
Chelsea Wolfe, Birth of Violence
(September 13, Sargent House)
Chelsea Wolfe has spent the decade uniting fans of heavy metal, Gothic music, and folk music under one unexpected roof. Birth of Violence will be her sixth album, and Wolfe will support it with an acoustic tour on which the musician Ioanna Gika will accompany her. Wolfe says that Birth of Violence stems from time spent static, rather than constantly touring and on the road as her music career has demanded of her this decade.
What music release announcements this week have excited you? Share them in the comments!