Lest I be accused of solely focusing solely on Justin Timberlake's album, an album that everyone was likely going to listen to anyway, here's some other interesting recent releases:
The Delfonics - Adrian Younge Presents the Delfonics
Adrian Younge is a fascinating guy, something of a Renaissance man. Back in 2009 he helped edit the incredibly underrated blaxploitation send-up Black Dynamite while also handling producing duties on the film's soundtrack. An instrumentalist himself, he formed the group Venice Dawn, which released an album in 2011 titled Something About April that was primarily inspired by psychedelic soul of the 60's (for the record, both the Black Dynamite soundtrack and Something About April are totally awesome).
Sometime after this, Younge became enamored with the idea of combining early 90's RZA type hip hop production with the sweet Philadelphia Soul sound of the 70's characterized by the Delfonics. He struck up a friendship with William Hart, the Delfonics' lead singer and primary songwriter, and the two began to collaborate together.
This album is the result of that collaboration. Though I think it highly unlikely any true Delfonics fan is going to read this review, it is important to note that Younge changes the Delfonics sound fairly significantly. The Delfonics made their bones on multipart harmonies and smooth sweeping orchestral arrangements that melded 60's soul with 70's funk. This album has much sparer production, and Hart is the only member of the Delfonics to participate, so Hart's falsetto if featured far more often on this album than it was on traditional Delfonics ones.
Nevertheless, the combination of Younge and Hart produces some absolutely fantastic soul music, and Younge really is able to capture the sound of some other early 70's soul acts. Had I not been aware of it being new before listening, I would have likely placed the recording date to be sometime between 1970-1972 but by some obscure soul act I had never heard before.
Selections
Stop and Look (And You Have Found Love)
Adrian Younge – Enemies
I Can't Cry No More
Phosphorescent - Muchacho
This is simply a wonderful indie record. Phosphorescent is a project by Matthew Houck, a sometimes country, sometimes indie singer-songwriter. I had been unfamiliar with him before this album, but this one just worked for me. If I had to point out relative comparisons, I guess I would go with some kind of weird combination of Fleet Foxes, Bon Iver, and My Morning Jacket. The sound is grandiose, the lyrics are heart-felt, and the whole thing knows the right time to hit you in the heart or when to uplift your spirits. "Song for Zula" in particular is one of my favorite songs of the year thus far.
Selections
Song for Zula
Rhye - Woman
This is really interesting chill music. The album is sung by a man doing a falsetto, and at times he bears an uncanny resemblance to Sade. Yes, I understand that the phrase "uncanny resemblance to Sade" is not exactly a stunning endorsement, but while the album remains consistently subdued, it is never boring. I probably am not going to be jogging or pre-gaming to this music or anything, but a guy needs good chill-out music too.
Selections
The Fall
Suede - Bloodsports
This is Suede's first album in over a decade. You would not know it by listening to it. This is just good Britpop: big, passionate, confident and vital with plenty of catchy riffs and choruses.
(Note: you need to search for "The London Suede" on Spotify to find this album. I would have thought inventing Britpop would have been enough to get them back their original name of Suede, but apparently not.)
Selections
Barriers
Singles Section
Surfer Blood - "Demon Dance"
It's been a bit of a down year for guitar-based rock, but after hearing this new single by Surfer Blood, I have high hopes for their upcoming album. I think the song is catchy as hell, and it appears to have more of a melodic bent than Surfer Blood's previous album.
Haim - "Forever"
This song has been out for a while, but Haim hasn't yet released their debut album, so I've decided it still counts as new. Do you like to dance? This song makes me dance.
Yeah Yeah Yeahs - "Sacrilege"
Few people yelp as well as the Yeah Yeah Yeahs' Karen O yelps. This single probably sounds like how you would expect a Yeah Yeah Yeahs single to sound, which means it rocks. This is another album I'm quite looking forward to.
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