Here’s a list of major new releases for the week of August 18, 2017.  Please feel free to request reviews for any of the following albums from staff or contributors.  As our staff post reviews of these albums, links will appear below the art work so that you can read about the release, see how we scored it, and more.

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–Featured Release: Steven Wilson – “To The Bone”–

Genre: Progressive Rock/Experimental/Psychedelic // Label: Caroline International

Background:

Steven Wilson is among the most consistent artists and producers in the progressive rock scene.  Having worked with Opeth extensively, and not to mention spearheading his own successful outfit in Porcupine Tree, Wilson’s most impressive feats may have actually come on the solo front.  To The Bone marks his fifth full-length solo LP, coming on the heels of 2015’s Hand. Cannot. Erase and 2013’s The Raven That Refused to Sing (And Other Stories).  To The Bone is, thematically, a grave look at modern times – however, it is also a nod to the musical influences of his youth.  Regarding To The Bone, Wilson has gone on record stating: “My fifth record is in many ways inspired by the hugely ambitious progressive pop records that I loved in my youth…I grew up listening to a lot of very smart pop records by artists like Kate Bush, Talk Talk, Peter Gabriel, Prince, Depeche Mode, Tears for Fears, The The…It struck me that there aren’t too many albums made like that these days: quite accessible on the surface, but if you choose to engage with them on a deeper level, you can find layers in the production, musicianship and some thoughtful lyrics. I wanted to try to create a modern equivalent.”

Listen to “Pariah”, below:

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–Featured Release #2: Brand New – “Science Fiction”–

Genre: Indie-Rock // Label: Procrastinate! Music Traitors

Background:

Brand New’s surprise release of their long-awaited fifth LP occurred on Thursday, 8/17.  The band secretly shipped out CD copies to the 500 people who pre-ordered their exclusive vinyl version earlier in the week.  Within hours, a user on a closed Facebook group began live streaming the experience.  Predictably, within hours, Science Fiction was leaked all over the internet.  Brand New followed this up by posting the official order page on their website.  It marks one of the more unorthodox release methods we’ve seen recently, but it all appears to have been planned.  Order the album via this link – all physical orders come with an automatic digital download.

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– Full List of Releases: August 18, 2017 –

A$AP Ferg: Still Striving
Genre: Hip-Hop // Label: RCA Records

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Alexa Dark: Empty Drinks/Empty Hearts
Genre: Rock // Label: Alexa Dark

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Brand New: Science Fiction
Genre: Indie-Rock // Label: Procrastinate! Music Traitors

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Cold Black: Circles
Genre: Alternative Rock // Label: Artery Recordings

Stream Elastic here.

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Eluveitie: Evocation II: Pantheon
Genre: Folk/Melodic Death Metal // Label: Nuclear Blast

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End Of Green: Void Estate
Genre: Metal/Rock/Gothic // Label: Napalm Records

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Everything Everything: Fever Dream
Genre: Indie Pop/Rock, Experimental // Label: RCA

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Gang of Youths: Go Farther
Genre: Indie/Alternative Rock, Folk-Punk // Label: Sony Music Entertainment

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Ghostpoet: Dark Days & Canapés
Genre: Hip-Hop/Downtempo/Alt-Rock// Label: Play It Again Sam

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Grizzly Bear: Painted Ruins 
Genre: Indie-Folk/Rock, Psychedelic// Label: RCA Records

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The Kills: Echo Home Non-Electric EP
Genre: Indie/Alternative Rock // Label: Domino Recording Co

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KMFDM: Hell Yeah
Genre: Industrial/Metal/Electronic // Label: earMUSIC

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Loretta Lynn: Wouldn’t It Be Great
Genre: Country // Label: New West Records

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Mozzy: 1 Up Top Ahk
Genre: Rap/Hip-Hop // Label: Mozzy Records

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Phora: Yours Truly Forever 
Genre: Rap/Hip-Hop // Label: Warner Bros

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Rainer Maria: S/T
Genre: Emo/Indie-Rock/Post-Punk // Label: Polyvinyl Records

Stream S/T here.

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Ray Wylie Hubbard: Tell The Devil I’m Gettin’ There As Fast As I Can
Genre: Blues/Country // Label: Bordello Records

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Shelby Lynne & Allison Moorer: Not Dark Yet
Genre: Folk/Pop/Singer-Songwriter // Label: Silver Cross Records

Stream Not Dark Yet here.

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Steven Wilson: To The Bone
Genre: Progressive Rock/Experimental/Psychedelic // Label: Caroline International

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Thy Art is Murder: Dear Desolation
Genre: Death Metal/Metalcore // Label: Nuclear Blast

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UNKLE: The Road Part 1
Genre: Trip-Hop/Electronic/Hip-Hop // Label: Cooking Vinyl

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