Here’s a list of major new releases for the week of February 9, 2018. 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.
Featured Release
Son Lux: Brighter Wounds
Genre: Trip-Hop/Electronic // Label: City Slang
Background:
New York City composer Ryan Lott returns with his 5th full-length LP. The album is available to stream in full courtesy of NPR, or you can simply check out the lead single “Dream State”, below.
“Dream State”:
– Full List of Releases: February 9, 2018 –
The Atlas Moth: Coma Noir
Genre: Sludge Metal // Label: Prosthetic
Long Island alt-rock/indie outfit The Republic of Wolves have made new details available surrounding their upcoming third LP, shrine. The record now has an official release date of March 27, 2018, and will feature the below artwork and tracklist. There will be three bonus tracks on the album as well, with titles that are as-of-yet TBD:
01. The Canyon 02. Bask 03. Sundials 04. Birdless Cage 05. Mitama 06. Dialogues 07. Northern Orthodox 08. Colored Out 09. Ore 10. Worry If You Want (Yume)
Two of the songs from the above tracklist have already been released. “Mitama” and “Northern Orthodox” can be heard here. A version of “Birdless Cage” was also created for NPR’s Tiny Desk Contest, although it allegedly differs from the version that will appear on shrine.
“Mitama“
“Northern Orthodox“
Additionally, for those who haven’t been following the most recent developments, the group has also been releasing studio updates regarding the album. These installments can be viewed below:
It’s with hearty congratulations that we welcome three new staff members to our team today!
Without further ado, please welcome Frippertronics, ScuroFantasma, and Verdant to the list of professional writers here at Sputnikmusic.com. These users have displayed exceptional skills, and now you’ll get to read their review summaries on Metacritic. Stay sharp, fellas!
Also, it is time to usher in a new litter of contributors – all of whom have given us reason to look towards the future with optimism:
We’d like to take this time to thank everyone who applied. It was a really tight decision for some, so if you think you should have been promoted, you’re probably right. There will almost certainly be a fabled “ghost” round, and perhaps sooner than you think! Keep your nose to the grindstone.
Here’s a list of major new releases for the week of February 2, 2018. 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.
Justin Timberlake: Man of the Woods
Genre: Pop/R&B // Label: RCA
Background:
For many, The 20/20 Experience was one of the best pop albums in recent memory. It would be a tough act to follow, but that doesn’t appear to be the aim for Man of the Woods. A preliminary trailer advertising the record hinted towards a folksy, electronic venture not all that dissimilar from the works of Justin Vernon. While those expectations haven’t exactly been mirrored by the singles released so far, it’s a 16-track album – so there’s plenty of room for JT’s 5th LP to either follow the “personal” path described, or to become a haphazard mix of electronica, pop, and middling attempts at an experimental folk album. I guess we’ll see.
“Man of the Woods” Trailer:
– Full List of Releases: February 2, 2018 –
AWOLNATION: Here Come The Runts
Genre: Electronic/Indie-Pop // Label: Red Bull Records
Here’s a list of major new releases for the week of January 26, 2018. 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.
As you also may have already seen, we are currently accepting applications for the roles of staff reviewer and contributing reviewer. If you think you have what it takes, apply here. The tentative deadline is this Sunday, 1/28.
– Full List of Releases: January 26, 2018 –
Calexico: The Thread That Keeps Us
Genre: Country/Americana/Folk // Label: Anti/Epitaph
Here’s a list of major new releases for the week of January 19, 2018. 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.
Belle & Sebastian: How To Solve Our Human Problems Pt. 2
Genre: Indie-Pop/Rock // Label: Matador
Background:
The second in a three-part EP series, How To Solve Our Human Problems Pt. 2 will look to expand upon the sleek indie-pop/electronic offering of the first installment. The band arguably reached a handful of personal heights on Pt. 1, especially creatively and in terms of production value, so there is reason to anticipate continued excellence throughout the trilogy. You can hear the lead single from Pt. 2 below.
“I’ll be Your Pilot”:
– Full List of Releases: January 19, 2018 –
A Grave with No Name: Passover
Genre: Indie-Folk // Label: LForged Artifacts
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Arkona: Khram
Genre: Black Metal // Label: Napalm
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Bahamas: Earthtones
Genre: Alternative Rock // Label: Brushfire/Universal
Let’s just forget for a moment that the Collector’s Edition of DAMN. ever happened. OK, is it out of your minds? Good. Now let’s also for a moment ignore the nearly invisible thread of a thematic composition, as it’s really the drops of blood that fall from Kendrick’s mouth throughout the record that help illuminate this thin string. It’s true, Kendrick embraces his own death and almost enjoys the metallic taste that society has caused to pool in his mouth. And damn if he doesn’t lash out right away with “DNA.”, easily the banger of the year solidified by the fervent extra verse that ends the track with silent mouths agape. Despite “HUMBLE.” also taking from the leftover rush of endorphins, Kendrick decides to expand off of his jazz rap endeavor, this time with a rosy filter of R&B rap and laid-back vibes. “ELEMENT.” is the front-runner when it comes to such a trial, with Rihanna-featured “LOYALTY.” coming close behind. While not every love-drenched track succeeds quite as much as the two, it’s hard to argue against this next logical step in Kendrick’s style and sound.
I’ll be completely honest, though, I’m not the biggest fan of this album as a whole. Don’t get me wrong, the product in its entirety is put together quite nicely, nonetheless tacked on with some buttons of…
While not necessarily offering much in new material, The Wonder Years manage to affirm their intentions with this emotionally wrought collection of beautifully arranged acoustic renditions of previous material. Dan Campbell’s vocals ring as self-assured and vibrant as ever, and the band’s instrumentation adds many more colors to the pallet already established by the track listing. The production is intimate and the emotional tension is high on Burst and Decay, and The Wonder Years managed to create a nice batch of acoustic arrangements that arguably outshine their original renditions. –ianblxdsoe
Baseball is my favorite sport, so when it comes to the end of the year and evaluating its yield, I like the idea of tidying up my thoughts in terms of individual contributions. For a team sport, baseball’s modern era permits (nay, encourages) an insane degree of focus on individual performance and contributions (and there is a litany of statistics to this effect). It’s a weird analogue to draw, for sure, but it is super clear to me that Charli XCX is the 2017 MVP. Like DAMN, talk about output… there were the twin mixtapes (this one, as well as Pop2, both of…
Here’s a list of major new releases for the week of January 12, 2018. 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.
Camila Cabello: Camila
Genre: Pop // Label: Syco/Epic
Background:
Leaving Fifth Harmony to pursue a solo career, Camila Cabello has found early success with her chart-topping ‘Havana.’ Camila may not be the most riveting album to kick off our 2018, but it’s sure to be a talked about (and almost certainly overplayed) pop outing that could set Ms. Cabello up for a a lot of mainstream success in the coming years. As a debut, Camila already appears to be positioned as one of 2018’s biggest pop albums. If you’ve managed to live under a rock for the last several months, you can hear her extremely successful single below.
“Havana”:
– Full List of Releases: January 12, 2018 –
Anderson East: Encore
Genre: Country/Americana/Soul // Label: Low Country Sound/Elektra
It feels weird to be kicking off our best of the year list with async. After all, the opener “Andata” is the sort of song associated with endings; it’s a funeral dirge, a reflection of where Sakamoto’s mind was no doubt wandering during his three year battle with cancer. Perhaps this fear of death also led to the common day sounds present throughout async. The first words spoken on the album (“Because we don’t know when we will die, we get to think of life as an inexhaustible well. Yet everything happens only a certain number of times”) is the sentiment that I think sums up the importance of these sounds we take for granted, yet may never hear again. “Walker”, for example, features the sound of grass crunched underfoot and the background noise of a town or city in the distance, provoking the sort of quiet contemplation that no doubt Sakamoto experienced while crafting async. But if most of async is the quiet reflection that comes with the reminder of one’s mortality, then the title track is the sweating painful fear that comes with all the pangs and doubts as to whether remission will come. And for that complex duality, I think async deserves a spot here. –Mort.
So I have a lofty new years resolution for 2018 in music, and it’s one that my track record of consuming mainstream pop and thriving on the hyperbole of big-name indie-rock releases suggests that I’ll be unable to deliver upon. Regardless, I remain focused and intent on exposing only new/underground artists this year, particularly of the indie/folk/electronic variety. I’ve spent the better part of 9 years on this site covering artists who, for the most part, don’t need reviews from someone like me on a site like this. Sure, there have been your Astronauts, Tigers on Trains, et al sprinkled in – but now I’d like to make that my primary focus. I guess klap will have to review Taylor Swift every time from now on.
In light of this newfound direction in life (on Sputnik), I’d like to make this a somewhat regular blog. I realize that it borrows a lot of ideas (the name hype machine for starters, but Sowing’s Hype Corner just makes me want to punch myself), but it’s the best I can do for now. For each installment I’ll highlight three upcoming records that are not necessarily on most people’s radars, and then offer a quick synopsis, a sample track, and a “hype rating” that I shamelessly borrowed from Has It Leaked. Not that I’ve ever downloaded leaked music.
So enjoy, and hopefully this is the first of many beautiful unveilings that will help to bring hard working, “starving” artists into the sput-light. Look for…
If you’re anything like me, you’re probably done by now with the same tired-sounding retreads of Christmas classics. That’s why, like Rudolph, I’m here to save the holiday with alternative versions of the tunes we all know and love (and a few originals). This is just a brief 10-track, 35 minute collection that I spin every holiday season to help get me into the spirit and shake the radio-staples (although a couple of these may still get extended airtime, I don’t know) — I figured I might as well share it. Most of these you’re probably already aware of but for a long time I had no idea that Anberlin and The Shins made any Christmas songs, so hopefully you find something below that you enjoy. This is definitely not an exhaustive list of alt-rock/pop-ish holiday tunes, which is why I invite you to leave your favorite Christmas cover in the comments below. Merry Christmas, Sputnik (and happy holidays across the board)!
Since its launch in January 2005, Sputnikmusic has been a site where metal heads and indie-rockers alike have flocked to discuss, review, and share their love for music. Over the course of twelve years, some records have attained a certain sense of lore; this widespread recognition as what we often refer to as “sputnik albums.” These are albums that thousands of users have listened to and rated over the course of a decade, with the general consensus being that, even compared to annual best-of lists, have stood the test of time and earned elite recognition.
The Sputnik Hall of Fame works like this: beginning in 2017, we will evaluate the class of albums that is celebrating exactly ten years of existence. So this article is about the class of 2007. A site-wide vote was held over the course of several weeks to determine which releases would be forever enshrined into the annals of Sputnikmusic history. There are two classes of inductees: first tier and second tier. First tier hall-of-famers were within the top 3 receiving votes, while second tier hall-of-famers were within the top 6 of vote acquisitions. Our staffers worked together to celebrate and reflect upon each album via free-form discussions and debate.
Without further ado, we present to you the first ever class of inductees. Read below for the top tier.
Since its launch in January 2005, Sputnikmusic has been a site where metal heads and indie-rockers alike have flocked to discuss, review, and share their love for music. Over the course of twelve years, some records have attained a certain sense of lore; this widespread recognition as what we often refer to as “sputnik albums.” These are albums that thousands of users have listened to and rated over the course of a decade, with the general consensus being that, even compared to annual best-of lists, have stood the test of time and earned elite recognition.
The Sputnik Hall of Fame works like this: beginning in 2017, we will evaluate the class of albums that is celebrating exactly ten years of existence. So this article is about the class of 2007. A site-wide vote was held over the course of several weeks to determine which releases would be forever enshrined into the annals of Sputnikmusic history. There are two classes of inductees: first tier and second tier. First tier hall-of-famers were within the top 3 receiving votes, while second tier hall-of-famers were within the top 6 of vote acquisitions. Our staffers worked together to celebrate and reflect upon each album via free-form discussions and debate.
Without further ado, we present to you the first ever class of inductees. Read below for the second tier winners.
Here’s a list of major new releases for the week of November 3, 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.
Converge: The Dusk In Us
Genre: Metalcore/Hardcore/Punk // Label: Epitaph
Background:
It’s been five years since we’ve had new Converge, and the kings of hardcore are back to follow up their acclaimed eighth LP All We Love We Leave Behind. A band like this requires no introduction; they’ve long dominated their particular scene and The Dusk In Us will only continue to grow their legacy. For a hint of things to come later this week when the album officially drops, stream the lyric video for ‘Under Duress’ below:
“Under Duress”:
– Full List of Releases: November 3, 2017 –
Adimiron: Et Liber Eris
Genre: Death/Progressive Metal // Label: Indie Recordings
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Annihilator: For The Demented
Genre: Thrash/Progressive Metal // Label: Neverland Music
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Anti-Flag: American Fall
Genre: Punk/Hardcore // Label: Spinefarm
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AUTOBAHN: The Moral Crossing
Genre: Alternative Rock/Post-Punk // Label: felte
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Beast In Black: Berserker
Genre: Power Metal // Label: Nuclear…
![For The Demented [Explicit]](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/61TwArmhrVL._SS500.jpg)
![American Fall [Explicit]](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/61NeAGjAbSL._SS500.jpg)
![Berserker [Explicit]](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/61KHbMTnKSL._SS500.jpg)
