Stream Chairlift, Megadeth, And The Week's New Albums

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Now we’re back in business. This is the first release date of the year that has a full and varied roster of new albums, rather than a peppering of records here and there. Chairlift are back with a new offering of synthpop goodness, thrash titans Megadeth return for their 14th LP, and Savages have followed up their fantastic debut with another blistering round of post-punk. And in addition to that, we’ve got new stuff from Tank, Ty Segall, The Besnard Lakes, Shearwater, Eleanor Friedberger and many more. Here are the albums you need to hear this week.

Chairlift – Moth

Brooklyn synthpoppers Chairlift have taken somewhat of a circuitous route to their third album, Moth, their first in four years. In the time in between records, singer Caroline Polachek released a pretty great solo effort, and the two even wrote a song for Beyoncé on her now legendary self-titled album. But now the group is back together and haven’t lost a step.

Moth is a kinetic record that never really loosens its grip on you. Polachek’s echoed voice over the unrelenting beats and guitars on tracks like “Romeo” and “Ch-Ching” will stay with you for a while.

Megadeth – Dystopia

When Dave Mustaine started to record Dystopia, it was in immediate response to the passing of his fellow metal king, Jeff Hanneman of Slayer. Initially, the album was going to harken back to classics like Rust In Peace and Countdown To Extinction, but following the departure of some key band members, Mustaine decided to go a different direction.

But don’t be fooled, this album is probably the most faithful to the thrash we came to know and love from Megadeth since the ’90s. Much has been said about Mustaine’s political bend as of late (and a little of that is seeping into his lyrics now), but musically, he’s found a plateau he hasn’t reached in a good while.

Savages – Adore Life

2013’s Silence Yourself seemingly emerged from out of nowhere to punch listeners square in the face with noisy, raucous punk. The album’s first track, “Shut Up,” set the immediate tone with how things were going to go with the no-nonsense band. Three years later, Savages have returned with their follow-up in Adore Life.

This time around, the band is embracing more of the “post” part of the post-punk label that has been ascribed to them, with an emphasis on darker tones, heavy bass licks, and cavernous vocals.