Despite those rumors about a certain reclusive artist’s release being untrue, this week has an exceptional roster for new albums. The Lonely Island return to the big screen and your favorite music streaming app with Popstar, Tegan and Sara are back with another round of synthpop greatness, and The Kills have a new set of rockers from the garage. Plus, there’s new material from Juicy J & Wiz Khalifa, Paul Simon, newcomers Whitney, and many more. Here are the albums you need to hear this week.
The Lonely Island – Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping Soundtrack
When The Lonely Island released The Wack Album in 2013, it almost felt like the closing of a book for the group. Having left SNL and all gone into different projects, the rap group wasn’t broken up by any means, but the future was a bit uncertain. Then, we saw the trailer for Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping and knew we were in safe hands.
The mockumentary follows Conner4Real as a universally-adored yet unbelivably oblivious pop god, which makes for such rich soil for music parodies. From what has been released so far in “I’m So Humble” and “Finest Girl (Bin Laden),” we’re definitely in for another set of songs that are far too good for how silly they are. It’s a rare air only a select few can breach, and The Lonely Island are one of the very few who can reach it.
Tegan and Sara – Love You to Death
Sister duo Tegan and Sara Quin have been performing for the better part of two decades now with their tandem brand of indie rock, but in 2012, they decided to switch things up and embrace the electronic side of things on Heartthrob. That decision resulted in their biggest hit ever, “Closer” (not counting “Everything Is Awesome” from The Lego Movie featuring, of all people, The Lonely Island), and they decided to double down on that sound on their follow up.
Love You to Death is led by “Boyfriend,” a synthpop banger co-written by earworm specialist Greg Kurstin, which was inspired by Sara Quin seeing a woman who couldn’t decide between the indie star and the guy she was seeing. Kurstin is found as a co-writer and producer throughout this indie pop gem with heartfelt stories and incredible hooks.
The Kills – Ash & Ice
The Kills have to be admired as one of the last bastions of the post punk revival still standing. The garage rock duo have endured a constantly shifting and moving musical landscape since the early ’00s and managed to sound fresh all the while. Ash & Ice is the group’s fifth record and their latest effort has more bite than ever, with first single “Doing it to Death” leading the way. Lead singer Alison Mosshart roars over sleazy guitars and pulsing drum machines. It’s crazy to think how long The Kills have been at it and how urgent their sound remains.
Here are the rest of the week’s new releases
Juicy J & Wiz Khalifa – Rude Awakening
Vic Mensa – There’s Alot Going On
Ladyhawke – Wild Things
Paul Simon – Stranger to Stranger
Jim Jones – The Kitchen
Whitney – Light Upon the Lake
Speedy Ortiz – Foiled Again EP
Classixx – Faraway Reach
Melvins – Basses Loaded
The Claypool Lennon Delirium – Monolith of Phobos
Fear of Men – Fall Forever
Cassadee Pope – Summer EP
