Stream Wavves, Janet Jackson, And More Of The Week's New Albums

wavves-janet-jackson-eagles-of-death-metal — Getty Image

The artists who are dropping new albums this week are fighters. They had to claw and scratch and scrap to ensure that they could finally release an album for their fans. Wavves went to battle very publicly with their label earlier this year, and Janet Jackson has been fighting for proper promotion ever since the dusk side of Nipplegate. But now they’ve made it to the other side with great new albums. We’ve also got ass-kicking shredding from Eagles of Death Metal, the absurd Meow the Jewels (for a great cause, though), the soaring and brutal new one from Deafheaven, and more.

Here are the new albums you need to hear this week.

Wavves – V

For album No. 5, Nathan Williams and company are back for perhaps their most focused effort yet. The youthfulness and restlessness is still all there. They haven’t gotten too cool or too old; it’s simply stronger than it has ever been. Like a teen realizing that his wispy mustache isn’t doing him any favors, even if it was disarming in a way. “Flamezesz” and “Way Too Much” are both fantastic examples of this, taking what they’ve always done well and making it tighter and better.

Eagles of Death Metal – Zipper Down

While Josh Homme and Jesse Hughes haven’t linked up for an Eagles of Death Metal album in seven years (Homme is probably the second busiest man in rock music aside from his buddy Dave Grohl), they haven’t missed a beat on Zipper Down. Despite the imposing sounding name, the group gives the two the opportunity to let loose and goof on whatever they feel their target should be, whether it’s skewering L.A. hipsters (“Silverlake”) or their own libidos (too many songs to name). Either way, it’s a fun, garage rock romp that any fan of the band or Homme should check out.

Janet Jackson – Unbreakable

There are fewer fandoms more dedicated to an artist than Janet Jackson’s. As a part of the most famous musical family of all-time, Janet has often been a fighter for space and equal time. But following her blacklisting after the Super Bowl incident, she finally found herself outmatched. However, her most fervent supporters stuck by her, and now they’ve been rewarded with her first new effort in seven years, Unbreakable. And for such an effort, she’s really kept her foot on the gas with guest appearances from J. Cole and Missy Elliott and production throughout from her personal hit squad of Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. It’s a dumb question to ask if Janet Jackson is back; she never went away. But Unbreakable shows she’s always been more than capable of delivering pop greatness, despite how the industry may have treated her.