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New Music Friday: Arcade Fire, Alice Cooper and more
Here are our highlights from today's album release schedule.
New Music Friday is the new release fix you need! We’ve been listening to Arcade Fire, Alice Cooper, Manchester Orchestra and more.
What’s even better about New Music Friday is that you can listen to a lot of the new music live. We’ve also found a few artists who’ve got new records out and are about to take them on tour. Double win!
RELEASE OF THE WEEK: Arcade Fire – Everything Now
Canadian indie rockers Arcade Fire kick off our New Music Friday with their first record in four years: Everything Now. The album delivers a pop-heavy delight to the ears. The title track forms the masterpiece of the record and talks about the constant information overload we are bombarded with. But the cheerful piano melodies make it boast with optimism. After two intimate shows in London a few weeks ago, the band is now embarking on a three-date arena tour in April next year. [Tickets] [Buy the record]
Alice Cooper – Paranormal
With 27 records under his belt and almost 50 years into his career, Alice Cooper has no intention of stopping. His latest creation, Paranormal, sees him return with a forceful, old-school rock record that also contains six live tracks. ZZ Top’s Billy Gibson and U2 drummer Larry Mullen Jr are just a few of his old mates making a guest appearance. Head to Ticketmaster.co.uk to see him live on tour in November. [Buy the record]
Manchester Orchestra – A Black Mile To The Surface
Atlanta-based indie rockers Manchester Orchestra go above and beyond everything they’ve done before with their new record A Black Mile To The Surface. Its gorgeous melodies and crisp composition are the outcome of layers of sound. You can hear all the beauty for yourself when they come on tour this autumn with shows in Manchester, Birmingham and London. [Tickets] [Buy the record]
The Fall – New Facts Emerge
New Facts Emerge is the newest album by post-punk veterans The Fall. Their 32nd record is everything old-school British punk should be, and with Smith’s fleeting enunciation and sounds of banging on empty pint glasses, it adds to that feel of a small Manchester venue in circa 1978. You can see the band live in October and November. [Tickets] [Buy the record]
Cage the Elephant – Unpeeled
Cage The Elephant also have new music for you today with their Unpeeled. The 21-track record is compiled of recordings from a series of intimate shows in cities across the US where they performed with a string quartet and additional percussion. “Many times you’re adding sonic layers looking for something to hide behind, and what you don’t realize is that that vulnerability and that nakedness might be the most compelling and interesting thing about the song,” says lead singer Matt Shultz. [Buy the record]
Joywave –Content
The follow up to Joywave‘s 2015 debut album is out today. Heavy drums and haunting keyboards are at the core of Content. However, the band doesn’t shy away from mixing styles and sounds on his record and deliver something full of brilliantly executed ideas.
Madchild – The Darkest Hour
Canadian rapper Madchild has his fourth studio album out today. The Darkest Hour marks the follow up to 2015’s Silver Tongue Devil and was produced with American MC/producer Michael Taylor Perretta (aka Evidence). About the album Madchild says, “Last year was a tough year for me. The three years before that were an amazing ride, but last year was a difficult ride. I disappointed myself with a couple things. I don’t speak on those topics but you can feel the reflections of that time on the album. There’s moments of vulnerability and real honesty around the darkness on it. Then there’s some tracks where it’s just all about beasting out, pushing myself with word combinations.”
Passion Pit – Tremendous Sea Of Love
A decade into their career, Massachusetts indietronica band Passion Pit release their fourth studio album Tremendous Sea Of Love. The record offers Passion Pit’s iconic synths and major-key melodies, along with Michael Angelakos’ airy vocals.
Vic Mensa – The Autobiography
Chicago rapper Vic Mensa gets intensely personal on his full-length debut creation, fittingly titled The Autobiography. About the album he says, “There were certain things I was able to tap into on this album that I had never really been able to vocalize”. With its dark stories about loss, drugs and broken relationships is a hip-hop record that is cementing Mensa’s place in the genre. [Buy the record]
Milk Teeth – Be Nice (EP)
New alt-rock comes to you courtesy of Milk Teeth and their new EP this week. After releasing their debut album Vile Child just last year, the band now share four tracks that could become the soundtrack of your summer. Catchy tunes and sassy punk themes are the order of the day, leaving you hitting repeat over and over. [Tickets] [Buy the record]
10cc – Before During After (boxset)
English rock icons 10cc have released their career-spanning boxset today. The four-disc treat marks the first complete collection of the four-piece: During covers the best of 10cc 1972 – 1978; After shows what the band did next; and two discs, entitled Before: The Strawberry Hit Factory and Before: The Early Years, cover the rest of the band’s legacy. You can catch Graham Gouldman on tour across the UK this autumn. [Tickets] [Buy the record]
Check back next Friday for more new releases.
