NEW ALBUMS
ANDREW BELLE – NIGHTSHADE
After releasing 2 EPs and an LP (2010’s The Ladder), Andrew Belle felt limited by acoustic indie-folk, and pivoted to dreamy pop music in the vein of M83, Beach House and Washed Out. If you’re familiar with those influences, Andrew Belle’s 2013’s Black Bear and 2017’s Dive Deep, and brand new album Nightshade are worth checking out.
Stream • self-released • 2021
BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME – COLORS II
Progressive metal group Between the Buried and Me have followed up a sequel album (2018’s Automata II) with a sequel to their classic Colors LP from 2007.
Talking to Guitar World, vocalist Tommy Giles Rogers Jr. said of Colors II:
“…we decided to just be ourselves and write the best album we can. We came out guns blazing, and I feel like it’s some of our most creative material in a long time.”
Stream • Sumerian • 2021
DEAFHEAVEN – INFINITE GRANITE
Whether or not Deafheaven have left black metal shoegaze behind, remains to be seen. Perhaps new album, Infinite Granite, is just an experimental detour. But what’s certain, is Infinite Granite is beautiful, stunning, and will likely expand the band’s fanbase.
Stream • Sargent House • 2021
DAVID DUCHOVNY – GESTURELAND
In case you were unaware, actor David Duchovny also fancies himself a singer. The brand new Gestureland is his third album since 2015.
Stream • Westbound Kyd • 2021
MEGADETH – UNPLUGGED IN BOSTON
For years, bootleg recordings of Megadeth‘s 2001 unplugged concert in Boston have been among the most highly-sought items in the rock world.
In July, the band revealed plans to officially release the 20-year-old recording as an album called Unplugged in Boston.
Stream • Cleopatra Records • 2021
JD PINKUS – FUNGUS SHUI
Butthole Surfers / Melvins bassist, JD Pinkus has returned with his second album of psychedelic banjo music, which he refers to as “spacegrass”.
Stream • Shimmy-Disc/Joyful Noise • 2021
STURGILL SIMPSON – THE BALLAD OF DOOD & JUANITA
This may be the end. During a 2014 appearance on the Joe Rogan Experience, Sturgill Simpson said he planned to release only five albums. Not including 2020’s Cuttin’ Grass Vol. 1 & 2, which featured bluegrass re-recordings from his catalog; The Ballad of Dood & Juanita closes his planned narrative.
It is album number five after 2013’s High Top Mountain, 2014’s Metamodern Sounds in Country Music, 2016’s A Sailor’s Guide to Earth (Grammy winner for Best Country Album), and 2019’s Sound & Fury (Grammy nominee for Best Rock Album).
Stream • Thirty Tigers • 2021
SWITCHFOOT – INTERROBANG
Fourteen-time GMA Dove Award winners, Switchfoot continue to crank out the albums.
The San Diego five-piece have delivered album #12, entitled interrobang. Which, in the simplest terms, means “question mark/exclamation point”. Soft of.
Stream • Fantasy Records • 2021