For every bad album we get sent to the station, we get a whole bunch of good records that are more than worth the attention from your ears. From chiptune fueled pop-punk to mind warping electronic excursions, here are some the best new arrivals that really made our music staff get into extreme sports this week.
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Crying – Get Olde / Second Wind
Put together retro video game sound effects, pop punk guitar hooks and lyrics describing the bittersweet nature of societal pressures & growing up and you’ve got awesome Purchase, NY group Crying. Pairing the ecstatic sounds of Gameboy-driven melodies with the jaded lyrics from frontwoman Elaiza Santos makes for an essential listening experience for college-aged youth with video game childhoods.
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Celestial Shore – Enter Ghost
Whimsical yet serious, Celestial Shore’s second album Enter Ghost sounds like an honest tribute to indie rock from the mid-00s by delving into realms of post punk and math rock, while keeping an accessible air of fun, catchy rock ‘n’ roll. With a simple formula of drums + bass + guitar + vocals, Celestial Shore evades the usual traps that indie rock bands fall into and achieve a fantastic record.
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Arca – Xen
Venezuelan beat producer Arca has made a name for himself over the past two years by creating demented electronic beats that sounds like trap beats injected with some sort of alien serum, making them totally unlike anything else in the game right now. On his debut album, Arca uses these disturbing, yet familiar textures to carry listeners on a dark wonderland of unimaginable sounds and images.
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TV On The Radio – Seeds
Legacy indie rock group TV On The Radio return with their fifth album and is described as “their best yet” from frontman Tunde Adebimpe. It’s also their first record since their bassist, Gerard Smith, passed away in 2011. It’s an honest emotional release from the band and it shows through the tight songwriting and dynamic performance from the band.
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King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard – I’m In Your Mind Fuzz
Awesome Australian garage rock group King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard have been known not only for their outrageous name, but also their incredible live performances. This band seriously lives for the rock ‘n’ roll, utilizing two drummers, three guitarists and group vocals to layer on organic psychedelic effects to the listener.