Crucial Releases: First three weeks of May

The word...

Well, that accumulated quickly.

The May 1st release day featured a lot of OK albums – nothing that really grabbed me, despite listening to a lot of music. Some was pretty good, though… so there are around 7 releases from that day down below.

Then we hit May 8th, which featured a LOT of music… so sifting through that took up until May 14. Thankfully, there were a couple great releases in Aldous Harding, Broken Social Scene, and Basement – in addition to the five honorable mentions below.

That brings us to today. The May 15th release day which was thankfully a little light on things that interested me. I really like the new Rostam album and there are a couple of really solid releases below, from Kevin Morby and Mad Honey. Both worth your time if they sound interesting.

So, you know the drill. Lots of music to catch up on… headphones on and get to work!

I hope you enjoy.

Honorable Mentions

This month also had many excellent releases worth exploring. Stay tuned for more discoveries.

Johnny’s Dreamworld by Modern Woman

💿 Released: 1 May on One Little Independent Records
🤘 FFO: Dry Cleaning, caroline, angular avant rock
🎧 Your first song: “Blessed Day”
💰 Support: Bandcamp

Hoopla by Weird Nightmare

💿 Released: 1 May on Sub Pop Records
🤘 FFO: jangly power pop, Ratboys, Metz
🎧 Your first song: “Might See You There”
💰 Support: Bandcamp

I’m People by Hiss Golden Messenger

💿 Released: 1 May on Chrysalis Records
🤘 FFO: indie folk, Kevin Morby, Bonny Light Horseman, Fruit Bats, Kurt Vile
🎧 Your first song: “In the Middle of It”
💰 Support: Bandcamp

It’s Been Awful by Isaiah Rashad

💿 Released: 1 May on TDE
🤘 FFO: Kendrick, JID, Bas, Joey Bada$$, Vince Staples, Saba
🎧 Your first song: “M.O.M.”
💰 Support: Official

Maitreya Corso by Maya Hawke

💿 Released: 1 May on Mom+Pop Records
🤘 FFO: Samia, Faye Webster, Jesca Hoop, Julia Jacklin, Feist
🎧 Your first song: “Lioness”
💰 Support: Bandcamp

Long Wave Home by Jesca Hoop

💿 Released: 1 May on Last Laugh
🤘 FFO: alt folk, Aldous Harding, This is the Kit, Joni Mitchell, Vashti Bunyan
🎧 Your first song: “Now the Ash”
💰 Support: Bandcamp

From Takoma With Love by Oddisee and Heno.

💿 Released: 1 May on Outer Note Label
🤘 FFO: underground/alt hip hop, eLZhi, 9th Wonder, Blu
🎧 Your first song: “MIMS”
💰 Support: Bandcamp

Barely Here by Koyo

💿 Released: 8 May on Pure Noise Records
🤘 FFO: hardcore punk/emo, One Step Closer, Anxious, Fiddlehead
🎧 Your first song: “Barely Here”
💰 Support: Bandcamp

Born to Kill by Social Distortion

💿 Released: 8 May on Epitaph
🤘 FFO: uhhhhh, 40+ years of releasing punk music!
🎧 Your first song: “Tonight”
💰 Support: Official

Time Under Tension by War on Women

💿 Released: 8 May on Smartpunk
🤘 FFO: hardcore punk, Laura Jane Grace, Propagandhi, Worriers
🎧 Your first song: “Messages Unsent”
💰 Support: Official

Dancing on the Wall by MUNA

💿 Released: 8 May on Saddest Factory
🤘 FFO: dance pop, Lykke Li, Tegan and Sara, Chvrches, Lorde, Billie Eilish
🎧 Your first song: “Dancing on the Wall”
💰 Support: Bandcamp

Cost of Living Adjustment by COLA

💿 Released: 8 May on Fire Talk
🤘 FFO: post punk, Dry Cleaning, Empath, Geese
🎧 Your first song: “Favoured Over The Ride”
💰 Support: Bandcamp

Little Wide Open by Kevin Morby

💿 Released: 15 May on Dead Oceans
🤘 FFO: Bob Dylan doing alt country/indie rock, War on Drugs, Kurt Vile
🎧 Your first song: “Javelin”
💰 Support: Bandcamp

Bridge Over Cumberland by Mad Honey

💿 Released: 15 May on Deathwish
🤘 FFO: heavy shoegaze & bedroom/dream pop
🎧 Your first song: “Reaching”
💰 Support: Bandcamp

Crucial Releases: First three weeks of May

New music from Aldous Harding, Broken Social Scene, Basement, Rostam, Modern Women, Koyo, Social Distortion, Weird Nightmare, Kevin Morby, and many more. A jam packed three weeks!

TLDR: This Week's Featured Albums

Train on the Island by Aldous Harding

Remember The Humans by Broken Social Scene

WIRED by Basement

American Stories by Rostam

The word...

Honorable Mentions