Album of the Week – 21/08/26

This week is pretty epic, with something for everyone! There’s a new release from 90s rockers The Afghan Whigs (Soft Control) along with… Chelsea Wolfe (The Dark), Jorja Smith (What Are The Odds), Julia Holter (Materia), Lambchop (Punching The Clown) and Natalie Merchant and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra (Cabinet of Wonder).

There’s a total oddity: an 89-year-old releasing his first album in the form of Anthony Hopkins (Life Is a Dream). Yes, that Anthony Hopkins.

We’re big fans of the upcoming movie Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma, and Alex G has just released its Original Motion Picture Soundtrack. There’s even some for fans of The B-52’s (Ancient Culture: Mesopotamia Revisited). The big release of the week is probably Weezer with their The Gold Album.

For our album of the week, we’ve gone for a r

Album of the Week – Lambchop – Punching The Clown

On August 21, the beloved shapeshifting Nashville institution Lambchop returns with their seventeenth album “Punching the Clown.” Produced by Ryan Olson (Poliça, Gayngs) with songs by Lambchop’s principal Kurt Wagner and member Andrew Broder, “Punching the Clown” was tracked over three days at April Base, the studio of Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon, and features Vernon on banjo as well as a six-part choir throughout.

To hear Kurt Wagner tell it, “Punching the Clown” began as a ghost hunt. After hearing a song on the radio while driving one night — “a minimal single chord strummed banjo and a small group of voices” — he went looking for it and failed. In his pursuit, he discovered “lined out singing,” a form of acapella call-and-response gospel singing that began in Scotland in the 1800s and became a root of American gospel and country music when Scottish immigrants settled in Appalachia. The song, typically a hymn, is led by a clerk, who begins the verse alone before a choir swells up to accompany them on the rest of the line.

— The Afghan Whigs – Soft Control

— Alex G – Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)

— Anthony Hopkins – Life Is a Dream

— The B-52’s – Ancient Culture: Mesopotamia Revisited

— Chelsea Wolfe – The Dark

— Jorja Smith – What Are The Odds

— Julia Holter – Materia

— Natalie Merchant and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra – Cabinet of Wonder

— Weezer – Weezer (The Gold Album)

Albums of Note: 

Released on August 21st:

— The Afghan Whigs – Soft Control

— Alex G – Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)

— Anthony Hopkins – Life Is a Dream

— The B-52’s – Ancient Culture: Mesopotamia Revisited

— Black Marble – Life in Small Space

— Brandon Flowers (of The Killers) – THRASHER

— Brendan Wedl – Brendan Wedl

— Chelsea Wolfe – The Dark

— Claire Rosinkranz – My Lover (Deluxe)

— The Cramps – Gravest Gravy

— Dan + Shay – Young

— Dana Salah – Bent Bladna

— Danzig – Deth Red Sabaoth (Reissue)

— Dark Funeral – A Beast To Praise

— David Nail – Flowers

— Denzel Curry and Kenneth Blume – ii

— Destin Conrad – Roadrunner

— Elanor Moss – The Knife, The Needle

— Frances Chang – been thinking bout confession

— French Montana – Night To Remember

— GB – Herzsprung

— Ghost Hounds – Justified

— Grace Potter – Trespasser

— hey, nothing – Hound

— Improved Movement –  Your Perfect Real Life

— James Ivy – The Seams

— Jorja Smith – What Are The Odds

— Julia Holter – Materia

— Karen Dió – Fugaz EP

— Keb’ Mo’ – The Breakdown

— KISS – KISS Destroys Anaheim 1976

— Lexi Jayde – Lover Girl

— Natalie Merchant and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra – Cabinet of Wonder

— nate sib – reborn

— No Joy – Big Life, Big Leaf EP

— OK Cowgirl – Rhinestone Cowgirl

— Paris Jackson – Happiest Day of My Life

— Pattern-Seeking Animals – Grimalkin’

— Sam Smith – Hazel Eyes

— Sawyer Hill – Everybody’s Home, Nobody’s Happy

— Skilla Baby – The Price of Fame

— Sondre Lerche – Acrobats

— Squirrel Flower – Say a Prayer to the Gods of Getting Going

— Stella Lefty – Long Way Home

— Stephen O’Malley – Avaeken

— Texas Is the Reason – Do You Know Who You Are?: TX30 Special Edition

— Tobe Nwigwe – The Bridge

— The Tragically Hip – Live July 22 – August 20, 2016

— Tyondai Braxton – Splayed Werks

— Various Artists – Schmigadoon! (Original Broadway Cast Recording)

— Weezer – Weezer (The Gold Album)

— Westside Cowboy – It Goes On

— Wild Pink – Still Coming Down

— William Shatner – Love & Other Mysteries