Third installment of Newer Release Roundup! When should I stop counting? When does it get ridiculous? Why should I force my obsessive compulsive tendencies on you guys? How is that fair?

This week I kept it extra positive, featuring three albums that I liked right away. This is how I can prove to you, the cautious audience, that I’m not just entirely black clouds and spilled milk. This is what we call the honeymoon phase, and it won’t last forever. Onward!

Pixel Grip – ARENA
(May 21, 2021)

The inspiration behind ARENA was, surprise surprise, pandemic lockdown. Like much of the music released since March 2020, Pixel Grip’s second album represents the air of frustration with respect to collectively losing our freedoms for the better part of a year. On top of that, losing the dance club as a haven of freedom from queer persecution. The Chicago trio did the next best thing and created this album as a portable version of this haven, bringing the club to you, and they don’t hold back.

The music is fun to listen to, featuring infectious minimal wave dance beats and the gothic vocals of Rita Lukea. You know you’re in for a good time when you hear lyrics like “Your pussy wait/My pussy go/My pussy fast/Your pussy slow“! The ten tracks cover the overarching theme of RESISTANCE AGAINST THE ESTABLISHMENT, which is always a good time! Plus, there’s the added bonus of sweaty sexuality! So intertwine these themes and you have a clear picture. Lukea refers to the album as their “villain origin story”. ARENA is dark, unafraid, and unapologetically mean. I’m looking forward to digging into it some more and also checking out their debut album Heavy Handed.

Early Verdict:

Sleaford Mods – Spare Ribs
(January 15, 2021)

Eleven studio albums since 2007. Sleaford Mods are so prolific that I found it hard to jump in at all in the last few years. When I saw that Spare Ribs was getting some solid positive reception, just like everything else they’ve put out, I decided that now was the time to finally take the dive and hear what these aging representatives of British working class and mod subculture have to say. And I’m pleased.

With a name like “Sleaford Mods” I expected something very British, and it’s way more British than even that! Jason Williamson rap-speaks with a very thick regional East Midlands dialect so that he sounds like a grizzled old angry drunk, vulagarly waxing poetic about some very local political and social issues (i.e. Brexit) over Andrew Fearn’s grime-infused post-punk dance beats. As a filthy American who barely wants to indulge in keeping up with my own country’s political and social climate, I don’t have even the slightest understanding of the United Kingdom’s except, of course, that their country is similarly fucked. That I can relate with!

From a musical standpoint this album is incredibly fascinating, and the combination of styles, grime/punk/hip-hop/dance/club influences, and Williamson’s unique voice make for a compelling listen. The best part of finally dipping into Sleaford Mods’ music is that I have ten more studio albums to absorb as well! Points off for the British references losing me a bit, but hey, I’ll enjoy the beats and Williamson’s accent when he says stuff like “fookin’ cunt!“

Early Verdict:

Japanese Breakfast – Jubilee
(June 4, 2021)

Michelle Zauner’s third album under the moniker Japanese Breakfast was only released last Friday and I’m already really into it. After having lukewarm feelings about her overly shoegaze-y 2016 debut Psychopomp and then slightly better feelings about her slightly more diverse 2017 album Soft Sounds from Another Planet, Jubilee is even MORE stylistically diverse and, frankly, more melodically exciting.

From the joyful snare and horn-driven indie rock throwback opener “Paprika” to the pure, hooky pop song “Be Sweet” to the lush and elegant chamber pop of “Kokomo, IN” to the smooth jazz soloing in “Slide Tackle” and beyond, Zauner’s ambitions are adequately realized and she never strays too far from sounding like Japanese Breakfast. I think it’s her voice, which bounces between powerful and reserved and ethereal as directed by the music, that threads everything together very well.

Also, one of her music videos features Christopher from the Sopranos, who is old and beardy now. Everyone likes Christopher from Sopranos! That one’s fun for the kids.

Early Verdict: