I expected another slow week, but was pleasantly surprised to find a flood of fantastic new music. In turn, because there was so much, I had to cut some great new tracks from artists like MNDR, Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti, and Teengirl Fantasy. To be honest, I didn't like the new Ariel Pink too much, but what can you do.? It freed up room and gave me the opportunity to feature new artists like Dunes and Cult of Youth.

Dan Deacon - "True Thrush:" A new single off  Deacon's forthcoming album, "True Thrush" represents a  stylistic evolution for Deacon. While still as jubilant and cathartic as older tracks, "True Thrush" has shed some of the earlier abrasiveness, and to great effect. This is a shimmering and dreamy song with a slow build towards a raucous and celebratory end. 



Cult of Youth - "Man and Man's Ruin:" Off an album to be released this fall, "Man and Man's Ruin" features the haunting, reverent vocals of songwriter Sean Ragon. Instrumentation builds as the song progresses and ends in a lush mix of bongo, guitar and horns. Please note the sick album art below.




Dunes - "Dirt:" Off a compilation  that invited artists to make songs out of each line from Sol LeWitt's "Lines on Conceptual Art" (I am not sure what that entails either. In fact, if you can explain this to me, please email me at mtorsell@buffablog.com). With submerged vocals and a spooky melody that fades out slowly at the end, this a strong track. Dunes released a full length earlier this year.



Future Islands - "Cotton Flowers:" A song very much in the vein of previous releases, this is  another strong release from the underrated Baltimore group. Melancholic new wave with Samuel T. Herring's raspy baritone voice, "Cotton Flowers" is an excellent nocturnal song. There is something intrinsically heartbreaking about this song, but it is still worth a listen (or 2 or 50).



Tame Impala - "Apocalypse Dreams:" The promise of a new Tame Impala record is cause for celebration. 2010's Innerspeaker, their debut, was an amazing summer psych-rock album. Preceeding the new album's first "official" single (whatever that means anymore) is "Apocalypse Dreams," a longer and looser track. Hazy and melodic, this track suggests that the band has tightened their sound while still carrying forward what worked in the past. Let's hope the first single (whatever that means anymore) is equally enjoyable.