Your New Music Monday picks for this rainy September 26 include a magical pairing, an uber-happy tune and the new Pixies!
The Pixies are one of indie rock’s most influential and beloved bands, bringing to mind the Energizer Bunny — they just keep going and going and going. The year 2018 will mark the 30th anniversary of their debut album, Surfer Rosa — and this Friday, September 30 marks the release of Head Carrier, their sixth full-length album, and the first to feature new full-time bassist Paz Lenchantin, known for her stints with Queens of the Stone Age and Zwan. “Classic Masher” is pure Pixies joy, period. For the truly dedicated, you can try on Head Carrier before you buy it, courtesy of NPR’s First Listen.
We don’t throw the term “legend” around loosely, but are confident that his fans will agree Alejandro Escovedo is indeed that. Those instantly-recognizable riffs, that voice, his uber-prolific catalog and the fact that he sprung back from a near-fatal bout with hepatitis-C back in 2003 make him a rock ‘n’ roll hero, in our book. Burn Something Beautiful was co-produced by Peter Buck from R.E.M. and Scott McCaughey from the Minus 5, estimated to arrive October 28. The album includes cameos from Sleater-Kinney’s Corin Tucker, and on this lead single “Heartbeat Smile,” Neko Case and Mavis Staples’ golden-throated cohort Kelly Hogan. Oh, and did we mention that he’ll be playing the Live Oak in Fort Worth this Friday?
Another one of those love-at-first listen gems is “Silly Bones” from the Brooklyn outfit Streets of Laredo, an insanely catchy mélange of synths, jangly riffs and ebullient harmonies, guaranteed to go straight to your happy place. Sophomore album Wild is set to land October 21 – and we’re sincerely hoping this translates into a tour that includes DFW on the itinerary.
It doesn’t get more magical than this. Fans awaiting the return of Hope Sandoval & The Warm Inventions (her duo with Colm O’Ciosoig from My Bloody Valentine) will be doubly delighted when their ear gets wind of “Let Me Get There,” a rather exquisite and sensual duet with Kurt Vile. Until The Hunter is out November 4.
