10 new releases to keep you feelin’ cool in the July heat
by Grace Birnstengel
Music lovers – July is a good month for summer jams. A menagerie of musicians are releasing albums, from a sensual R&B babe, to the singer of the infamous ‘90s cover “Torn,” and more. Let these upcoming albums get you through the sweltering mid-summer heat.
1. Veruca Salt‘s “Ghost Notes”
Chicago’s Veruca Salt have been a household name in the punk scene since the 1994 release “American Thighs.” The relationship between founding members Louise Post and Nina Gordon has been described as “one of the greatest rock soap operas since Fleetwood Mac or Hüsker Dü,” but the two have managed to make amends and reunite for a new record — the first with Veruca Salt’s original lineup since “Eight Arms to Hold You” in 1997. “Ghost Notes” comes out July 10. Check out singles “Laughing in the Sugar Bowl” and “The Gospel According to Saint Me.”
2. Lucy Rose‘s “Work It Out”
Lucy Rose is a British singer-songwriter with one album under her belt and is now releasing her second on July 13 called “Work It Out.” I’d highly suggest fans of Daughter, Birdy or Feist to check her out. Listen to the singles “I Tried” and “Our Eyes.” Rose names Neil Young as her main inspiration, and it shows in her beautiful and often moody, introspective acoustic work.
3. Camera Shy‘s “Camera Shy”
If your summer is in need of more feel-good indie rock, the new Camera Shy record might be for you. Former Whirr singer Alexandra (Lexy) Morte and current Whirr member Nick Bassett formed Camera Shy last year and are putting out their debut self-titled full-length album on July 14. Whirr is often compared to My Bloody Valentine, but Camera Shy have a much more free flowing and sunny sound, just as your summer should be. Enjoy a preview of what’s to come with the love song “Your Only One,” the first single off “Camera Shy.”
4. Jill Scott‘s “Woman”
R&B goddess Jill Scott is releasing her fifth studio album on July 24, and what we’ve heard so far is fabulous, especially “Fool’s Gold,” a groovy track about falling for someone who turns out to be different from who you thought. Scott has been nominated for two Grammy Awards throughout her career, winning one for best urban/alternative R&B performance for her 2004 hit “Cross My Mind.”
5. Bad Bad Hats‘s “Psychic Reader”
Midwesterners have been eagerly awaiting the debut full-length album from Minneapolis’s Bad Bad Hats since the release of their very well-received EP, “It Hurts,” in 2013. Front woman Kerry Alexander, whose spot-on vocals are easily the best part of Bad Bad Hats, leads this indie pop trio. The band told The Fader, an online music magazine, that the new album’s songs “revolve around anxiety and a replaying or rewriting of the past.” Judging by the singles, Bad Bad Hats are tackling these heavy topics in the most fun way possible. “Psychic Reader” comes out July 17, but you can hear the title track and another single, “Shame,” today.
6. Little Boots‘s “Working Girl”
Everyone’s dance/workout/club mix could always use a couple new tunes (you can only listen to “Feeling Myself” so many times). Luckily for you, British electro-pop gal Victoria Christina Hesketh, who goes by the moniker “Little Boots,” is dropping an album on July 10 called “Working Girl.” I’ve been shaking my stuff to the single “No Pressure” since it came out earlier this month, and I hope the rest of the album is just as dance-worthy.
7. Jessie Jones‘s “Jessie Jones”
LA’s Jessie Jones spends most of her time fronting the bands Death Valley Girls and Feeding People, but this summer she’s putting out her own self-titled solo effort. The single “Sugar Coated” sounds like a mulled Tori Amos song, and the chorus “Yes, you can kiss the ground that I walk on” partnered with key slamming are enough to put this track on repeat until the album comes out on July 24.
8. ON AN ON‘s “And The Wave Has Two Sides”
When Chicago band Scattered Trees broke up, Minneapolis’s ON AN ON was born. On July 24, Nate Eiesland, Alissa Ricci, and Ryne Estwing release the follow-up to 2013’s “Give In,” titled, “And The Wave Has Two Sides.” The two singles thus far are very different—“Drifting” being, well, a drift of guitar plucking and soft coos, and “It’s Not Over” carrying the same soft coos, but layered with ‘80s-like synths. It’ll be interesting to see which way “And The Wave Has Two Sides” leans overall.
9. Lianne La Havas‘s “Blood”
If I had to predict the next “break out” star, I’d probably pick London’s singer-songwriter, guitarist and pianist Lianne La Havas. The girl’s got pipes. Fans of Janelle Monáe and Amy Winehouse are sure to fall in love with the sweet sounds of La Havas. My only complaint is that I have to wait until the end of the month to hear all of her second full-length album, “Blood.” Listen to her tracks “What You Don’t Do” and “Unstoppable” while you wait.
10. Natalie Imbruglia‘s “Male”
You might recognize the name Natalie Imbruglia from her 1997 song “Torn,” which I recently learned is actually a cover of a song with the same name by some band called Ednaswap. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, please listen to the song and tell me you never yelled the lyrics “NOTHING’S FINE, I’M TORN!” in a moment of extreme angst. Fast forward to 2015, Sydney-based Imbruglia announced that, after a five-year hiatus, she’d be releasing a new album, “Male”—a collection of covers of songs written by male artists. The single is a rendition of Daft Punk’s “Instant Crush” featuring Julian Casablancas of The Strokes. “Male” will also include covers of Death Cab for Cutie, The Cure, and Iron & Wine, among others.
“New Radio” is a monthly new album release roundup named after Bikini Kill’s 1993 track of the same name.
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Grace is an editorial assistant at The Riveter. She currently studies journalism and gender studies at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities, where she is the editor-in-chief of the student-run magazine, The Wake. Follow her on Twitter or Instagram @gracebirnstengel.
