April showers

You know what they say, April showers bring May flowers and when it rains it pours.
This is the time of year when we usually start seeing more tours rolling through town filling our nights with live shows. Now of course there are no shows but that hasn't stopped the music.
Last month brought us a lot of new music: albums, EPs and so many singles. There are silver linings in the weird state of gray we find ourselves in as we move further into quarantine and social isolation. Mother Earth is healing, artists are finding inspiration to create and music is still bring us together.





WOMB Purity Ring

On February 18th, Purity Ring released "Stardew", their first single since 2015's "Bodyache".

April 3rd served as the birth date, if you will, of the Canadian witch-house duo's third album, WOMB. They haven't strayed too far from what we were introduced to back in 2012 with Shrines; delicate vocals tracing an almost morbid kinship of spiritual and physical pains of life. Comfort can be found in the familiarity of their hauntingly romantic sounds in these times of uncharted uncertainty. 

It Is What It Is Thundercat 

The fourth album from experimental acid-jazz aficionado, Stephen Lee Bruner AKA Thundercat  Along with an appropriate title for an album released during this time in history, It Is What It Is comes at a time when putting on a album and letting it play as you go on with your day is what people need right now came on April 3rd.

The New Abnormal - The Strokes

With seven years between albums, it's safe to call the April 10th, 2020 release of The Strokes' 6th album, The New Abnormal a comeback. It's unclear if the 9 track album was named before, during or after quarantine but it's arrival time was impeccable. As the world uncomfortably adjusts to it's new "normal" as a resistance to embracing our obvious abnormality, this album has everything we could have asked for from The Strokes. They premiered the opening track, "The Adults are Talking" which happens to be one of my faves from the new album, at their concert at The Wiltern in LA last May. "Bad Decisions" is another new favorite of mine and is considered an official single from The New Abnormal. Because of music festival and tour cancellations it might be a while until we get to see The Strokes play these new tunes live but like their new album, it will be worth the wait.

Fetch the Bolt Cutters - Fiona Apple

Fiona Apple delivered her first album in eight years on Friday April 17th. Fetch the Bolt Cutters is percussion fueled, piano filled soulful and insightful. Fiona continues to get acclaimed praise for her 5th album since it's release as a great, conceptual piece. It's raw, abounded energy emulates life interrupted and goes with the flow.  Like others on this list, it's title could be a sign of the times but lyrics of the title track, "fetch the bolt cutters, I've been in here too long", are without a doubt how all of us who have been in lock down feel.

Good Souls Better Angels - Lucinda Williams

Have you ever heard blues that stick to your bones? Once you listen to the new album from Lucinda Williams, you'll know what I mean. On April 23rd, three years after her last album, Good Souls Better Angels is Lucinda Williams' 15th album.  As soon as I pressed play I liked what I heard. Since we seem to be waking up to bad news everyday these days "Bad News Blues" really strikes a cord and the song that follows, "Man Without a Soul" makes me wonder who she's singing about (I have a good idea). Her gravely baritone is powerfully moving on all 12 songs. 

These new blues from Lucinda Williams will fill your soul.

To Feel Alive (EP)- Kali Uchis 

The latest release from the 25 year old, Columbian- American singer/songwriter Kali Uchis dropped on April 24th.The 4 track EP, To Feel Alive was never slated to exist but when Uchis found herself in quarantine isolation she decided to bring her fans "a little momentary excitement and emotion". So, she hunkered down in a make-shift recording studio in her bedroom and wrote, produced and preformed To Feel Alive all on her own. It's been said that the 4 track EP is her most revealing musical self-portrait yet. 

Fragile - MNDR  

MNDR keeps teasing a new album with new singles. She shared "Fragile" on April 3rd. 

RISE - Alison Mosshart 

The Kills and The Dead Weather's front-woman released her first solo work on April 9th.

Kyoto - Phoebe Bridgers 

Two singles from Bridgers dropped on April 9th, "Kyoto" and "Garden Song". Her 2nd album, Punisher, is due out June 19th. 

Inside Friend - John Mayer & Leon Bridges 

their first collab dropped at midnight on April 10th

Forever - Charli XCX 

"Forever" is her first single off of her upcoming new album. It was created in quarantine  two days before it's April 10th release date. 

Tame Impala and The Streets single

This surprising collab came on April 13th. 

Hollywood Park - The Airborne Toxic Event  

The first new music from The Airborne Toxic Event came on April 14th. The new single, "Hollywood Park" is off their upcoming album due out on May 8th.  

Walls - The Lumineers

The Lumineers released their cover of "Walls" by Tom Petty on April 16th to benefit MusiCares. 

I'm Ready - Sam Smith Demi Devoto 

the two pop stars hyped up their single leading up to it's April 17th release. 

Rock Bottom - Misterwives

Misterwives announced a ne single on April 20th and on April 22nd we got hit with "Rock Bottom".  

Living in a Ghost Town - The Rolling Stones

The Stones are still at it. Their answer to social distancing dropped on April 23rd. 

Time (You and I) - Khruangbin

On April 27th, the psychedelic, disco driven new groove from Khruangbin gave us a preview of what to expect on their new album in June. 

Savage Remix feat. Beyoncé - Megan Thee Stallion 

On April 29th the buzz around Megan Thee Stallion got a little louder with the Queen Bey jumping on a remix version of the budding star's hot single.

I Know Alone - HAIM 

The Haim sisters are working on a new album and gave us a little taste with "I Know Alone" on April 29th. 

A few May flowers have already popped up, too: 

Dreamland - Glass Animals (May 1st) 

Be Kind- Marshmello feat. Halsey (May 1st) 

Julianna Calm Down - Dixie Chicks (May 1st)