
This week we feature the Canadian singer-songwriter Dana Sipos. Her new album, “The Astral Plane”, was produced by Sandro Perri, and it’s one of our favourite folk records of 2021 so far.

This week we feature the Canadian singer-songwriter Dana Sipos. Her new album, “The Astral Plane”, was produced by Sandro Perri, and it’s one of our favourite folk records of 2021 so far.

Michelle Zauner’s first two albums as Japanese Breakfast sounded promising, but not really that exciting – not that it aimed at that. But, as soon as the horns in “Paprika” kick in, you can’t help but feel this *is* the breakout album we were waiting for from a stellar songwriter. Ironically enough, it was the inward-looking, gorgeous slow burner album closer “Posing for Cars” that made us pick “Jubilee” as our album of the week. Go get it.

It’s not common for a reunion to last longer than the original run of a band. Also uncommon for the reunion-era records to be as consistently good as Dinosaur Jr.‘s. Produced by Kurt Vile, “Sweep It Into Space” is the band’s twelfth LP and the fifth since 2005’s original lineup reunion. It sees the band mostly exploring its melodic side without straying much from the typical Dino Jr sound – exactly what we all want from them.

In the beginning of the month, Americana heroes The Felice Brothers quietly released “Undress”. Their new collection of songs focuses on, well, 2010s USA, and it turns out to be possibly their most cohesive album – and its fantastic harmonies make it one of the catchiest records of the year so far.
On this week’s playlist: new songs by Ryan Pollie, Olden Yolk, David Berman’s Purple Mountains, Sam Cohen, Mikaela Davis, Pearl Charles, Josefin Öhrn + The Liberation, The National, Lowland Hum, Native Harrow, William Ryan Fritch, Michael Fracasso, Tōth, Luís Severo, Mega Bog, Joseph Shabason, Aviva le Fey, Little Mazarn, Shannon Lay, Matt Kivel, and Siskiyou.

At first listen, Big Thief’s third LP looked like a tough nut to crack, way less immediate than “Capacity”. You won’t find “U.F.O.F.”’s beauty through background listening while you send passive-agressive emails, are stuck in traffic, or go through tons of lines of code. It needs your full attention to be properly rewarding. Try it later today. Plus: new songs by Anna Tivel, Aldous Harding, Aviva le Fey, Kassi Valazza, Frankie Lee, Nataly Dawn, Sam Outlaw, Calexico and Iron & Wine, The Felice Brothers, Fruit Bats, Super Doppler, Nev Cottee Band, black midi, Stef Chura, Titus Andronicus, Tropical Fuck Storm, Altın Gün, Kate Tempest, Cate Le Bon, Julia Shapiro (Chastity Belt), and Vampire Weekend.