We’re almost done with 2020, but December still had a couple of tricks on its sleeve, including a surprise new Taylor Swift release. But our album of the week has to be the unexpected collaboration between Canadian duo Kacy & Clayton and NZ songwriter Marlon Williams – one that makes all the sense in the world. “Plastic Bouquet” essentially feels like another essential Kacy & Clayton record, but the Williams-enhanced harmonies take the songs to another level.
Katy J Pearson is a Bristol-based singer-songwriter who does Western inspired pop music with folkish undertones. We first heard of her while touring with the likes of Cass McCombs or Olden Yolk, and her debut record, “Return”, is out now.
You might know Heather Trost as one half of A Hawk and a Hacksaw (with Neutral Milk Hotel’s Jeremy Barnes) and as a collaborator in various other projects, from Beirut to Swans. “Petrichor” is her third solo LP, and unlike her mostly acoustic endeavours as a violinist, it’s a psychedelic pop treasure that won’t take long to start looping in your head (and in your favourite music player).
Bolachas Now Playing, a new music Spotify playlist, updated every Wednesday.
Almost a decade after the last The Black Swans release, frontman Jerry David DeCicca keeps putting out great solo albums. Which are not strictly solo, if you look at the cast of musicians enlisted here, a list that includes the legendary Augie Meyers (of the Texas Tornados and the Sir Douglas Quintet). The result is an instrumentally rich set of Americana songs that are probably your best introduction to DeCicca’s work as a songwriter.
This week, we have new tracks by Kacy & Clayton & Marlon Williams, The Weather Station, Sharon Van Etten, Steady Holiday, Jane Weaver, Ohmme, SUUNS & Jerusalem In My Heart, Viagra Boys, Woods, Jeremy Ivey, Cordovas, Langhorne Slim, Family Jordan, James Ellis and the Jealous Guys, The Slim Kings, Elvis Perkins, Kevin Morby, Julia Jacklin, Desure, Le Ren, Julie Byrne, The Orchestra of Cardboard, Tomberlin, Pearl Charles, Holy Motors, and Jennifer Castle.
Wilco’s eleventh full length is probably their most inspired since insert the name of your favorite Wilco record here. After two less remarkable albums and a small hiatus, they’re back with an album that may sound quieter because we’re really supposed to focus on Jeff Tweedy’s superior songwriting and Glenn Kotche’s exquisite drumming style, the stars of this show. It’s a pleasure to be living in the same timeline as Wilco.
Plus: new tracks by Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, Angel Olsen, Johanna Warren, Lightning Dust, Big Thief, Kacy & Clayton, Marinho, Carla dal Forno, Kelsey Waldon, Colter Wall, The Avett Brothers, Craig Finn, Mikal Cronin, The Growlers, Altın Gün, Chromatics, Land of kush, The Messthetics, and Penguin Cafe.