New Music Friday 6/29/18

It's coming out late today, but I was literally kayaking so I have a valid excuse. Okay?

Drake - Scorpion (Young Money/Cash Money/Republic)

Oh boy is this a long one. It's a double-disc monument, with half "harder" rap material and half weepy R&B. Everything that anyone could possibly love or hate about Drake is on here. Features Jay Z, Ty Dolla $ign, and Michael Jackson (!).

Converge - Beautiful Ruin (Epitaph/Deathwish)

Surprise follow-up EP to last year's excellent The Dusk in Us. The four-track release was recorded during the same sessions.

Manchester Orchestra - The Black Mile Demos (Loma Vista)

See how Manchester Orchestra made their 2017 album, A Black Mile to the Surface, with this demo EP. Contains the demos for "The Gold" and what would become "The Parts" (titled "Each Part" here) among others. Watch a documentary on the record's making here.

Gorillaz - The Now Now (Parlophone)

The significantly less feature-heavy follow-up to last year's messy Humanz. Maybe we're gonna get a new Gorillaz album every year to make up for last time now? Features jazz guitarist George Benson, house producer Jamie Principle, and Snoop Dogg.

Let's Eat Grandma - I'm All Ears (Transgressive)

Second album from the young UK experimental pop upstarts. The album features production from SOPHIE, Faris Badwan (The Horrors), and David Wrench (David Byrne, the xx, Glass Animals).

Florence + the Machine - High As Hope (Republic)

Fourth record from the anthemic rock group, fronted by the incredible Florence Welch. Their latest release was 2015's How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful.

Kamasi Washington - The Choice (Shoto Mas/Young Turks)

Bonus disc EP of material from the sessions for Washington's incredible new record, Heaven and Earth. Check it out if you have any decency (but only after getting through the previous 2.5 hours of material).

John Coltrane - Both Directions At Once: The Lost Album (Verve)

Album of lost material recorded in 1963 by Coltrane's legendary quartet, featuring McCoy Tyner, Jimmy Garrison, and Elvin Turner. Produced by Ravi Coltrane, the album consists of several unheard tracks, with some alternate takes.