Some indie rock comebacks, some compilations, and an album from The X Files' Mulder! Plus a whole lot more!
Franz Ferdinand - Always Ascending (Domino)
Semi-legendary Scottish dance punk outfit return with their fifth LP. This is their first album without founding guitarist Nick McCarthy, and first as a quintet. Their last release, Right Thoughts, Right Words, Right Action, came out in 2013; in 2015, they collaborated with Sparks for FFS. Singles include the title track and "Feel the Love Go."
Legend of the Seagullmen - Legend of the Seagullmen (Dine Alone)
Tool drummer Danny Carey and Mastodon guitarist Brent Hinds got together and somehow birthed this bizarre oceanic psych-metal band. It's pretty much exactly what you would expect given the concept and the members. There's literally a song ("The Fogger") about Carey prowling the ocean floor and ripping the faces off of skulls.
The Wombats - Beautiful People Will Ruin Your Life (Kobalt)
Liverpool electro-poppers make a new bid for the ears of semi-ironic music hipsters. The album was announced while the band was touring behind the tenth anniversary of their first (and best) album, A Guide to Love, Loss & Desperation. Singles include the hilariously titled "Lemon to a Knife Fight" and the quirky "Black Flamingo."
Various Artists - Black Panther: The Album (Top Dawg/Aftermath/Interscope)
Curated by the inimitable Kendrick Lamar and his label boss "Top Dawg" Tiffith, Black Panther: The Album attempts to be Marvel's answer to those crappy Fast & Furious soundtracks. Childish Gambino-collaborator and producer Ludwig Goransson composed the score. The massive pile of featured artists includes Kendrick (duh), SZA, ScHoolboy Q, Vince Staples, Future, Ab-Soul, Jay Rock, James Blake, Travis Scott and more.
Brian Fallon - SLEEPWALKERS (Island)
Frontman of the on-hiatus Gaslight Anthem releases his second solo album. Follows the Record Store Day-exclusive Georgia EP from 2017. The Gaslight Anthem will be reuniting this year to perform tenth-anniversary shows for their second album, The '59 Sound.
David Duchovny - Every Third Thought (King Baby/GMG)
Yep, Mulder sings now. This is actually his second album. It's inoffensive dad rock. Check it out if the rebooted X-Files isn't enough for you.
MGMT - Little Dark Age (Columbia)
It's real! After teasing fans for too long, the Connecticut psych-pop duo have released their fourth album. This will probably be confusing to people that still only know them for "Kids." I am very biased because I love their first two records, but Little Dark Age is set to be the comeback that fans want. Includes the fantastic title track and "When You Die."
Various Artists - Fifty Shades Freed OST (Republic)
A gluttonous and trashy pop compilation to go along with an extremely gross and fundamentally terrible movie! Unfortunately features Liam Payne, Julia Michaels, Dua Lipa, and the guy who plays Christian Grey singing! Danny Elfman, who is better than this, composed the score.
Alva Noto/Ryuichi Sakamoto - Glass (Noton)
A collaborative live, improvised album from the two ambient/electronic legends. The duo performed at 110th anniversary celebration of American architect Philip Johnson's birth, and now the recording is being released as an album. It is being released on Noto's (real name Carsten Nicolai) label. Previously, the duo collaborated on the soundtrack for the 2015 film The Revenant. Sakamoto released a solo album (async) last year.
Dashboard Confessional - Crooked Shadows (Fueled By Ramen)
Legendary emo band make a return after nearly ten years with their seventh album and first for the Fueled By Ramen label. Coming in at a tight 29 minutes, it is the band's shortest release. Features violinist and YouTube star Lindsey Stirling.
Hockey Dad - Blend Inn (Farmer and the Owl)
Aussie surf pop duo present their second album. Their previous record, 2016's Boronia, was produced by Jeff Rosenstock; Blend Inn is produced by semi-iconic indie rock producer John Goodmanson (Bikini Kill, Death Cab for Cutie, Cloud Nothings, Sleater Kinney). Includes "Homely Feeling" and "I Wanna Be Everybody."
Fu Manchu - Clone of the Universe (At the Dojo)
SoCal stoner rock quartet drop their twelfth album. Another remarkably consistent album from a remarkably consistent band. Features Rush's Alex Lifeson on the 18-minute closer, "Il Mostro Atomico."
Son Lux - Brighter Wounds (City Slang)
The hip-hop-inflected instrumental trio release their fifth album (not counting the Sufjan Stevens-collaboration Sisyphus). Brighter Wounds was inspired by the birth of primary composer Ryan Lott's son and the death of a close friend to cancer. Includes "Dream State" and "Slowly."
Palm - Rock Island (Carpark)
Philadelphia art rock group follow up 2017's excellent Shadow Expert EP with their sophomore album. The four-piece recorded the album primarily in pairs or trios, only rarely coming together as a full unit. Features singles such as "Pearly," "Dog Milk," and "Composite."
Holy Motors - Slow Sundown (Wharf Cat)
Estonian shoegaze/Americana band gently slip their debut album into the world. The album was produced by Merchandise's Carson Cox. Prior to Slow Sundown, Holy Motors released two 7"s, Heavenly Creatures (2015), produced by former the Men bassist Ben Greenberg, and Sleeprydr (2017).
2 Chainz - The Play Don't Care Who Makes It (Def Jam)
Surprise! 2 Chainz follows up his incredible 2017 with a new EP. Only four tracks long, it features YG and Offset, with production from Nonstop Da Hitman, Street Runnerz, T-Minus, and June James. So far this year, 2 Chainz has collaborated on tracks with Dreezy, Migos, Lil Jon, and Eminem.
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