New Music This Week: March 21
- BLIGATORY
- Mar 26
- 7 min read
Updated: Apr 2
highlighting new music by Weatherday, Fib, Men I Trust, Saba & No ID, & MORE
An overwhelming amount of music is released daily, and we're here to help you weed through it all. Every week, we share select releases we are all looking forward to and personalized picks from a few of our editors.
Welcome to our new releases guide featuring the most notable music released the week of March 21.
BLIGATORY Picks
Weatherday - Hornet Disaster
Slacker Rock, Emo, Noise Pop
via Topshelf Records
write-up by Peter Doherty
Weatherday releases Hornet Disaster, the follow-up to their 2019 breakthrough debut Come In. The 76-minute Hornet Disaster plays out as if an arcade game figured out how to play music: an omnidirectional map of mazed and crazed decisions where options and paths lay themselves down. Burnout is out there somewhere on the horizon, but for now, Weatherday is in the driver’s seat.
Many a quest and story arc are lived through.
Fib - "PS"
Indie Rock, Post-Punk
via Julia's War Recordings
write-up by Dominick Baglivo
“PS” is the second single from Philly band Fib’s upcoming debut album. The four-piece announced Heavy Lifting last month with the springy lead single, “Mutuals.”
“‘PS’ is us channeling our shared love for pop and rock and roll — riffs, melodies, hooks and all that,” Fib say. “It is yet another breakaway from our usual dark and esoteric approach to songwriting. We wanted something simple and fun, and this just came out of us in about 30 minutes in our old basement.”
Despite its short duration, “PS” is ravishingly shifty, spurred on by breezy guitars and a mild crunch before diving into a blitz of crisscrossing guitars as Fib sign off. It comes alongside some sick visuals in the form of a mixed media video, filmed and edited by Cooper Beaupre, with animations from Sebastian Nicholson and Fib’s Logan Adam and Gage Nelson.
Heavy Lifting is out April 25 on Julia’s War Recordings.
Atticus' Picks
Men I Trust - Equus Asinus
Bedroom Pop, Indie Folk, Sophisti-Pop
Self-Released
With their first of two planned albums this year, Canadian trio Men I Trust deliver Equus Asinus, their fifth studio album and first since 2020’s Untourable Album. The duo of albums are named after the Latin classifications of donkey (asinus) and horse (callabus), both part of the Equus genus.
The band brings their trademark soft, graceful, and slightly jazzy sound on Equus Asinus, rooted in a blend of acoustic guitars, a plethora of synths, tight drumming, and funky basslines. Tracks like “All My Candles,” “Bethlehem,” “Heavenly Flow,” and “I Don’t Like Music” jump out as more accessible and catchy cuts from the project, thanks to hooking vocal melodies and straightforward structures. The full project feels explorative, as the gentle beauty of the compositions seems fitting for a magical, open-world landscape.
For fans of Men I Trust, Equus Asinus isn’t exactly a brand new experiment for the group in terms of sonic palette. It’s a solid example of what they do best, as well as a curious starting point for the two “distinct energies” the band has slated for 2025. Men I Trust will be on tour from July to October this year, hitting both the U.S.A. and Europe.
Saba & No I.D. - From the Private Collection of Saba and No ID
Conscious Hip-Hop, Jazz Rap
Self-Released
Droogie Otis (Madlib & Yor Old Droog) - "Everything Designer" (ft. Boldy James)
Hip-Hop
via Madlib Invazion
Mamalarky - "Anhedonia"
Psychedelic Pop, Indie Rock
via Epitaph Records
Yukimi - "Peace Reign"
Neo-Soul, Alt-Pop
via Ninja Tune
Dominick's Picks
Friend - GOBLIN (EP)
Goblin Punk, Garage Punk
Self-Released
Coinciding with the first night of their biggest tour yet (with Disaster Artist) Friend shared some new recordings of four tracks that have become live staples for the Philly trio. “MISTER NICE GUY,” “MUXUS,” “NO ROOM FOR PIGS IN HEAVEN,” and “PRAY FOR ME” are all taken from their second album Mister Nice Guy. The new versions that appear on GOBLIN are more polished and refined, yet just as raw and punchy (if not more) than their 2022 counterparts.
“we have taken the four songs from our live set that we felt epitomize GOBLIN PUNK and we re-recorded brand new versions imbued with goblin rock and roll spirit. we have come a long way since our second album mister nice guy came out with these tracks and we felt it was time to return to these tracks and give them the goblin love they deserve. this EP drops on march 21 when we kick off our spring tour, and we can’t wait for you to hear GOBLIN.
xoxo” - FRIEND (via Instagram)
Catch them on tour with Disaster Artist this spring, as both Philly acts go cross-country for 28 stops from now until the end of April.
Alpha Hopper - Let Heaven and Nature Sing II
Noise Punk, No Wave
via Swimming Faith Records
Recommended if you like: Eraser, Brainiac, USA Nails
Buddy Wynkoop - Better Than Botox
Art Punk, Post-Punk
via Joy Inc.
Recommended if you like: Powerwasher, Stuck, Iguana Death Cult
Cross Record - Crush Me
Avant-Folk, Art Pop, Singer-Songwriter, Slowcore
via Ba Da Bing! Records
Recommended if you like: claire rousay, Grouper, Mount Eerie
Dutch Interior - Moneyball
Alt-Country, Folk Rock
via Fat Possum Records
Recommended if you like: Frog, Colin Miller, Horse Jumper of Love
Motorbike - Kick It Over
Garage Rock, Punk Rock
via Feel It Records
Recommended if you like: The Men, Meat Wave, Split System, CLASS
Private Lives - Salt of the Earth
Garage Rock, Power Pop, Punk Rock
via Feel It Records
Recommended if you like: Parsnip, CLASS, Primo!, Sharp Pins
Sharp Pins - Radio DDR
Slacker Rock, Power Pop, Jangle Pop
via K Records / perennial
Recommended if you like: Cindy Lee, Famous Mammals, Cleaners From Venus
Deradoorian - "Any Other World"
Neo-Psychedelia, Art Pop
via Fire Records
"Any Other World" is the latest single from Deradoorian’s upcoming album Ready For Heaven. Diving further into the abstract, it follows previous advance tracks "Digital Gravestone" and "Set Me Free."
Ready For Heaven is Deradoorian’s first release on Fire Records, and it’s out on May 9
Grandmas House - "Haunt Me"
Indie Rock, Post-Punk, Post-Grunge
via Duchess Box Records
We’ve now heard four of the five tracks from Grandmas House’s upcoming EP, Anything For You. Much like the others, “Haunt Me” brings a tender touch to the Bristol band’s grungy sound.
Anything For You is out April 11 via Duchess Box Records.
Jerry Big's World Famous Band - "The Happening"
Garage Punk, Punk Rock
Self-Released
Good ol’ rock and roll, played loud and fast. Rochester-based Jerry Big’s World Famous Band share “The Happening,” their third single in just as many months. While there’s no official release date yet, it’s taken from their upcoming release, JBWFB, alongside previous singles “Birds Got Beaks” and “Tell Me.”
Leopardo - "Bank Bank Bank"
Psychedelic Rock, Stoner Rock
via Chrüsimüsi Records / Dot Dash Sounds
Looming and ominous, the psychedelic sounds of Leopardo slink into darkness on “Bank Bank Bank.” The Swiss band announced SIDE A / SIDE B a few weeks ago with the whimsical “Île d’Ogoz.”
This contrast lends itself to the title; “Bank Bank Bank” sits at track number eight (of 10) on the album, while “Île d’Ogoz” appears second on the tracklist. Enjoy the full record in all of its dual-sided glory on April 4, when SIDE A / SIDE B is out on Chrüsimüsi Records / Dot Dash Sounds.
Perennial - "All Day And All Of The Night" (The Kinks Cover)
Garage Rock, Power Pop
via Ernest Jenning Record Co.
Two weeks ago, New England trio Perennial announced a new 60s’ garage-pop inspired EP alongside the titular “Perennial ’65.” They’re back this week a cover of the Kinks’ “All Day And All Of the Night.” Perennial ’65 is out April 4 on Ernest Jenning Record Co.
Barbara - "My Birthday Party"
Indie Rock, Psychedelic Pop
Self-Released
Snapped Ankles - "Smart World"
Synth Punk, Dance-Punk
via The Leaf Label
Peter's Picks
caroline - "Total euphoria"
Post-Rock, Experimental Rock
via Rough Trade Records
London-based eight-piece caroline return with "Total euphoria." The band’s first piece of new material since their 2022 self-titled debut puts the avant-folk-post-rockers on an even higher pedestal than they already were. This time, there's less negative space and more of an active approach to making music. That's not to say that the signature expanse and soundscape-y feats have been put to bed—they're more present than ever. caroline have found a way to achieve a full-sounding state while remaining inside a rather large gash in the infinite.
"Total euphoria" is out now via Rough Trade. The track's accompanying music video was directed by Parker Corey of Injury Reserve/By Storm.
Alongside "Total euphoria," caroline have announced a short-and-sweet seven-date tour of the UK beginning in Bristol on May 31.
Codex - "Phybroptic Menagerie"
Glitch, Plunderphonics
Self-Released
Toledo based sound-wizard Codex releases the first piece of material in the run-up to his next project, Avert Chroma. "Phybroptic Menagerie" sets us up for what's bound to be a mind-bending, ear-worming and ultimately life-affirming bout of plunderphonic-y bliss. There's one thing to keep in mind as new Codex material is let loose: Codex does not miss.
Avert Chroma releases April 4 (4/04).
Deerhoof - "Immigrant Songs"
Noise, Post-Punk Revival
via Joyful Noise
Deerhoof share their latest single, "Immigrant Songs," as they announce their upcoming album, Noble and Godlike in Ruin. Starting off as something rather sweet, the song falls into utter chaos around the halfway mark. You could call it a descent into hell.
With regards to "Immigrant Songs," Deerhoof's Instagram reads:
"It is all about grotesque transformations and hybrid creatures of myth.
It is big and scary.
It is in an anti-bourgeois style that mixes the beautiful with the cruel."
Noble and Godlike in Ruin is out April 25 via Joyful Noise. Deerhoof head on a US tour across May and June before heading to the UK in July and Europe in August.
pencil - "Silent Corners"
Indie Rock, Art Rock
via State51
London five-piece pencil announce a six-song EP alongside "Silent Corners." pencil are of a rather artistic variety; this is no music for music’s sake.
"Silent Corners" lushly sweeps forth via what sounds like taps of brush (drum)sticks, an acoustic breeze that builds-and-builds, and a sound palette that widens and expands as the track progresses. As is life, the way isn't without its roadbumps—things tend to get a little upset and stormy. pencil are great at capturing the usual bouts of emotive wrestling that we all have to come to terms with on a day-to-day, moment-by-moment basis.
pencil's "Silent Corners" is out now and the band’s debut EP, Bohemian Clutter, releases May 9 via STATE51.
Comments