With so much good music being released all the time, it can be hard to determine what to listen to first. Every week, Pitchfork offers a run-down of significant new releases available on streaming services. This week’s batch includes new albums from Vampire Weekend, Big Thief, Empath, Pile, Rhiannon Giddens, and BandGang Lonnie Bands. Subscribe to Hupshup’s newsletter to get our recommendations in your inbox every week. (All releases featured here are independently selected by our writers.
Vampire Weekend: Father of the Bride [Columbia]
Father of the Bride—Vampire Weekend’s long-awaited fourth album—marks the band’s first studio LP in six years, following 2013’s Modern Vampires of the City. It includes contributions from Danielle Haim, the Internet’s Steve Lacy, Ludwig Göransson, ex-member Rostam, and many others. The record was preceded by music videos for “Harmony Hall” and “Sunflower,” which was directed by Jonah Hill, featured Jerry Seinfeld, and was shot, in part, at Zabar’s.
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Big Thief: U.F.O.F. [4AD]
Two years after releasing their critically acclaimed record Capacity, Big Thief are back with their third album, U.F.O.F. The new LP was recorded at Washington’s Bear Creek Studios, engineered by Dom Monks, and produced by Big Thief collaborator Andrew Sarlo. Read the Best New Track reviews of “UFOF” and “Cattails,” as well as the feature profile “Big Thief Can’t Stop Moving Forward.”
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Purchase at Vinyl Me, Please
Empath: Active Listening: Night on Earth [Get Better]
Philadelphia noise quartet Empath released their four-song EP Liberating Guilt and Fear just last year. Now, they’re back with their debut studio album Active Listening: Night on Earth. Check out track reviews for “Hanging Out of Cars” and “Roses that Cry” (named Best New Track).
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Pile: Green and Gray [Exploding in Sound]
Boston rock outfit Pile are back with their follow-up to 2017’s A Hairshirt of Purpose. The 13-track Green and Gray features the previously shared songs “Hair,” “The Soft Hands of Stephen Miller,” and “Bruxist Grin.”
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Rhiannon Giddens: there is no Other [Nonesuch]
Singer, songwriter, and banjo player Rhiannon Giddens recorded her new record, there is no Other, with Italian multi-instrumentalist Francesco Turrisi. Produced by Joe Henry, it was tracked over five days in Dublin. Watch Giddens’ music video for “I’m on My Way.”
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BandGang Lonnie Bands: KOD [TF Entertainment/EMPIRE]
KOD is the latest project from Detroit rapper BandGang Lonnie Bands—and, yes, it shares a title with a J. Cole record. The 21-track effort features Shoreline Mafia, Drego & Beno, Sada Baby, and more. Watch the music videos for “Shred” and “Moody.”
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