Best of October

  • October 31, 2023
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Some of our favorite new albums from October. Read the reviews and then listen to the playlist.

Black Pumas / Chronicles of a Diamond
In 2019 Eric Burton and Adrian Quesada took the music world by storm with their debut self-titled album, Black Pumas. The success of that album put the duo on a non-stop tour around the world, and brought in multiple Grammy nominations, including Album of the Year. It was those years of constant touring that informed and inspired the duo's much anticipated follow-up album, Chronicles of a Diamond. Eric Burton says that he wanted to write songs that he'd look forward to singing night after night, a clear indication that they know this album just might take them around the world once more, performing countless concerts, or as Eric likes to call it "Electric Church." - Ebay Hamilton
Check out: More Than a Love Song, Mrs. Postman, and Ice Cream (Pay Phone)

Brent Cobb / Southern Star
In his latest release Southern Star, Brent Cobb wants to tell you stories of small Southern towns, but without the threats of violence, misogyny and racism evident in other recent “Small Town” songs. The line “Telling jokes we learned from old folks, sippin’ Cokes with BBQ” from “It’s a Start” illustrates both his clever songwriting and that distinct southern charm.

Recorded in legendary Capricorn Studios in Macon, Georgia, with a slate of Georgia musicians, Southern Star continues the tradition born there of the 70s Country Soul sound. Cobb’s songs are both funky and relaxed – and entirely earnest and authentic.

Cobb’s south is one you want to visit – where you sit around porches, campfires and fishing holes, contemplating mortality, and most importantly having a good ol’ time. - Troy Mumm
Check out: Southern Star, It’s a Start and When Country Came Back to Town

Hello June / Artifacts 
Music for me has always been about experiences. Call me old school, but I want full albums that take me out of whatever task I am doing and open up my mind. Hello June’s new album, Artifacts, immersed me in fall and made the leaves on our beautiful mountain scapes feel brighter and more brilliant upon first listen. It is Appalachian Indie Rock after all.

Artifacts is a bit of a departure from Hello June’s 2018 self-titled release, but the album still feels complete. Their sound continues to be uniquely their own with obvious influence from their West Virginia roots. It’s really something special.

If you are looking for the perfect Fall album, I highly recommend Artifacts with a delightful mix of soulful ballads, guitar driven sing-a-longs, and just overall catchy songs you will find yourself enjoying with every listen. Sarah Rudy’s vocals are full of depth and richness as she takes you along her journey through all of life’s ups and downs. It’s an album that I think we can all relate to and I so hope you enjoy it as much as I have. - Shannalee
Check out: Interstate, Faded Blue, Soft Love

Gotts Street Park / On the Inside
Drop the needle on Gotts Street Park’s album opener Summer Breeze and you’ll be transported instantly. Rosie Lowe starts things off in her cool calm and collected way, effortlessly repeating the chorus, “I wanna hear you say / I deserve to be / touched like a summer breeze.”

On The Inside, their first full length record, is never in a hurry. Each featured singer is self-assured. The second is my favorite track of the dozen. Tell Me Why, featuring Olive Jones, is a perfect showcase for the Leeds, UK-based collective. Keys ride along the groove while the vocalist, real name Olivia Bhattacharjee, sings “we could get a lot closer or we could cut our ties / after nighttime is it our time / the choice is yours.” “Nothing’s wrong with loving me / tell me why I shouldn’t be / you’re giving me what I need / Lover, my baby, I’m never gonna let you down.” I believe her. A note to the object of her song, choose get closer, yo!

The song perhaps best suited for radio rotation is Got to Be Good featuring Pip Millett. It feels timeless, schooled in American blues, but is also of-the-present-moment and fraught with uncertainty as Millett sings with honest vulnerability, “I want to feel good / better.”

On my other fave, Mountains, featuring the in demand vocalist ENNY, she sings “I need ya / to be eager / to be okay / to be alright.” Fool for Love featuring Pip Millett is relatable too. She paces her delivery perfectly, lamenting, “you know I’ve tried / but I… can’t… find… the right guy / just keep waitin waitin waitin waitin.”

With lightly toasted guitar plucks soaked in warm butter bass then sprinkled with vibey keys, Strawberry Dream is an instrumental groove showing off the band’s boundary-less origins jamming in a bachelor pad stuffed with vintage musical hardware like tube amps and ribbon mics and a reel-to-reel recorder. It was there the lads shifted focus from free jazz to harmonic soul about six years ago.

The new record is tight and economical with no filler. Play it from start to finish and see where it takes you. Letting these songs wash over is a worthy investment. Though rooted in classic influences, Gotts Street Park’s long-awaited debut evokes a lo-fi urban Britain that sounds intricately designed, never inorganic. Pity they’re only touring their home country for now. -Gavin Dahl
Check out: Summer Breeze, Tell Me Why, Got to be Good, Mountains, Strawberry Dream

Other notable releases:

Robert Finley / Black Bayou
King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard / The Silver Cord
DJ Shadow / Action Adventure
The Rolling Stones / Hackney Diamonds
Sampha / Lahai
Bombay Bicycle Club / My Big Day
Glen Hansard / All That Was East Is West of Me Now
Israel Nash / Ozarker
Dylan LeBlanc / Coyote
Jamila Woods / Water Made Us
L'Rain / I Killed Your Dog
Squirrel Flower / Tomorrow's Fire
Boygenius / The Rest EP
Sufjan Stevens / Javelin
The Kills / God Games

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