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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 and mixtapes from Purple Mountains, Blood Orange, Jefre Cantu-Ledesma, Bleached, Mr. Muthafuckin’ eXquire, KAINA, and Joanna Sternberg. Subscribe to Pitchfork’s New Music Friday newsletter to get our recommendations in your inbox every week. (All releases featured here are independently selected by our editors. When you buy something through our affiliate links, however, Pitchfork may earn an affiliate commission.)
Purple Mountains: Purple Mountains [Drag City]
Purple Mountains is the debut from Silver Jews leader David Berman’s new band Purple Mountains. It’s Berman’s first album since Silver Jews issued Lookout Mountain, Lookout Sea in 2008. In his review of the album, named Best New Music, Sam Sodomsky calls Purple Mountains warm and immediate and states that “Berman’s writing has never sounded so exacting or direct.” Read Pitchfork’s track review of “All My Happiness Is Gone” and watch the music video for “Darkness and Cold.”
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Blood Orange: Angel‘s Pulse [Domino]
Devonté Hynes said that his new Blood Orange mixtape Angel’s Pulse is “somewhat of an epilogue” to last year’s Negro Swan. Hynes performed, produced, and mixed the tape. “I put as much work and care into it as I do with the albums I’ve released,” he said.
The 14-track tape includes contributions from Porches, Arca, Toro y Moi, Kelsey Lu, Tinashe, Justine Skye, mysterious internet figure BennY RevivaL, Gangsta Boo, and BROCKHAMPTON’s JOBA, who Hynes said “kind of has a big influence over the record.”
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Jefre Cantu-Ledesma: Tracing Back the Radiance [Mexican Summer]
Tracing Back the Radiance is Brooklyn-based ambient artist Jefre Cantu-Ledesma’s first solo LP since 2017’s On the Echoing Green. The new record includes contributions from Mary Lattimore (harp), Chuck Johnson (pedal steel guitar), and Gregg Kowalksy (synthesizer), among others.
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Bleached: Don’t You Think You’ve Had Enough? [Dead Oceans]
Don’t You Think You’ve Had Enough is Los Angeles punk duo Bleached’s first album made from a place of sobriety. Jessie Clavin wrote most of the instrumentation and Jennifer Clavin did most of the lyrics and melodies. The LP is produced by Shane Stoneback. Check out music videos for “Shitty Ballet,” “Hard to Kill,” and “Kiss You Goodbye.”
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Mr. Muthafuckin’ eXquire: Mr. Muthafuckin’ eXquire [Chocolate Rabbit]
Brooklyn rapper Mr. Muthafuckin’ eXquire has released his long-awaited debut album. Mr. Muthafuckin’ eXquire follows years of mixtapes (like 2011’s breakout Lost in Translation and 2013’s Kismet) and EPs (such as his lone major label entry Power & Passion and 2017’s comeback Brainiac), as well as the three entries in eX’s Christmas series. The new self-titled LP was led by the single “FCK Boy!”
In his Pitchfork review of the album, Phillip Mlynar writes that Mr. Muthafuckin’ eXquire’s lyrics offer “savvy political commentary and catharsis for those prepared to hear it.” Check out the Zones feature “Northeast Brooklyn With Mr. Muthafuckin’ eXquire” on Levels.
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KAINA: Next to the Sun [Sooper]
Next to the Sun is the debut LP from Chicago native KAINA. She co-produced the album with Sen Morimoto. Check out KAINA’s music videos for “Green” and “Could Be a Curse.”
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Joanna Sternberg: Then I Try Some More [Team Love]
New York singer, songwriter, musician, and visual artist Joanna Sternberg makes their debut with Then I Try Some More. Sternberg wrote and performed all the vocals and instruments on the album, which they co-produced with Joe Rogers.
In her review of the album for Pitchfork, Emma Madden writes, “Sternberg sings as though they’re one half of a conversation that turns from loving, to argumentative, to sleepy, and back again.” Joanna Sternberg is opening for Conor Oberst at U.S. shows later this month.
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