Category: Album of the Week

Album of the Week: The Lone Below – Love Songs For Losers

New Zealand Net Radio plays a song from our irregularly updated #albumoftheweek every hour from 9am to 12pm. Listen in @tunein at http://tun.in/sfAtE

Aaron Dessner (The National) teamed up with The Lone Bellow for this great album that has just grown on us over the past week. Developing their Country/Americana sound to a more Indie sound it is a great collection of memorable songs that highlight the bands vocal talents, especially their beautiful harmonies. AllMusic describe the album as offering “creative abundance and possibility”. We look forward to exploring it this week.

Album of the Week: Taylor Swift – Midnights

New Zealand Net Radio plays a song from our irregularly updated #albumoftheweek every hour from 9am to 12pm. Listen in @tunein at http://tun.in/sfAtE

There is always a perverse desire to avoid choosing an obvious choice for Album of the Week, particularly on a week when Taylor Swift releases a new LP. Once again we ignore that temptation despite a number of other strong new releases this week – Arctic Monkeys, Carly Rae Jepsen, Simple Minds, A-ha, Meghan Trainor and Tegan and Sara are some alternatives that spring to mind. Perhaps in coming weeks. Midnights harkens back to the sound and some of the melodic tricks of Lover however contains sufficient inventiveness (especially in the lyrics) to be evidence of Swift’s continued songwriting prowess (and incredible output!).

Album of the Week: Tove Lo – Dirt Femme

New Zealand Net Radio plays a song from our irregularly updated #albumoftheweek every hour from 9am to 12pm. Listen in @tunein at http://tun.in/sfAtE

Tove Lo produces another solid collection of dance oriented pop with her perspective on relationships and identity. The Telegraph described it as a “riot of feisty, unapologetically forthright, dance-led pop”.

Album of the Week: Marcus Mumford – (untitled)

New Zealand Net Radio plays a song from our irregularly updated #albumoftheweek every hour from 9am to 12pm. Listen in @tunein at http://tun.in/sfAtE

Marcus Mumford felt the need to flex his songwriting muscles during lockdown. Instead of collaborating with his usual “Mumford & Sons” collective he created this solo album, working with producer Blake Mills. He deals with some very personal issues on here (NME describes it as “undoubtedly an emotional and often heart-breaking listen”), but also maintains his distinctive style.

Album of the Week: O’Jays – Back Stabbers

New Zealand Net Radio plays a song from our irregularly updated #albumoftheweek every hour from 9am to 12pm. Listen in @tunein at http://tun.in/sfAtE

Although we usually highlight new albums in the Album of the Week slot, this year we head back 50 years to the release of the O’Jays breakthrough album. The group had been around since the late 1950s, but it was Back Stabbers that took them to the big time, particularly with the single “Love Train” which was their biggest and best known hit. This album belongs in any serious soul collection and has been described as “the Pinnacle of Philly soul”.

Album of the Week: Maggie Rogers – Surrender

New Zealand Net Radio plays a song from our irregularly updated #albumoftheweek every hour from 9am to 12pm. Listen in @tunein at http://tun.in/sfAtE

We’ve been following Maggie Rogers career for a few years, and she’s produced another great body of work. Collaborating with Kid Harpoon (who played a big part in Harry Styles’ latest megahit) she is refocused but still inspired. A very smart lady (she has also knocked out a Harvard Masters in the last couple of years) she has produced what Pitchfork calls an album of “confident pop anthems” – from a point of burnout after years of touring (and study!) she has actually produced a joyful collection.

Album of the Week: Pacific Heights – The Waters Between

New Zealand Net Radio plays a song from our irregularly updated #albumoftheweek every hour from 9am to 12pm. Listen in @tunein at http://tun.in/sfAtE

Devin Abrams’ fourth album as Pacific Heights, this is an accomplished collection years in the making. A combination of electronic and pop, he worked with some talented collaborators including Stan Walker, Larissa Lambert, Foley and Louis Baker, and we love Bri Clark’s voice on “This Is What It Feels Like”. We look forward to exploring these songs this week – worth also listening to this interview Devin had with the 13th Floor podcast.

Album of the Week: James Bay – Leap

New Zealand Net Radio plays a song from our irregularly updated #albumoftheweek every hour from 9am to 12pm. Listen in @tunein at http://tun.in/sfAtE

British singer-songwriter James Bay is back – and he’s got his hat back on! On track to be his second UK No. 1 album , and deservedly so. We’ve been enjoying some of the singles for a while but this is filled with great accomplished material. NME‘s take is that “it might not be as experimental as his previous album, but ‘Leap’ is full of enough nuance and texture to keep people on their toes”.

Album of the Week: Imagine Dragons – Mercury Acts 1 & 2

New Zealand Net Radio plays a song from our irregularly updated #albumoftheweek every hour from 9am to 12pm. Listen in @tunein at http://tun.in/sfAtE

After Mercury Act 1 last year comes the second disk, and completed double album. The first act focused on loss after frontman Dan Reynolds lost his best friend and sister. Act 2 focusses on moving forward and is a great collection of rock recorded in collaboration with Rick Rubin. As usual the band have delivered on melodic impactful music, and we’re sure that Pitchfork will enjoy the second disk as much as the first!