Stream: New releases from the Marías, Tyler the Creator, Saint Motel, Devora and more
Kevin Bronson on
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In which we try to catch up with last week’s deluge of releases — check these out, from The Marías, Tyler the Creator, Saint Motel, Devora, Alexandra Riorden, Pigeon Club and Paper Idol …
THE MARÍAS, “Cinema”
Sultry and sensual in three languages — English, Spanish and music — the Marías fulfill the promise, and then some, of their “Superclean” EPs, released in 2017 and ’18, respectively. Led by the single “Hush” but with plenty of other kindling for the fires of romance, “Cinema’s” ethereal, glossy pillow talk can turn the slightest crush into a feature film.
TYLER, THE CREATOR, “Call Me If You Get Lost”
Tyler, the Creator’s latest wild ride is more a rap album than 2019’s “Igor,” his pop album that won the Grammy for best rap album. Whatever, “Call Me” brings aboard Lil Uzi Vert, Pharrell Williams, Jamie xx, Lil Wayne and Ty Dolla $ign for an hour-long mixtape of slick, soulful, lavishly produced and lyrically dense tracks. Songs like “Lumberjack” do the heavy lifting, but blustery or tender, his stark and often humorous reflections make for grand theater.
SAINT MOTEL, “The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack”
L.A.’s favorite song-and-dance men reach the end of their trilogy with the arrival of their 15-song full-length, which was released five songs at a time. Of the five new ones on the album, “It’s All Happening” is the highlight, but as always, the quartet bounces through styles … well, stylishly. All hail the hook and Saint Motel’s penchant for turning them into a party. (Speaking of, they do a three-night run at the Roxy Sept. 30-Oct. 2 and play the Observatory Oct. 5.)
ALEXANDRA RIORDEN, “Angel City Radio”
Singer-songwriter Alexandra Riorden drenches episodes of personal trauma (the passing of her uncle and being the victim of a home invasion among them) in psych-pop and indie-rock with a Lynchian haze. Made with co-producer Max Collier Goldenstein, the album is full of little revelations and vital self-assurances, the latter reflecting Riorden’s desire “it’s also important for me to never leave a song in an abysmally heavy place.” Start with “Animals” and “The Barrier,” then try a little “Tenderness.”
PIGEON CLUB, “Pigeon Club”
Starting with opener “Worry About It,” Wayne Whittaker’s debut as Pigeon Club reveals the heart of a cautious optimist and a troubadour’s sense for finding supporting evidence. Made with co-producer and multi-instrumentalist John Would (and some notable guests), “Pigeon Club’s” understated folk-rock is stuff of a thousand conversations, many of which could go long into the night.
PAPER IDOL, “Mania Days”
Matan Koplin-Green has a neuroscience degree, and his music as Paper Idol is a big vat of dopamine for electronic pop fans. His six-song EP “Mania Days” — highlighted by the brainiest of the bunch, “Clouds” — goes over the top at times but at least the view is good from up there.
DEVORA, “Outlaw”
The five-song EP “Outlaw” introduces Devora, the rough-and-tumble, femme-fatale persona of Ariel Levitan. She spins foreboding tales informed by her desert upbringing in small-town Arizona — “outlaw pop” with a Goth-Western sensibility and a cinematic reach brought to a boil by producers Cass Dillon and Alex Aldi. Start with “Not Dead Yet,” then sink your teeth into the video for “Body Bag.”
||| Also: See our interview with Coma Culture on their debut album “Camouflage”
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