October 6

Citizen: As You Please 

Run for Cover Records’ favorite rock band, Citizen, returns with its fourth album called As You Please. Expect to find plenty of emo-meets-hardcore on this record. 

Liam Gallagher: As You Were

Oasis Brit-pop legend Liam Gallagher is set to release his first official solo album. It’s been 23 years since Oasis’ first album, Definitely Maybe. The singles for Gallagher’s As You Were combine show youthful vigor but are heavily influenced by 90s rock nostalgia.  

TOKiMONSTA: Lune Rouge 

TOKiMONSTA is an exciting DJ from Los Angeles. She is perhaps best known for her song “The World is Ours,” which samples Wes Montgomery’s “In Your Own Sweet Way” and Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell’s “If This World Were Mine.” On Cilvia Demo, Isaiah Rashad’s producer Sounwave used “The World is Ours” to make the beat for the song “Menthol.” TOKiMONSTA’s latest single, “No Way,” features a mellow verse from Rashad. 

Wolf Parade: Cry Cry Cry

Montreal’s own Wolf Parade went from opening for Arcade Fire in 2003 to releasing a 25-song deluxe album called Apologies to Queen Mary in 2016. If you’re looking for some music that seems like it should be good but really sounds generic, Cry Cry Cry will provide you with faux-hipster delights. 

Kele Okereke: Fatherland

Kele Okereke is the lead singer and guitarist for Bloc Party. He has released some music in the past under the name Kele but now officially goes by his full given name, Kele Okereke. The lead single for Fatherland, “Do U Right,” is an essential for an easy-listening playlist. Okereke’s voice is strong when he desires yet can be vulnerable when the moment is right. 

 

October 13

Beck: Morning Phase

I still can’t decide if I like Beck’s “Loser” or not. Maybe I’m a loser for not loving the “magic of Beck.” I acknowledge his importance and songwriting skills, but I’m not an expert on his discography. Maybe Morning Phase will serve as a proper introduction for me. Maybe I need to go listen to Mellow Gold first.  

Courtney Barnett & Kurt Vile: Lotta Sea Life

Courtney Barnett & Kurt Vile’s collab album is one of the most anticipated albums of the year. Barnett’s Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit and Vile’s b’lieve i’m going down… were both top 10 albums of 2015. Barnett and Vile’s “Over Everything” is about exploring solitude and writer’s block while a blues riff hangs over everything.  

King Krule: The Ooz

If you don’t know King Krule, watch the “Easy Easy” music video and then come back. So, now you’re ready for more too? Mark your calendars for October 13, Colgate Day, for the return of a King Krule solo album. 

dvsn: Morning After

dvsn is one of the many ‘OVO-R&B’ artists like Majid Jordan, Roy Woods, and PARTYNEXTDOOR. dvsn is a duo that provides some ambient R&B that sits on the periphery and is good if you’re looking for some Drake-esque music. 

St. Vincent: Masseducation

St. Vincent, a name inspired by a grandmother and the hospital where the poet Dylan Thomas died, is back with new, artsy music. Get ready for a New York-Los Angeles dichotomy, sparky videos and an album that will make you question the function of music genres. 

Gucci Mane: Mr. Davis

The former ice-cream-cone-face-tattooed rapper will release yet another album this month after unforeseen delays. Mr. Davis will continue to provide the omnipresent Atlanta sound that largely defines contemporary hip-hop. 

Wu-Tang Clan: Wu-Tang: The Saga Continues

Does the legend of the Wu-Tang Clan live on? Surely it does as the saga continues. I’m surprised to see a Wu-Tang release but at the same time I’m not. Although I’m a huge fan of 36 Chambers, I don’t know how much I’ll like this new album. 

 

October 27

Weezer: Pacific Daydream 

Another day, another Weezer album. After “Beverly Hills” and “Buddy Holly,” Weezer fell under my radar. The lead album single, “Beach Boys,” sounds oddly new and different from old Weezer. As they say in the song, it’s a hip-hop world. 

 

Briefly Noted:

October 20

The Smiths: 

The Queen is Dead: 30th Anniversary Reissue

Spoon: 

Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga: 10th Anniversary Reissue

Sufjan Stevens: 

The Greatest Gift Mixtape: Outtakes,

Remixes, and Demos from Carrie & Lowell 

Frank Zappa: 

Halloween 77 Box Set

Grandaddy: 

Under the Western Freeway: 20th Anniversary Reissue

Contact Tristan Niskanen at [email protected].