ANIMAL COLLECTIVE, THE FLAMING LIPS, THE EASTERN SEA

This week is another that’s light on releases but heavy on things we’ve been waiting to hear for a long time. Animal Collective are giving us a single, and the first taste of their sounds to come, Flaming Lips let us hear what Ke$ha sounds like when she’s trying to be serious (or not) and Ty Segall, A Place to Bury Strangers, and The Eastern Sea are back.

ANIMAL COLLECTIVE – HONEYCOMB/GOTHAM 7″

Even though it’s only a 7”, any new Animal Collective (@animalcollective) release is cause for celebration. The singles have been out for a while, and now you can listen to them on your own computer (or record player if you’re cool like that). Enjoy this one — who knows the next time will be that we can celebrate a new Animal Collective release.

TY SEGALL BAND – SLAUGHTERHOUSE

Ty Segall (@tysegall) has been having a busy summer, already releasing the fantastic record Hair with White Fence. His signature brand of poetic, lo-fi beach rock is perfect for this time of the year and promises to be just as subtly brilliant as his other releases.

THE FLAMING LIPS – FLAMING LIPS & HEADY FWENDS

This collaborative studio album from our generation’s weirdest rockers, The Flaming Lips (@theflaminglips) has been making headlines for a while, though it’s because of a naked Erica Badu and not the music. With collaborations from the likes of Badu, Nick Cave, Ke$ha, Tame Impala, Neon Indian and many more, it’s sure to be nothing short of super interesting, and hopefully super good.

A PLACE TO BURY STRANGERS – WORSHIP

Influential noise rock band A Place to Bury Strangers (@aptbs) are releasing their third full-length record this week, three years after their last album. Their atmospheric walls of sound were greatly missed, and we certainly can’t wait for another batch of epic tunes.

THE EASTERN SEA – PLAGUE

Austin-based band The Eastern Sea (@theeasternsea) have followed up their 2009 self-titled debut with Plague, a record that’s already one of my favorite albums of the year.  With songs like “The Match”, “The Line”, “The Lie”, and “Central Cemetary”, the band has concocted a stunning record with a wonderfully melancholic mixture of delicate vocals, driving percussion, and orchestral arrangements. Don’t be surprised if many of the tracks bring to mind Death Cab for Cutie and Sufjan Stevens (never a bad thing).  Plague is an album that can rip you apart if it hits you right.  You can buy it here.