Trying something new here — whenever there’s a week with some especially awesome releases, I’ll list out my favorites. So here’s a couple albums you have to check out (and a single as well).
YOLA — Stand For Myself (Easy Eye Sound)
One of my favorite records I’ve had a chance to listen to weeks ahead of its release, British singer-songwriter Yola really hits a home run on this record, produced by Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys. It’s got some awesome disco and pop that builds on Yola’s Americana roots. The title track from this record is a “fuck you” anthem for the books. It’s a fantastic listen start to finish and I can’t wait to see Yola tour behind this record. Make sure to catch her at Ohana Festival in September!
Durand Jones & The Indications — Private Space (Dead Oceans/Colemine Records)
This is a band that just keeps getting better and better. The contrast between the vocal stylings of Durand Jones and the falsetto of Aaron Frazer give this band some real depth. It’s a throwback sound and you can dance and groove or make out to basically anything on this record. My favorites are album opener “Love Will Work It Out” — which carries a vibe of Bobby Caldwell’s “What You Won’t Do For Love” — and the first single “Witchoo” — which has a get it on the dance floor vibe.
You can catch them a couple nights on Sept. 21 and Sept. 22 at the Hollywood Palladium and also at Ohana Festival on Sept. 24.
Zella Day – “Golden”
Zella Day has gone in a much different direction than her more straight-forward pop debut album Kicker (which I loved). “Golden” has a much more ’70s dance pop vibe — something you could have seen Donna Summer singing. It’s not quite disco but it has some groovy ass bass lines and Day’s voice fits it perfectly.
