5 New Albums to Stream Today
Images via Liam MacRae, The Free Nationals, Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Music Lists New Albums
The end of 2019 is nigh! Album releases are trickling out slower than your local hardware store’s last shipment of Christmas trees, but there’s still music worth checking out as the year winds down. Today, we’re greeted with an early-career demo collection from emo favorites American Football, Duster’s first album in more than two decades and the long-awaited sophomore solo record from the one and only Harry Styles. Here’s everything noteworthy out today, December 13.
1. American Football: Year One Demos
Just in time to celebrate the 20-year anniversary of American Football’s classic self-titled debut album, the band are sharing Year One Demos, a collection of previously unreleased instrumental recordings. The compilation includes versions of “Five Silent Miles,” “Summer Ends” and “For Sure,” among other favorites from the revered indie group’s catalogue. The band shared their third self-titled album earlier this year. —Ellen Johnson
2. Duster: Duster
Duster inspired a whole musical generation (including (Sandy) Alex G, Snail Mail and Girlpool) with their obscure late ’90s slowcore records, leading to a resurgence 18 years after their breakup in 2000. Today they’re releasing their first new album in nearly 20 years. Last month, they gave us the first preview of Duster with the entrancing lead single, “Copernicus Crater.” “Letting Go,” the second single, isn’t quite as hypnotic as the psych-inflected “Copernicus Crater.” The band’s gauzy “tranq-rock” sounds a little more straightforward here, though it’s as fuzzed-out and feedback-laden as ever. —Amanda Gersten
3. Free Nationals: Free Nationals
Perhaps best known for being Anderson .Paak’s live band, Free Nationals are finally releasing an album of their own. Featuring a host of the funky group’s musical friends and peers—including Kali Uchis, Mac Miller, Unknown Mortal Orchestra and JID, among others—Free Nationals is comprised of several previously released singles in addition to new material. —Ellen Johnson
4. Harry Styles: Fine Line
The long-awaited second solo album from former One Direction frontman-turned-it-guy Harry Styles is finally here. Featuring previously released singles “Lights Up,” “Watermelon Sugar” and “Adore You,” Fine Line arrives at a pivotal moment in Styles’ career. Will this album transcend the hype surrounding his self-titled debut from 2017? And will this music position him as the androgynous, mature superstar he seems destined to become? —Ellen Johnson
5. Kaytranada: BUBBA
The sophomore record from Canadian producer and DJ Kaytranada drops today on RCA. The album follows his debut album 99.9 %, which we named one of the 100 best albums of the 2010s. BUBBA features Pharrell, Tinashe, Estelle and GoldLink, among others. —Ellen Johnson