Each week Release Day Picks profiles new LPs and EPs Team JamBase will be checking out on release day Friday. This week we highlight new albums by Vampire Weekend, The Felice Brothers, Tank and the Bangas and The Fearless Flyers. Read on for more insight into the records we have all queued up to spin.
Vampire Weekend – Father Of The Bride
The Scoop: Vampire Weekend’s fourth studio album, Father Of The Bride, is the band’s first without co-founding member Rostam Batmanglij following his departure in 2016 and it’s also their major label debut for Columbia Records. Frontman Ezra Koenig worked primarily with producer Ariel Rechtshaid on the 23-track double album. Additional production was provided by Batmanglij, Lacy, BloodPop, DJ Dahi, Buddy Ross and Dave Macklovitch. The follow-up to 2013’s Modern Vampires Of The City features guest appearances by Danielle Haim, Greg Leisz, Dave Longstreth, Jake Longstreth, Jenny Lewis and Steve Lacy. “I know that 5-6 years is considered a long time between records,” said Koenig. “Personally, I think it’s a dignified pace befitting a band that’s already placed three albums in stores but everyone has their own sense of time. (I swear the time between two and four felt shorter to me than two and three. I may be in the minority on this one.) This album didn’t really take any longer to write/record than MVOTC. We just took more time on the front end to chill. I’ll admit I may have stretched out the mixing/mastering process (aka THE END) a little bit cuz spending half the day with my family and half the day at Ariel’s is my ideal life-rhythm and it’s painful to say goodbye to that rhythm.”
The Felice Brothers – Undress
The Scoop: The Felice Brothers‘ first record in three years showcases their new lineup as a quartet. Founding members Ian and James Felice are joined by drummer Will Lawrence and bassist Jesske Hume, who joined the band towards the end of 2017. The politically-charged LP was produced by Jeremy Backofen and recorded live to tape in Upstate New York. “Many of the songs on the new album are motivated by a shift from private to public concerns,” Ian Felice shared. “It isn’t hard to find worthwhile things to write about these days, there are a lot of storms blooming on the horizon and a lot of chaos that permeates our lives. The hard part is finding simple and direct ways to address them.”
Tank And The Bangas – Green Balloon
The Scoop: Here’s something that hasn’t been written in six years: Tank & The Bangas have a new album out today. Green Balloon is the long-awaited follow-up to 2013’s Think Tank. The New Orleans-based band’s Verve Forecast debut contains 17 tracks and features contributions from Robert Glasper and Alex Isley. Jack Splash, Mark Batson, Zaytoven, Louie Lastic and Robert Glasper shared production duties on the record. “Green Balloon is a sister to Think Tank,” said lead singer Tarriona “Tank” Ball. “Think Tank was 12, and Green Balloon is 16 and having sex. She’s out there.”
The Fearless Flyers – The Fearless Flyers II
The Scoop: Vulfpeck offshoot The Fearless Flyers seem to be as prolific as Vulfpeck. The band’s second album, The Fearless Flyers II is out now just eight months after the release of their debut. The Fearless Flyers consist of Vulfpeck bassist Joe Dart and collaborating guitarist Cory Wong plus Snarky Puppy guitarist Mark Lettieri and drummer Nate Smith. Joey Dosik, another Vulfpeck family member, adds to one track while famed mandolinist Chris Thile contributes to two others. Vulfpeck frontman Jack Stratton produced the six-track effort.
Compiled by Jeffrey Greenblatt, Andy Kahn and Scott Bernstein.
