With so much good music being released all the time, it can be hard to determine what to listen to first. Every week, Pitchfork offers a run-down of significant new releases available on streaming services. This week’s batch includes new albums from J. Cole, Neil Young, Ab-Soul, the-Dream, the Microphone, the Orchestra of Syrian Musicians, and Hodgy.
J. Cole: 4 Your Eyez Only [Dreamville/Roc Nation]
After releasing a behind-the-scenes documentary called Eyez, which featured two new songs (one seemingly a Kanye West diss), J. Cole has released his fourth studio LP, 4 Your Eyez Only. Like his last album, 2014 Forest Hills Drive (which famously went double platinum), there are no featured artists.
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Neil Young: Peace Trail [Reprise]
Peace Trail is Neil Young’s second album of 2016, following the live record EARTH. Recorded at Rick Rubin’s Shangri La Studios in Malibu, Young produced Peace Trail along with John Hanlon. Watch the video for the album’s “Indian Givers,” which features footage from the Dakota Access Pipeline protests at Standing Rock.
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Ab-Soul: Do What Thou Wilt. [Top Dawg Entertainment]
Do What Thou Wilt*.* follows Ab-Soul’s 2014 LP These Days.... It features labelmates Schoolboy Q and SZA, frequent collaborators Mac Miller and Da$h, Rapsody, and more. Watch Ab-Soul’s “Huey Knew” music video.
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The-Dream: Love You to Death EP [Roc Nation]
The-Dream’s new EP is his first release since the short film Genesis, which featured 10 new songs. The five-track EP includes a Rihanna-alluding cut called “Rih Flex.” (The-Dream co-wrote a number of Rihanna songs, including “Umbrella.”)
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The Microphones: Early Tapes, 1996 – 1998 [P.W. Elverum & Sun]
Early Tapes, 1996 – 1998 is a new collection of unreleased Microphones recordings. The physical version of the LP comes with “a poster with notes and reflections and context and lyrics and photos from the archives.”
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The Orchestra of Syrian Musicians: Africa Express Presents... The Orchestra of Syrian Musicians & Guests [Transgressive]
Among the guests on the Orchestra of Syrian Musicians’ new album are Damon Albarn and Julia Holter. In 2015, Africa Express presented Terry Riley’s In C Mali.
Listen on Google Play Music
Hodgy: Fireplace: TheNotTheOtherSide [Columbia]
Fireplace: TheNotTheOtherSide is the debut studio album from Odd Future co-founder Hodgy. It’s his third release of 2016 following the Dukkha** and They Watchin Lofi Series 1 mixtapes. Fireplace features Lil Wayne, Busta Rhymes, and Salomon Faye, as well as production from BADBADNOTGOOD, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Knxwledge, Nottz, 88-Keys, and more.
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