Luxi, Reyna among local artists with top-notch new releases
In this month’s edition of MustHear Milwaukee Music, we’re featuring a couple releases from artists who aren’t actually in Milwaukee.
But read on, and you’ll see why they deserve a shoutout.
Here’s our rundown of a dozen top local albums, EPs and songs released within the past month, or set to come out in November.
(A head’s up that Must-Hear Milwaukee Music will take a break in December; keep an eye out for our lists of the best local albums and songs of 2018 early next month. Must-Hear will be back for a new year of local music roundups Jan. 1.)
1. “Parallels,” Shle Berry: “I think you change people’s opinions by opening up your heart, and showing the parallels between you and another person,” the singer and rapper says on “Shoot Me Down.” She does just that on her new EP, confronting her insecurities and finding her strengths, and offering a fresh perspective in a maledominated hip-hop landscape.
2. “No More Questions,” Big Mother Gig: After releasing a well-received album, “Smiling Politely,” in 1996, the alt-rock band broke up when frontman Richard Jankovich moved to Los Angeles. (In L.A., he had some success with electropop group the Burnside Project, and currently runs an in-store music promotion agency). Twenty-two years later, the reunited Gig is back with a new album, and while rock doesn’t have the same cultural resonance, Gig’s anthemic hooks, gruff vocals and muscular guitars still resonate.
3. “Ceiling Spirits,” Ceiling Spirits: Recorded in three countries across two years, with noted producer Gareth Jones (Depeche Mode) overseeing the project, Milwaukee-based electronic artist Mario Quadrucci’s debut Ceiling Spirits project is a stunner, evoking Odesza and “Blade Runner” composer Vangelis, and matching their emotional and musical grandeur.
4. “Driveway Thriftdwellers,” Driveway Thriftdwellers: The altcountry band from Milwaukee and Madison releases another collection of sharp story-songs, ranging from “Grandpa’s Tattoos,” with singer Jon Knudson reflecting on a man he loved but could never fully understand, and the clever “This Might Hurt a Little Bit” that equates love to dental exams. Driveway Thriftdwellers will play an album release show Nov. 9 at Twisted Path Distillery, 2018 S. 1st St.
5. “Till The Cows Come Home,” Mike Fredrickson: Fredrickson has written a whole lot of songs — “Cows” is his 17th studio solo album — and has become a concise writer in the process, creating a series of smart powerpop toe-tappers that often hover around the two-minute mark. Fredrickson plays an album release show Nov. 16 at Linneman’s Riverwest Inn, 1001 E. Locust St.
6. “Perpetually Sad Motion Machine,” Guerrilla Ghost: Duo Tron Jovi and Bad Graphics Ghost capture the outrage of our troubling times, tackling racism, gender double-standards, social media narcissism and other hot topics through grimy, explosive, and ultimately cathartic, hip-hop. Guerrilla Ghosts’s release show is Nov. 23 at Cactus Club, 2496 S. Wentworth Ave.
7. “Lost Cause,” KennyHoopla: Singing, through distorted vocals, of being born with a target on his head, KennyHoopla’s a real discovery on “Lost Cause,” resembling the detached cool and tragic fatalism of the Weeknd’s early material.
8. “Lost Letters (Of Seraphina),” Luxi: The electronic artist created an absorbing sonic world last year with her dreamy 10th album, “Geometric Universe.” She’s created a virtual one, a video game component, about a woman searching for answers in a post-apocalyptic world, to complement her latest album — which also is her most deeply felt and absorbing album yet. Luxi’s “Lost Letters” release show is Thursday at Cactus Club.
9. “High On Your Love,” Amber Mark: The rising R&B artist has no ties to Milwaukee, but her latest is a cover of a song by Kings Go Forth, the David Byrne-endorsed 10-piece soul group that disbanded in 2011. Mark’s swoonworthy rendition is the next best thing to the band getting back together.
10. “Bandit,” Moses: Leukemia nearly killed Moses, but two years after his diagnosis, the electronic producer, now cancer-free, has bounced back with his sleekest, most popfriendly tune to date, while still maintaining a dark edge and distinct sonic thumbprint. Moses plays a show Friday at Bad Genie, 789 N. Jefferson St.
11. “Heartbeat,” Reyna: The Banuelos sisters Vic and Gab have an astounding batting average when it comes to premium-quality, instantly catchy, emotionally stirring pop gems, and the streak continues with a tune as sumptuous as pop darlings Carly Rae Jepsen and Troye Sivan’s most infectious bangers.
12. “Modern Abrasive,” Telethon: Anything compared to the power-pop band’s last release — a five-act, 30track rock opera — will seem slight. But the band is hardly slumming it on this EP, which includes a surprisingly poignant song about incense, “Palo Santo,” and how fragile and fleeting tranquility can be. The EP is out Nov. 9.