6 new local albums to check out this month
There are fewer entries than usual for our monthly roundup of the best new Milwaukee music.
But there are also more songs than usual. That’s because for the first time in a long time, we’re focusing exclusively on EPs and full-length albums instead of singles.
Here are my six favorite new Milwaukee albums and EPs to check out this September, listed in alphabetical order.
‘BDL,’ Bicentennial Drug Lord
In 1997, Milwaukee musicians John Daniels and Alan Weatherhead from Soda and Rick Donner from Punchdrunk released a one-and-done album as alt-country act Bicentennial Drug Lord. Here comes the unexpected follow-up a quarter-century later, but they’re not exactly picking up where they left off. Aside from the lonesome country tune “The Traffic Outside,” Bicentennial Drug Lord have crafted an arresting indie-rock EP with dreamy melodies breaking through the intentionally lo-fi production.
‘Black and White,’ Billy Russo
There isn’t actually a guy named Billy Russo in Billy Russo — the trio consists of guitarist and singer Nick Pearson, bassist Tyler Stefanski and drummer Chris Struve — but you’ll swear you’re hearing Jack White on “Away,” the way Pearson tries to match his blistering blues-rock guitar work with unhinged vocals. But while Russo owes some debt to White, “Black and White” also goes places White never has. Billy Russo opens for Mantra at XRay Arcade, 5036 S. Packard Ave. in Cudahy, at 6 p.m. Sept. 30. Tickets are $8 in advance at $10 day of show.
‘Holler If You Hear Me,’ Altered Five Blues Band
Singer Jeff Taylor ends this 13-song collection on “Big Shout Out” calling out some of the greats that came before them — B.B. King, John Lee Hooker,
Muddy Waters, Ma Rainey and more — and it’s easy to imagine all of those greats admiring the kind of Chicago roadhouse blues Altered Five has mastered. And it’s not just technique — although Taylor’s bright baritone is superbly matched by Jeff Schroedel’s smokin’ guitar chops. It’s the soul that comes through the words and the music, and sometimes, the sharp sense of humor, like when Taylor comically lists off all the people that have ripped him off on “Where’s My Money?” “Holler If You Hear Me” will be released Sept. 3. The band plays the UScellular Connection Stage at 2 p.m. Sept. 11 during Summerfest.
‘Idle Voices,’ Sleepersound
Sleepersound takes their time. You don’t have to be familiar with the history of their releases to understand this, although their last album was three years ago. On “Idle Voices,” it’s quickly apparent that meticulous attention to detail and pacing was paid on each of the six atmospheric indierock tracks. This is thoughtful music that demands the kind of devotion and attention its makers have put in to its existence.
‘Swim Out Past the Breakers,’ Telethon
The Midwestern power-pop band, whose members are scattered about but call Milwaukee their home base, made one of the most daunting first impressions you can fathom with a 30track, 90-minute rock opera in 2017 called “The Grand Spontanean.” The track lists have wisely shrunk since then, but the quintet’s ambitions, and sense of joy, are towering as ever on “Swim Out Past the Breakers,” embracing everything from dizzying clarinet runs to ska-flavored horns to sweeping cinematic strings to a humming harmonica contribution from former Hold Steady member Franz Nicolay. Telethon plays a record release show at 7 p.m. Saturday at X-Ray Arcade in Cudahy. Tickets are $10.
‘A Tribute to the ‘Top Gun’ Motion Picture Soundtrack,’ Arctic Sleep and Friends
Like all of us, the doom-metal group had their fill of doom in 2020, so to blow off some steam they recruited some musician friends to recreate six tracks from the 1986 “Top Gun” soundtrack. Their take on “Danger Zone” sung by Craig Cirinelli is a grinning homage, necessarily ridiculous but loving all the same, while Arctic Sleep delightfully push Berlin’s “Take My Breath Away” to the breaking point, with Donna Diane’s bombastic vocals becoming more outlandish as the song reaches for its big finish.
“Must-Hear Milwaukee Music” runs on or around the first of every month in the Journal Sentinel and at jsonline .com. If you have a new album, EP or song coming out, contact Piet Levy at plevy@journalsentinel.com for review consideration. Follow him on Twitter at @pietlevy or Facebook at facebook .com/PietLevyMJS.