Seven in Seven

Welcome to Seven in Seven, where each week we would typically take a look at concerts coming to the region. With most shows on hold due to the pandemic, here’s a look at seven of the best albums being released June 18:

1

Tom Morello and the Bloody Beetroots — “The Catastrophists” Guitarist Tom Morello and the punk-fueled electronic artist The Bloody Beetroots have teamed up for a seven-track collaborative EP, “The Catastrophists.” Morello is best known for his innovative fretwork as a member of Rage Against the Machine and Audioslave. He has also delivered multiple solo efforts. The Bloody Beetroots is the creation of Sir Bob Cornelius Rifo. Inspired by his lifelong love of punk rock and comic books, he unleashed the project in late 2006 and has since crafted an intense sound that mixes his classical training, punk rock obsession and passion for electronic music into an edgy rock-meets-dance hybrid sound.

2

Azure Ray — “Remedy”

Twenty years have passed since Maria Taylor and Orenda Fink released their self-titled debut record as Azure Ray. Those familiar with their work now know that it was the tragic death of Taylor’s then-boyfriend that abruptly transformed the duo’s relationship to music; their alt-rock roots gave way to the now signature, dreamlike soundscapes that became known as “whisper core” with songs like “Sleep” and “Rise.” The influence of Taylor and Fink’s hushed and intimate delivery, combined with hypnotic atmospherics, is unmistakably influential. Now the pair’s timeless, genre-defining sound returns with a bold new fortitude on “Remedy.”

3

The Novus — “Thaleia Standing”

Difficult to define in terms of simple categorization, the Novus extract influence from all areas of the musical spectrum, from ’70s psychedelic rock to contemporary post-punk. Hailing from the Midlands region of England, they are entirely enamored with every aspect of the eternal realm labeled art. On their debut EP, “Thaleia Standing,” those influences present themselves in the form of gritty, defiant guitars, growling punk vocals and a swaggering confidence driven solely by the sheer anger and need for change felt by the youth of today.

4 Monograms — “Floors and Ceilings”

Monograms is the alias of New York City-based solo artist Ian Jacobs. Repurposing the faded sounds of 1980s lo-fi and the broken remnants of Brooklyn dream-pop, he constructs a palette of post-apocalyptic soundscapes and warped atmospherics into his distinct “Nuke Wave” sound. The music of the project, evidenced on “Floors and Ceilings,” communicates a number of different notes with velocity, from post-punk to gritty pop and electronica, all within a clear postmodern approach. These angles often point Monograms’ sonic coding at other genre-defying artists from the heyday of college radio, as well as contemporary vibes that push and pull from different styles seamlessly, all within the same thread.

5 Eloise — “Somewhere In-Between”

Emerging UK artist Eloise was first drawn to music while growing up in rural France, where as a child she began to comb through her parents’ diverse record collection, take piano lessons and sing in a choir. In her early teens, back in London, she taught herself the guitar by mimicking the chord patterns she saw on YouTube. By age 17 she began to share acoustic covers on Instagram, gaining notable supporters including Billie Eilish, Sam Smith and Bruno Major. She did everything from writing to arranging her new mini-album, “Somewhere In-Between,” resulting in a huge artistic leap forward. Eloise has described the experience of writing the eight-track project as “emotional and cathartic,” while emphasizing the importance of maintaining boldness throughout the creative process.

6 The Rare Occasions — “Big Whoop”

The Rare Occasions’ latest, “Big Whoop,” is defined by the intensely DIY nature of the recording process by the indie rock trio. Almost every aspect of the production was done by the band. The recording sessions were all done in singer Brian McLaughlin’s living room and spare bedroom, where he also mixed the songs. Drummer Luke Imbusch composed the orchestral arrangements, recruiting and then conducting a live string quartet for the recording. The band collectively shares production credits, with each member bringing his own unique contributions to the table.

7 Country Westerns — “Country Westerns”

The songs for the Country Westerns’ new eponymous covers EP were recorded in the garage practice space at drummer Brian Kotzur’s house, a place that has served as home for the band since its beginnings. The garage rock trio’s self-titled debut record was released three months into the pandemic and, without a release show, tour or any of the usual fanfare that comes with new tunes, they set out to stay active by getting together a couple times a week to work on new songs and learn covers for fun. It resulted in one new original as well as interpretations of compositions by Dead Moon, Richard and Linda Thompson, and Jad Fair and Norman Blake.