In case you haven’t noticed, keeping up with local release dates has become an increasingly difficult task. So many artists are opting to simply drop their records unannounced, which has made the task of covering local music more of a day-to-day scramble than a coordinated affair. We can talk about the relative strengths and weaknesses of this marketing approach later, but for now let’s all move forward knowing this list will only make up a fraction of the records that will get dropped this month.
But, hot damn, what a fraction! And a front-loaded one too. Seven of these records are already out in the world, including the latest from eletropop duo Hank & Cupcakes, the long-awaited third LP from alt-rock mainstays Swank Sinatra (three years late, but we’ll take it), and a surprise offering from math rock destroyers Hello Cobra. And that’s just July 1st, people.
Still, if you think you’ll be able to spend the next week playing catch up, we’ve got news for you: the best is yet to come. In just two days we’ll have new records from post-punk trio Omni who seem to be heading towards a breakout year, as well as country-folk crooner Ben Trickey and electronic/future soul composer Kakune. Add to this a new EP from the fast emerging ABRA and — brace yourselves — an honest to god live LP from the mighty Pylon recorded at their final show in 1983, and July is already going to be insane no matter what wave of unforeseen records get unveiled later this month.
Hank & Cupcakes – Cheap Thrill
Release Date: July 1
Label: Self-released
Release Info
Husband and wife duo Hank & Cupcakes unleash more of their high-energy electropop on their third full-length LP, Cheap Thrill. The ten-track effort is available on vinyl, CD, and digital.
Tracklist
01. Kiss Your Face
02. Boulevard
03. AHnk & Cupcakes – Ice Machine
04. Duplicate
05. Telephone Line
06. A Thousand Times
07. Old & New
08. Cheap Thrill
09. Waiting
10. See the Lie
More Info
Web: hankandcupcakes.com
Bandcamp: hankandcupcakes.bandcamp.com
Facebook: @HankandCupcakes
Instagram: @hankandcupcakes
SoundCloud: @hankandcupcakes
Twitter: @HankandCupcakes
YouTube: @HankandCupcakes
Swank Sinatra – Sober Cobra
Release Date: July 1
Label: Blood Drunk Records
Release Info
It seems like Sober Cobra, the new LP from Atlanta mainstays Swank Sinatra, has been in the making for years – three to be exact – but the final product is finally out and available for your listening pleasure. Fans will know what to expect – lots of heavy, funky, occasionally fast, demented music to groove to.
Tracklist
01. Vice Device
02. California is Overrated
03. Antiquities Roadshow
05. Feed the Birds
06. Nuclear Age
07. Secret Keeper
08. Cobra Suicide
09. Ramirez
More Info
Bandcamp: swanksinatra.bandcamp.com
Facebook: @swanksinatra
Twitter: @TheSwankSinatra
Hello Cobra – Hello Cobra
Release Date: July 1
Label: Self-released
Release Info
Instrumental math rockers Hello Cobra have managed to leave their mark on the scene with relatively little recorded output, so it will be interesting to see what happens now that they have a full LP under their belt. The 10-track Hello Cobra is available on CD and digital.
Tracklist
01. My Cat Rainbow
02. Ineritio
03. Beijing
04. White Adam
05. No Girls Allowed
06. Dr. Poppinlockin’
07. Count Chocula
08. Prick Moranis
09. The Waitress
10. Put Some Tape On It
More Info
Web: hellocobramusic.com
Bandcamp: hellocobraatl.bandcamp.com
Facebook: @HelloCobra
Instagram: @hellocobra
SoundCloud: @hello-cobra
Twitter: @HelloCobra
Pseudo Color – Seasons
Release Date: July 1
Label: Self-released
Release Info
Pseudo Color is the bedroom pop project of the prolific Kennesaw songwriter Keron Robinson. His latest LP, Seasons, was recorded and mixed by Bennett Kane at The Tone Loft and is available as a name your price download via Bandcamp.
Tracklist
01. Three Beauties
02. This Facade
03. Siren Song
04. Spring
05. Listless
06. Blue Envelope
07. Bleed For You
08. Summer
09. Aero
10. In The Fog (Alt)
11. Another Still
12. Fall
13. Cold
14. In the Fog
15. Virus
16. Winter
More Info
Bandcamp: pseudocolor.bandcamp.com
Facebook: @pseudocolor
SoundCloud: @pseudocolor
Distant Hymns – Dreaming Left Free
Release Date: July 1
Label: Persistentmidnight
Release Info
A collaboration between electronic composers C. Drew Haddon (Warning Light, Snowbride) and Jaye, Distant Hymns’ latest LP is, according to the artists, a “sleepy ambient collection of hazy electronic tunes and field recordings from across two states and several years.” The four-song effort is available now as a name your price download via Bandcamp.
Tracklist
01. Decaying in Evening Light
02. Waking Visions, Late at Night
03. A Fork in the Path (ambient redux)
04. Moon Eye Dome
More Info
Bandcamp: seeingthesights.bandcamp.com/
Waterboy – Splash
Release Date: July 4
Label: Self-released
Release Info
Not sure what to say about Atlanta newcomer Waterboy as I really know nothing about the young rapper other than he got Wiley From Atlanta to throw down a guest verse on his debut mixtape, Splash. That’s a good start, I guess.
Tracklist
01. Freshman Year (Intro) [prod. TOM BLAKK]
02. Respawn [prod. Very Rare® x Rob $urreal]
03. Splash (Feat. Crispy Bert x Theycallmexay) [prod. Weber]
04. Flexed & Finnesed (Feat. theycallmexay) [prod. Og Abi]
05. Interlude [prod. DEIVISS666]
06. On the Go (Feat. Wiley From Atlanta x Theycallmexay) [prod.@6Silky]
07. Look At Me [Prod. Yung Carrot]
08. Pn Jon- Hol’up (Remix) [prod. YUNGXAN]
09. I Wanna See [prod. Yung Pvps]
10. {Bonus} Ballin to the End Remix (Outro) [prod. Yung Carrot]
More Info
Instagram: @z_hailey
SoundCloud: @thewaterboy
Twitter: @hailey_zach
Jacket – Shitmonger
Release Date: July 5
Label: Self-released
Release Info
Rapper Jacket, a.k.a. Jake Cook, has quietly become a productive artist who has churned out three LPs in the last couple of years. His latest effort, Shitmonger, is out now and available via Bandcamp.
Tracklist
01. Air Force 420
02. Shoenice
03. High
04. Lalala Lalala
05. Green Impala
06. Vibes
07. The Work
08. Shitmonger
09. Featherweight
10. Captain Herb
Jacket will perform on Friday, July 22 at Under the Couch. Supporting him will be Wildrach, Brother Mary, and NEWMONEY. Doors open at 8 p.m. Admission is FREE for Tech students or $5 otherwise.
More Info
Bandcamp: ridiculousjacket.bandcamp.com
Facebook: @ridiculousjacket
Twitter: @jacketATL
Omni – Deluxe
Release Date: July 8
Label: Trouble in Mind Records
Release Info
Atlanta post-punks Omni may be made up of longtime scene vets, but the geometric sounds they are crafting sound fresh and new. Their ten-song debut, Deluxe, is out July 8 and will be available on vinyl, CD, and digital.
Tracklist
01. Afterlife
02. Wednesday Wedding
03. Wire
04. Earrings
05. Jungle Jenny
06. Cold Vermouth
07. Eyes on the Floor
08. Siam
09. Plane
10. 78
Omni will celebrate the release of Deluxe on Thursday, July 7 at Brigantine Beer Parlor and Recreation Hall. Doors open at 8 p.m. Admission is FREE.
More Info
Facebook: @omniatl
Instagram: @omnideluxe
SoundCloud: @omni-band
Twitter: @omniatl
Ben Trickey – Choke & Croon
Release Date: July 8
Label: Anthem Breath Records
Release Info
Singer-songwriter Ben Trickey is preparing the release of his third full length, Choke & Croon, which promises to be another batch of beautiful, downcast songs for contemplative souls. The nine-song LP will be available on vinyl, CD, and digital on July 8.
Tracklist
01. Chin Up, Kid
02. Toenail Moon
03. Alabama
04. Monster
05. 529
06. Roll, Roll
07. Bombs
08. New Kids
09. No Marquee
Ben Trickey will celebrate the release of Choke and Croon on June 7 at the Earl. Supporting him will be Jeffrey Bützer and the Bicycle Eaters, Brandon Schmitt, and An English Place. Doors open at 9 p.m.
More Info
Web: bentrickey.com
Facebook: @bentrickey
Instagram: @bentrickey
SoundCloud: @bentrickey
Twitter: @bentrickey
Kakune – Succumb 2
Release Date: July 8
Label: Self-released
Release Info
Formerly part of the Atlanta experimental outfit Phracture, Dylan Anderson, a.k.a. Kakune, has been immersed in the Atlanta electronic scene for some time. His debut LP, Succumb 2, is out July 8.
Tracklist
01. Limerence
02. Fault Line
03.(Ice) Chip on the Shoulder
04. 1/2 the Battle
05. Jaknyfe
06. Slow Release
07. This is the Last Day of Your Life
08. Succumb 2
More Info
Bandcamp: kakune.bandcamp.com
Facebook: @kakunemusic
Instagram: @kakunemuziak
SoundCloud: @kakunemusic
Twitter: @kakunemuziak
ABRA – PRINCESS EP
Release Date: July 15
Label: True Panther
Release Info
Is there any artist in Atlanta right now facing higher expectations than ABRA? The local songstress has been building a steady buzz for a couple of years now and it seems like she’s ready to capitalize on it with the release of her new Princess EP, due out July 15.
Tracklist
01. COME 4 ME
02. VEGAS
03. CRYBABY
04. BIG BOI (feat. Tommy Genesis)
05. PULL UP
06. THINKING OF U
More Info
Facebook: @darkwaveduchess
Instagram: @darkwaveduchess
SoundCloud: @darkwaveduchess
Twitter: @darkwaveduchess
Pylon – Pylon Live
Release Date: July 25
Label: Chunklet Industries
Release Info
Recorded at their final show in 1983 at the Mad Hatter in Athens, Pylon Live will finally reveal to the world what a live juggernaut Pylon was and why they are considered by many to be one of the most underrated and overlooked artists from their era. The twenty-track effort will be released July 25 – the birthday of deceased Pylon guitarist Randy Bewley – on double vinyl via Chunklet Industries.
Tracklist
01. Working is No Problem (live)
02. Driving School (live)
03. No Clocks (live)
04. Altitude (live)
05. Gravity (live)
06. Crazy (live)
07. K (live)
08. Cool (live)
09. Italian Movie Theme (live)
10. Buzz (live)
11. Danger (live)
12. Reptiles (live)
13. Stop It (live)
14. Feast On My Heart (live)
15. Beep (live)
16. M Train (live)
17. Volume (live) 03:58
18. Weather Radio (live)
19. Party Zone (live)
20. Batman (live)
Pylon Reenactment Society (featuring Vanessa Briscoe Hay) will celebrate the release of Pylon Live on Friday, July 29 at the Earl and on Saturday, July 30 at the 40 Watt. Supporting them on both nights will be We Love Tractor and The Swimming Pool Q’s. Doors at the Earl open at 9 p.m. Admission is $15 in advance or $18 DOS. Doors at the 40 Watt open at 8 p.m. Admission is $10 in advance or $12 DOS.
More Info
Web: wearepylon.com
Facebook: @Pylon-55162881322