Favorite Bandcamp Releases of 2017

Ada Babar – (2018 Leaked)

Even though it isn’t technically out until next February, 2018, Ada Babar blessed us with putting it up on their Bandcamp this year. Their music is filled with seemingly inconceivable midi controls and even airhorns (as heard on “fav chair”). Ada put out a rather spontaneous album in a seemingly repetitive genre.

Body Meat & The Washboard Abs – Redux 

This split was the second of three releases from Body Meat and one of two from The Washboard Abs. Body Meat’s side of the split are a few of the best songs is filled with experimental songs that feels amorphic and as if everything in pop makes sense all at once. The Washboard Ab’s side features full band songs from previous songs and unreleased songs that seem to make the Washboard Abs as full sounding as they have ever been.

Pleasure Systems – Antumbra Pull

Although I’ve listened to this album for critique several (several) times before the release and know Clarke Sondermann well, hearing the progress and emotions that went into the release in anticipation is why it made this list. Dedicated to their partner and is filled love and thank you notes to him, makes it one of the most sincere albums to be put out this year.

Ben Varian – The L.A. Concession

One of my favorite artists is also seemingly one of the hardest working ones as well. Having put out seven (7) releases (this EP, a live album, a 72-track “food journal” with Jake Tobin, a “Christmas gift” with his partner, a 24-hour recording session, a full-length album, and another album?), as well as go on tour with Dent May over the summer, this EP is both surprisingly nd unsurprisingly one of the best pop releases of the year. Ben never seems to dissappoint with absurd lyrics mixed with almost always upbeat melodies.

Lily and Horn Horse – Next to Me

The third release this year from Lily Konigsberg and second with this project with Matt Norman, it is filled with everything they claim to be inspired by, which is the “Baby One More Time” era of Britney Spears and Bill Callahan at his coziest. This collaborative album feels as though they have been making music together for years even though this is only their second release together.

– Isabella

Listen to Francis and the Lights’ new album Just For Us

Francis and the Lights has released a new album called Just For Us. The 10-track LP can be streamed below. Francis Starlite announced the release on hours before it officially arrived.

Solange opens up about health issues

Solange has cancelled her headlining set at Afropunk Festival Johannesburg on New Year’s Eve because of a recent diagnosis of an autonomic disorder. In a statement on Instagram, she talks about her health issues. “The past five months I have been quietly treating, and working through an Autonomic Disorder,” she writes. “It been a journey that hasn’t been easy on me… Sometimes I feel cool, and other times not so cool at all.” She explains that her Afropunk cancellation is due to doctors’ orders, writing, “Right now, my doctors are not clearing me for such an extended lengthy flight, and doing a rigorous show right after.” View her full note below.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BdNmg26BVcI/

The Melodic Tree’s Weekly Playlist

1. Adriana – Montero

2. Lost and Found – The Cry

3. The World Should Be More Wonderful – Shintaro Sakamoto

4. Anyone – Swim Mountain

5. Your Motion Says – Arthur Russell

6. Shinzo No Tobia – Mariah

7. Camino Del Sol – Antena

8. Antabus – Makthaverskan

9. Fire By the River – Harumi

10. Trust, In Love – Anna Domino

11. Khala My Friend – Amanaz

12. Dooyo – Dur-Dur Band

13. Haenim – Kim Jung Mi

14. It’s So Different Here- Rachel Sweet

15. Cacti for Clothes – Pageants

16. Dancing – Fringe

17. California Shake – Margo Guryan

18. I Walk Alone – Marijata

19. I Don’t Like – Lee Jung Hwa

20. How Can You Say It – Gloria Ann Taylor

Sufjan Stevens shares new “Life with Dignity” bideo

Sufjan Stevens has released a new video for the Helado Negro-remixed track “Life with Dignity.” Watch it through Apple Music. The video follows three cancer patients, Theresa, Roland, and Justin as they battle the disease. The song is featured on Stevens’ new mixtape The Greatest Gift, and is remixed from his Carrie & Lowell song “Death With Dignity.”

James Blake releases cover of Don McLean’s “Vincent”

James Blake has shared a studio recording of Don McLean’s “Vincent,” which he occasionally performs at his live sets. Watch the performance video that was shot yesterday at L.A.’s Conway Studios here. McLean’s song was written as a tribute to Van Gogh and appeared originally on his LP American Pie.

The Coup’s Pam the Funkstress dead at 51

Pam the Funkstress, member of the hip-hop group the Coup, has died due to organ failure, as the San Francisco Chronicle and Bay Area radio station KBLX report. Pam Warren had been hospitalized for over a month after organ transplant surgery. She was 51. She joined the Coup in the 1990s and provided scratches for their debut album Kill My Landlord.

Run the Jewels appear on Hannibal Buress’ podcast

Run the Jewels were the latest to appear on “The Handsome Rambler,” a podcast that is co-hosted by Hannibal Buress and DJ Tony Trimm. They discussed the next Run the Jewels album, stereotypes, making workout music during the episode. Listen to it below.

Animal Collective shares new live album

Animal Collective have released a recording of their performance at New Haven, Conn.’s College Street Music Hall in May, 2017. It is available as pay-what-you-want, with all of the proceeds going to Direct Relief, a non-profit organization that helps “improve the health and lives of people affected by poverty or emergencies.” Listen below and download it here.