With so much great music being released all the time, it can be hard to determine what to listen to first. Each week, Pitchfork offers a run-down of important new releases available on streaming services. This week’s batch includes new albums from Claire Rousay, Tony Shhnow, Kill Rock Stars, and RXK Nephew. Subscribe to Pitchfork’s New Music Friday newsletter to get our recommendations in your inbox every week. (All releases shown here are independently selected by our editors. If you purchase something through our affiliate links, however, Pitchfork earns an affiliate commission.)
Claire Rousay: Sometimes Feeling I Don’t Have a Friend [self-released]
Texas experimenter Claire Rousay has already released some low records this year, including April A Slow Focus and a collaboration with real life “bff” Mari Maurice, aka More Eaze, on A Japanese Hagawhaw. His latest, a single-track project called Sometimes I Feel I Don’t Have a Friend, featured Maurice again, this time with a third member, Emily Harper Scott of Pale Spring. The 28-minute song mixes field recordings, strings, and drones with monologues about the nature of friendship, dependence on companionship, and other topics. Read more of Rousay in Pitchfork’s rundown of “The Best Jazz and Experimental Music of 2021. ”
Tony Shhnow: Killing Streak 2 [self-released]
Tony Shhnow’s latest release in 2021 is the following Killing Streak, the Atlanta rapper’s standout mixtape from last year. The 16-minute project follows a series of new mixtapes including Authentic Goods, which was chosen by Pitchfork writer Alphonse Pierre for “The Best Underrated Albums of 2021. ”
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V/A: Stars Rock Kill (Rock Stars) [Kill Rock Stars]
Majestic indie label Kill Rock Stars is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year by corralling luminaries like Laura Veirs, Deerhoof, Shamir, Anaïs Mitchell, and Xiu Xiu to cover classics and deep cutting from the label catalog. The sequels to this 62-track release, which will make Elliott Smith’s fans even happier: At least 10 of his songs are covered, with artists from Ruth Radelet to Team Dresch.
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Buying Rough Trade
RXK Nephew: Welcome 2 the Silent Storm [self-released]
Another week, another eruption of logorrhoea from the uncontrollable RXK Nephew. Welcome 2 the Silent Storm followed last week Transporter 4, surrounding another landmark year where the Rochester rapper released multiple records and at least 100 really good songs. Don’t rule out another fall before midnight.
