Every Friday, 88Nine music director Erin Wolf and Lilliput Records co-owner Tanner Musgrove tell you about the new albums you can’t miss on a new episode of On Vinyl. Check out their top picks and a list of this week’s other releases, and listen to their full conversation using the player on this page or on the 88Nine airwaves at 1 p.m. every Friday.
On this New Music Friday, we’re starting with the moody, dreamy and altogether cathartic new album by Nation of Language — and encouraging you to get your own catharsis on when you dance to their live performance at Turner Hall coming up Sept. 27.
Want catharsis that’s got its feet planted firmly on the ground? How about new music from Wednesday’s newest, Bleeds? You’ll get a whiff of the burner from the North Carolina Americana-grunge band that just might make you tear up (in a healthy way.)
We also share a pair of reissues: the cosmic surfiness of La Luz and its excellent News of the Universe, which is coming back out on Sub Pop just over a year after its debut; and British twee-pop band Heavenly, who originally released Operation Heavenly back in 1996 but sound just as relevant as ever.
Get ready to time travel, dream and then wake up to the reality of another solid week of releases. Happy New Music Friday!
Best new albums out Sept. 19
Nation of Language, Dance Called Memory
Brooklyn-based trio Nation of Language formed out of band leader Ian Richard Devaney’s love of the classic synth-pop band OMD, and you can really hear that influence on this new record. Dance Called Memory is full of synths in a classic way, but NoL manages to make this throwback sound very much their own. Devaney admitted his overall goal was to make synths sound more “human,” and to evoke empathy and connection through the songs on this record.
Wednesday, Bleeds
Formed in 2017, the North Carolina alt-rock band is back with their sixth studio album. Rat Saw God was released to a lot of acclaim in 2023, and many fans jumped onto the Wednesday train via the solo work from MJ Lenderman (guitarist and contributing vocalist for the band). Bleeds plays sweet in some spots and gritty in others but, as always, is led to new heights by Karly Hartzman’s incomparable poetry and epic storytelling.
La Luz, News of the Universe (reissue)
Surf-y, cosmic Cali band La Luz released News of the Universe to Sub Pop Records in early 2024 and have treated Wisconsin to two shows since. No other band out there sounds quite like La Luz, and this album is one of their best. Since forming in 2012, the band has gone through different iterations, but they’re stronger than ever both creatively and musically. This one’s still reaching ears as evidenced by the need for this reissue. Find it on standard black vinyl.
Heavenly, Operation Heavenly
Originally released in 1996, Operation Heavenly was the fourth and final studio album from the British twee-pop band (or so we thought). They offered a recent prelude to this release with two new singles, and even though we share the news of this reissue from an album released 29 years ago today, it’s made even more special by the addition of new material.
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