August 25, 2023

New Music Friday: 13th Floor New Album Picks: August 25, 2023

New Music Friday is here and there is a bounty of great music to consider. Here are The 13th Floor’s Top 5 New Album released today…plus a few extras.

As chosen by The 13th Floor’s Marty Duda, today’s Top 5 new releases are:

Clementine Valentine – The Coin That Broke The Fountain Floor (Flying Nun) Kiwi sisters Clementine and Valentine Nixon. According to Flying Nun, ‘The album title alludes to the tipping point extremes of recent years, coloured by dreams crushing, wishes gathering, and an abundance of hope.’ Click here to read the 13th Floor’s Album Review.

2. Hiss Golden Messenger – Jump For Joy (Merge) Following up 2021’s Quietly Blowing It, musically, lyrically and conceptually, Jump for Joy is rather unlike any previous Hiss Golden Messenger album, containing what’s described as “the most optimistic and groove-filled songs that bandleader and singer-songwriter M.C. Taylor has made.” The narrative is described as autobiographical as Taylor created a character to represent himself through the various experiences he has had through his life in music. Look for an interview with Taylor on The 13th Floor coming soon.

3. The Kennedys – Headwinds (Orchard) It’s the couple’s first new album in 5 years. They say, “During our five-year hiatus from writing and recording, America changed in massive ways, divisive ways that have shaken our whole foundation. That has to be addressed by creative artists, those of us who have a voice to speak for others. Our love of the great things about this country, things that are under threat, is the reason we decided to make ‘Headwinds’ the title track of the album. Political and social headwinds are making it hard to get back ‘home’ to our greatness as a nation. We want to push back in a positive way against those winds.”

4. Alice Cooper – Road (earMusic) Produced by Bob Ezrin, Road proves that Alice Cooper still has plenty of gas in the tank. “For Road, I wanted the band to be involved in the foundation of all the songs,” says Alice. “I only see these guys when we’re on the road. So, I wanted them to be as tight as they are for the show but on all new material. When you have a band this good, I believe in showing it off, and this is my way of doing so.”

5. Morgan Wade – Psychopath (Ladylike/Sony Nashville) This highly anticipated second album follows Morgan’s award-winning 2021 debut, Reckless. “Regardless of what people say about Psychopath, I’m proud because I feel like it showcases where I’m at with my second album,” said Wade. “I have no choice but to be authentic. And I have to feel what I feel. And right now, I’m really feeling the music.”