New Music Friday: 13th Floor New Album Picks: September 8, 2023

It’s New Music Friday and there’s plenty to choose from this week. To make your day a bit easier we pick our top 5 new albums we think will turn you on.

Here now, are The 13th Floor’s new music Friday picks as chosen by Marty Duda:

1. Graham Parker & The Goldtops – Last Chance To Learn The Twist (Big Stir) This is Parker’s first new album since 2018. “My usual rather conservative arrangements went out the window on this album,” Parker says. “The songs morphed as they grew: Bridges arrive in unusual places, songs were restrained and held to under three minutes.  The Goldtops gave me everything I wanted. Yes, I’m more than pleased with this one.” Click here to read the 13th Floor review. 

2. Mick Harvey & Amanda Acevedo – Phantasmagoria In Blue (Mute) The former Bad Seed teams up with Mexican singer Amanda Acevedo,reworking and reinterpreting songs from artists as varied as Tim Buckley, Luis Eduardo Aute, Sibylle Baier, Silvio Rodriguez and Pat Benatar. Says Avecedo: “It was an unlikely connection and a very unlikely situation but it started working and has developed into a good friendship that I’m very grateful for. The album is a testimony to this.”

3. Kristin Hersh – Clear Pond Road (Fire) Clear Pond Road continues the juxtaposition of dark and light –dark sunshine, as Hersh puts it– that characterizes Hersh’s legendary work with Throwing Muses and 50 Foot Wave but goes even further inward as it explores the intimacy and complexity that sits alongside Hersh’s fierce independence. “Passion sounds less angry here, more grateful, I think.” Hersh reflects. “Sweeter, sadder, and somehow no less alive.” Look for Kristin on tour in NZ in November.

4. Low Cut Connie – ART DEALERS (Contender) Our man in Philly, Adam Weiner’s new album is dedicated to, and inspired by Lou Reed. “This record is all kink and no shame,” explains Adam. “I try to create a safe space for you to just absolutely get your freak on.”  The 8th album from Weiner is a 13-song collection of risky, romantic, life-affirming anthems dedicated to a total liberation of body, spirit, gender and sexuality in the face of an increasingly tense political age. Watch for the 13th Floor interview with Low Cut Connie coming very soon.

5. Sparklehorse – Bird Machine (Anti-/Epitaph) Mark Linkhouse died in 2010 and now, finally here are his final Sparklehorse recordings. The music on Bird Machine was initially meant to appear on the fifth Sparklehorse LP, originally slated for 2009. Mark Linkous recorded the tracks with Steve Albini in Chicago, as well as with his 1968 Flickinger mixing console at his own Static King studio. “Mark communicated these songs. We just did our best to transmit them.”, says sister-in-law Melissa.