by Dan Goldin (@post_trash_)

Welcome to FUZZY MEADOWS, our weekly recap of this week's new music. We're sharing our favorite releases of the week in the form of albums, singles, and music videos along with the "further listening" section of new and notable releases from around the web. It's generally written in the early hours of the morning and semi-unedited... but full of love and heart. The list is in alphabetical order and we sincerely recommend checking out all the music we've included. There's a lot of great new music being released. Support the bands you love. Spread the word and buy some new music.

*Disclaimer: We are making a conscious effort not to include any artist in our countdown on back-to-back weeks in order to diversify the feature, so be sure to check the "further listening" as well because it's often of top-notch quality too.

FIONA APPLE | “Fetch The Bolt Cutters” LP

Odds are you’re already aware Fiona Apple has released her new album Fetch The Bolt Cutters. Odds are you already know it’s great. The release hardly needs our support, but that doesn’t change the fact that is without a doubt one of the year’s best albums thus far, which shouldn’t come as a surprise as Ms. Apple has released absolutely nothing but classics since her debut album. On Fetch The Bolt Cutters, the record builds on an expansion of her last two records, throwing out the meticulous for a sense of casual production (stomping, dark barks, lack of post-song editing) to counterbalance the not so casual lyricism. Fiona Apple’s lyrics are pointed and critical, pushing nerves with brilliant thought and clear comprehension. Fiona Apple is a unique artist that stands in a class her own, and every album only adds to her timeless legacy.

GANSER | “Lucky”

Chicago’s Ganser are a hard working band. It feels like they always have a new release coming and it’s because they usually do. Hot on the heels of November’s You Must Be New Here EP, the band have announced their sophomore full length, Just Look At That Sky. Due out July 31st via their new label home at Felte Records (Gold Cage, Odonis Odonis, Lushes), the band previously shared a new version of single “Bad Form” and now they’re sharing their latest “Lucky.” While the band tend to veer closer to post-punk territory, the opening track of their new album peels with the intensity of noise rock, the guitars atonally shredding and drilling directly into your brain. The vocals retain their icy post-punk control, a great counterpoint to everything else spiraling out of control.

KING BUZZO (WITH TREVOR DUNN) | “I’m Glad I Could Help Out”

King Buzzo, the legendary guitarist/vocalist of the Melvins, is getting ready to release his second solo record (“solo” aside from the fact that he’s joined by frequent collaborator Trevor Dunn) this summer. Gift of Sacrifice has been bumped back to August, but the singles keep coming, with this week they’ve shared “I’m Glad I Could Help Out,” our second glimpse into the record. The acoustic guitar and bass crackle around each other, every note popping out in 3D, in a tangled slink, creating a beautiful kind of bluesy dread. Buzzo alternates his signature low howl and whispered harmonies and everything feels fleshed out, created with acoustic instrumentation in mind, the rattle of the strings essential in arrangement.

ORANSSI PAZUZU “Mestarin Kynsi” LP

There’s been a lot of talk about masterpieces this week and, well, Oranssi Pazazu have certainly released one of them. Its been four years since the astounding, Värähtelijä (a masterpiece in its own right), and the Finnish experimental metal band have unleashed Mestarin Kynsi, another mind-blowing space odyssey from the depths of darkness. There is truly nothing that sounds quite like Oranssi Pazuzu’s sordid and forward thinking metal, built on black metal but influenced by psych, krautrock, prog, and avant-garde electronics. From the ominous black hole warp of “Ilmestys” to the massive stampede of “Taivaan Portti,” the band’s croaky visions of the cosmos shift between orchestral assaults and glitched terror, everything cohesively working together to transport listeners to a galaxy dark and heavy.

ORDINARY REAPER | “Breadline”

Last year FCKR JR released one of our favorite albums and then quietly fizzled out. Wasting no time, that band’s Ben Grigg and Emily Bernstein have joined together with Peter Reale (Yeesh) to form Ordinary Reaper, and the void has once again been filled. The Chicago trio will release their debut EP, No Plans, on Friday, April 24th and the lead single has us very excited for the future. “Breadline” is a big roaring song, built on power-pop fuzz, shoegaze layering, and Grigg’s warm hooky melodies. There’s a muscular structure to their power trio approach (somewhat similar to Grigg’s old band Geronimo!), with the ringing guitars and steady beat opening the flood gates in lieu of traditional hooks.

PARSNIP | “Adding Up”

Melbourne’s Parsnip released their fantastic twee punk full length, When The Tree Bears Fruit, last summer and the band are ready to follow it up with a new 7” EP, Adding Up. Due out May via Anti Fade Records (Primo!, Alien Nosejob, Program), the band’s bright pop remains in fine form, sugar sweet and yet just a tinge of weariness to it. Built on joyous harmonies from all four members, there’s a boatload of jangle and sunshine on the title track, a song that makes it hard to do anything but feel good. There’s a lot of darkness out their in the world, and thankfully Parsnip bring in an ever shimmering sound of sunshine as bright as they come.

Further Listening:

Fuzzy Meadows: The Week's Best New Music (April 13th - April 19th)