As release days go, today (8 September) is probably this month’s most eagerly awaited one. Amongst the inevitable hundreds of hotly anticipated releases, none more so have had the world on the edge of their seat than the three we’ve listed below. All of them have seen fans wait with baited breath for months (and in some cases, years) on end, and we feel like they’ll be your perfect kickstarter to an unfortunately rainy weekend.
NOTHING BUT THIEVES – BROKEN MACHINE
It’s been almost two years since Conor Mason and co. emerged with their critically acclaimed debut album, one which featured hit singles in the shape of Trip Switch and Wake Up Call. Now, they’re back, and they’ve matured big time. Broken Machine is a sublime collection of uptempo indie rock and thoughtful ballads, all of which lyrically cover the most intricate aspects of life, death, love, religion and politics. We wrote about the album a while back, and you can read that here.
Live: 24 November @ AFAS Live, Amsterdam – SOLD OUT
ALVVAYS – ANTISOCIALITES
Three years ago, Canadian indie poppers Alvvays broke through with their twinkling debut album. Ethereal lead single Archie, Marry Me and the upbeat Adult Diversion both formed out a big part of the success which Molly Rankin and her band achieved back in 2014, and now they’re back to do it all over again. Antisocialites follows a similair formula to their stellar debut, although it does present us with the sound of a band who seem to have finally found their feet. If Dreams Tonite doesn’t do something to you, then nothing will.
Live: 17 September @ EKKO, Utrecht – SOLD OUT / 18 September @ Bitterzoet, Amsterdam – Tickets
THE NATIONAL – SLEEP WELL BEAST
The National‘s long-awaited seventh studio album has certainly been a long time coming. The melancholy indie rockers last put out a record in 2013, when Trouble Will Find Me elevated Matt Berninger and co. to a whole new level. Now, Sleep Well Beast looks set to help them achieve similair successes. From dark comeback single The System Only Dreams in Total Darkness to the Idioteque-esque Guilty Party, it looks like The National may well have an Album of the Year contender on their hands.
Live: 26 October @ AFAS Live, Amsterdam – Tickets
