▼ Music B Side The most anticipated local and national albums of 2022 (part two). BY CHRIS COPLAN B ack in February, we unveiled our list of this year’s most anticipated albums. But, as it turns out, the great music- making machine never seem- ingly takes a break, and more records are dropping throughout the remainder of 2022. So, we’ve once again chosen just a few highlights, focusing on both local and national acts across the grand musical spectrum. Not every album may be on your personal list, but there’s no denying that 2022 has been chock full of great records. Keep ‘em coming! I, the Tiger, New Eyes (July 1) When Ari Epstein — who performs as I, the Tiger — released Black Clouds in summer 2020, it served as a hallmark of perseverance. Epstein, who previously fronted local faves Tigerface, underwent personal and professional loss in the years earlier, and roared back with a solid rock album that also served as a kind of guide to emotional maturity. But could Epstein maintain that same level of robust optimism even after the hell of the last few years? As it turns out, the answer is yes, as I, the Tiger’s second album, New Eyes, is similarly inspiring for those seeking to turn their luck around. Lead single “One Wild Ride” encapsulates that dynamic, as Epstein provides a musical path through the darkness toward self-actualization. Epstein’s just as much a guru as a rocker, and that distinction explains why he remains a talent to watch. 34 Interpol, The Other Side of Make-Believe (July 15) Like so many bands, Interpol went on lockdown in March 2020 amid COVID-19. And also like so many other artists, the trio then opted to record a brand-new album, later titled The Other Side Of Make-Believe. But that’s where a lot of the comparisons stop because, as press for the record explains, Interpol opted not to make another “emotional tar pit” of a record. Instead, by bringing in producers Flood and Alan Moulder, the band managed to create “paeans to mental resilience and the quiet power of going easy,” finding a sense of hope that they called a “still-believable emotion within what makes Interpol Interpol.” But if you think they’d ever gone soft, lead singles Danger Mouse & Black Thought, Cheat Codes (August 12) Danger Mouse has a long history of jaw- dropping collaborations. That includes CeeLo Green (Gnarls Barkley); MF Doom (Danger Doom); and The Shins’ James Mercer (Broken Bells). This August, he joins forces with another superstar, The Roots’ own Black Thought, for a collabor- ative LP entitled Cheat Codes. As Billboard reported, the duo first linked up in 2005 for a project tentatively titled Dangerous Thoughts, though nothing came from those sessions. Cheat Codes — which also features Raekwon, Run the Jewels, and the late MF Doom — is described in the press as “much more than typical producer- meets-rapper arrangement or side project,” with “soul-infused hip-hop soundscapes” paired with “incredible lyricism, razor-sharp rapping, and raw hunger.” It would seem teamwork does, in fact, make the dream work. Mega Ran’s Facebook like “Toni” and “Something Changed” prove that even with boundless optimism, Interpol remain just as confrontational and powerful as ever. Maggie Rogers, Surrender (July 29) Singer Maggie Rogers was a big enough deal even before she released her debut album. When Heard It in a Past Life finally debuted in early 2019, listeners were split between a generally great pop record from a rising talent and feeling as if Rogers had been buried amid the hype and industry machinations. But Rogers will have another chance to win folks over when she debuts Surrender in late July. In part, Rogers may have recognized the issues with her debut, and this time opted to live alone on the coast of Maine to write the record. The end result is hinted at in tracks like “That’s Where I Am,” a sonically jarring but nonetheless infectious ditty that has Rogers declaring a profound message: “Wherever you go, that’s where I am.” Weston Smith, Tales Of (August) Weston Smith has attained a perfect kind of weirdness. His last album, DUNGEON, was just odd enough to feel engaging without harming the luster of his brand of vintage electronica. Now, though, he’s seemingly upping the weird factor with Tales Of, a forthcoming instrumental album that’s inspired in part by retro video games. (As evidenced by the album’s promo trailer, which somehow makes old-school dungeon-crawlers a la Doom all the more terrifying.) On the one hand, a single like “Devil’s Food” plays like the lite jazz you’d hear before a terrifying boss battle. But it’s also oddly mesmerizing, and that dichotomy seems to fit Smith’s approach Mega Ran. brilliantly. Either way, the latter half of 2022 is about to become sublimely kooky, folks. SEASON (August 5) Mega Ran definitely deserves the crown for most obsessive nerd/fanboy. (And, as fellow culture connoisseurs, that’s a huge compliment.) Because where some folks dress up like superheroes, or collect Japanese-language manga, the Phoenix MC has turned his geeky love into the inspiration for a handful of albums. This August, the “collection” — which includes projects about Mega Man, pro wrestling, Dragon Ball Z, and Destiny — grows to include a full-length about Macross (aka Robotech). PROTOCULTURE SEASON promises to take fans through “the most exciting, intense, and emotional moments of the series’ first season” courtesy of Ran and guests Penny The Great and SlopFunkDust. If Ran’s older catalog is any indication, it’ll be super dweeby fun and killer hip-hop in equal measure. Mega Ran, PROTOCULTURE Built to Spill, When the Wind Forgets Your Name (September 9) In some ways, Built to Spill has always been a mainstream act. That’s perhaps laughable given that frontman Doug Martsch and company have always existed on the periphery despite their poignant, hugely influential take on indie rock. But after some 20-ish years of releasing via Warner Brothers, the band have since landed on a so-called “dream label” as they release their eighth album, When The Wind Forgets Your Name, via Sub Pop. (Fun fact: BTS released 1994’s There’s Nothing Wrong With Love on the Sub Pop offshoot Up Records.) Press for the LP promises a “complex and cohesive blend of the artists’ distinct musical ideas,” with an emphasis on pronounced experimen- tation. And if the rip-roaring “Gonna Lose” is any indication, it seems the band have found a great home for their latest musical chapter. Death Cab for Cutie, Asphalt Meadows (September 16) Much like Interpol, Death Cab for Cutie have a reputation to maintain — one that usually involves profound self-awareness and pointed witticisms. But as they’ve demonstrated in recent albums, including 2018’s Thank You for Today, they’re also continually evolving their >> p 37 Death Cab for Cutie. Jimmy Fontaine JUNE 30TH–JULY 6TH, 2022 PHOENIX NEW TIMES | MUSIC | CAFE | FILM | CULTURE | NIGHT+DAY | FEATURE | NEWS | OPINION | FEEDBACK | CONTENTS | phoenixnewtimes.com
