MUSIC: Our favorite new albums this week: Jack White, Michelle Williams, and more

We listen to new music every week, but finding out what's new isn't always easy. Below is a list of our favorite new albums and single that dropped this week so you can keep your head bobbing all through your commute and drum on your desk to the dismay of all your co-workers. Here are the best releases for the second week of June 2014:

New Albums for June 11, 2014

Lazaretto

Jack White

iTunes | AmazonMP3 | Spotify

 Jack White continues his solo career post-White Stripes by getting weird. No longer locked in to the style of his old partnership, White goes out of his way to shake the minimalism of the White Stripes and brings in all kinds of new sounds.

Mursday!

Mayday! and Murs

iTunes | AmazonMP3 | Spotify

A staple of the California rap scene, Murs is no stranger to collaborations. But his partnership with hip hop group ¡Mayday! might be his most adventurous, resulting in an album that sounds like a non-stop party concentrated in music form.

Things Are Really Great Here, Sort Of…

Andrew Bird

iTunes | AmazonMP3 | Spotify

Andrew Bird is regularly reinventing his style and evolving his sound. Things Are Really Great Here, Sort Of… shows his ability to make any music his own by covering the work of the Handsome Family.

Nausea

Craft Spells

iTunes | AmazonMP3 | Spotify

Justin Vallesteros returns under the band Craft Spells with a more confident offering than his 2011 debut. Nausea is filled with synth-driven pop sounds that mix well with the indie aesthetic to create a dreamlike soundscape.

Dark Comedy

Open Mic Eagle

iTunes | AmazonMP3 | Spotify

Born in Chicago but brought up through the underground scene in California through Project Blowed, Open Mic Eagle has earned his stripes, but still maintains the same hunger and intelligent style he's always had.

Stockholm

Chrissie Hynde

iTunes | AmazonMP3 | Spotify

Chrissie Hynde is no stranger to the music business – she's been making music for three decades as the leader of the Pretenders. Stockholm is her solo effort, though, with plenty of support from the likes of Neil Young and Björn Yttling.

International

Lust for Youth

iTunes | AmazonMP3 | Spotify

Scandinavian trio Lust for Youth are on their fourth full-length album together, but they put in work on International to separate themselves from their previous work by creating a new, brighter, synth-pop sound.

Stay Gold

First Aid Kit

iTunes | AmazonMP3 | Spotify

Swedish sisters Johanna and Klara Söderberg put together their third album as a band. First Aid Kit is a warm and poppy effort, with sweet harmonies throughout and a hint of Americana influence sprinkled on top.

While You Were Sleeping

José James

iTunes | AmazonMP3 | Spotify

Singer-songwriter José James isn't afraid to dip his toes into new styles. He melds together jazz, soul, rock, and funk on While You Were Sleeping to create an impressive collection of music.

New Singles

Angel in Blue Jeans

Train

iTunes | YouTube

It seems like forever since Train's last hit, "Hey Soul Sister" was on the pop charts, though the band is still a staple of adult contemporary stations. Train hopes to find that magic again with "Angel in Blue Jeans."

Hangover

Psy featuring Snoop Dogg

iTunes | YouTube

Psy is probably as sick of "Gangnam Style" as the rest of us, but while he might not recreate the success of that song, he'll manage to get close by recruiting Snoop Dogg for a collaboration on a song about being hung over.

1000hp

Godsmack

Spotify | YouTube

Godsmack's first single since 2011 and first track released since their hiatus, aims to crank things up, as evidenced by the song's reference to horsepower. The band's album, due out on August 5 of this year, will share its name with the single. 

Headphones

Matt Nathanson featuring Lolo

YouTube

Matt Nathanson hopes to inspire fans to keep his music on repeat by  tapping into the feeling of listening to music with headphones on. The track will be featured on Nathanson's yet-to-be-titled ninth album.

Say Yes

Michelle Williams (f. Beyonce, Kelly Rowland)

iTunes | AmazonMP3 | YouTube

Those hoping for a Destiny's Child reunion get a taste of what it would be like on Michelle Williams' "Say Yes." The new track features appearances from Beyonce and Kelly Rowland.

Lionhearted

Porter Robinson f. Urban Cone

iTunes |SoundCloud

Despite being the poster boy for the genre, Porter Robinson created a stir by saying EDM was entertainment rather than art. Regardless, he aims to entertain on his new single, which features Swedish group Urban Cone.
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