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2024 Fall Music Guide
14 albums by New England musicians to listen to this fall
After years of dispiriting news here and abroad — a pandemic, inflation and everything else — are we ready for some optimism? Some politicians seem to think so, and judging from the music being released in Boston this fall, so do some musicians.
Some bands happen to work in perpetually joyful fields, like the Soggy Po Boys with classic New Orleans-style jazz. But even rockers Kal Marks, who have never been afraid to loudly explore some heavy topics, have a surprising tinge of optimism on their new release. There’s hope in the way R&B singer Rey Royale begs for his lover to return, in the search for inner peace celebrated by Sol y Canto, and in the unapologetic rock attitude of Hilken Mancini. Dreaming of a new way to make music resulted in Yoona Kim and Roman Barten-Sherman discovering how Korean folk songs and the blues co-inhabit their sound.
Then there’s the optimism that resulted in any of this local music being recorded at all, despite a music industry that makes it hard for independent artists to be noticed and nearly impossible for them to see a profit on recordings. That such a wide range of Boston artists are still devoted to making and sharing albums is itself worth celebrating.
Kal Marks, 'Wasteland Baby'
Sept. 13
The Providence via Boston noise purveyors, whose last album was named one of the best of the year by WBUR, are continuing on their tumultuous musical path with their sixth LP, a quasi-concept record about being a parent in a time of such global uncertainty. The lead-off song and video “Insects” combines a dance groove that may surprise longtime listeners with exactly the kind of lyrical cutting edge they’ve come to expect.
Kal Marks performs on Sept. 14 at the Moon Over Salem Festival.
Bruce Katz Band, 'Back in Boston Live'
Sept. 13
Organist and pianist Bruce Katz lived in Boston for 30 years before decamping for the Woodstock area. He returned this spring to play two nights at the Fallout Shelter in Norwood, an intimate venue whose top-flight production values have resulted in a half-dozen other live albums recorded on its stage. Katz and his core combo of Liviu Pop on drums and singer-guitarist Aaron Lieberman are joined by Boston bassist Jesse Williams for a lively and rewarding romp through soul-jazz, funk, blues and the Southern grooves that Katz played when he was a member of Gregg Allman’s band. The songs range from the chestnut “Blues Before Sunrise” to an original instrumental Katz likely wrote when he was living in Brookline: “Take the Green Line.”
The Bruce Katz Band celebrates the release with another performance at the Fallout Shelter in Norwood on Sept. 13.
Yoona Kim and Roman Barten-Sherman, 'Delta DoKkaeBi'
Sept. 15
A sound that is as delightful as it is unlikely pairs acoustic blues and old-time guitarist and banjo player Roman Barten-Sherman with Yoona Kim, a master of the Korean zither-like ajaeng. Instead of creating a forced fusion, the two singers/musicians, who met in Boston, dive deep into American and Korean traditions as they trade vocals and licks, showing how both the blues and Korean folk music share a sense of sustain, soul, rhythm, and space.
Yoona Kim and Roman Barten-Sherman celebrate the release of “Delta DoKkaeBi” on Sept. 15 at Club Passim.
Otis Shanty, 'Up On The Hill'
Sept. 20
This Somerville quartet made one of WBUR’s favorite Tiny Desk Contest songs in 2023. Now they’re releasing their first full-length album, and it shows a band with a crisp, fully realized sound bolstered by songwriting that is as creative as it is sincere, taken way over the top by the absolutely gorgeous vocals of Sadye Bobbette. Bobbette is joined by the shimmering guitar of Ryan DiLello and the adventurous rhythm section of bassist Julian Snyder and drummer Jono Quinn.
Otis Shanty celebrates its release at the Crystal Ballroom in Somerville on Oct. 24.
Galaxie 500, 'Uncollected Noise New York '88-'90'
Sept. 20
Before Boston’s Naomi Yang and Damon Krukowski were the duo Damon and Naomi (and long before Krukowski was writing about economics and the music business), they were two-thirds of Galaxie 500, a band that started as a group of Harvard students and ended up being remembered as pioneers of slowcore. The group, which was rounded out by Dean Wareham, has never reunited since it ended in 1991 and seems unlikely to do so. But fans seeking more can now take a trip deep into the vaults for this compilation of material recorded in all of its psychedelic lo-fi glory at Noise New York, the studio of the Shimmy-Disc honcho (and “fourth Galaxie 500 member”) known as Kramer.
Delia Fischer, 'Beyond Bossa'
Sept. 20
After Boston-based journalist and pianist Allen Morrison gave Brazilian vocalist Delia Fischer a five-star review in DownBeat Magazine, the two struck up a friendship that resulted in Morrison writing all of the lyrics for Fischer’s first-ever English-language release. The advance track “What Good is Summer” (which also features Boston’s Eugene Friesen playing cello and arranging a string score) shows Morrison penning lyrics that give English-speaking listeners a delicious taste of the poetry and passion found in Brazilian song.
Sol y Canto, 'En tu órbita'
Sept. 20
The Boston pan-Latin folk group — led by husband and wife Brian and Rosi Amador (the parents of NPR Tiny Desk Contest winner Alisa Amador) — is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year with a new album full of Brian’s compositions. The pre-release track “Horizonte Adentro” is an ode to meditation that he wrote on one especially inspired morning on Martha’s Vineyard. As it flows, the piece is infused both by Brian’s English spoken word recitations and by Rosi’s Spanish singing.
Sol Y Canto celebrates the release, and its 30th anniversary, on Sept. 21 at the Crystal Ballroom in Somerville.
Ken Field, 'The Canopy'
Sept. 20
When Boston dancer and choreographer Joanie Block reached out to Ken Field to score her work “Under the Canopy,” it was because of Field’s well-deserved reputation as a versatile and thoughtful multi-instrumentalist and composer. But it turned out that Field also had a personal connection to the project: Block had grieved the passing of her husband before embarking on the project that found members of the Boston dance community reflecting on “love, loss and resilience.” Field brought his own experience of losing his wife and artistic collaborator, animator Karen Aqua, in 2011. Now, the music from the dance piece, which premiered in April, is showcased on a recording that finds Field playing all of the parts himself, creating a meaningful sound journey that never strays far from the heart.
Rey Royale, 'I AM R&B 2: The Love Chronicles Deluxe Edition'
Sept. 24
News that the city of Boston will be honoring New Edition (once the planned event is rescheduled) raises the question: Who is carrying the torch for contemporary R&B in the city today? The answer is silky crooner Rey Royale. Earlier this year, Royale released “The Love Chronicles,” a concept record that details the evolution of a love affair. This fall, Royale will release a deluxe edition with six extra tracks full of Royale’s yearning bedtime magic.
Terry Borderline, 'Mystic Messenger'
Sept. 26
The gifted Brockton-bred MC and producer Terry Borderline’s rhymes deftly shift between present-day realities and Afro-futuristic dreams. That makes him an ideal fit for Monks Table Records, the Boston label founded by producer Gasoline Monk that has found its niche in what it calls psychedelic hip-hop. Gasoline Monk regular Burn Herm is among the collaborators, and both the lyrics and the beats offer a deep dive into otherworldly matters.
Soggy Po Boys, 'Leave the Light On'
Oct. 4
Long one of the finest local traditional jazz combos, the Soggy Po Boys shows that there are still new and fabulously fun ways to play the rhythms and melodies of early 20th century New Orleans music. Guitarist-vocalist Stu Dias’ bluesy singing is straight from the soul, and the band members swing like their lives depend on it. This winning record has lots of lagniappe: The Creole tradition has been in a generations-long musical conversation with the Caribbean, and the calypso tinge shows up on the sophisticated original “Over/Under” by pianist Mike Effenberger and a jazzy rendition of Lord Kitchener’s cutting kaiso “Miss Tourist.”
Soggy Po Boys celebrates the album release on Nov. 30 at the Lizard Lounge in Cambridge. The band also plays release shows in Maynard, Newburyport and other New England stops throughout October.
Kit Orion, 'Bottle Grin'
Oct. 24
Cambridge music maker, producer and DJ Caitlyn O'Brien can be found DJing weddings, making music for podcasts and teaching vocal skills. Now, she’s created a deliciously catchy batch of genre-defying pop songs for her second Kit Orion album. While the beats are always unpredictable, there’s a vibe of optimism and gratitude that flows through these dreamy gems.
Kit Orion celebrates the album with a listening party and video premiere on Oct. 24 at the Capitol Theatre in Arlington and with a live performance Nov. 7 at the Lizard Lounge in Cambridge.
Hilken Mancini Band
Oct. 25
Boston indie pop fans of a certain age might remember the great 1990s band Fuzzy. Bostonians of any age might know the Jamaica Plain vintage shop called (and located at) 40 South St. or Punk Rock Aerobics. Now the common link between all three, Hilken Mancini, is stepping out with her own band and a full-length LP on the Girlsville label. A single out Sept. 6, "Weight," shows Mancini packing an exuberant and powerful punch and she’s lovingly joined in the band by some more of Boston’s finest: fellow Fuzzy alum Winston Braman, Luther Gray and Melissa Gibbs.
Hilken Mancini Band appears on Sept. 14 at the Midway Cafe and opens for Juliana Hatfield at The Sinclair on Nov. 3.
Derek Smith and the Cosmic Vultures, 'Opus'
Nov. 1
The prolific Boston songwriter Derek Smith has made a string of impressive indie-folk and psych recordings both under his name and with his band the Cosmic Vultures. Now the two entities have combined into one. "Tomorrow Morning," the lead-off track from their upcoming album “Opus” is an undeniably catchy glam-pop combustion that would have ruled the radio if it had been released 50 years ago. Listen at your own risk, because this song will stay stuck in your head all week.
Derek Smith and the Cosmic Vultures appear Oct. 5 at Koto in Lowell.
