Each month, tons of new music from many taste-spanning genres is released into a fast-consuming, unforgiving market; it can be tough to get a handle on what’s new before it’s on to the next. In an attempt to highlight the standout releases, at the end of each month, AUX staff re-cap the month in Punk, Metal, Indie/Pop/Rock, Hip Hop, Electronic, and Pop with the top five releases in each. Consider it your cheat sheet for year-end lists.

Top 5 Indie/Rock/Pop Releases:
July

 

Dusted – Total Dust

Dusted is usually first identified as “Brian Borcherdt of Holy Fuck,” which is accurate, and even necessary for a new artist/project, for context, but it could also be “Brian Borcherdt of Brian Borcherdt,” because Total Dust more reflects the minimalist, guitar-based melodic atmospherics of Borcherdt’s underrated solo work. Joining Borcherdt to round out Dusted is Toronto musician/producer Leon Taheny, no doubt a factor in some of the albums musically brighter spots, like on “(Into the) Atmosphere,” but the rawness of the plaintive “Cut Them Free” is all Brian. For my money, Borcherdt is at the top of this raw, soul-baring sort of writing and performing. (Polyvinyl)

Fang Island – Major

Major sounds immediately like a dramatic shift for Fang Island, the super-posi group of Rhode Island rockers who have, in the past, described their own sound as “everyone high-fiving everyone.” It opens with the popping of fireworks, dueling, swelling guitarmonies, and soulful piano—business as usual. But at the minute-and-a-half mark, a chorus of vocals comes in, and while the band has increased the singing gradually over their releases, it’s present in almost the entirety of Major. The end of the song plays out in typical triumphant, technical glory, making you feel as alive as ever. Fang Island, we love you. (Sergeant House)

Dirty Projectors – Swing Lo Magellan

What a bunch of strange and lovely pop songs Dirty Projectors mastermind David Longstreth has collected here. Supposedly culled from over 40 demos, Swing Lo Magellan manages to capitalize on the promise of eccentricity an abundance of choice suggests, but it also shows the efforts of his editing—things are more stripped down than ever, allowing a warmth and a connection that has previously been somewhat sacrificed in the deliberateness of it all. As ever, the vocals—particularly the slightly, but masterfully skewed harmonies—are a standout, but even there, Longstreth has reeled it in and made it more straightforward. (Domino)

Divine Fits – “My Love Is Real” (single)
	This is the first single from the recently announced Dan Boeckner/Britt Daniel/Sam Brown supergoup, Divine Fits, and though this single doesn’t quite deliver on the promise these bodies-as-one make, it is included in good faith for the album. Supergroups always turn out great, yeah? (Merge)

Frank Ocean – channel ORANGE
	Totally cheating, don’t care. Hooks and (feelings and insights and musical vision) for days. Read on for Chayne Japal’s expanded review. (Island/Def Jam)