Autumn Defense

With 15 years and five albums now snugly under its belt, this long-running side project from Wilco’s John Stirratt and Pat Sansone has had a full life of its own. The group’s songs are generally solid (if a little indistinguishable), though every now and again they flirt with classic-pop brilliance. I’d venture that it’s these breakthrough moments that keep ‘em coming back album after album between Wilco tours. That and familiarity—from the sound of things, The Autumn Defense drafted a pretty strong stylistic blueprint for the band from the get go, and they’ve stuck to it.

I’m A Harmony, new album from psych-folk legend Linda Perhacs, coming on Omnivore September 22. Produced by Pat Sansone (Wilco/The Autumn Defense), Fernando Perdomo and Linda Perhacs. Guest artists include Chris Price, Devendra Banhart, Pat Sansone & John Stirratt (Wilco/The Autumn Defense), Glenn Kotche & Nels Cline (Wilco), Julia Holter.

It feels redundant to say The Flaming Lips make complete weirdness out of The Beatles’ iconic Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band album. This complete reworking—er, deconstruction—of songs known the world over for their bright, shimmering sounds and Technicolor melodies will annoy purists, naturally, but it's actually a fun, wild ride for everyone else. Miley Cyrus sweetly croons “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds,” while the endless list of “Fwends” (well, 27 strong, including Grace Potter, Tegan & Sara, and Foxygen) ensures tracks are flush with madness. Unexpected highlight: The Electric Wurms, led by the Lips’ Steven Drozd, re-channel “Fixing a Hole” into an astral ballad.