Tuesday, June 7, 2011

_______________________New 6.7.2011

Above & Beyond _ Group Therapy

UK supergroup proves they can do no wrong with this uplifting, expertly produced trance. See “Alchemy, “ “Black Room Boy,” “Sun In Your Eyes.”

Adelitas Way _ Home School Valedictorian

Standard mod-rock via Las Vegas.

Amorphis _ The Beginning of Times

Finnish death metal featuring elements of folk and progressive metal.

Arch Enemy _ Khaos Legions

Swedish death metal act’s latest features re-recordings from the band’s first three records.

Arctic Monkeys _ Suck It And See

UK indie rock kings take two steps back from the awesome Josh Homme produced Humbug.

All Time Low _ Dirty Work

Pop-punk pretty boys seem a bit like they missed the boat with extremely simple composition and lyrics.

Battles _ Gloss Drop

Inventive, instrumental electro-tinged pop. See “Africastle,” “Futura,” “White Electric.”

Benny Benassi _ Electroman

Grammy-award winning Italian house/electro producer gets help from big names and aims for the charts.

Black Lips_ Arabia Mountain

GA garage rockers blend blues, rock, country, and punk, but the record lacks the excitement of the band’s provocative live shows.

Blindside _ With Shivering Hearts We Wait

Swedish Christian hard rock.

Branford Marsalis & Joey Calderazzo _ Songs of Mirth and Melancholy

Expressive emotional Jazz.

Chick Corea _ Forever

Legendary Jazz pianist/Miles Davis cohort plays new classical.

City & Colour _ Little Hell

Dallas Green and Co follow up their 2008 smash Bring Me Your Love.

Craig Taborn _ Avenging Angel

Respected composer/pianist makes his first unaccompanied album ever.

Cults _ Cults

NYC internet sensation debut record has much hype to live up to. See “Go Outside,” “Abducted.”

**Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. _ It’s A Corporate World

Electro-pop act prove that with good songwriting the cream rises to the top, even in the most crowded of genres.

Dawes _ Nothing Is Wrong

Goldsmith brothers and Co play new classic rock. See “If I Wanted Someone,” “So Well,” “Million Dollar Bill.”

Depeche Mode _ Remixes 2: ’81-‘11

Depeche get the remix treatment from some of the best around.

Diane Schuur _ The Gathering

Distinguished Jazz singer sounds better than ever on this star-studded collection of 10 classic country songs.

Duncan Sheik _ Covers 80’s

90’s one hit wonder offers his takes on favorites from the 80’s.

**Frank Turner _ England Keeps My Bones

Million Dead frontman plays strong upbeat folk/rock. See “I Still Believe,” “I Am Disappeared,” “Redemption.”

Fucked Up _ David Comes To Life

Awesome hardcore punk via Toronto. See “Queen of Hearts,” “Under My Nose.”

**Givers _ In Light

Louisana indie act play fun, airy guitar pop, RIYL Dirty Projectors. See “Saw You First,” “Ripe,” “Ceiling of Plankton.”

Grayson Capps _ The Lost Cause Minstrels

Blues/Americana set from one of the South’s best new singer/songwriters.

Hail Mary Mallon _ Are You Gonna Eat That?

Fun hip-hop from Aesop Rock, Rob Sonic, and DJ Big Wiz. See “Meter Feeder,” “Smock,” “Holy Driver.”

Hammerfall _ Infected

Power metal via Sweden.

Hiromi _ Voice

Electrifying, sophisticated Jazz from this young Japanese woman.

Hooray For Earth _ True Loves

Electro-indie act struggle to stand out but have their moments. See “Last Minute,” “Bring Us Closer Together.”

Il Volo _ Il Volo [Spanish Version]

Traditional Italian opera from the next generation of tenors.

Iron Maiden _ From Fear To Eternity: The Best of 1990-2010

Greatest hits.

Jessica 6 _ See The Light

Euro club tunes/R&B. See “ Good To Go,” “Not Anymore.”

Joe Ely _ Satisfied At Last

Revered TX singer/songerwriter blends honky-tonk, country, and American rock on his latest set.

Larry Carlton _ Plays The Sound of Philadelphia

Multi-Grammy winning Jazz guitarist takes on Philly.

Lindi Ortega _ Little Red Boots

Golden voiced Canadian singer-songwriter’s latest alt/country is solid. See “Angels,” “Little Red Boots,” “Dying of Another Broken Heart.”

Marvin Gaye _ What’s Going On [40th Anniversary 2CD/LP]

Reissued, 3-disc collection.

Mastodon _ Brett Hinds Presents: Fiend Without a Face & West End Motel

Bizarre split set of rockabilly finds the kings of psych-metal in a very weird place.

**Mike Bloom _ King Of Circles

Rilo Kiley/The Elected multi-instrumentalist belongs in the center of the stage. See “Til It’s Over,” “Gold Mine,” “Anything But This.”

Morbid Angel _ Illud Divinum Insanus

Death metal/grindcore legends haven’t lost a thing in the 20+ years since their debut.

New Gary Burton Quartet _ Common Ground

Lighthearted Jazz set led by the Indiana innovative vibraphonist .

**Nick 13 [Tiger Army]_ Nick 13

Well-written, lushly orchestrated alt/county. See “Nashville Winter,” “All Alone, “ Nighttime Sky.”

Origin _ Entity

Talented Kansas trio make some really brutal metal.

Peter Murphy _ Ninth

Latest from Bauhaus frontman/godfather of Goth has its gems. See “I Spit Roses,” “Memory Go.”

Randy Travis _ Anniversary Celebration

Randy gets help from the biggest names in the biz to celebrate his 25th with covers and duets of his biggest hits.

Robert Pollard _ Lord Of The Birdcage

Prolific Guided By Voices frontman puts out his second record of 2011 only six months in.

Ronnie Dunn _ Ronnie Dunn

Straightforward country rock from half of Brooks & Dunn.

Sondre Lerche _ Sondre Lerche

Strong set varied pop tunes from this young Norwegian. See “Go Right Ahead,” “Coliseum Town,” “When the River.”

Tech N9ne _ All 6’s and 7’s

KC rapper brings his speedy, distinctive flow into mainstream territory with big beats and prolific guest spots.

Tedeschi Trucks Band _ Revelator

Fans of both acts will delight in this set from two fixtures in American rock. See “Midnight In Harlem.”

The Book of Mormon [Original Broadway Cast] _ The Book Of Mormon

Soundtrack from the critically acclaimed musical from Trey Parker And Matt Stone.

The Ladybug Transistor _ Clutching Stems

Upbeat indie-rock from Brooklyn bank on charm. See “Breaking Up On The Beat,” “Clutching Stems.”

The Postelles _ The Postelles

Retro indie rockers show off a few good hooks, lack consistency. See “123 Stop,” “Whisper, Whisper.”

The Rosebuds _ Loud Planes Fly Low

Newly split Raleigh couple play their unique brand of upbeat indie folk. See “Come Visit Me,” “Woods,”

Tom Vek _ Leisure Seizure

Reclusive multi-instrumentalist’s latest is full of interesting pop. See “Aroused,” “A.P.O.L.O.G.Y.”

Tommy Castro _ Presents: The Legendary R&B Revue – Live!

Critically acclaimed CA bluesman brings his exciting live act to the people.

Tyr _ The Lay of Thrym

Viking metal.

Whitesnake _ Live at Donington 1990

The legendary 80’s rockers live at their peak.

Youssou NDour _ Dakar-Kingston

Authentic reggae in promotion of African unity. See “Bololene,” “Diarr Diarr.”

**recommended

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