Friday, October 21, 2011

____________New Releases 10.18.2011

Big Pete _ Choice Cuts

Dutch blues master makes his American debut. Recommended for fans of the genre.

Bjork _ Biophilia

Icelandic legend’s latest is as pretty and weird as possible.

Brantley Gilbert _ Modern day Prodigal Son

Ridiculous muscle country.

Chris Isaak _ Beyond The Sun

Isaak pays tribute to the legendary Sun Records.

Class Actress _ Rapproacher

Brooklyn duo play quality synth pop. See “Bienvenue,” “Keep You.”

Cradle of Filth _ Evermore Darkly

Extreme metal.

Everlast _ Songs of the Ungrateful Living

Dark, raspy, folk/rap from an original white rapper.

Freestyle Fellowship _ Promise

Interesting, experimental hip hop from LA collective.

Gauntlet Hair _ Gauntlet Hair

Chicago indie rockers mix sub-bass and electro drums with trebly guitar for an interesting whole.

I Break Horses _ Hearts

Swedish duo play understated synth pop.

James Blake _ Enough Thunder EP

UK Hipster hero features Bon Iver but might just be too boring for the big time..

Jane’s Addiction _ The Great Escape Artist

Alt heroes enlist Dave Sitek on their first new set since 2003’s Strays.

John Cale _ Extra Playful EP

21-minutes of art-rock from Velvet underground co-founder.

June Tabor & Oyseterband _ ragged Kingdom

Classical folk from English legends.

**Kitty, Daisy, & Lewis _ Smoking in Heaven

UK trio play fresh, eclectic 60’s tinged rock’n’roll.

Lalah Hathaway _ Where It All Begins

Critically adored R&B from ‘The First Daughter of Soul.’

M83 _ Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming

French electropop act play huge, upbeat indie rock.

Montgomery Genry _ Rebels on the Run

Cringe-worthy country pop would have anyone in their right mind on the run and hiding.

**My Brightest Diamond _ All Things Will Unwind

Inventive pop combining elements of chamber music, opera and cabaret from NYC singer/songwriter. See “Reaching Through to the Other Side,” “Escape Routes,” “High Low Middle.”

Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds _ Self Titled

Oasis leader aims to outshine Liam on his solo debut.

Patrick Stump _ Soul Punk

Former emo-king’s attempt at R&B is a bit confusing but has decent moments. See “Spotlight,” “The I in Lie,” “Run Dry.”

Real Estate _ Days

NJ/BK blog kings play their brand of sleepy pop/rock. See “Out of Tune.”

Shelby Lynne _ Revelation Road

Grammy winning Virginia songstress plays pretty roots-pop.

T-Bone Burnett _ Presents The Speaking Clock Revue _ Live From The Beacon Theatre

Great American producer welcomes a list of legends for an energetic collection of great live music.

The Kentucky Headhunters _ Dixie Lullabies

Authentic country rock. Recommended for fans of the genre.

**recommended

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

_______________New Releases 10.11.11
Bjork _ Biophilia
Bjork's music is as intense, beautiful, and fiercely creative as ever.
Electric 6 _ Heartbeats and Brainwaves
Prolific Detroit based garage-electro act are obviously having fun on their 8th studio effort. See "The Intergalactic Version."
Erasure _ Tomorrow's World
Brit synth-pop duo sound the same as always, but now their sound is hip again.
Five Finger Death Punch _ American Capitalist
Tongue-in-cheek LA metal act mix hardcore and nu-metal with mixed results.
**Joe Henry _ Reverie
Accomplished producer shows off on this atmospheric, largely acoustic set.
Joe Jonas _ Fastlife
Even the slickest, most expensive beats money can buy can't save this confused disaster of a solo effort.
Marketa Irglova _ Anar
The female half of The Swell Season has an incredibly mature sound for a 23-year-old on her solo debut.
Modeselektor _ Monkeytown
Berlin IDM group features Thom Yorke and others on their latest set of trippy electro.
Peter Gabriel _ New Blood
Legend is as innovative and dramatic as ever on his latest.
**Rachel Yamagata _ Chesapeake
Singer/pianist plays warm, intelligent pop on her third solo album.
Radiohead _ Tkol Rmx 1234567
Complete collection of previously unreleased remixes finds Radiohead at their weirdest.
Rich Robinson _ Through A Crooked Sun
Black Crowe plays standard blues-pop.
Ryan Adams _ Ashes & Fire
From overacheiver to underacheiver, Mr Mandy Moore adds to his musical legacy with this set of intricate folk.
The Parlor Mob _ Dogs
NJ alt-rockers sound like one part Jack White, one part The Academy Is.
Wednesday 13 _ Calling All Corpses
Snarling, theatrical hard-rock
White Williow _ Terminal Twilight
Norwegian art-rockers continue their trend towards darker, more guitar-driven tunes.
**recommended

Tuesday, October 4, 2011


_________________New Releases 10.4.2011

Carolyn Wonderland _ Peace Meal

Authentic blues via Austin.

David Crowder Band _ Oh For Joy

Bizarre Christmas/electronic album.

Dessa _ Castor, The Twin

MN spoken-word artist follows up the critically lauded A Badly Broken Code with more electro/spoken word.

DJ Shadow _ Less You Know The Better
Shadow suffers from ADD on his latest, skipping frequently between hip-hop, hard-rock, and trip-hop elements.

Feist _ Metals

Indie-queen Leslie Feist’s latest effort is less focused and cheery than her previous two albums.

George Benson _ Guitar Man

American guitar legend plays smooth Jazz.

Hank Williams Sr _ The Lost Notebooks of Hank Williams

Godfather of country music’s never realized tracks done by Dylan, Jack White, Merle Haggard, Lucinda Williams, Nora Jones, etc..

Indigo Girls _ Beauty Queen Sister

Stripped down adult rock.

Jack’s Mannequin _ People & Things

Emo-darling’s latest is the final of a three-part series. Piano-based power-pop.

La Dispute _ Wildlife

Concept album from MI post-hardcore act.

LIGHTS _ Siberia

Canadian electropop star’s standard tracks benefit from creative production. RIYL Owl City.

Mayday Parade _ Mayday Parade

Smooth emopunk from Tallahassee rock with sincerity but may lack dignity.

Mayer Hawthorne _ How Do You Do

Bookish LA producer's white-boy R&B/soul sounds more like the real thing than ever before.

Merle Haggard _ Working In Tennessee

American legend charms with his upbeat blend of outlaw country and honky tonk.

MGMT _ LateNightTales

Motely crew of artists offer up takes of MGMT tracks.

MISFITS _ Devils Rain

Highly anticipated record from goth-punk royalty is their first in over a decade.

MUTEMATH _ Odd Soul

NOLA prog-rockers have found their sweet spot. See “Tell Your Heart Heads Up,” “All Or Nothing,”

“Allies.”

New Found Glory _ Radiosurgery

The most nasal emo-punk rockers of all are still making new music for 13-year-olds.

Nicola Roberts _ Cinerella’s Eyes

Cutting edge electropop from Girls Aloud singer.

Patrick O’Hearn _ Transitions

Haunting new-age on the 12th effort from West Coast fixture.

Radical Face _ The Family Tree: The Roots

Poorly named effort of forgettable indie folk from 24-year-old FLA native Ben Cooper

Style P _ Master of Ceremonies

The LOX rapper does what's expected on his latest; big beats, a-list guest spots, and gritty wordplay.

**Sarah Jaffe _ The Way Sound Leaves A Room

Pleasant, inventive art-folk from Denton TX beauty. RIYL early Feist.

The Sheepdogs _ Learn & Burn

Rollingstone Cover contest winners make up for the lame picture with great rock tunes.

Tony Bennett _ Duets II

Showtune legend features the biggest names in music on his latest set of wry Jazz.

Transit _ Listen & Forgive

Boston emo-act play hooky, nasal rock’n’roll.

Wayne Static _ Pighammer

Static X leader branches out on his own with more industrial/metal.

**We Were Promised Jetpacks _ In the Pit of the Stomach

Scottish indie-rockers play with a harder edge and increased focus on their sophomore effort.

Zola Jesus _ Conatus

Eclectic, cool electropop from Russian-American singer/songwriter.

Zucchero _ Chocabeck

Italian rock legend plays pretty acoustic and ballads on his latest.

**recommended