____________________New Releases 8.23.2011

**Active Child _ You Are All I See

Full length debut mixes Pat Grossi’s heavenly tenor with stylish electro production. RIYL James Blake.

**Ana Egge _ Bad Blood

Saskatchewan native plays masterful folk on this latest set of Steve Earle produced gems.

Blue Highway _ Sounds of Home

Bright contemporary bluegrass.

Connie Smith _ Long Line of Heartaches

Longtime country singer has been making records for almost 50 years.

CSS _ La Libercion

Sao Paolo hipsters feature Ratatat, play predictably spaced-out upbeat indie jams. See "I Love You"

Dave Stewart _ The Blackbird Diaries

Eurythmics co-founder plays gorgeous country-tinged pop. See “Magic in the Blues,” “All Messed Up.”

Dee Dee Bridgewater _ Midnight Sign

American Jazz vocalist displays timeless vocals and infinite class on her latest.

Deepak Chopra _ The Secret of Love: Meditations for Attracting and Being In Love

Soothing meditations, instrumentation by Adam Plack. Plays like a less trippy version of The Books new-classic The Way Out.

Gabe Dixon _ One Spark
Piano pop in the vein of Ben Folds, but with less humor, more sap.

Ganglians _ Still Living

Sacramento indie/psych act gets some much needed assistance from producer Robby Moncrieff ( Dirty Projectors Bitte Orca) but are still missing something.

Ghost Brigade _ Until Fear No Longer Defines Us

Finnish prog-death metal.

Goldie _ Fabriclive 58

Longtime drum ‘n’ bass master live at London’s Fabric.

Icon For Hire _ Scripted

Female fronted nu-metal.

Jay-Z & Kanye West _ Watch The Throne

Good but obnoxious. Worth a listen for fans of either.

Jen Shyu, Mark Dresser _ Synastry

Innovative Jazz singer, bassist join forces on this envelope pushing set.

Jorn _ Live In Black

“Norse God Of Metal” plays high-quality hair metal and shows off some serious vox.

Moreland & Arbuckle _ Just A Dream

Gritty, haunting blues from Kansas duo. RIYL Black Keys, BRMC.

OuterSpace _ My Brother’s Keeper

Philly duo Crypt the Warchild and Planetary kick out the violent underground jams in typical Jedi Mind Tricks fashion.

Razika _ Program 91

Impressive indie pop/rock from energetic Norwegian teens.

Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks _ Mirror Traffic

Pavement legend meets Beck production on his most focused, catchiest solo effort to date.

Stephin Merritt _ Obscurities

Light, experimental indie pop from Magnetic Fields frontman.

Sun Araw _ Ancient Romans

High concept album of experimental electro indie.

Sunny Sweeney _ Concrete

Bubbly pop country with some TX influence (upbeat tempos, booze-soaked lyrics).

The Game _ The R.E.D. Album

Impressive mainstream rap effort, features beats by Dr Dre and verses from Nas and Rick Ross.

The McClymonts _ Wrapped Up Good

Australian sisters brand of country pop is turning heads in Nashville.

the SLoT _ Break The Code

Russian rock stars bring their aggressive brand of alt/metal across the Atlantic.

Trevor Hall _ Everything Everytime Everywhere

Lighthearted reggae-influenced pop from this SC youngster.

**We Are Augustines _ Rise Ye Sunken Ships

Expansive indie rock debut from BK trio is truly an inspired effort.

**Zee Avi _ Ghostbird

Malaysian singer/songwriter has youtube, and her silky voice to thank for her discovery. Recorded in LA for Jack Johnson’s Brushfire Records this is a record fans of good music will not want to miss. See “Swell Window,” “The Book of Morris Johnson,” “Concrete Wall.” RIYL Feist.

**recommended

__________________New Releases 8.16.2011

Ana Popovic _ Unconditional

Serbian beauty plays rootsy blues. See “Summer Rain,” “Count Me In.”

Blue October _ Any Man in America

Alt/rockers go mainstream pop on their adventurous new disc.

Chimaira _ Age of Hell

Cleveland groove metal.

Eli Young Band _ Life At Best

Classically produced American country rock. See “Even If It Breaks Your Heart,” “Skeletons.”

Flesh N’ Bone _ Blaze of Glory

Fresh out of jail Bone Thug picks up right where he left off.

Fool’s Gold _ Leave No Trace

LA collective blends African rhythms with American pop on their latest. RIYL Vampire Weekend, Dirty Projectors. See “Leave No Trace,” The Dive,” “Wild Window.”

Keb Mo _ Keb Mo

Texas guitar legend sings ever so sweetly on his latest. See “Tell Everyone I Know,” “Angelina.”

Gary Clark Jr _ The Bright Lights EP

Two tracks of rockin’ guitar based blues from Austin singer/songwriter are really just a tease. RIYL Black Keys.

Guy Clark _ Songs & Stories

TX music legend takes on some classics on this stripped down 23-song live set.

Jeff Bridges _ Jeff Bridges

Fresh off a ‘Crazy Heart’ Academy award the dude releases a record of downtempo country. See “Nothing Yet.”

Jewel _ The Merry Goes ‘Round

New mom Jewel heads to where the cash is: children’s music.

Maria Taylor _ Overlook

Azure Ray/Bright Eyes cohort mixes indie folk with elements of shoegaze for a dreamy set. See “Matador,” “Bad Idea?”

Mister Heavenly _ Out of Love

Playful indie rock from hip supergroup featuring members of Man Man, Modest Mouse, and Islands. Not bad considering all the hype.

Natalia Kills _ Perfectionist

Big, hooky, dark pop tunes.

Ollabelle _ Neon Blue Bird

NYC folk featuring traditional songwriting and five-part harmonies.

Psychostick _ Space Vampires Vs Zombie Dinosaurs

Humor-core.

Royal Thunder _ Royal Thunder

Tame classic rock.

Slaine _ World With No Skies

South Boston rapper is poised to hit the next level following the hit La Coka Nostra album “A Brand You Can Trust” with his first solo effort. Fans are also anticipating the upcoming "State of Grace with Statik Selektah.

The Cool Kids _ When Fish Ride Bicycles

Hipster rap act get help from some big names including Ghostface and Meyer Hawthorne on their latest. See “Penny Hardaway,” “Swimsuits.”

**The Duke & The King _ The Duke & The King

Gorgeous classic folk from Felice Brother and friends.

The War On Drugs _ Slave Ambient

Disappointingly drab record from promising Philly act is missing the hooks and fun of their earlier efforts.

Ursula 1000 _ Mondo Beyondo

Funky world/dance project from Brooklyn DJ/producer Alex Gimeno.

**Yellow Ostrich _ The Mistress

Newcomers play solid, dreamy lo-fi pop on their debut. See "Hold On," "Campaign," "Slow Paddle."

Z-Ro _ Straight Profit

Skilled Houston rapper stays under the radar.

**recommended

______________New Releases 8.9.2011

Ace Hood _ Blood, Sweat, & Tears

Relative newcomer already has a hit behind the omnipresent lead single “Hustle Hard.”

Against Me _ White Crosses

American punk rockers aim big on their latest. RIYL Gaslight Anthem. See “Because of the Shame,”

Army Navy _ The Last Place

LA indie rock trio don’t stray too far from tradition on their second full-length effort. See “Feathered,” “The Hunter.”

Barenaked Ladies _ Snacktime

90’s heroes latest kid’s album is the same lighthearted pop/rock that made them huge. See “Pollywog In A Bog,” “I Can Sing.”

Dom _ Family of Love

Worcester, MA garage/electro sensations keep the hooks coming on this brief 5-track set.

Eyes Set To Kill _ White Lotus

Female metalcore act via Pheonix, AZ prove chicks can be brutal too.

Greeley Estates _ The Death of Greeley Estates

Phoenix metal/screamo.

Gucci Mane & Waka Flocka Flame _ Ferrari Boyz

This is just as bad as you think it's going to be, maybe worse.

Horrors _ Skying

80’s influences dominate on this set of UK indie/shoegaze.

**JAY Z & Kanye West _ Watch The Throne

Shockingly this records may actually be as good as it should be.

Karmakanic _ In A Perfect World

Prog-rock via Malmo Sweden.

Kevin Fowler _ Chippin’ Away

Awesomely simple Texas country/rock. Hits include “Hell Yeah I Like Beer,” “Beer Money,” and “Girl In A Truck.”

Luke Bryan _ Tailgates & Tanlines

Feel-good pop country from GA singer/songwriter.

Mark Maron _ This Has to Be Funny

Longtime NYC comic’s self-deprecating brand of deadpan humor hits harder then ever as he talks NYC hipsters, texting and driving, and septic tanks.

Michael Schenker _ By Invitation Only

Legendary German metal guitarist takes on some classics on his second release of 2011.

**Pepper Rabbit _ Red Velvet Snowball

Interesting psych pop, RIYL Animal Collective. See “Allison,” “Family Planning,” “Murder Room.”

Royce da 5’9” _ Success Is Certain

Fresh off the success of the latest Bad Meets Evil effort with Eminem Royce aims to stay in the limelight. Solid but won’t be blowing any minds.

**Sainthood Reps _ Monoculture

Long Island quartet plays hard-rocking post-emo. See “Animal Glue,” “Hunter,” “Hotfoot.”

**Ski Beatz _ 24 Hour Karate School Part 2

Legendary Reasonable Doubt producer proves he can still make beats with the best

Steve Cropper _ Dedicated

Legendary American guitarist features some big names; Steve Winwood, BB King, Betty Lavette and Lucinda Williams.

The Birthday Massacre _ Imaginary Monsters

Toronto synth-rockers come off as a more electronic version of Evanescence.

The Motels _ Apocalypso

Longtime LA new-wave band led by Martha Davis plays strange rock.

The New Mastersounds _ Breaks from the Border

Prolific UK Jazz/funk quartet play quality funk.

Trivium _ In Waves

Brutal FLA metal act’s latest effort doesn’t disappoint; they are as fast, heavy, and inventive as ever. See “Capsizing The Sea,” “Dusk Dismantled.”

**recommended

What We're Spinning..

The new Mates of State record Mountaintops - packed with bouncy rhythms, slick instrumentation, and huge hooks. A cure for electropop fans looking for something beyond the trend of nauseating 80's rip-off acts. Available from Barsuk Records September 13.

Volcano Choir collaborators Collections of Colonies of Bees latest effort Giving is four songs and 28-minutes of instrumental beauty. Highly recommended for fans of Sigur Ros, Volcano Choir, out now.

And finally we find it only fitting that on the same day as the release of Watch the Throne that Ski Beatz (producer of Jay Z's Dead Presidents and Feelin' It) would drop an album that might just be better. Take that Kanye!

______________New Releases 8.2.2011

Anthony B _ Rasta Love

Weed-tinged reggae from one of the biggest names in the genre.

Antigone Rising _ 23 Red

Pop-driven alt/country rules on this female quartet’s latest set.

Archers of Loaf _ Icky Mettle

2-disc Merge reissue of the seminal indie act’s debut album.

Bassnectar _ Divergent Spectrum

Aptly named set of experimental dubstep/trip-hop/IDM or whatever it's called this week. See "Plugged In," "Boomerang."

Boston Spaceships _ Let It Beard

Progressive classic rock on this epic 72-minute set from GBV’s Robert Pollard and co.

Bury Your Dead _ Mosh N Roll

Standard metalcore via Worcester, MA.

**Collections of Colonies of Bees _ Giving

Compelling instrumental post-rock from Volcano Choir members.

Drive By Truckers _ Greatest Hits

GA alt/country kings revel in 15 years of great tunes. Die-hards won’t want to miss the remix of “Gravity’s Gone,” and alternate version of “Uncle Frank.”

Every Avenue _ Bad Habits

Standard pop/punk via Michigan and Fearless Records.

Fountains of Wayne _ Sky Full of Holes

Fruit Bats _ Tripper

Upbeat psych-folk from Chicago native Eric D Johnson is sure to please for fans of the genre. See “So Long,” “You’re Too Weird.”

Greyson Chance _ Hold On 'Til the Night

Impressive but undeniably sappy pop from the 14-year-old youtube sensation.

Jesse Sykes & The Sweet Hereafter _ Marble Son

Whiskeytown co-founder moves in a darker, stranger direction. See “Marble Son,” “Birds of Passerine.”

John Hiatt _ Dirty Jeans and Mudslide Hymns

Legendary American songwriter offers up pop/rock and ballads with a classic voice. See “Damn This Town,” “All the Way Under,” “Train to Birmingham.

Keb’ Mo’ _ The Reflection

American blues legend gets help from some big names on his latest. See” The Whole Enchilada,” “My Shadow.”

Kenny Wayne Shepherd _ How I Go

Huge guitars and over-the-top pop hooks abound on the latest from Mel Gibson’s son-in-law.

Last Winter _ Heart & The Broken Compass

Solid alt/emo, RIYL Funeral For A Friend.

Machinedrum _ Room (s)

IDM from one of the leaders of the trip-hop movement. See “U Don’t Survive,” “Youniverse,” “Gbye,” “The Statue.”

Richard Buckner _ Our Blood

Highly anticipated record from alt/country hero and Brooklyn resident is an interesting, soothing blend of classic songwriting with adventurous production. See “Escape,” “Hindsight.”

The Ettes _ Wicked Will

Bluesey American Garage-rock. See “The Pendulum,” “You Never Say.”

The Wood Brothers

Established Colorado siblings finally unite after separate success (Medeski, Martin, and Wood; King Johnson). See” Shoofly Pie,” “Stumbled In.”

Trace Adkins _ Proud to Be Here

Pleasant, cheesy pop/country. See “Million Dollar View,” “That’s What You Get.”

Viva Brother _ Famous First Words

Decent pop/rock vie (via) Slough, England has it’s moments but may fail to capture the fan base the band is hoping for.

Wild Swans _ The Coldest Winter For A Hundred Years

Bookish, soothing folk/rock is not bad but suffers from 80’s syndrome. See “Liquid Mercury,” “Underwater.”

Ximena Sarinana _ Ximena Sariana

Interesting, upbeat pop from golden-voiced Mexican youngster on her English language debut. See “Different,” “Bringing Us Down,” “Lies We Live In.”

**recommended