_________________New Releases 9.13.2011

Alice Cooper _ Welcome 2 My Nightmare

Somehow the father of goth is still going strong. I'm no doctor but maybe it's a steady diet Big Units (two-feet hotdogs named for the gargantuan MLB star) from his AZ eatery.

Anthrax _ Worship Music

Scott Ian and Co honor hard rock on their latest thrashfest.

**Blind Pilot _ We Are the Tide

Portland indie-folksters play earnest but sappy acoustic pop.

Blitzen Trapper _ American Goldwing

Critically adored Portlanders play classic-rock themed indie rock on their third record for Sub Pop.

Bush _ Sea of Memories

Gavin Rossdale and Co haven't changed much since the release of their '94 smash Sixteen Stone.

**Das Racist _ Relax

Silly but smart hipster rap group don't take themselves too seriously. See "Brand New Dance," "Shut Up, Man," "Rainbow in the Dark," "The Trade."

Dream Theatre _ A Dramatic Turn Of Events

Prog legends balance the epic with the intimate.

Girls _ Father, Son, Holy Ghost

San Fran '60's garage act show off great Elliot Smith-style vocals but also a major lack of originality. See "Vomit," "Magic."

Lady Antebellum _ Own The Night

Country's music's biggest, sappiest new band

Ladytron _ Gravity The Seducer

80's influences take over on English electro-poppers latest effort.

Laura Marling _ A Creature I Don't Know

Highly touted English folk singer/songwriter plays subdued, moody folk.

Levin Torn White _ Levin Torn White

Three prog legends join forces on this energetic, experimental set.

**Mates of State _ Mountaintops

Kansas indie pop duo release their most fully imagined effort yet.

Neon Indian _ Era Extrana

Highly anticipated sophomore effort from Denton, TX chillwave act. Good but annoying at times. See "Polish Girl," "Hex Girlfriend," "Era Extrana."

Nick Lowe _ The Old Magic

Legendary English singer-songwriter still has it at age 61.

Pajama Club _ Pajama Club

NZ legend Neil Finn and Co play catchy rock with dashes of electro.

Primus _ Green Naugahyde

Les Claypool and Co return with more of their super-weird, hard-rocking prog funk.

Reckless Kelly _ Good Luck & True Love

Stylish country pop, recommended for fans of the genre.

Saves The Day _ Daybreak

NJ emo legends hope for improved success after their extremely disappointing recent records In Reverie, Sound the Alarm, and Under The Boards.

Spyro Gyra _ A Foreign Affair

One of the best-selling Jazz fusion acts of all time, this band offers a uniquely dazzling blend of Jazz, reggae, and world music.

Staind _ Staind

Former Limp Bizkit protégés release their 7th album of standard mod rock.

St Vincent _ Strange Mercy

Polyphonic Spree/Sufjan Stevens cohort plays awesome, stylish future pop. See "Cruel," "Northern Lights."

The Drums _ Portamento

Overrated BK indie rockers somehow manage to be lighthearted and whiny at the same time.

The Gourds _ Old Mad Joy

American alt/country act hope to translate their live success to a recording with this strong, eccentric set.

The Kooks _ Junk of the Heart

'60's-styled pop from controversial but hyped Engligh quartet.

Todd Rundgren _ [Re]Production

Legendary American producer/singer/songwriter writes awesome songs with ease. See "Leave Me Alone With My Baby."

Trombone Shorty _ For True

This 25-year-old Treme native has been a bandleader since age 6, and it shows on this set of fresh, funky Jazz. See "The Craziest Thing."

Umphrey's Mcgee _ Death By Stereo

Chicago prog-rock/Jam band follow up their 2009 hit Mantis.

Wild Flag _ Wild Flag

Carrie Brownstein hopes to follow up her IFC hit Portlandia with a hit record.

Wooden Shjips _ West

Interesting set from this San Fran experimental/drone rock group.

Wynton Marsalis & Eric Clapton _ Play The Blues

Living legends unite for authentic blues, also available live from Jazz at Lincoln Center.

**recommended

_______________New Releases 9.6.2011

**Bombay Bicycle Club _ A Different Kind Of Fix

English indie folk/rockers latest is their best yet. See “Shuffle,” “Leave It,” “How Can You Swallow So Much Sleep.”

**Gary Clark Jr _ The Bright Lights EP

Awesome blues rock in the vein of the Black Keys; the problem is it’s only 4 tracks.

George Strait _ Here For A Good Time

Country royalty plays tasteful country.

Grace Jones _ Hurricane

Jamaican-American singer/actress/eccentric plays crazy, interesting reggae influenced dance tunes. See “I’m Crying (Mother’s Tears)."

Hank 3 _ Cattle Callin’

Bizarre cow auction meets metal.

Hank 3 _ Ghost To a Ghost/Gutter Town

Rebel country legend plays badass country.

Hank 3 _ Hank 3’s Attention Deficit Disorder

Hank plays fully realized sludge metal.

Jessy J _ Hot Sauce

Mexican-American singer/songwriter saxophonist plays feisty Jazz on this instrumental set.

Lindsey Buckingham _ Seeds We Sow

Fleetwood Mac legend continues to push himself on his 6^th solo effort.

Luke Temple _ Don’t Act Like You Don’t Care

Impressive acoustic pop/folk from MA/NYC artist.

Paul McCartney _ Chaos & Creation In The Backyard

Not a bad effort, for a Beatle.

Samiam _ Trips

Berkeley indie rockers return with their first studio record in over five years.

Saviours _ Death’s Procession

Oakland stoner-metal.

**The Horrible Crowes _ Elsie

Brian Fallon side project benefits from adventurous instrumentation and the Gaslight Anthem frontman’s traditional songwriting. See “Ladykiller.”

The Rapture _ In The Grace Of Your Love

NYC post-punk pioneers are hit and miss on their latest, recording in Paris and Greenpoint, BK.

The Tierney Sutton Band _ American Road

Renowned American Jazz singer shows off versatile vocals and meticulous arrangements on her latest.

Tom Russell _ Mesabi

Prolifc Texas folk fixture keeps the laid back Americana coming.

WU LYF _ Go Tell Fire To The Mountain

Raspy voiced indie rock. RIYL Modest Mouse. See “Cave Song,” “Heavy Pop.”

**recommended

___________________New Releases 8.30.2011

Blood Orange _ Coastal Grooves

Dev Hynes (Lightspeed Champion) mixes twangy guitars with 80’s electronics on this interesting but bizarre project. See “Sutphin Boulevard,” “S’Cooled,” “The Complete Knock.”

**Butch Walker _ Spade

It’s been along time since the Marvelous 3 singer scored a hit with “Freak of the Week” but he’s still going strong. Spade is packed with lighthearted, anthemic pop/rock tunes. See “Summer of ’89,” “Day Drunk,” “Synthesizers.”

Cobra Starship _ Night Shades

Gabe Saporta alienated just about all of his fans from his days as frontman of the legendary NJ punk band Midtown, and with this effort of sleazy dance rock there will definitely be none remaining.

Counting Crows _ August & Everything After: Live From Town Hall

As hard as it is to look at Adam Duritz these days, this was a great record and the performance comes close to doing it justice. See “Omaha,” “Rain King.”

David Guetta _ Nothing But The Beat

French DJ/producer has officially taken over pop music by blending super-poppy production with elements of hip-hop and thumping bassdrum.

Doug Benson _ Potty Mouth

The Super High Me legend’s latest comes with a bonus DVD of his six-episode cult-hit The Doug Benson Interuption.

Edwin McCain _ Mercy Bound

Cringe-inducing soul pop from 90’s hero, singer/songwriter Maia Sharp.

Glasses Malone _ Beach Cruiser

Solid LA gangsta rap.

Great Lake Swimmers _ Bodies and Minds

Soothing indie folk/pop.

Jake Owen _ Barefoot Blue Jean Night

Feel good country pop.

Jill Scott _ Hidden beach Presents: the Original Jill Scott

12 soulful, funky previously unreleased tracks from her days at Hidden Beach. See “The Light,” “Wake Up Baby,” “I’m Prettier.”

Killinger _ Killinger

Horrible 80’s rock.

Lenny Kravitz _ Black & White America

Kravitz tackles race with his typical, classic-rock influenced guitar pop.

Light Asylum _ In Tension

80's centered indie electro.

Lil Wayne _ The Carter IV

The king of rap seems lackluster on his latest effort, gets upstaged by his army of guest stars.

Male Bonding _ Endless Now

Lo-fi English punk/noise rockers second Sub Pop release isn’t bad but is definitely not great. See “What’s That Scene.”

**Mike Doughty _ Yes & Also Yes

Ex-Soul Coughing frontman has kicked the smack, still writes shockingly good pop rock.

Red Hot Chili Peppers _ I’m With You

Cali legends follow up their epic double LP Stadium Arcadium minus Frusciante.

Red Jumpsuit Apparatus _ Am I The Enemy

FLA rockers’ latest effort is a confusing amalgamation of emo, rock, mod-rock, and pop.

Robert Earl Keen _ Ready For Confetti

Longtime TX singer/songwriter sounds great on his 11th-studio album. See “I Gotta Go,” “The Road Goes On And On.”

Ry Cooder _ Pull Up Some Dust & Sit Down

Eclectic American singer/songwriter draws from traditional blues/Americana for a pleasant, sparse, original sound. See “No Banker Left Behind,” “Quick Sand,” “Lord Tell Me Why.”

Sharon Isbin & Friends: Guitar Passions

Modern guitar legend shows off some serious classical chops and explores the music of Latin America.

Tame Impala _ Inner Speaker

Standard psychedelic groove rock via Australia.

Tinariwen _ Tassili

Highly anticipated record from the kings of African rock’n’roll.

Tom Morello the Nightwatchman _ World Wide Rebel Songs

Guitar legend/activist offers his heaviest solo material to date. See “The Dogs of Tijuana, “It Begins Tonight,”

**recommended

____________________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