Big Deal - Lights Out CD/LP (Mute)
Woozy, understated pop, drawing comparisons to The xx, Beach House, Sonic Youth and The Lemonheads.

Chairlift - Something CD (Columbia)
Sophomore album from the electro-rock duo, their first album since the departure of founding member Aaron Pfenning. Ethereal vocals paired with a driving force of infectious bass lines and dance-laden drum beats are relentless throughout the album’s eleven tracks.

Cloud Nothings – Attack On Memory CD/LP (Carpark)
Recorded in Chicago with Steve Albini, Cloud Nothing’s secnd full length showcases the growth they’ve experienced as a constantly touring band, opening the songwriting process up for more improvisation and input from the other band members.

Joe Cocker - Hard Knocks CD (Savoy Label Group)
21st album featuring nine new songs and a cover version of the Dixie Chicks’ “I Hope.”

Madi Diaz – Plastic Moon CD (Small Horse)
Plastic Moon reflects Diaz’s lifelong attraction to songcraft as well as her deep-rooted affinity for contrasting types of music. One part pop music and one part organic Americana, the album is a hooky, confident collection of songs that is as heartbreaking in places as it is catchy in others, sometimes within the span of a single song. Continue reading →

Aidan Baker – The Spectrum Of Distraction 2xCD (Robotic Empire)
Specifically designed to be played on shuffle and yield a completely unique experience each time. 96 tracks spanning two CDs. Backed here by an impressive array of notable drummers who’ve cut their teeth in the likes of Swans, Jesus Lizard, Slowdive, Killing Joke, Godflesh, Jesu — hallucinatory dreamscapes weave into frantic noise into dubby passages into chilled-out jazz into psychedelic grooves into an oppressive industrial crunch into a hip-hop bop into almighty sludge dirges.

Steve Aoki - Wonderland CD (Ultra)
New album from one of L.A.’s most well-known electro/house DJs. Features collaborations with Rivers Cuomo, Lil Jon, and others.

Attack Attack! - This Means War CD (Rise)
Third album of pop/metal from the Warped Tour regulars.

Jessie Baylin - Little Spark CD/LP (Thirty Tigers)
Baylin’s songs — and her plangent voice — carry a classic pop tone that evoke memories of the Brill Building and Laurel Canyon in the ‘70s while retaining a decidedly modern, empowered worldview.

Big Pink – Future This CD/LP+MP3 (4AD)
“The Big Pink’s follow up to 2009’s A Brief History Of Love is an example of what UK electro-rock should be: thunderous, ’80s-style drumbeats, sleek keyboard grooves, and a selection of samples that you can’t help but nod your head to.” — Playback:STL Continue reading →

Alex Chilton – Free Again: The “1970” Sessions CD/LP (Omnivore Recordings)
Collects the first solo recordings by Chilton — post-Box Tops/pre-Big Star. Includes previously unreleased material.

Charlie Haden/Hank Jones – Come Sunday CD (Emarcy)
Two jazz legends team up for an unforgettable and moving album of classic spirituals.

Ladysmith Black Mambazo – Ladysmith Black Mambazo & Friends 2xCD (Razor & Tie)
Career-spanning collection of LBM’s collaborations with some of the biggest names in music, including: Paul Simon, Emmylou Harris, Josh Groban, Taj Mahal, Natalie Merchant, Sarah McLachlan, Dolly Parton, Lou Rawls and many others.

The Little Willies – For The Good Times CD/LP (Blue Note)
New from the country side-project led by Norah Jones.  Free litho poster with purchase!

Nightwish – Imaginaerium CD/2xCD (Roadrunner)
New album from the Finnish symphonic metal band — available in Regular and Deluxe Editions. Deluxe adds a disc of instrumental versions. Continue reading →