311 – Mosaic CD/2xLP+MP3 (BMG)
Multi-platinum genre jumping band 311 return with their twelfth studio album. Frontman Nick Hexum says that, “Mosaic is our most adventurous collection yet. Some of our highest energy jams ever. Funky grooves, dub riddims, party anthems, heartfelt sincerity, it’s all in there.” Drummer Chad Sexton adds, “Mosaic definitely takes some steps forward into more modern territory, but there are distinct reminders of where we come from in the songs. Something about blending an older 311 style with a newer 311 style is really exciting to us and I think it will be for the fans too.”

Algiers – The Underside Of Power CD/LP+MP3 (Matador)
Poke at the seasoned members’ bruised flesh, and out wafts touchpoints as disparate and intriguing as Big Black, Wendy Carlos, John Carpenter, Cybotron, The Four Tops, Portishead, Public Image Limited, Steve Reich, and Nina Simone, to name but a few. Deep echoes of Black Lives Matter and its 20th century forbears gather, surge, and subside in their often-soulful work, a form of principled, acute dissent more interested in learning from the past than in evoking nostalgia.

Banditos – Visionland CD/LP+MP3 (Bloodshot)
The Birmingham/Nashville-based group’s second full-length has one foot firmly planted in reality as the other tip-toes in and out of mental complexities, self-perception and altered-state illusions. The results are revealing, exhilarating and profound. With the rugged power of a flashy Super Chief locomotive, the Banditos’s bodaciously appropriate elements of ’60s blues-fused acid rock, ZZ Top’s jangly boogie, garage punk scuzz a la Burger Records, the Drive-By Truckers’ yawp, the populist choogle of CCR, Slim Harpo’s hip shake baby groove, gut bucket Fat Possum hill country mojo and the Georgia Motherf*king Satellites. From backwoods bluegrass, to slinky nods to Muscle Shoals soul and unexpected bits of doo-wop sweetness, the Banditos recall many, but sound like no one. Continue reading →

2 Chainz – Pretty Girls Like Trap Music CD (Def Jam)
The follow up to last year’s Hibachi For Lunch EP, Pretty Girls Like Trap Music features a star-studded lineup, consisting of Drake, Travis Scott, Gucci Mane, Quavo, Nicki Minaj, Ty Dolla Sign, Jhene Aiko, Trey Songz, Pharrell, Swae Lee and others.

Big Bad Voodoo Daddy – Louie Louie Louie CD/LP (Savoy)
The incomparable kings of swing return with an electrifying celebration of jazz legends Louie Armstrong, Louie Jordan and Louie Prima.

Big Star – The Best Of Big Star CD/2xLP (Stax)
If the short-lived but fondly remembered Big Star could have experienced popular success in direct proportion to its posthumous influence, the rangy Memphis rock quartet would have lived up to its ambitious name, and then some. This new Best Of compilation celebrates the founding fathers of power pop with 16 tracks spanning all three of their LPs (1972′s #1 Record, 1974′s Radio City and Third, released after the group disbanded). Includes rare single versions of some of their most popular songs, plus new liner notes.

David Bowie – Cracked Actor (Live Los Angeles ’74) 2xCD (Rhino)
A previously unreleased live recording from Los Angeles on September 5, 1974. This was a pivotal gig in the transition between the Diamond Dogs tour and the Philly Dogs tour. [Limited vinyl edition was released on RSD 2017.] Continue reading →