16Volt – Beating Dead Horses CD (Metropolis)
Refining its sound, 16Volt continues to marry the raw guitars of early punk with the heavy beats and vigor of industrial dance music.
Anvil – Juggernaut Of Justice CD (The End)
14th studio album from the veteran Canadian heavy metal band. The album was recorded at Dave Grohl’s Studio 606 in Northridge, CA.
Susana Baca – Afrodiaspora CD (Luaka Bop)
The songs of African descendants in Cuba, Argentina, New Orleans, and across the world — the rhythms of forro, cumbia, tango — Afrodiaspora is a travelog that spans centuries and continents.
Eric Bibb – Troubadour Live CD (Telarc)
Live sets recorded December 2010 at Katalin and All That Jazz in Uppsala, Sweden.
Booker T. Jones – The Road From Memphis CD/LP+CD (Anti)
The Road From Memphis is classic Memphis soul, and classic Booker in the tradition of Green Onions. Guests include Yim Yames (My Morning Jacket), Matt Berning (The National), Sharon Jones, and Lou Reed.
Greg Brown – Freak Flag CD/LP (Yep Roc)
New from the accomplished songwriter, co-founder of the influential indie roots label Red House, and former musical director for Garrison Keillor’s A Prairie Home Companion radio program.
The Cars – Move Like This CD/LP (Hear Music)
The Cars’ long-awaited, brand new record has the precise swagger, art-rock minimalism and chrome-gleam pop of their classic hits.
Peter Case – The Case Files CD/LP (Alive)
Collects demos, out-takes, a live shot and other rarities from the 1985-2010 span of Peter Case’s solo career. Compiled by Peter himself, this collection combines rockin’ full band electric tracks with a selection of dynamic acoustic performances.
City Center – Redeemer CD/LP (K)
Condensing Fred Thomas’ intricate songwriting with processed samples and heady vocal effects, this focuses on the realms of bedroom lo-fi and ethereal pop.
The Felice Brothers – Celebration, Florida CD (Fat Possum)
Celebration, Florida is an exhilarating amalgamation of frightening horn sections, unexpected 808s, ambient synth lines, schoolyard taunts, booming, primitive drum beats, heavy bass lines, piano, violin, accordion, ringing guitars, rave beats, and sinister acid jazz. Vinyl version due May 24.
Gang Gang Dance – Eye Contact CD/2xLP (4AD)
Gang Gang Dance’s first album for 4AD was recorded in an old church converted to a recording studio in upstate New York, with a myriad of chimes, drums and good vibrations. “Best New Music” [8.5] — Pitchfork
Gates Of Slumber – Wretch CD (Metal Blade)
New from the heavy metal band.
Jimmie Dale Gilmore With The Wronglers – Heirloom Music CD (Neanderthal Noise)
An album of early twentieth century, folk-rooted country music featuring material from the likes Charlie Poole, the Carter Family, Bill Monroe, Bob Wills and the Delmore Brothers.
The Globes – Future Self CD/LP (Barsuk)
The Seattle press has already warmed to The Globes, with The Stranger lauding their “carefully crafted guitar rock that’s beautiful, but with a bang,” and The Seattle Weekly finding “hints of darkness and discord… moody yet warm, deep and lovable. It’s the ideal kind of music to get attached to, not demanding attention but definitely meriting it.”
Hate Eternal – Phoenix Amongst The Ashes CD (Metal Blade)
New from the extreme metal band.
Warren Haynes – Man In Motion CD (Stax/Concord)
Warren Haynes continues to be one of the most lauded straight-ahead rock lead guitarists performing today. But with Man In Motion his superior vocals are also at the forefront. Vinyl version due May 31.
Here We Go Magic – January CDEP (Secretly Canadian)
The band’s signature mix of swirling guitars, krautrock grooves, pulsing synths, and hushed chants provide a foundation for these otherworldly songs.
Jesu – Ascension CD/LP (Caldo Verde)
Ascension may be another way station on this journey or it may be a peak but it certainly is part of a body of work that is rising with much power and majesty.
Joan Of Arc – Life Like CD/LP+MP3 (Polyvinyl)
JOA distilled down to/embracing its rock essence. Gone from the band’s music (for now) are the electronics and layers upon layers of tracks. Also available on cyan color vinyl.
Le Butcherettes – Sin Sin Sin CD (Rodriguez Lopez Productions)
Le Butcherettes are like the brilliant offspring of surrealist Luis Bunuel and intrepid rock icon PJ Harvey. Led by 21-year-old vocalist/guitarist/pianist Teri Gender Bender (a recent transplant to L.A. from Guadalajara, Mexico) Le Butcherettes bring a brazen intensity and playful, hook-laden simplicity that hacks to pieces all forms of pretension and excess.
Lonely Island – Turtleneck & Chain CD+DVD/LP (Universal Republic)
Sophomore album from the Emmy Award winning and Grammy nominated comedy troupe made up of SNL‘s Andy Samberg, Akiva Schaffer and Jorma Taccone, with appearances from Akon, Nicki Minaj, Justin Timberlake and others. DVD includes SNL digital shorts.
Manchester Orchestra – Simple Math CD/LP (Columbia)
Simple Math is a story about a 23-year old who questions everything from marriage to love to religion to sex. It’s chock full of monster riffs, vigorous string arrangements, deep hooks and has miles of melodies that encase a compelling coming-of-age story told in the first person.
Man Man – Life Fantastic CD/LP (Anti)
Man Man bring the fierce energy of their renowned live shows while finding a new melodic voice on songs like “Oh, La Brea” with its Harry Nilsson music hall touches, or “Life Fantastic” loping along to a classic David Bowie piano vamp.
Matthew Morrison – Matthew Morrison CD (Island)
Debut album from the Glee star features guests Elton John, Gwyneth Paltrow and more.
Ohgr – Undeveloped CD (Metropolis)
New album from the former Skinny Puppy frontman.
Okkerville River – I Am Very Far CD/2xLP (Jagjaguwar)
“The goal was to push my brain to places it didn’t want to go. The idea was to not have any idea to keep myself confused about what I was doing,” frontman Will Sheff says about Okkervil River’s new album.
Other Lives – Tamer Animals CD/LP (TBD)
“The music draws as much from the rich choral folk harmonies of Fleet Foxes as it does from the relaxed organic pop music of New York City’s emerging favorites Milagres in its grand, orchestral arrangement. The results, in so far as we have available to us, are evocative with an overwhelming sense of natural wonder, set with earthy and under-stated vocals, and weathered with gentle multi-instrumental strings and an expansive and arboreal sound-palette.” — Thismusicwins.com
Christina Perri – Lovestrong CD (Atlantic)
New from the Bensalem, PA-born singer/songwriter, produced by Joe Chiccarelli (White Stripes, Tori Amos, The Shins). Available in Regular and Deluxe Editions. Deluxe includes three bonus tracks.
Sam Roberts Band – Collider CD (Rounder)
On his fourth album, Sam Roberts reinforces the spirit of his band’s classic pop song-craft and infectious melodies, while at the same time exploring a world of rhythms, sounds and ideas beyond where they have gone before.
Raphael Saadiq – Stone Rollin’ CD/LP (Columbia)
Raphael Saadiq returns with a new release that celebrates the classic sounds of ‘60s and ‘70s soul with a futuristic twist.
The Sea And Cake – Moonlight Butterfly CD/LP (Thrill Jockey)
33-minute mini-album finds the band delivering much more long form and cinematic pieces. The new songs lean upon the band’s more experimental tendencies.
Sloan – The Double Cross CD/LP (Yep Roc)
The Canadian indie pop band celebrates 20 years of power pop classics with the release of their tenth studio album.
Ben Sollee – Inclusions CD (Thirty Tigers)
New album from the classically trained pop cellist explores contemporary folk music in an urbanized world. Lexington’s Duane Lundy, the engineer and mixing artist behind Sollee’s 2007 debut Learning To Bend, produced the album.
The Staple Singers – Be Attitude: Respect Yourself [Reissue/1972] CD (Stax)
Remastered reissue featuring two bonus tracks. An excellent balance of gospel and soul, 1972’s Be Altitude: Respect Yourself contains three Top 10 hits; “Respect Yourself,” “I’ll Take You There,” and “This World.”
Chris Thile & Michael Daves – Sleep With One Eye Open CD (Nonesuch)
Sleep With One Eye Open is an impassioned collaboration/conversation between mandolin virtuoso Chris Thile and guitarist Michael Daves in which the subject is bluegrass, specifically how this upstart duo can acknowledge history and tradition while exuberantly defying convention.
Tyler The Creator – Goblin CD/2xCD/2xLP+MP3 (XL)
“The last thing you’d say about the prolific young rap collective Odd Future is that they’re boring. You could say a lot of things about them, but you can t say that they’re just like everyone else… You know what else? They’re really good. Especially their ringleader, called Tyler The Creator.” —NPR. Deluxe edition includes a second disc with three bonus tracks, a 12-page booklet, and a fold out poster.
Urge Overkill – Rock & Roll Submarine CD/LP (UO Records)
The first new album in sixteen years from the ‘90s alt-rock stars.
Wooden Wand – Circle 7” (Critical Heights)
Two refracted visions of the landscapes of memory and the magical characters that inhabit them. Smoky Americana.
Wumpscut – Schrekk & Grauss CD (Metropolis)
New from the industrial rocker Rudy Ratzinger.
Zombi – Escape Velocity CD/LP (Relapse)
Escape Velocity sees Zombi return to their roots, using synth and drums to create stirring melodies and moving cadences. Whereas earlier efforts found the band entrenched in Italian horror scores, Escape Velocity finds Zombi continuing their exploration of famed Italian record producer Giorgio Moroder and legendary Kraut Rock icons Neu and Harmonia.
Vinyl:
Johnny Cash – American VI: Ain’t No Grave LP (American)
Limited clear vinyl pressing of sixth and final chapter in the American series from the country legend.
The Dream Syndicate – Days Of Wine And Roses [Reissue/1982] LP (4 Men With Beards)
Classic debut by the quintessential group of the ‘80s Paisley Underground scene. Combined the sonic experimentation of Velvet Underground’s White Light/White Heat period with the bold rock of Bob Dylan and Quicksilver Messenger Service while mixing the urgency and rawness of punk rock with groove-based songs and extended guitar solos.
Bob Dylan – Bob Dylan In Concert: Brandeis University 1963 LP (Columbia/Legacy)
Recently released on CD — now available on vinyl. Drawn from two sets that spring night at the Brandeis Folk Festival.
The Jesus And Mary Chain – Automatic [Reissue/1989] LP (Plain)
The Jesus And Mary Chain – Honey’s Dead [Reissue/1992] LP (Plain)
HQ-180 vinyl reissues of JAMC’s third and fourth LPs.
Metallica – S&M 6xLP (WB)
1999’s S&M is now available on vinyl.
Pearl Jam – Vs. [Reissue/1993] LP (Sony/Legacy)
Pearl Jam – Vitalogy [Reissue/1994] 2xLP (Sony/Legacy)
HQ-180 vinyl reissues now available.
