New Releases for March 3, 2023
CDs + Vinyl:
ALO – Silver Saturdays CD/LP (Brushfire/Republic)
Marking a full circle moment and kicking off a very special 25th anniversary, California rock band ALO return with their first full-length studio LP in eight years and ninth overall. The result is ten new original songs, recorded mostly live, that pay direct homage to the journey and the artistic process and further refine ALO’s singular and self-ascribed “jam-pop” genre.
Elvis Costello & Burt Bacharach – The Songs Of Bacharach & Costello CD/2xLP/2xLP+4xCD (UMe)
The Songs Of Bacharach & Costello, compiled by Elvis Costello, brings together all of the published songs that Costello has written with Burt Bacharach and celebrates the three decade songwriting partnership between them. The double-disc set includes the newly remastered album Painted From Memory and six songs from Taken From Life, of which three are newly recorded compositions.
Drayton Farley – Twenty On High CD/LP (Hargrove/Thirty Tigers)
Alabama native Drayton Farley has as honest a voice as you’re likely to hear in this burgeoning scene of country, folk, roots, and Americana music we’re all wrapped up in. With songs and lyrics pulled from real life experience, there’s a grounded feeling to his stories, a confessional quality that rings true to those who know. [A limited-edition clear vinyl pressing is available.]
Full Of Hell – Suffocating Hallucination CD/LP (Closed Casket Activities)
Produced by Andrew Nelson (Harms Way, Weekend Nachos, Lurk), Suffocating Hallucination is a blisteringly blissful sonic celebration of disillusionment and grindcore chaos.
Ron Gallo – Foreground Music CD/LP (Kill Rock Stars)
The title of Ron Gallo’s fourth album, Foreground Music, might also be a suitable name for his own genre. In simplest terms it is the opposite of background music – unavoidable, urgent, in your face – Gallo’s consistent theme is to confront, disrupt and sometimes even confuse people into a sense of awareness.
Genesis – BBC Broadcasts 5xCD/3xLP (Atlantic)
An extensive collection of broadcast material from one of the biggest selling recording artists of all time and one of Britain’s most internationally renowned bands. Curated by founder member Tony Banks and the group’s long-time engineer and producer Nick Davis. The set represents the cream of the group’s work recorded by the BBC between 1970 and 1998 and includes contributions from all three of the group’s vocalists: Peter Gabriel, Phil Collins, and Ray Wilson.
Macklemore – BEN CD/2xLP (Bendo LLC)
Multi-platinum and Grammy-winning rapper Macklemore follows-up 2017’s Gemini with his third solo studio album Ben which includes the raw and personal single “Faithful” featuring NLE Choppa.
NCT 127 – The 4th Album Repackage ‘Ay-Yo’ CD (SM Entertainment Co.)
NCT 127’s 4th full-length repackage ‘Ay-Yo’ release presents three new songs (in addition to the 12 songs from the original album) including the title song “Ay-Yo”. Each version includes a booklet, poster, photos and photocards.
Willie Nelson – I Don’t Know A Thing About Love: The Songs Of Harlan Howard CD (Sony Legacy)
Amongst the nearly 150 albums that Willie Nelson has released, he has several amazing full-album tributes to songwriters from Kris Kristofferson and George Gershwin to Ray Price and Cindy Walker. Adding to that list is a new studio album dedicated to songwriting legend Harlen Howard who has scores of country hits including a number that crossed over to pop and even R&B charts.
Kali Uchis – Red Moon In Venus CD/LP (Interscope/Geffen)
Grammy-winning artist Kali Uchis returns for the first time since 2020 with her third studio album, Red Moon In Venus. Uchis went into the recording process intending to create an album that felt timeless, one that can be enjoyed any time and any place and will remain meaningful throughout the years to her and her fans. Red Moon In Venus floats between soul, R&B, pop, música urbana and more experimental textures. [An indie store exclusive red color vinyl pressing is available.]
Morgan Wallen – One Thing At A Time CD (Republic)
One Thing At A Time also includes several guest shots, most notably from Eric Church, who appears on the song ‘Man Made A Bar’. According to a press release and the track list, the album includes interpolations of the Allman Brothers’ ‘Midnight Rider’ and Young Thug’s ‘Lifestyle’ on the tracks ‘Everything I Love’ and ‘180 (Lifestyle)’, respectively. ‘This record represents the last few years of my life, the highs and the lows,’ Wallen said in a statement. ‘It also brings together the musical influences that have shaped me as an artist – country, alternative and hip-hop.”
Frank Zappa – Zappa ’80: Mudd Club/Munich 3xCD (Zappa Records)
Zappa ’80: Mudd Club/Munich combines two historic performances from the 1980 spring/summer tour. The first is a set at FZ’s favorite NYC nightclub, the famous Mudd Club, presented from a hi-res transfer of the original master tape. The second, from Olympiahalle in Munich, is the first-ever direct-to-digital live stereo recording of Zappa. Mastered by Bernie Grundman in 2022, with photography and memoir from George Alper, and liner notes from Arthur Barrow, Steve Vai & ‘Vaultmeister’ Joe Travers. [Vinyl edition due March 31.]
The Bottle Rockets – 24 Hours A Day [Reissue/1997] LP (Real Gone Music)
Color vinyl pressing. Bottle Rockets leader Brian Henneman worked as Uncle Tupelo’s guitar tech for a couple of years before forming an alt-country band that rivalled his former bosses. Released in Atlantic in 1997, 24 Hours A Day represented The Bottle Rockets’ chance at the big time; it’s their sole major label release, and they pulled out all the stops, hiring former Del Lord Eric “Roscoe” Ambel to produce and revisiting “Indianapolis”, the song that got Henneman a record deal back in the early ’90s. Alas, the record failed to break through commercially yet is a wonderful example of hard-driving, honest, tuneful, rock ‘n’ roll.
Bill Callahan – Tyilaer 2xLP (Drag City)
From the beautiful to the jarring, intrepid explorer Callahan charts a passage through all kinds of territory, pitting dreams of dreams against dreams of reality. When he makes it back to us, his old friends ‘n acquaintances, we are reminded how much of a world it can be out there – and in here as well, where we live every day.
Don Cherry – Hear & Now [Reissue/1977] LP (Real Gone Music)
Don Cherry was an American jazz trumpeter. He is the father of Nena Cherry. Cherry was also a pioneer in world fusion music in the 1960s & 1970s. Hear & Now was recorded in 1976 and released on the Atlantic label the following year.
De La Soul – 3 Feet High And Rising [Reissue/1989] 2xLP (Chrysalis)
3 Feet High And Rising is the debut studio album by hip-hop trio de la Soul and was released on March 3, 1989. It marked the first of three full-length collaborations with producer Prince Paul, which would become the critical and commercial peak of both parties. Critically, as well as commercially, the album was a success. It contains the singles, “Me Myself and I”, “The Magic Number”, “Buddy”, and “Eye Know”.
Emarosa – Sting LP (Out Of Line)
Recently released on CD – now available on yellow color vinyl. Sixth studio album from the Kentucky indie rock band. Sting is an ambitious step towards the ‘80s influenced pop sound that we have been dipping our toes in for years now.
Andrew Hill – Dance With Death [Reissue/1968] LP (Blue Note)
Andrew Hill’s 1968 album Dance With Death stands as one of the most gratifying, though under-recognized, sessions of the brilliant pianist’s discography, featuring his singular compositions performed by a versatile quintet with Charles Tolliver, Joe Farrell, Victor Sproles, and Billy Higgins. Part of Blue Note’s Tone Poet Series featuring all-analog remastering in luxe packaging.
Skip James – The Complete 1931 Sessions LP (Org Music)
Skip James was a Delta blues artist from Mississippi. Known for his career during the Great Depression and subsequent decades, he was “rediscovered” and became much more widely recognized during the 1960s when he was in very poor health nearing the end of his life. His playing style was primarily in a minor key, featuring complex fingerpicking. After years of being out-of-print, The Complete 1931 Sessions, taken from James’ Paramount recordings, was remastered, and reissued on black vinyl.
Dusty Springfield – Dusty In Memphis [Reissue/1969] LP (Atlantic)
Silver color vinyl pressing. Famed (and notoriously curmudgeonly) rock critic Robert Christgau dubbed this the all-time rock-era torch record, and the Library of Congress included it into the national registry. It’s got Dusty’s interpretation of “Son Of A Preacher Man”, plus choice selections written by Goffin and King, Randy Newman, Burt Bacharach and Hal David, and more. Pour a glass of wine, turn on the fire, and put Dusty in Memphis on the turntable. Your night is planned.
Tove Lo – Dirt Femme LP (Pretty Swede)
Released last October on CD – now available on vinyl.
Watchhouse – Such Jubilee [Reissue/2015] LP (Yep Roc)
Watchhouse – Blindfaller [Reissue/2016] LP (Yep Roc)
Color vinyl reissues (purple and orange, respectively) from the band formerly known as Mandolin Orange.
