Aerosmith – Tough Love: Best Of The Ballads CD (Geffen)
Collects the best of their ballad-type material, including: “Angel,” “Cryin’,” “Crazy,” “Janie’s Got A Gun,” “Dream On,” and others.
Against Me – Total Clarity CD/LP (Fat Wreck Chords)
New compilation of unreleased demos and other tracks (as well as some of the leaked/stolen demos) that were eventually recorded for the group’s 2005 album, Searching For A Former Clarity.
Art Brut – Brilliant! Tragic! CD (Cooking Vinyl)
Tapping the genius of Frank Black to produce your record may seem like a once-in-a-lifetime event for many bands, but the pop culture obsessive Art Brut have once again nabbed the Pixies frontman to rule the boards for their fourth LP.
Joseph Arthur – The Graduation Ceremony CD (Lonely Astronaut)
Arthur’s first solo album since 2006’s Nuclear Daydream. His music has been described as “a dynamic swirl of noise that somehow appears magically around him” (NPR), “emotional (but tuneful) exorcisms” (Entertainment Weekly), and “lush, poetic, squalling, spiritual, and strange.” (Boston Globe)
Atlanta Rhythm Section – With All Due Respect CD (Fuel 2000)
This is the first ARS album of new material in ten years.
David Bazan – Strange Negotiations CD/LP+MP3 (Barsuk)
Pedro The Lion frontman’s first solo album performed with a full band.
Black Tusk – Passage Through Purgatory [Reissue/2008] CD/LP (Relapse)
A primal, high-energy affair of equal parts rock and punk. Remastered and repacked with two bonus tracks.
Boris – Attention Please CD/LP (Sargent House)
Boris – Heavy Rocks CD/LP (Sargent House)
A pair of new albums from the Japanese trio. Be it psychedelic metal, colossal drone, blistering punk or distortion-ravaged shoegaze, a Boris song is an exploration of sound as physical mass.
Carter’s Chord – Wild Together CDEP (Show Dog)
New six-song EP from the trio of sisters who’s brand of country music is strongly informed by the outlaw movement as well as Emmylou Harris and Fleetwood Mac.
Rosanne Cash – The Essential Rosanne Cash 2xCD (Sony Legacy)
Although Rosanne Cash is often classified as a country artist, her music draws on many genres, including folk, pop, rock and blues. Included here are 36 tracks over two discs, including ten #1 singles.
Cave In – White Silence CD/LP (Hydra Head)
“Two years in the making, this is by far the most experimental and diverse record Cave In have made to date. The riffs and volume are still present but then there’s the layering (‘Iron Decibels’), the acoustic closer ‘Reanimation’ and the static noise ‘White Silence.’ This is a grower not a shower but persevere because White Silence has been worth the wait.” — rocksound.tv
Clan Of Xymox – Darkest Hour CD (Metropolis)
“Clan of Xymox have been the definitive artists of darkwave for over 20 years, inspiring countless bands and a dizzying array of well-known club hits.” — Gothic Beauty
David Crosby – If I Could Only Remember My Name… [Reissue/1971] CD (Atlantic)
Reissue of David Crosby’s debut solo album. “A one-shot wonder of dreamy but ominous California ambience.” — AllMusic
Destroyer 666 – To The Devil His Due CD (Hell’s Headbangers)
New compilation from Aussie blackened thrashers, featuring all the songs from three of their out-of-print EPs as well as two new songs from their new EP See You in Hell.
Sallie Ford & The Sound Outside – Dirty Radio CD (Partisan)
Sallie Ford & The Sound Outside vigorously mines a sweet spot between modern and vintage. Sallie’s voice has elicited comparisons to classic jazz and blues icons, yet it is stoked with the fire of youth and rebellion, too, an instrument capable of conveying raw emotion and nuanced artistry in the same breath.
Foster The People – Torches CD/LP (Columbia)
“Accessible yet challenging, gleaming yet gritty, pop yet petrifying: Foster The People are a fresh evolution of modern music.” – NME Includes a bonus Foster The People CDEP free with purchase — while supplies last!
Friendly Fires – Pala CD/2xLP (XL)
“…(Friendly Fires) songs are wonderfully overstuffed with reshuffled and reinvigorated ideas from the 1970s and ‘80s post-punk guitars, funk beats, sing-along choruses, worldbeat percussion…” —New York Times
Robin Guthrie – Emeralds CD (Darla)
New solo album from the Cocteau Twins guitarist.
In Solitude – The World. The Flesh. The Devil CD (Metal Blade)
New from the Swedish metal band.
Jadakiss – I Love You: A Dedication To My Fans CD (Def Jam)
Nine track mix-tape release featuring the new single “Hold You Down.”
Lady Gaga – Born This Way CD/2xCD (Interscope)
Lady Gaga’s much-anticipated sophomore set finds the superstar re-teaming with her frequent collaborator RedOne on an album that builds upon the daring dance-pop of The Fame Monster, highlighted by the first single and title track, “Born This Way.” Available in Regular and Deluxe editions. Deluxe adds a disc featuring three additional new songs and five remixes. Vinyl version due June 7.
Ray Manzarek/Roy Rogers – Translucent Blues CD (Blind Pig)
Collaboration of Ray Manzarek, co-founder and keyboardist of The Doors, and Roy Rogers, world renowned slide guitar master.
Stephen Marley – Revelation Pt.1: The Root Of Life CD (Republic)
14 soulful, often times soul-bearing roots reggae rock tracks that never sacrifice rhythmic purity in deliverance of their powerful messages.
Jimbo Mathus – Confederate Buddha CD (Memphis International)
New from the Squirrel Nut Zippers ringleader.
The Men – Leave Home CD/LP (Sacred Bones)
The Men pull from innumerable post punk sources, referencing drone, metal, shoegaze, and even Suicide lyrics. The track “Bataille” rides a pug-ugly joy-punk riff into almost krautrock oblivion-complete with gorgeous voice cracks and heavy distortion.
The Moaners – Nocturnal CD/LP (Holidays For Quince)
The Moaners’ Melissa Swingle and Laura King have been conjuring the spirit of the South over five years and two records. Nocturnal tempers their ferocious, stomping garage rock with a songwriting sensibility that is by turn mysteriously dark and whimsically joyful.
Thurston Moore – Demolished Thoughts CD/LP (Matador)
Third solo album from Sonic Youth’s frontman, produced by Beck.
Neal Morse – Testimony Two 2xCD (Metal Blade)
New from the prog rock guitarist, formerly of Spock’s Beard.
NKOTBSB – NKOTBSB CD (Sony)
New Kids On The Block team up with Backstreet Boys.
Orange Goblin – Box Set 5xCD (Metal Blade)
Includes the albums Frequencies From Planet Ten (1997), Time Traveling Rules (1999), The Big Black (2000), Coup de Grace (2002), and Thieving From The House Of God (2004).
Buck Owens & Susan Raye – The Very Best Of Buck Owens & Susan Raye CD (Varese Fontana)
New best-of collection from the country legend Buck Owens and his duet partner.
Brad Paisley – This Is Country CD (Sony Nashville)
New album from the country superstar includes special guest appearances by Alabama and Carrie Underwood.
Brendan Perry – Ark CD (The End)
New album from former Dead Can Dance founder.
She Wants Revenge – Valleyheart CD/LP (Five Seven Music)
Third album from the pop/punk band.
Soundtrack – Glee The Music: Season Two Volume 6 CD (Sony)
The final volume of music from Season Two, including the Glee cast’s take on Fleetwood Mac’s “Dreams,” Adele’s “Rolling In The Deep” and Adele’s “Turning Tables.”
Soundtrack – The Hangover Part II CD (Water Tower Music)
Includes tracks by Danzig, Kanye West, Billy Joel, Mark Lanegan, Deadmau5, Ed Helms, Curtis Mayfield, Wolfmother, Ska Rangers, Mike Tyson and Jenny Lewis.
Amon Tobin – Isam CD/CD+Book/2xLP (Ninja Tune)
Brazilian DJ and producer Amon Tobin is known for his brand of jazz-influenced IDM which takes in influences from hip-hop, drum ‘n’ bass, breakbeat and samba music. Limited edition CD+40 page hardback book features images by respected Saatchi Collection artist Tessa Farmer.
Jozef Van Wissem – Joy That Never Ends CD/LP (Important)
New album from acclaimed contemporary composer and lutenist features contributions from filmmaker Jim Jarmusch and vocalist Jeanne Madic.
Vieux Farka Touré – The Secret CD (Six Degrees)
New from the celebrated African guitarist features collaborations with Derek Trucks, John Scofield, and Dave Matthews.
White Denim – D CD/LP (Downtown)
Sophomore effort from Austin, TX based psych rock/punk trio.
DVDs + Blu-ray:
Phish – Live In Utica 2010 2xDVD+2xCD (Jemp)
The Utica box set features the complete October 20, 2010 performance on two DVDs and two CDs. 180 minutes.
The Prodigy – Worlds On Fire [Live] DVD+CD/Blu-ray (The End)
Recorded before 65,000 fans, World’s On Fire is The Prodigy’s debut live film. Also available on stand-alone Blu-ray.
Vinyl:
Battles – Ice Cream 12” (Warp)
First single from their forthcoming album Gloss Drop (due June 7). Ice Cream’s neat trick is to rope in the impish minimal techno DJ Matias Aguayo, and use him solely on vocals. The track unveils a mischievous sense of fun that now lies at the center of the Battles sound, coming on like the soundtrack to a raucous, moonlit beach party in Brazil, matching the inventiveness of 21st century prog with the lilt of 1960’s tropicalia.
Bootsy Collins – Tha Funk Capital Of The World LP (Mascot)
Recently released on CD — now available on vinyl. Bootsy’s first new album in four years features an all-star lineup of musicians and cultural luminaries including rappers Snoop Dogg, Chuck D, and Ice Cube; actor Samuel L. Jackson; banjo phenom Bela Fleck; the Rev. Al Sharpton; scholar Dr. Cornell West; and guitarists Buckethead and Catfish Collins — Bootsy’s late brother.
Vampire Weekend – White Sky 12” (XL)
Single from Contra featuring three remixes, including one by Basement Jaxx.
Various Artists – The Rhythms Of Black Peru LP+MP3 (Secret Stash)
Vinyl-only collection of some of the most important Afro-Peruvian recordings of all time.
