Easy Star Allstars, Easy Star's Thrillah (Easy Star Records) Easy Star has taken on Radiohead, The Beatles and Pink Floyd. Now, the dub-fusion outfit tackles another sacred cow: Michael Jackson.
Gillan & Iommi, Who Cares (Eagle Rock Entertainment) Tony Iommi (Black Sabbath) and Ian Gillan (Deep Purple) — who were bandmates during Black Sabbath's Born Again era in 1984 — renewed their collaboration when they released the single "Out Of My Mind" last year to help rebuild a music school in Gyumari, Armenia. That track featured Jason Newstead (ex-Metallica), Nicko McBrain (Iron Maiden), Linde Lindström (H.I.M.) and late Deep Purple legend Jon Lord. The full-length album features rarities and unreleased material featuring Iommi and/or Gillan, including a Deep Purple performance of "Smoke On The Water" featuring Ronnie James Dio and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.
Juliana Hatfield, Juliana Hatfield (Ye Olde Records) Juliana Hatfield's first all-covers album encompasses an eclectic mix of rock and pop song interpretations by artists like Pete Yorn, ELO, Liz Phair, Led Zeppelin and others.
King of Spain, All I Did Was Tell Them The Truth And They Thought It Was Hell (New Granada Records) To read Julie's 4-star review of the new album from Tampa's experimental pop duo, click here; to purchase a copy, click here. Watch the official video for first single "MOTIONS" below, directed and conceived by Lance Robson.
Lionel Loueke, Heritage (Blue Note) The acclaimed West African jazz guitarist/vocalist works with label mate Robert Glasper to co-produce his latest album.
Matthew Dear, Beams (Ghostly Int'l) The electronic-based rock musician with the deep vocals presents this latest LP; check out the video for "Her Fantasy" below.
Maximo Park, The National Health (Straight To The Sun Records/The Musebox Label Group)
Alanis Morissette, Havoc And Bright Lights (Collective Sounds/Sony RED) The multi-platinum Grammy-winning Canadian songstress issues her first new album in four years, which was recorded in LA with producers Guy Sigsworth (Bjork, Madonna, Seal) and Joe Chiccarelli (Tori Amos, Elton John, My Morning Jacket, U2). About it, she's said: "This record, as always, is a snapshot of what I currently obsess about, care about, and what strikes me at 4 in the morning in my most introspective moments … It is my emotional, psychological, social and philosophical commentary through song." Video for "Guardian" below.
Morning Glory, Poets Were My Heroes (Fat Wreck Chords)
The Orb Feat. Lee Scratch Perry, The Orbserver In The Star House (The End) A full collaboration with Lee Scratch Perry, one of reggae’s greatest pioneers and personalities, and Germany ambient house pioneers The Orb (Alex Paterson and Thomas Fehlmann), which has the duo constructing a panorama of stripped-down bass-heavy backdrops marked by Afro percussion, dub effects, and Perry’s pronouncements, declarations and vocal stylings. Two classics are re-worked: Perry's “Police and Thieves,” originally produced for Junior Murvin in 1976, is transformed into a dubwise vocal vehicle, while The Orb’s “Little Fluffy Clouds” is reshaped as the hallucinogenic dancehall clatter of “Golden Clouds.” Listen below.
The Roys, New Day Dawning EP (Rural Rhythm Records)
Sean Rowe, The Salesman And The Shark (Anti-) Venerated singer-songwriter Rowe’s album has been playing on NPR’s First Listen Series for the past few weeks; listen here.
Slaughterhouse, Welcome To: Our House (Shady/Interscope) The sophomore record from the hip hop supergroup featuring rappers Crooked I, Joe Budden, Joell Ortiz and Royce da 5'9".
Stratovarius, Under Flaming Winter Skies [DVD/CD] (Eagle Rock Entertainment)
TEEN, In Limbo (Carpark Records) Lo fi sonic doodad-strewn girl-group bliss direct from Brooklyn and featuring Teeny Lieberson, formerly of Here We Go Magic, along with her sisters Katherine and Lizzie, and longtime friend Jane Herships; take a listen to "Better" below.
Wild Nothing, Nocturne (Captured Tracks) The sophomore record from the dreamy pop band that hails from Virginia. Listen to "Shadow" below.
World Fire Brigade, Spreading My Wings (eOne) A supergroup that features veteran songwriting trio Brett Scallions (frontman of Fuel), Sean Danielsen (lead singer and guitarist for Smile Empty Soul) and keyboardist/producer Eddie Wohl (producer/mixer for Anthrax, Smile Empty Soul, Jesse Malin, Dry Kill Logic and Crazu Fists, among others).
The last wave of new releases in August. I've included info and links for the ones you want to know about most below, plus some other ones you may not have heard of (but should know), with audio & video for your listening and viewing pleasure. Click here to check out releases that dropped over the past few months.
Circa Survive, Violent Waves (self-release) The Philly prog rock band returns to their indie roots with their fourth album, a self-produced self-released effort recorded in a week that finds the fivesome attempting to capture their dynamic live sound on disc. Album cover pictured at right.
Dan Deacon, America (Domino) The DIY electro artist issues his first record via Domino, its ecstatic, celebratory sounds a contrast with the album’s darker thematic undercurrents — anger, confusion, and apocalyptic anxiety over corporatism and war — and integrating acoustic textures like concert percussion, winds, brass, and strings. Video for "True Thrush" below.
Divine Fits, A Thing Called Divine Fits (Merge) Rolling Stone called the new album by Divine Fits — made up of Spoon’s Britt Daniel, Wolf Parade’s Dan Boeckner, and New Bomb Turks' Sam Brown described by Rolling Stone as "a lean slice of garage-psych glory." Listen to "My Love Is read" after the jump, and check out the rest of this week's new releases.
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