It's your weekly curated list of new releases. This marks the final set of albums that come out in February and damn, this month sure did fly by. Info and hyperlinks for your further perusal included, along with some additional info tidbits and video or audio for your immediate consumption. Enjoy. And if you think I missed something, feel free to comment — I'm always ready to be turned on to something new...
The Airborne Toxic Event, Dope Machines (Epic)
All That Remains, The Order Of Things (Razor & Tie)
BADBADNOTGOOD & Ghostface Killah, Sour Soul (LEX Records)
An exciting collaboration between the Wu Tang rapper and the instrumental post-jazz trio from Canada.
Mahalia Barnes & The Soul Mates feat. Joe Bonamassa, Ooh Yea! The Betty Davis Songbook (J&R Adventures)
It’s about time someone paid tribute to the one-time wife of Miles Davis (not the actress, note the spelling). Betty Davis made a mild splash with some unabashedly strong, sexual, hardcore soulful feminist funk in the 1970s, only releasing three albums before abadoning the biz and settling in Pennsylvania. The fact that Mahalia Barnes has dedicated an album to Betty gets her immediate props, and Barnes — an Aussie songstress — does Betty proud. Check out "Nasty Gal" below.
Big Sean, Dark Sky Paradise (Def Jam)
Dan Deacon, Gliss Riffer (Domino)
To check out David Z. Morris' review of the new album from the colorful electro-punk party starter, click here.
Kristin Diable, Create Your Own Mythology (Speakeasy/Thirty Tigers)
Full album stream at NPR. Lovely, yet robust roots rock with dusty country-blues accents. "I'll Make Time for You" below.
Diamond Rugs, Cosmetics (Sycamore Records/Thirty Tigers/RED)
Drug Cabin, Yard Work (401K Music Inc.)
DRKWAV, The Purge (Royal Potato Family)
The new experimental electro-jazz project featuring avant sax man Skerik, keys stroker John Medeski (Medeski Martin & Wood) and producer/drummer/Royal Potato Family co-founder Adam Deitch. Oozing stealthy "Darkwave" below.
Dutch Uncles, O Shudder (Memphis Industries)
In the vein of other Manchester, UK-spawned acts like New Order, Joy Division and the Smiths — synth-y dance music with light New Wave flavor but bumping and grooving along more than any of those bands combined. Listen to the breezy "Be Right Back" below.
Eternal Tapestry, Wild Strawberries (Thrill Jockey)
Falling in Reverse, Just Like You (Epitaph)
Free Weed, Introducing (Bad Diet)
The debut full-length from the cult-fave artist otherwise known as Rikky Gage (leader of White Fang and The Memories) is the unofficial ambassador of the legalize-it movement similarly-themed album. He also has a sound that reminds me of both Ween and Mac DeMarco. "Later" below.
Future Brown, Future Brown (Warp)
Gang of Four, What Happens Next (Metropolis)
Gal Pals, Velvet Rut (Papercup Music)
Colleen Green, I Want to Grow Up (Hardly Art)
JJ Grey & Mofro, Ol' Glory (Provogue/Mascot)
Emile Haynie, We Fall (Interscope)
Normally, the Buffalo record producer works behind the scenes, producing for the likes of The Roots, Kid Cudi, Drake, Kanye West and many others, including Grammy-winning work on Eminem's seventh studio album, Recovery. This is his debut studio album, and among the guests are Rufus Wainwright, Lana Del Rey, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Devonte Hynes (Blood Orange), Nate Ruess (fun.), Lykke Li, Randy Newman and Father John Misty. Check out the lush, lovely, poignant track "Falling Apart" featuring Andrew Wyatt (The A.M., Miike Snow) and Brian Wilson below.
Iron & Wine, Archive Series Volume No. 1 (Black Cricket Recording Co.)
Mat Kearney, Just Kids (Republic)
The King Khan & BBQ Show, Bad News Boys (In the Red)
Make Do and Mend, Don't Be Long (Stay Close/Rise)
James McMurtry, Complicated Game (Complicated Game Records)
Muck, Your Joyous Future (Prosthetic Records)
Pelican, The Cliff EP (Southern Lord)
Sam Prekop, The Republic (Thrill Jockey)
The latest solo outing from the Sea and Cake singer-guitarist.
Radical Dads, Universal Coolers (Old Flame)
Screaming Females, Rose Mountain (Don Giovanni)
Sweet Valley and MNDR, Dance 4 A Dollar (Fool’s Gold)
The beat-making bro duo featuring Wavves' Nathan Williams and brother Kynan join with MNDR for this five-song EP.
THEESatisfaction, EarthEE (Sub Pop)
Torche, Restarter (Relapse)
Roosh Williams, Unorthodox (Pairadime Music Group)
Intriguing indie hip hop from an up-and-coming emcee out of Houston. "Whip It" featuring GT Garza below.
ALSO OUT THIS WEEK
Aidan Baker, The Confessional Tapes
Alcoa, Parlour Tricks
The Black Ryder, The Door Behind The Door
Black Star Riders, The Killer Instinct
Chris Brown X Tyga, Fan of a Fan: The Album (Actual release date Feb. 20)
Diet Cig, Over Easy
Doe, First Four
Eternal Death, Eternal Death
Feather Beds, The Skeletal System
Steve Gunn and The Black Twig Pickers, Seasonal Hire
Humans, Noontide
Hot Sugar, God's Hand
Jack Ladder & The Dreamlanders, Playmates
Johnnie Lee Jordan, Run
Keath Mead, Sunday Dinner
Kid Rock, First Kiss
Like a Storm, Awaken the Fire
MisterWives, Our Own House
Oceans Ate Alaska, Lost Isles
Of Mice & Men, Restoring Force: Full Circle
Panic Is Perfect, Behind Your Eyelids EP
Scout Paré-Phillips, Heed The Call
Elvis Perkins, I Aubade
The Pop Group, Citizen Zombie
Radiator King, Document Untold
Revolution Saints, Revolution Saints
Rob Zombie, Spookshow International Live
Santiparro, True Prayer
Spaceships, Little Buddha
Swahili, AMOVREVX
Tall Tales and the Silver Lining, Tightropes
Valise, Young Bloomer
Wind In Sails, Morning Light
XYZ, XYZ
