CDs + Vinyl:

2 Live Crew – The Original 2 Live Crew CD (Thump)

A compilation album of rare and unreleased material by the rap group. “2 Live Crew may be best known for its raunchy 1989 hit ‘Me So Horny’ and the group’s public spats with family values groups and censors, but 22 years ago March 7, Luther ‘Luke Skywalker’ Campbell and the Crew scored an important victory before the Supreme Court in a ruling that affirmed that parody constitutes a protected ‘fair use’ of copyrighted material. On its 1989 album As Clean As They Wanna Be — the scrubbed-up version of the then-filthy As Nasty As They Wanna Be — 2 Live Crew included a song called ‘Pretty Woman,’ an unabashed parody of the 1964 Roy Orbison hit ‘Oh, Pretty Woman.’ The original song’s publisher, Acuff-Rose Music, sued Luke Skywalker Records over the tune’s unapproved use, alleging violation of copyright. A District Court granted summary judgment in favor of the rappers, noting that the 2 Live Crew version was clearly a parody and therefore protected by the Fair Use Doctrine in US Copyright Law, which provides guidelines for when copyrighted material can be used without receiving permission from the copyright holder.” — Consumerist 

3 Doors Down – Us And The Night CD (Republic)

Sixth album from the Grammy-nominated multiplatinum Mississippi rock band. Vinyl version due April 8. 

Accuser – The Forlorn Divide CD/LP (Metal Blade)

“The Forlorn Divide” by Accuser is an album that both new as well as seasoned fans of thrash metal will enjoy, as it is a decent representation of the classic sound of the genre but with a relatively modern spin on it.” – Metal Wani

Davie Allan / Joel Grind – Davie Allan / Joel Grind [Split] CD/LP+MP3 (Relapse)

An infectious display of fuzzed-out guitar shredding instrumentals from Toxic Holocaust mainman Joel Grind and legendary surf rock pioneer/innovator of modern guitar distortion Davie Allan. The perfect soundtrack to an acid-drenched biker movie from hell.

Asleep At The Wheel – Live In Pennsylvania CD+DVD (Weinerworld)

The band performed many of their best known songs in concert at The Sellersville Theatre, Pennsylvania in February 2006.

Aurora – All My Demons Greeting Me As A Friend CD (Glassnote)

2015 was a big year for Norwegian teenager Aurora Aksnes; aside from releasing the Running With The Wolves EP and the “Murder Song (5,4,3,2,1)” single, she scored a surprise hit with her cover of Oasis’ “Half The World Away.” Recorded as the music for UK retailer John Lewis’ coveted Christmas advert, “Half The World Away” gave Aurora her first UK Top 10 hit. Her debut album, All My Demons Greeting Me As A Friend, features previous singles “Runaway,” “Running With The Wolves” and “Murder Song (5,4,3,2,1)” as well as “Conqueror” and eight other brand new tracks. “Conqueror” is uplifting and anthemic in equal parts, a tale of yearning and independence, showcasing Aurora’s uncanny ability to write a hook. Vinyl version due April 15.

Beau – That Thing Reality CD (Kitsune)

Beau consists of New Yorkers Heather Boo and Emma Rose. Their debut, That Thing Reality, is a blend of ‘70’s folk Americana laced with the effortlessly cool sound of the West Coast. Vinyl edition due April 1.

Bent Shapes – Wolves Of Want CD/LP+MP3 (Slumberland)

Boston band Bent Shapes churn out earnest, expertly-crafted pop and post-punk laced with “some of the tightest punk poetry around’” (Liz Pelly). Wolves of Want” is an album full of meditations on mental illness, the struggle to bring goodness into the world, and faith in humanity as a renewable resource.

Ivar Bjørnson and Einar Selvik’s Skuggsjá – Skuggsjá CD/2xLP (Season Of Mist)

Skuggsjá is the epic sound of Norway’s Norse history as told through harder music by Ivar Bjørnson (Enslaved) and Einar Selvik (Wardruna). Written by Bjørnson and Selvik for the 200th anniversary of the Norwegian Constitution, Skuggsjá tells the history of Norway to the present day by highlighting ideas, traditions and instruments of their Norse past. In a magnificent tapestry of metal instrumentation, a wide variety of Norway and Scandinavia’s oldest instruments, and poetry in Proto-Scandinavian, Norse and Norwegian, Skuggsjá fuses past and present, both lyrically and musically, and reflects on themselves as a people and nation.

Blood Youth – Closure CDEP (Rude)

Sophomore EP from the UK metal punks.

Matthew Bourne – moogmemory CD/LP+CD (Leaf)

moogmemory is the second solo studio album by English improvising pianist and synthesizer player Matthew Bourne. “[moogmemory] seems to come closer to the lineage of synthesizer innovators like Raymond Scott rather than most techno or ambient artists, even if there’s a relaxed, meditative feel to a lot of these pieces, and it showcase’s Bourne’s skill for exploring the vast capabilities of his instrument.” — AlMusic 

Jeff Buckley – You And I CD/2xLP (Sony Legacy)

Jeff Buckley’s first recording sessions in 1993 in NYC were largely an informal exercise to acclimate the 27-year-old with a recording studio. Recently discovered in the Sony Music archives during the research for the 20th anniversary edition of Buckley’s Grace album, the performances on You And I are an intimate portrait of the artist performing a variety of cover songs and original music expressing a range of emotion channeled through his singular sensibility.

[Read more…] about New Releases for March 11, 2016

CDs + Vinyl:

Ben Abraham – Sirens CD/2xLP+MP3 (Secretly Canadian)

Melbourne Australia’s Ben Abraham and his debut LP (originally released in late-2014 overseas), is a beautiful collection of relaxed acoustic folk with a focus on intense atmospheres to suit the cinema.

Atrocious Abnormality – Formed In Disgust CD (Comatose Music)

Second long-player from the North Carolina death metal machine.

Avenue Z – Azimimut CD/LP (Mondo Mongo)

Slovenly Recordings’ imprint Mondo Mongo proudly presents the Azimut LP from Avenue Z—the latest exploration from French fuzz-punk powerhouse Magnetix, featuring the synthesizer wizardry of Catholic Spray’s Antoine Quincerot. Fat and meandering keyboard ebb and flow drive this interplanetary force more to the side of prog-rock than anything resembling garage-rock… on the surface. The trademark Magnetix primal rock ‘n’ roll takeovers are omnipresent: complex, and as pile driving as ever via poisonous riffs and heady, hypnotic drums provided by Looch Vibrato and Aggy Sonora respectively.

The Band – The Weight: Live… Chicago ’83 CD (Rox Vox)

Seven years on from their iconic Last Waltz in San Francisco, Rick Danko, Levon Helm, Garth Hudson, and Richard Manuel reunited, performing (with backup from the Cate Brothers) to rapturous receptions in the US and Canada. Manuel in particular was in better form than he’d been for years, as The Band tore through a selection of classics from their back catalog, as well as the new track “Java Blues” and numerous oldies they’d played during their long apprenticeship. This set at the University of Chicago’s Mandel Hall on July 1, 1983 was broadcast on WXRT-FM at the outset of their reunion, and is presented here in it’s entirety with background notes and images.

Bas – Too High To Riot CD (Dreamville/Interscope)

Bas, Parisian export turned Queens expert, is the first artist signed to J. Cole’s Dreamville imprint.

Bazooka – Useless Generation CD/LP (Slovenly)

These eleven tracks of turbulent, psychedelic punk brilliantly commandeer the unique sense of youthful contempt of what surely must be the current global vortex of corruption and frustration, yet Bazooka sallies forth with dutiful abandon.

Begrime Exemonious – The Enslavement Conquest CD (Dark Decent)

New album from the Canadian death metal squadron.

Harry Bertoia – Complete Sonambient Collection 11xCD (Important)

In the late 1950s, Harry Bertoia (1915-1978), already a renowned American sculptor, began creating long-form, improvised pieces of music utilizing pure acoustic tones evoked from his sound sculptures. Around this time Bertoia came up with the term “Sonambient” to describe the music and environment created by his tonal sculptures and their lush harmonic overtones. This set features all 11 of Bertoia’s original records newly restored from their master tapes and housed in replica jackets. A heavy duty box, printed with metallic inks, holds the 11 discs as well as a 100-page book containing a lengthy historical essay, an interview with Harry Bertoia from the Smithsonian Archives of American Art, exclusive Sonambient-era material from the Bertoia archive, modern and archival photos of the Bertoia barn, and reflections on Bertoia from David Sefton, Tom Welsh, David Harrington (Kronos Quartet), and all three of Bertoia’s children.

Bestial Mouths – Heartless CD/LP (Cleopatra)

The chilling new full-length from avant garde electronic act Bestial Mouths combines harsh electronic sounds with female vocals that bring to mind Siouxsie Sioux and Diamanda Galas. (Limited copies pressed on clear vinyl.)

Big Ups – Before A Million Universes CD/LP+MP3 (Exploding In Sound)

Big Ups blend punk, post-punk, hardcore, and indie rock into a salty mash that gets stuck to the roof of your mouth. At their brightest, they have been likened to The Descendents, but at their sludgiest, they call to mind bands like Pissed Jeans and The Jesus Lizard.

The Bills – Trail Of Tales CD (Borealis Recordings)

This acoustic quintet from Canada’s West Coast is renowned for their instrumental virtuosity, lush vocal arrangements, and exuberant live performances.

Black Peaches – Get Down You Dirty Rascals CD/LP (1965/PIAS America)

Debut full-length album from Black Peaches, a new project from the very busy Rob Smoughton, who has worked in Hot Chip and Scritti Politti and as Grovesnor. Get Down You Dirty Rascals is a fine excursion into swamp-funk, recorded with a tight-but-loose band made up of members of Cold Specks and The Severed Limb.

Michael Blake – Fulfillment CD (Songlines)

Saxophonist Michael Blake’s ambitious new project, a septet plus guests, was inspired by the centenary of Vancouver’s tragic Komagata Maru incident, where a shipload of East Indian immigrants was denied entry and ultimately forced to depart using exclusionist laws.

Sarah Borges – Good And Dirty CD (MRI Associated)

New album from the Boston-based blugrass/twang-rocker. “Sarah Borges is a nice mix of Keith Richards and Dolly Parton. Not as far as looks go, that would be awful. But as a songwriter she’s right in between roadhouse rocker and country queen.” – The Boston Herald

Breakbot – Still Waters CD (WB)
“It should come as no great shock that ‘Still Waters’, the second album from French producer and Ed Banger resident Breakbot, isn’t a particularly surprising or challenging listen. That’s by no means a criticism — the producer and his label mates have consistently created some of the best French house and modern disco of the last decade. But if you weren’t expecting groovy basslines, disco synths and feel-good funk, then we’re not sure you’ve been paying attention. The new album from the French producer, real name Thibaut Berland, doesn’t deviate drastically from the formula, but would you want it to?” – Clash Music. Vinyl version due March 18.

Jackson Browne – Together Again… Live Syracuse ’71 2xCD (Rox Vox)

Having been an active musician since 1966, by 1971 Jackson Browne still hadn’t released a record, but was regarded as one of the more gifted singer/songwriters of his generation. This magical performance was broadcast on WNEW-FM as he opened for Bonnie Raitt in the intimate setting of the Jabberwocky Cafe in Syracuse, NY, on March 27, 1971. Later that year he signed with David Geffen, toured with Linda Ronstadt and Joni Mitchell, and recorded his debut album, making this set a document of a major talent just before stardom beckoned. It’s presented here in it’s entirety with background notes and images.

Danny Bryant – Blood Money CD (Jazzhaus)

“A fantastic guitar player… able to take a Fender Stratocaster and really make it sing…” — Joe Bonamassa

[Read more…] about New Releases for March 4, 2016