February Program Titles Released This Week:

Big Star – Live On WLIR CD/2xLP (Omnivore)

Big Star recorded their second album, Radio City, as a trio, after the departure of founding member Chris Bell. When it came time to tour, original bassist Andy Hummel decided to return to school to pursue his engineering education. With this departure, Alex Chilton and Jody Stephens recruited fellow Memphis native John Lightman to take over on bass duties, and the band readied their live set. That set is on display as Big Star recorded a radio session at Ultrasonic Studios in New York for broadcast on the city’s preeminent WLIR. Nearly two decades later, those recordings were issued as Live In 1992. The 15-track set features material from the band’s two releases, as well as a cover of “Motel Blues” by Loudon Wainwright III (which originally appeared on his classic 1971 sophomore release, Album II). With new, updated liner notes from Memphis writer/filmmaker, Robert Gordon (who won a Grammy® for his essay in 2010’s Big Star boxed set Keep An Eye On The Sky) and an interview with John Lightman by Chris Bell biographer Rich Tupica (There Was A Light: The Cosmic History Of Big Star Founder Chris Bell), Live On WLIR has been remastered and restored on CD and vinyl.

Bring Me The Horizon – amo CD/2xLP (Columbia)

Sheffield based, multi-platinum selling band Bring Me The Horizon return with their sixth studio album, amo. The band spent the summer of 2018 writing and recording in Los Angeles, with Oli Sykes and Jordan FIsh handling production. What has transpired is one of their most exhilarating, genre crossing albums to date. Sykes explains that, “amo is a love album that explores every aspect of that most powerful emotion. It deals with the good the bad and the ugly, and as a result we’ve created an album that’s more experimental, more varied, weird, and wonderful than anything we’ve done before.” Whilst amo definitely has its share of surprises, it very much sticks to the band’s successful fan-pleasing formula of massive stadium bouncing rocks songs with huge singalong choruses.

Michael Franti & Spearhead – Stay Human: Vol. II CD/LP (Boo Boo Wax)

Michael Franti is a globally recognized musician, humanitarian, and award-winning filmmaker revered for his high-energy live shows, inspiring music, devotion to health and wellness, and worldwide philanthropic efforts. Stay Human Vol. II is Michael Franti & Spearhead’s seventh studio album and was influenced by work on his new self-directed documentary of the same name. “I’ve traveled the globe making music and throughout the years I’ve always hoped that it could inspire small steps towards making the world a better place,” explains Franti. “Struggling with the challenges of the world I began filming my new documentary Stay Human telling the stories of heroic everyday people who helped me to discover more deeply what it means to be and “Stay Human.” [Stay Human: Vol. II] became the soundtrack of this epic journey. The songs on the new record address some of the biggest problems we face today and battles of the heart, all set to a beat that will get you on the dance floor.”

[Read more…] about New Releases for January 25, 2019

February Program Titles Released This Week:

Altitudes & Attitude – Get It Out CD (Megaforce)

Altitudes & Attitude is a project featuring Anthrax bassist Frank Bello and Megadeth bassist David Ellefson, will release their debut album, which follows-up their eponymous 2014 EP. Boasting a deep bench of guest stars, including Ace Frehley (ex-Kiss; the track “Late”), Gus G. (Ozzy Osbourne, Firewind), Nita Strauss (Alice Cooper), Christian Martucci (Stone Sour) and Satchel (Steel Panther), the record represents the fulfillment of a lifelong but little-known ambition for two uniquely gifted artists. As Bello puts it, “All I ever wanted to do was write good songs. I’ve always been a melody guy. I love hooks; I love catchy songs with a good riff.” A kind of rock ‘n’ roll primal-scream therapy, Get It Out is the result of nearly four years of writing and recording sessions — and decades of touring, searching, striving and living.

Frances Cone – Late Riser CD/LP (Living Daylight/Orchard)

“Timing is everything to Frances Cone. Even the band’s moniker is a nod to band mastermind Christina Cone’s family’s own impeccable chronology, borrowing the name from her great-grandfather and father, both born on September 11^th decades apart. Then there’s the fact that Cone met her future bandmate and beau, Andrew Doherty, at just the right moment on just the right date — 12/12/12 — for their lives to align. This acknowledged connection to cosmic scheduling also explains why the duo have been so patient in releasing their follow-up to 2013’s Come Back LP. It’s a patience that comes through on each of the 10 tracks that make up Late Riser. Carefully crafted soar on indie pop updrafts on songs like “Failure” or the melodic opener “Wide Awake”. “Unraveling”, a lush pop number with gripping harmonies, hints at Cone’s association with Lucius, while “Arizona” hints towards Justin Vernon’s style of songwriting. Then there’s the title track, a beleaguered and powerful folk number that finds Cone at her most aggressive. Whatever the influence or particular style of sound, each song feels complete, fully realized as a coherent effort from an artist who appreciates the value in taking your time to reach the finish line.” – Consequence Of Sound

Greensky Bluegrass – All For Money CD/2xLP (Big Blue Zoo)

For more than 18 years, the members of Greensky Bluegrass have been creating their own version of bluegrass music, mixing the acoustic stomp of a string band with the rule-breaking spirit of rock & roll. As they continue to evolve and further define that sound they are breaking barriers with their seventh studio album, All For Money. Recorded at Echo Mountain Recording in Asheville, NC alongside co-producers Dominic John Davis (Jack White s longtime bassist) and Glenn Brown, this set of 12 new songs finds the band pushing boundaries and breaking new ground, welcoming old fans and new audiences alike. They’re going full steam ahead into this new era with both the passion and vigor of a band in their infancy and the knowledge and power of one that s been together for almost two decades and counting.

[Read more…] about New Releases for January 18, 2019