CDs + Vinyl:

Mindi Abair And The Boneshakers – Live In Seattle CD (Heads Up)

Mindi Abair is one of the most recognizable saxophonists on the music scene today. In addition to great solo albums over the years, she has been seen on American Idol, as well as joining Aerosmith on their US tour over the past two years. After releasing her latest studio album Wild Heart in 2014, Mindi has been touring with her live band, The Bone Shakers. On Live In Seattle, Mindi channels the bands high-energy performances that fans have been connecting to for years. The potent Bone Shakers personnel includes renowned Motor City guitarist Randy Jacobs and the stunning vocalist Sweat Pea Atkinson, both from the original Was (Not Was).

Herb Alpert – Come Fly With Me CD (Herb Alpert Presents)

Herb Alpert returns with a new album, Come Fly With Me, a mix of new Alpert originals and classic American tunes (“Come Fly With Me,” “Blue Skies,” and “Take The A Train” are just a few that are featured), performed as only the beloved trumpeter can. “With his latest recording, Come Fly With Me, legendary award-winning trumpeter, producer, artist and overall Renaissance Man, Herb Alpert takes the listener on a melody-rich, groove-embellished artistic journey, offering marvelous musical perspectives and insights with both familiar and exciting new sonic landscapes” – All About Jazz. Vinyl version due November 20.

Gabrielle Aplin – Light Up The Dark CD/LP (WB/Parlophone)

The 22-year-old British singer/songwriter Gabrielle Aplin, who racked up major YouTube views with her acoustic covers, releases her first US album. The catchy, soulful tracks were inspired by a road trip to Reno that Aplin took a few years ago, as well as by the music scene in LA’s Laurel Canyon in the ‘60s and ‘70s. She also cites Joni Mitchell and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young as key influences.

Avant – The VIII CD (MO-B Entertainment)

Avant is an R&B singer/songwriter from Cleveland that broke into the music scene with his first platinum singles “Separated” and “My First Love.”

Balthazar – Thin Walls CD/LP (PIAS America)

“After ten years of making music together and two memorable LP outputs, Belgian indie-pop institution Balthazar’s third record was created in a whole new environment in the murky and restless moments on tour. The quintet was successfully touring the world with their 2012 album Rats, when they had to fit in writing sessions whenever they had some time off. While Applause and Rats were yet self-produced, this time Balthazar decided to team up with cool cats Ben Hillier (Blur, Depeche Mode producer) and Jason Cox (Gorillaz, Massive Attack) to help form the sound of Thin Walls, which took some of the generational pressure off their shoulders as well. Being able to solely focus on the music resulted in ten legit tracks that are pure evidence of self-confidence and hands-on experience.” – Nothing But Hope And Passion

Tony Bennett & Bill Charlap – The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern CD (Columbia)

On The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern, Tony Bennett is joined by acclaimed jazz pianist Bill Charlap. This release continues the classic series of Tony Bennett album releases celebrating the essentials of the Great American Songbook. Jerome Kern was a major force on Broadway and in Hollywood musicals in a career that spanned more than four decades.

Big Grams – Big Grams CDEP (Epic)

New release from this musical project featuring Big Boi and Phantogram. The Atlanta rap vet and NY electro-pop duo first worked together on Big’s 2012 solo album Vicious Lies And Dangerous Rumors, and they clicked so much that it blossomed into a fully realized joint venture. Vinyl version due October 30.

Bikini Kill – Revolution Girl Style Now [1991] CD/LP+MP3 (Bikini Kill)

Bikini Kill’s first collection of work (previously cassette-only) has been expanded with three previously unreleased tracks: “Ocean Song,” “Just Once,” and “Playground.” These songs feature a decidedly more grunge sound than the rest of the Bikini Kill catalog.

Clint Black – On Purpose CD (Black Top)

The country artist releases his tenth studio album – his first in ten years.

Black Breath – Slaves Beyond Death CD (Southern Lord)

Slaves Beyond Death arrives three years after Black Breath’s 2012-released Sentenced To Life, a revered album of morbid metal anthems laced with a deadly allure that few could resist. A foul den of thrashing potency, reanimated hardcore muscle and icy death metal, it’s a record that partly sets the tone for this nefarious third chapter of the band, but it’s safe to say that Slaves Beyond Death represents a harder, bleaker Black Breath than ever before. Vinyl version due October 30.

David Bowie –Space Oddity [Reissue/1969] CD (Rhino/Parlophone)

David Bowie –The Man Who Sold The World [Reissue/1970] CD (Rhino/Parlophone)

David Bowie –Hunky Dory [Reissue/1971] CD (Rhino/Parlophone)

David Bowie – The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars [Reissue/1972] CD (Rhino/Parlophone)

David Bowie –Aladdin Sane [Reissue/1973] CD (Rhino/Parlophone)

David Bowie –Pin Ups [Reissue/1973] CD (Rhino/Parlophone)

CD reissues of David Bowie’s second through seventh studio albums, which were available earlier this year as import-only (UK and Japan), but are now available domestically in conjunction with the Five Years 1969-1973 box set.

David Bowie – Five Years 1969-1973 12xCD/13xLP (Rhino/Parlophone)

This set features all of the material officially released by rock chameleon David Bowie during the nascent stage of his career from 1969 to 1973, including tracks that have never before appeared on CD. The accompanying 128-page book features rarely seen photos as well as technical notes about each album from producers Tony Visconti and Ken Scott, an original press review for each album, and a short foreword by legendary Kinks front man Ray Davies.

Apollo Brown – Grandeur CD (Mello Music)

In recent years, Apollo Brown has become an institution of Detroit hip-hop. For his newest album, Grandeur, Brown has assembled an all-star cast of MCs including Sean Price & Reks, Freddie Gibbs, MOP, Evidence, Oddisee, Vinnie Paz, Masta Ace, Rapper Big Pooh and more. Vinyl version due October 16.

[Read more…] about New Releases for September 25, 2015

CDs + Vinyl:

A-ha – Hunting High & Low [Reissue/1985] CD/4xCD+DVD (Rhino)
Remastered eissue of the Norwegian trio’s 1985 debut album, featuring the hit “Take On Me.” The Super Deluxe five disc (four CDs + DVD) edition includes a 60-page hardback book filled with rare photos and stories about the making of the album. The set also features various B-sides and more than two dozen rare tracks.

Nat Adderly – For Duke And Cannon (Sextet Live At Sweet Basil) CD (Squatty Roo Recordings)
Cornetist Nat Adderley, brother and musical partner of alto sax great Cannonball Adderley, is featured here fourteen years after his brother’s death, but still going strong, live at Greenwich Village’s legendary Sweet Basil. Never replacing his brother, but at very least, two great alto men are needed to fill the master’s shoes: in this case Vincent Herring and Sonny Fortune, who are playing snakes throughout, doing justice to their predecessor.

Air Waves – Parting Glances CD/LP (Western Vinyl)
In 2010 Nicole Schneit aka Air Waves released Dungeon Dots, an album Aquarius Records called “…pretty much perfect pop music.” For her new album Parting Glances, Schneit enlisted friends from Brooklyn’s music community to contribute to the record, including members of Woods, Crystal Stilts, Ava Luna, and Hospitality. Additionally, Jana Hunter of Lower Dens contributes vocals to two songs. The album’s title comes from the 1986 film Parting Glances in which Steve Buscemi portrays a gay man navigating the difficulties of being in a relationship in Reagan-era New York. More than just identifying with the story, Schneit is interested in the in the lasting effect of the parting glances we share with strangers in our everyday encounters.

Alabama – Southern Drawl CD (BMG Recorded Music)
Southern Drawl is the veteran country band’s first collection of original material in 14 years, and a follow-up to 2001’s When It All Goes South.

All Them Witches – Lightning At The Door [Reissue/2014] CD/LP+MP3 (New West)
Reissue of the band’s 2014 release with two bonus tracks “Romany Dagger Remended” and “Surface To Air Whistle.” Nashville-based All Them Witches impress in both their cohesiveness of sound and their obvious drive toward an individual approach. Their blend of blues rocking grooves and heavy psych-derived jamming comes through clearly, they soon became known for their engaging live shows.

Dave Alvin And Phil Alvin – Lost Time CD/LP (Yep Roc)
Dave Alvin & Phil Alvin follow up their previous album, the Grammy nominated Common Ground, with this collection of blues songs from various artists that inspired the Alvin Brothers at a very early age. Common Ground focused exclusively on Big Bill Broonzy songs. With Lost Time the Alvin brothers dig in to the music of James Brown, Leadbelly, Willie Dixon, Blind Boy Fuller and Leroy Carr, among other greats. But they cover four songs by Big Joe Turner, as tribute to the blues legend they met as teens, and who became their friend and mentor.

Annihilator – Suicide Society CD/2xCD/2xLP+MP3 (UDR)
As usual, guitar wizard Jeff Waters Handles all songwriting duties, plays all guitar and bass, engineers, produces, mixes and masters Suicide Society… and Waters is also back commanding lead vocal duties, as he did on the critically acclaimed King Of The Kill (1994) and other Annihilator albums over the years. With Suicide Society, Annihilator goes headfirst into some of the most technically perfect crisp, and crushingly taut, riffs Waters has ever produced. Although Waters’ vocals keep traces of styling from his King Of The Kill album, they now evoke a surprising blend of legends such as Staley Osbourne, Hetfield and Mustaine. CD is available in Regular and Deluxe editions. Deluxe features a lenticular cover and is expanded with a bonus disc including commentary on all nine album tracks.

Atreyu – Long Live CD/LP (Spinefarm)
After a three-year hiatus, embers started to glow again for Southern California metal trailblazers Atreyu. They hit the studio with producer Fred Archambault (Avenged Sevenfold) began cutting what would be their sixth album, Long Live (and first since 2009’s Congregation Of The Damned). “From the first ‘go’ uttered by Alex Varkatzas on the title track, Atreyu lets it rip with a brisk pound on the verses. They make no bones they’re still a metalcore act as the breakdowns manifest and Varkatzas volleys his squelchy yelps with drummer and clean singer Brandon Saller. ‘Live To Labor’ thereafter plants down the pedal through its popping verses. As with the opening number, the breakdown arrives at the expected spot and the choruses rain with engulfing harmony.” — Blabbermouth

Baio – The Names CD/LP (Glassnote)
On his own, Vampire Weekend bassist Chris Baio makes warm, homespun, gently emotive dance-pop. He’s been releasing singles and EPs for a few years, and has now released his first-ever solo album, The Names. The album takes its title from Don DeLillo’s 1982 novel. “The Names is a record that has reverberated through my mind for much of the last five years,” Baio said in a press release. “Its themes began to take shape when I moved from New York to London in 2013.”

Battles – La Di Da Di CD/LP+MP3 (Warp)
Battles are the Networked Band, or perhaps the-band-as-network. An island chain linked by a unique combination of artistry, experimentation, technology and singular focus. A band that holds computerized loops in their brains, leaves sweat on their machines and whose sonic heartbeat is almost brutally human. Dave Konopka, Ian Williams and John Stanier have turned the tables on themselves this time, confronted their own ideas of what Battles is and here on their third album, have willed an answer to that question into existence. As the name might imply, La Di Da Di is a mushrooming monolith of repetition. Here is an organic techno thrum of nearly infinite loops that refuse to remain consistent. The rhythmic genus of Battles is here as ever; full frontal, heightened and unforgiving the gauntlet through which melody and harmony must pass, assailed at every turn.
[Read more…] about New Releases for September 18, 2015

CDs + Vinyl:

The 4 Seasons – Sherry & 11 Others [Reissue/1962] CD (Real Gone Music)
The 4 Seasons – Big Girls Don’t Cry And Twelve Others [Reissue/1963] CD (Real Gone Music)
Original mono mixes of two of the pop vocal group’s early albums.

John Baker – The Vendetta Tapes: Incidental Music From The 1960s BBC TV Series And Other Radiophonics CD/LP (Buried Treasure)
Brand new compilation of rare material by John Baker from the BBC Radiophonic Workshop. Displays his skill in fusing groovy tape loops, ambient drones and bass textures with real instruments.

Beirut – No No No CD (4AD)
“Finding a new love sparked the creativity and songwriting that went into the making of No No No. Condon and his bandmates, bassist Paul Collins and drummer Nick Petree, worked on the new album in the fall of 2014, finally recording it in two weeks live in the studio. Last June, videos of Beirut playing several new songs at Brooklyn’s Northside Festival appeared online. One of them is ‘No No No,’ the title track to the nine-song collection. It’s a jaunty, syncopated, playful tune with a simple yet anthemic melody. The horn arrangements bring depth to the song’s spirited repetition. It’s undeniably Beirut — and a joyfully welcome return” – NPR. Vinyl version due October 6.

Better Off – Milk CD (Equal Vision)
“Better Off proudly draws influence from some of their favorite rock bands — Weezer, Foo Fighters, and Jimmy Eat World — to help pour their very own glass of exactly what they’ve been so thirsty for. It only took the band’s 2013 (I Think) I’m Leaving and 2014’s Meth Head to concoct the guitar-driven, personal record that is Milk.” – USA Today/College

Bring Me The Horizon – That’s The Spirit CD/LP (Columbia)
The fifth album from the UK-based metal band is an 11-track, exhilarating ride bursting with huge riffs, soaring vocals and stadium filling monster tracks.

The Buckinghams – The Complete Hit Singles CD (Varese Sarabande)
This new Buckinghams compilation features all of their hit singles from the ‘60s, including their #1 pop smash “Kind Of A Drag.” In addition, the album features “Don’t You Care,” “Mercy, Mercy, Mercy” and the special radio edit of the hit “Susan.”
[Read more…] about New Releases for September 11, 2015