New Releases for April 9, 2013
CDs:
Blaak Heat Shujaa – The Edge Of An Era CD/LP (Tee Pee)
Blaak Heat Shujaa’s transcendental tension between their heavy rock roots and an organic inclination to drift towards psychedelia pays homage to the vast collection of mind-expanding sounds the trio grew up on: neo-psychedelia, surf rock, spaghetti westerns, Middle Eastern scales and even Far Eastern melodies.
James Blake – Overgrown CD/2xLP (Universal Republic)
“Overgrown is underdeveloped, in the best possible sense, employing the sonic palette of state-of-the-art, digital dance music to pursue something almost completely contrary to the clubbing experience. These beats are not hard, the sounds are not polished. It is music of emotion and imagination, shifting perspectives in ways that are deliciously intangible, intent on moving the heart rather than the feet.” – telegraph.co.uk
Bored Nothing – Bored Nothing CD (Cooperative Music)
Debut album from the brainchild of Melbourne musician Fergus Miller. He’s been recording most of his songs at home on a simple four track recorder, combining influences of `90s slacker and grunge with sweet melodies reminiscent of the late Elliott Smith.
Broadheds – Broadheds CD (Dangerbird)
New band fronted by Dangerbird co-founder Peter Walker (formerly of Eulogies) with an all-star supporting cast, including Denny Weston Jr. who plays drums in the longstanding West Coast indie outfit, Earlimart, James King, sophisto sax dude from Fitz And The Tantrums and Justin Meldal-Johnsen, (whose credits include Nine Inch Nails and Beck) on the bass, who also executive produced the record with all songs credited to Walker. RIYL: Sonic Youth, John Zorn, “skronky punk.”
Jake Bugg – Jake Bugg CD (Mercury)
Jake Bugg (born Jacob Edwin Kennedy 1994 in Nottingham) is an English singer/songwriter influenced by Donovan, Jimi Hendrix, Bob Dylan, Oasis, Don McLean, Johnny Cash, and The Beatles.
Child Bite – Vision Crimes/Monomania CD (Joyful Noise)
This album collects Detroit’s Child Bite’s two sibling EPs, which are a punked-up mixture of Big Black and Jesus Lizard. Vinyl version due April 30.
Eric Church – Eric Church Live: Caught In The Act CD (EMI Nashville)
Recorded at Chattanooga’s Tivoli Theatre last fall, Caught In The Act features songs from Church’s previous three albums, 2011’s Chief, 2009’s Carolina, and his 2006 debut, Sinners Like Me. Vinyl version due April 20.
New Releases for April 2, 2013
CDs:
Alkaline Trio – My Shame Is True CD/2xLP+MP3 (Epitaph)
40 minutes of passionate punk-filled rock recorded by Bill Stevenson of The Descendents.
Olafur Arnalds – For Now I Am Winter CD (Mercury Classics)
Purveying a neo-classical style with an array of influences, which range from electronica to minimalism, Arnalds is an artist who draws from a variety of sources whilst maintaining his own unique sound. Vinyl version due April 20.
Authority Zero – The Tipping Point CD (Ingrooves)
Fifth album from the Arizona punk band pays tribute to their punk rock forefathers while expanding their musical boundaries into unconventional reggae and rock tinges beyond the typical punk rock aesthetics.
The Band Perry – Pioneer CD (Republic Nashville)
Sophomore album from the superstar country trio. Building on the musical foundation demonstrated by the band on their first album, Pioneer is steeped in country tradition, with rock & roll elements both on performance and songwriting.
Besnard Lakes – Until In Excess, Imperceptible UFO CD/LP+MP3 (Jagjaguwar)
“Each of the eight tracks takes off, coasts, and lands smoothly, with a jubilant slow burn of its own momentum for the benefit of the larger picture. They create a distinct and dreamy headspace, an enigmatic and somehow familiar placelessness. “A magnificently oceanic meld of Beach Boys harmonies, My Bloody Valentine tidal waves and Phil Spector girl-group siren songs shot through with soaring guitar.” — Rolling Stone
Jello Biafra And The Guantanamo School Of Medicine – White People And The Damage Done CD/LP (Alternative Tentacles)
The second full-length from Jello Biafra + Co. picks up where last fall’s Shock-u-py! left off. Covered in gruesome detail this time are corruption (“The Brown Lipstick Parade”), “Werewolves Of Wall Street,” “Road Rage,” and corporate McMedia making pop stars out of small-time crooks to shield the big ones (“John Dillinger”) or tabloid pop stars to lobotomize everyone else (“Hollywood Goof Disease”).
The Black Angels – Indigo Meadow CD/LP+MP3 (Blue Horizon)
The Black Angels’ most revelatory collection thus far, Indigo Meadow marks the Austin, TX based band’s fourth full-length release, following 2010’s acclaimed Phosphene Dream. Once again The Black Angels prove themselves the undisputed avatars of contemporary psychedelic rock, simultaneously exalting the genre’s kaleidoscopic past as they thrust it further into the future.
Bleached – Ride Your Heart CD/LP (Dead Oceans)
On the heels of three well-received singles comes the bombastic debut album by L.A. band Bleached. Sisters Jennifer and Jessie Clavin match their ability to blend a mix of freewheeling ’77 punk with vintage sunny Southern California melodic rock & roll; creating blindingly bright hooks and dark heartfelt lyrics about love, loss, and the crazy fun moments in between.
Bombino – Nomad CD/LP (Nonesuch)
New album from the Tuareg guitarist and singer/songwriter Omara “Bombino” Moctar. At the invitation of The Black Keys’ Dan Auerbach, the Niger-born artist and his band traveled to Nashville for the recording, helmed by Auerbach at his studio, Easy Eye Sound.
Bonobo – The North Borders CD/2xLP+MP3 (Ninja Tune)
“Bringing everything from strings and woodwind to bear over his liquid hypnotic beats, Bonobo has stuck to his inimitable signature sound on his fifth LP. Electronic, but overwhelmingly naturalistic, the listening experience is akin to slowly regain consciousness in a sun-drenched forest; walking around in dazed contentment before stumbling into the E’d up crowd of a gentle, isolated rave.” – Drowned In Sound
Charles Bradley – Victim Of Love CD/LP (Daptone)
Though quite at home among the music that has affirmed Daptone as a proper authority on soul music, Victim Of Love proves to be a genre-bending masterpiece, picking up where the early ‘70s Temptations left off and edging boldly forward into psychedelic soul exploration.
Bring Me The Horizon – Sempiternal CD (Epitaph)
Fourth studio album by the British metalcore band. Vinyl version due May 14.
Brown Bird – Fits Of Reason CD/LP (Supply And Demand)
Fits Of Resason retains their blues and American roots music foundations while exploring heavier territory with a more prominent display of the band’s Middle Eastern, metal and psych-rock influences.
