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.