CDs:

A$AP Rocky – Long.Live.A$AP CD (RCA)

New album from the rising rapper features guest appearances by Schoolboy Q, Santigold, Joey Bada$$, Yelawolf, Danny Brown, Action Bronson and Big K.R.I.T. A$AP Rocky takes the reins as producer and co-producer on several tracks along with Danger Mouse, Jim Jonsin, Rico Love, Clams Casino, Skrillex, Hit-Boy and more. “BNM [8.5]” – Pitchfork. Vinyl version due January 23.

bvdub – Careful Ecstasy CD (Darla)

The sequel to Serenity and perhaps Brock Van Wey’s clearest melding of his ambient, chillout, and deep house roots to date.

J.J. Cale – In Session At Paradise Studios CD+DVD (Ingrooves)

Comprised of a 1979 session recorded at The Paradise Studios, Los Angeles, In Session features Cale performing tracks like “Cocaine,” “After Midnight” and “Crazy Mama” with guest Leon Russell. The DVD contains five additional performances.

Holopaw – Academy Songs 1 CD/LP (Misra)

Through collaborations with Modest Mouse’s Isaac Brock (Ugly Casanova) frontman John Orth has honed his gift for lyricism, storytelling, and delivery. Now, backed by a variant possessing uncanny chemistry, Holopaw reaches for new heights.

Sean Lennon – Alter Egos CD/LP (Chimera Music)

Rolling Stone praised the Alter Egos score as “a pastiche of familiar superhero movie orchestration and a variety of pop styles, further cement(ing) Lennon’s reputation as a musical chameleon.” Similarly, Variety notes an ability to “span a wide array of musical styles from retro to noir to psychedelic to sweeping, tension filled action.”

Teena Marie – Beautiful CD (UMe)

Before her death at the age of 54, Teena Marie was working on her 14th album, Beautiful. Recorded at her home studio and finished except for final mixes, Beautiful was seen through to its conclusion by her 20-year-old daughter Alia Rose.

Mystical Weapons – Mystical Weapons CD/LP (Chimera Music)

Mystical Weapons is Sean Lennon and Greg Saunier’s (Deerhoof) new duo. Instrumental psych rock and avant grade in a variety of moods and styles.

Christopher Owens – Lysandre CD/LP (Fat Possum)

Solo debut album from the former Girls frontman. The record takes on the narrative of “a coming of age story, a road trip, a love story following Owens from San Francisco to New York to France, where he falls in love with a girl named Lysandre. Free Christopher Owens sheet music with purchase – while supplies last!

[Read more…] about New Releases for January 15, 2013

CDs:

Philip H. Anselmo/Warbeast – War Of The Gargantuas CD (Housecore)

Split release between Pantera/Down vocalist Philip Anselmo and Texan neo-thrashers Warbeast. 

Aristillus – Two CD (Fysisk)

Six songs of closely woven melodic chaos, existential wrath and soul-churning abysses. In other words, a fusion of nihilistic noise rock, epic post-rock and intense emocore.

James Blackshaw/Lubomyr Melnyk – Watchers CD/LP (Important)

James Blackshaw is a Hastings-based guitarist/pianist who primarily plays an acoustic 12-string guitar and has been compared to Bert Jansch, Robbie Basho, John Fahey, Jack Rose, and Leo Kottke. Lubomyr Melnyk is a composer and pianist who pioneered ‘continuous music’ which requires a totally new technique of piano playing, based on extremely rapid notes and note-series that create a “tapestry of sound” usually with the sustain pedal held down to generate overtones and sympathetic resonances.

Black Veil Brides – Wretched And Divine: The Story Of The Wild Ones CD/CD+DVD/2xLP (Republic)

On their third album, the L.A. quintet delivers a collection of songs that’s as immersive as it is infectious. Hallmarks of their sound, like gritty riffs, orchestral flourishes, elegant soloing, and anthemic vocals remain intact.

Broadcast – Berberian Sound Studio CD/LP (Warp)

Broadcast’s sublime soundtrack to the film Berberian Sound Studio, composed before frontwoman Trish Keenan’s untimely passing last year, sets a sinister and atmospheric tone that still exists well within the band’s signature sonic universe.

Cheap Girls – My Roaring 20’s [Reissue/2008] CD/LP (Asian Man)

Cheap Girls – Find Me A Drink Home [Reissue/2010] CD/LP (Asian Man)

Influenced by the Lemonheads, Superchunk, The Old 97’s, Green Day, Superdrag and Samiam, Cheap Girls produce a sound filled with pounding drums, jangly guitars and super sweet vocal melodies that harkens back to a simpler time and place.

[Read more…] about New Releases for January 8, 2013

CDs:

Blur – Parklive [Deluxe Edition] 4xCD+DVD (Virgin)

Includes the entire show, with extras, presented in best-quality audio over two CDs with a DVD of the 12-camera shoot. Also included is an exclusive CD, Blur – Live At The 100 Club, recorded at the legendary London venue in August, and an additional CD of live tracks recorded during this past summer, and more.

Burial – One/Two CDEP/2×12” (Hyperdub)

New 25-minute EP from the dubstep innovator.

Chief Keef – Finally Rich CD (Interscope)

New mixtape from the controversial young rapper.

Eric Clapton – Slowhand [35^th Anniversary Editions] 2xCD/3xCD+LP+DVD/LP (Polydor)

Available in Deluxe and Super Deluxe editions. Both include the album remastered and expanded, along with an additional disc, Live At Hammersmith Odeon, April 27, 1977. Super Deluxe includes more rare material on an additional CD and DVD, along with a copy on vinyl.

The-Dream – Terius Nash: 1977 CD (Def Jam)

Terius Nash 1977, titled after The-Dream’s real name and year of birth, was originally intended as a stop-gap release following the delays in the release of his intended fourth album, Love IV MMXII. Terius Nash 1977 was initially released as a download-only album, but has been reworked and has become his fourth official album after the cancelled release of Love IV.

Buddy Guy – Live At Legends CD (RCA)

Live At Legends features Guy’s last live recordings from his now-shuttered original Legends Blues Club in Chicago, captured during his January residency there in 2010.

Metric – Synthetica [Deluxe Edition] 2xCD (Mom + Pop)

This Deluxe double-disc edition includes a bonus disc containing five acoustic tracks.

Motörhead – The Complete Early Years 15xCD+7” (Sanctuary)

Limited collector’s box set released to coincide with Motörhead’s 35th Anniversary. Features the albums Motörhead, Overkill, Bomber, Ace Of Spades, No SleepTill Hammersmith, Iron Fist, Another Perfect Day and No Remorse in Japanese mini LP sleeves, plus 3” CD pressings of seven of their singles/EPs in Japanese mini-sleeves as well as a Complete Collector’s Guide To Motorhead (book), a 7” single, a poster and a photo book.

The Pogues – In Paris 2xCD (Universal)

The Pogues celebrated their 30th anniversary with two sold-out shows in September 2012 at the famous Olympia venue in Paris. 

Eugene S. Robinson and Philippe Petit – Last Of The Dead Hot Lovers CD/2xLP (Team Science)

The unique pairing of Oxbow’s feisty vocalist Eugene S. Robinson, with self-proclaimed “musical tour guide” Philippe Petit return to pick over the carcass of a dying relationship.

Rush – 2112 [Deluxe Edition] CD+DVD/CD+Blu-ray (Mercury)

Deluxe Editions of Rush’s 1976 platinum-selling album, available in three different configurations: CD+DVD, CD+Blu-ray, and CD+Blu-Ray packaged in a hardbound book case.

Soundtrack – Quentin Tarantino’s Django Unchained CD (Universal)

Original soundtrack to the new motion picture written and directed by Quentin Tarantino features songs by Rick Ross, James Brown, 2 Pac, John Legend, Jerry Goldsmith, Pat Metheny and more.

T.I. – Trouble Man: Heavy Is The Head CD (Atlantic)

New album featuring guest appearances by R. Kelly, CeeLo Green, Andre 3000, Pink and production from longtime collaborators Pharell and DJ Toomp.

Various Artists – Ultra 2013 2xCD (Ultra)

The sixth installment of the annual series is a double-disc package that features current dance/pop hits from several top artists, including Calvin Harris and Deadmau5.

Muddy Waters – You Shook Me: The Chess Masters 3 – 1958-1963 2xCD (Universal)

49 tracks featuring a number of Muddy Waters’ most renowned recordings not immediately intended for LP.

Frank Zappa/Mothers – Ahead Of Their Time [Reissue/1993] CD (Zappa)

Frank Zappa – The Yellow Shark [Reissue/1993] 2xCD (Zappa)

Frank Zappa – The Lost Episodes [Reissue/1996] CD (Zappa)

Frank Zappa – Lather [Reissue/1996] 3xCD (Zappa)

The final batch of Zappa reissues – now available.

DVDs + Blu-ray:

Whitney Houston – We Will Always Love You: A Grammy Salute To Whitney Houston DVD (RCA)

Features appearances by Celine Dion, Usher, Jennifer Hudson, CeCe Winans, Yolanda Adams, Britney Spears, Halle Berry, LL Cool J, Taraji P. Henson and Clive Davis. 45 minutes.

Vinyl:

Action Beat – The Condition LP+MP3 (Truth Cult)

Though it would never be possible to capture the Action Beat live experience onto tape, The Condition is about a close as one can reasonably get from the comfort of one’s own safe house and without risking possible death by guitarist.

Andrew Bird – Hands Of Glory LP (Mom + Pop)

Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. Companion to Break It Yourself features a brand new original track, a pair of re-worked tracks from that album, and covers of songs by The Carter Family, The Handsome Family, Alpha Consumer and others. Pressed on orange and black vinyl.

Dragged Into Sunlight – Widowmaker LP (Prosthetic)

Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. UK’s blackened death/doom metallers return with their sophomore album.

Heathered Pearls – Loyal LP (Ghostly International)

Debut from Polish-born Jakub Alexander’s release under the Heathered Pearls moniker. This is a record that’s full of delicate beauty. It embraces fragility and lightness, sounding entirely natural despite being created electronically.

Mean – Knowing LP (Midium)

Mean is a new project by acclaimed instrumentalists Jeff Boyle (Jakob) and H Walker (Kerretta, Avotor). Captured over a period of five years, Knowing contains hints of Jakob’s mountainous crescendos and Kerretta’s muscular groove. But Mean is a denser and more slow-burning affair than its predecessors.

The Rolling Stones – GRRR 5xLP (Abkco)

Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. 48 hits and two new tracks on five LPs.

Tilly & The Wall – Defenders 12” (Team Love)

Tilly & The Wall has re-emerged decidedly wiser and more mature, but with all its child-like exuberance intact, to offer musical and moral encouragement to these heavy times.