December/January Program Titles Released This Week:

Cattle Decapitation – Death Atlas CD/2xLP (Metal Blade)

Cattle Decapitation have never shied away from confronting the awfulness wrought upon the natural world by the human race, and Death Atlas is their bleakest offering to date. The cover art says it all, a stooped, skeletal Grim Reaper carrying the burnt-out husk of our planet on his back. “The core concept of this record is humanity’s insignificance despite what we’ve convinced ourselves,” explains vocalist Travis Ryan. “That’s kind of why this album cover takes place in space, to remind you that ‘the universe always finds a way to purge’. In the grand scheme of things, our species is merely a fleeting thought.” Backing this up with a ferocious soundtrack, Death Atlas is one of the most shocking and unflinching records of the year, demanding an emotional response, and forcing people to think about their own contributions to the devastation of the planet. [Indie store exclusive vinyl pressing also available.]

The Flaming Lips – The Soft Bulletin: Live At Red Rocks (feat. The Colorado Symphony & Andre de Ridder) CD/2xLP (WB)

On May 26, 2016 The Flaming Lips performed their classic album The Soft Bulletin in its entirety with the Colorado Symphony at Red Rocks Amphitheater in Morrison, CO. The band was accompanied by a 69-piece orchestra and 56-strong chorus. The performance was conducted by the internationally celebrated conductor Andre de Ridder. The Lips performed the 12-track album in its original sequence with new arrangements for each song that use the orchestra and chorus to great effect. This entire concert was produced by The Flaming Lips, Scott Booker and their long-time collaborator Dave Fridmann. The resulting live album is being released to celebrate the 20th anniversary of The Soft Bulletin, originally released in 1999.

Preservation Hall Jazz Band – A Tuba To Cuba CD/LP+MP3 (Sub Pop)

The legendary Preservation Hall Jazz Band present the soundtrack to A Tuba To Cuba, the critically acclaimed documentary directed by T.G. Herrington and Danny Clinch. The film follows Ben Jaffe of New Orleans’ famed Preservation Hall Jazz Band as he seeks to fulfill his late father’s dream of retracing their musical roots to the shores of Cuba in search of the indigenous music that gave birth to New Orleans jazz. A Tuba To Cuba celebrates the triumph of the human spirit expressed through the universal language of music and challenges us to resolve to build bridges, not walls. The New York Times said: “This joyous, wide-ranging account of a New Orleans jazz band’s 2015 visit to Cuba is crammed with fascinating facts and toe-tickling tunes.” And, from the L.A. Times: “Jaunty, at times poetic chats and drop-ins with many Big Easy and Cuban jazz artists, discussion of their music’s African lineage (the Atlantic slave trade factored in), stirring examples of native instrumentation, and pulsating performances combine with colorful, travelogue-type shots (love those old Cuban theaters) and vivid archival footage to create a vibrant and joyous portrait.”

Various Artists For Sweet Relief – If You’re Going To The City: A Tribute To Mose Allison CD+DVD/2xLP (Fat Possum)

Mose Allison’s singular style – a unique blend of jazz and blues, his incisive humor, and knack for distilling deep themes into simple potent lyrics made him a major influence on a generation of musicians. It didn’t take much convincing for the producers to bring a host of top artists onboard for the tribute collection, If You’re Going To The City, including Taj Mahal, Robbie Fulks, Jackson Browne, The Tippo Allstars feat. Fiona Apple, Ben Harper and Charlie Musselwhite, Chrissie Hynde, Iggy Pop, Bonnie Raitt, Loudon Wainwright III, Richard Thompson, Peter Case, Dave Alvin and Phil Alvin, Anything Mose!, Frank Black, and Amy Allison with Elvis Costello. Each artist chose a favorite Mose Allison song to interpret. Mose’s daughter Amy Allison teamed up with musician/producer Don Heffington to honor her father’s rich catalog of songs. “We were talking about my dad’s legacy and thinking about all the musicians who were fans, and how a tribute album featuring some of these artists would be cool, especially if it were to benefit a worthy cause.” [Vinyl edition features an etching of Mose Allison on Side D.]

[Read more…] about New Releases for November 29, 2019

December/January Program Titles Released This Week:

Beck – Hyperspace CD/LP (Capitol)

On the heels of two Grammy-winning albums – Morning Phase, which saw him reunite in the studio with his Sea Change band, and Colors, which he created with Greg Kurstin – Hyperspace brings to fruition Beck’s 20-year wish to collaborate with Pharrell Williams. Hyperspace’s new dimensions in sound are the result of Beck’s most collaborative efforts to date. Seven of the album’s 11 tracks – including singles ‘Uneventful Days” and “Saw Lightning” – feature co-writing/co-production from Pharrell. “See Through” is co-written/co-produced by frequent collaborator Kurstin, “Stratosphere” features back-up from Chris Martin, the album’s title track features guest vocals from Terrell Hines and “Die Waiting” features backing vocals from Sky Ferreira. [Limited edition indie-exclusive vinyl pressing also available.]

Danny Brown – Uknowhatimsayin? CD/LP+MP3 (Warp)

Uknowhatimsayin? marks a buoyant new chapter in Danny Brown’s career, a transitional and celebratory moment. His profile has grown since Atrocity and now armed with a cable TV show and a co-sign from one of rap’s icons, he solidifies his positioning as a ubiquitous entertainer, independent rap hero, and one of the essential cultural voices of this era, while still retaining the edgy, maverick style that makes him a fan-favorite. Uknowhatimsayin? was executive produced by Q-Tip, includes guest appearances by Run The Jewels, Blood Orange and Obongjayar, and boasts production by Q-Tip, JPEGMAFIA, Flying Lotus, Paul White and Standing on the Corner. “This is my version of a stand-up comedy album,” Brown says. “Most of my close friends now aren’t rappers – they’re comedians and actors. So, I wanted to create something that mixed humor with music. Something that was funny but not parody.”

David Byrne – American Utopia On Broadway (Original Cast Recording) CD (Nonesuch)

[Vinyl edition due December 20.]

Original Cast Recording of the critically acclaimed Broadway production of David Byrne’s American Utopia, with music and lyrics by Byrne. The former Talking Heads mastermind shares the spotlight with a diverse ensemble of eleven musical artists from around the globe to deliver “a marvel of staging and motion” (Chicago Tribune) that’s a “thought-provoking example of the power of live music” (Forbes). “Dazzling, rapturous and jubilant,” exclaims the New York Times of the show. “Byrne puts the central tenet of making contact with a world outside your mind into dynamic, sensory practice onstage.” “Gorgeously designed, deliciously fun,” says the New Yorker, “backed by a rangy, versatile, exuberant band…Most important, the songs sound great.” “Astonishing, “ raves Hollywood Reporter. “A knockout celebration of music, dance and song. Pure bliss.” “A heady swirl of hope for our anxious times,” says Rolling Stone. “The concert-theater-dance spectacle finds solace in human connections…a tonic for our tumultuous times…”

[Read more…] about New Releases for November 22, 2019

December/January Program Titles Released This Week:

Jack Broadbent – Moonshine Blue CD (Crows Feet)

Hailed as ‘the new master of the slide guitar’ by the Montreux Jazz Festival, and ‘the real thang’ by the legendary Bootsy Collins, singer-songwriter, Jack Broadbent, returns after three years to deliver an upbeat and smooth slide guitar performance in his new single ‘Wishing Well’ [from his new album Moonshine Blue]. The song has a catchy hook, a hint of folk and blues, as well as a satisfying guitar solo. Growing up, Jack listened to a variety of different artists that influenced the way he produces and performs his music, including Radiohead, Robert Johnson, Joni Mitchell, and Davey Graham. Listening and learning from a wide range of artists helped him to create a unique style by mixing various genres which led him to develop his own. With a successful history of opening for acclaimed artists such as Lynyrd Skynyrd, Johnny Hallyday, Robben Ford, and Tony Joe White, Jack has headlined internationally and played at sold-out shows all over the world.” [Vinyl edition due February 21.]

The Clash – London Calling: The Scrapbook CD (Legacy/Sony)

When The Clash’s third studio album London Calling was released in the winter of 1979, it was clear that the band had made an instant classic, an era-defining masterpiece that stands as one of rock’s all-time greatest albums. It is a hugely compelling melting pot of musical styles, driven by a passion for action and a fierce desire for social justice, with lyrics which remain completely relevant. This limited edition 120-page, hardback scrapbook edition contains rarely seen content from the band’s personal archives, including handwritten lyrics, Ray Lowry drawings, fanzines, original press cuttings and band images. The Scrapbook has a special clear slip case printed with Ray Lowry’s artwork, which can be removed to reveal the Pennie Smith photo underneath.

Joe Henry – The Gospel According To Water CD (earMUSIC)

Songwriter/composer/producer Joe Henry is a hyperliterate storyteller, drawing an author’s eye for the overlooked detail across a broad swath of American musical styles – folk, rock, jazz and blues – and rendering genre modifiers useless. Working with an incredibly diverse range of musicians – from Elvis Costello to Ornette Coleman to Richie Havens – Henry has produced four Grammy-winning records: Don’t Give Up On Me (Solomon Burke), Genuine Negro Jig (Carolina Chocolate Drops), A Stranger Here (Ramblin’ Jack Elliott), and Slipstream (Bonnie Raitt). Henry shares his personal reflections on the origins of his new album, The Gospel According To Water: “The album was recorded over two days this past June, and fairly by accident, when I thought I was merely making demos of thirteen new songs ahead of forgetting them – all but two written between Valentine’s and Father’s Day; all having flowered from the black earth of recent experience – namely a cancer diagnosis late last fall that left me reeling – though, as well, set into motion many blessings and positive shifts in my life, as well as an unprecedented songwriting flurry.” [Vinyl edition due November 22.]

[Read more…] about New Releases for November 15, 2019