November Program Titles Released This Week:

Basement – Beside Myself CD/LP (Fueled By Ramen)

Beside Myself is not a concept record, but themes of the album do often relate to the inability of being comfortable in one’s skin. Being concerned about the future, troubled about the past, and how difficult it can be to exist in the moment. Co-produced with Colin Brittain and mixed by Rich Costey (At The Drive In, Muse, Biffy Clyro), Beside Myself marks Basement’s Fueled By Ramen/Warner Bros debut and follows their 2016 breakthrough, Promise Everything. Beside Myself finds Basement’s introspection unfolding over a collection of deeply-rich punk-charged alternative classics led by the likes of “Disconnect”, “Be Here Now” and “Stigmata”. [Limited translucent red colored vinyl pressing also available.]

Beyond Creation – Algorythm CD/2xLP (Season Of Mist)

Beyond Creation has established themselves as one of the worldwide leaders in modern technical death metal. On their long-awaited new album Algorythm, the Montreal quartet take yet another step forward. Incredibly intricate and subtle guitar and bass work weave through a fierce percussive onslaught in a dizzying display of mastery and instrumental interplay. Beyond Creation is at the apex of modern death metal, and Algorythm is a study in the forward motion of intelligent, progressive extremity. [Indie-exclusive deluxe LP also available.]

Blues Traveler – Hurry Up & Hand Around CD/LP (BMG)

Songs that last tell stories. Real magic happens when a cranked guitar chord, wailing harmonica, saucy beat, and soulful vocal conjure up a psychedelic scene, a warm family memory, or a romance-gone-wrong (or right, for that matter). Since 1987, Grammy Award-winning multi-platinum rock mavericks Blues Traveler – John Popper [vocals, harmonica], Chan Kinchla [guitar], Tad Kinchla [bass], Ben Wilson [keyboards], and Brendan Hill [drums] – have spun such tales. Moreover, they proudly continue this tradition on their thirteenth full-length album, Hurry Up & Hang Around. “It’s our truth,” Popper explains. “When you hear this, I hope the songs matter to you. I want to get into your heart. If you enjoy what we’re doing in any way, our mission is accomplished. We’re a family. You’re a part of that.”

The Bottle Rockets – Bit Logic CD/LP (Bloodshot)

Formed nearly 30 years ago, The Bottle Rockets helped forge a now popular subgenre-small-town, middle-class, Midwest American roots rock-part right-to-the-gut poetry, part rock ‘n’ roll, all truth. Bit Logic is a different sort of album for the St. Louis natives and shows them at their most self-aware, self-challenging, and socially alert. Recorded in St. Louis at Sawhorse Studios, engineered by Mario Viele and produced by longtime studio collaborator Eric “Roscoe” Ambel (The Del-Lords, Steve Earle), The Bottle Rockets’ 13^th album has them looking at their unique stylistic blend through a different lens. While one of the group’s earmarks is constructing blue-collar anthems, Bit Logic has the quartet focusing outside themselves, at how change and adaptation affects the bigger picture.

[Read more…] about New Releases for October 12, 2018

October Program Titles Released This Week:

Castlecomer – Castlecomer CD/LP (Concord)

Castlecomer’s self-titled debut is equal parts rock and roll abandon and meticulous pop craftsmanship. Chock full of contagious, arena-ready anthems, the album conjures up its own escapist world of young love and big dreams, all fueled by explosive guitars and hypnotizing grooves. Lead single “All Of The Noise” shimmers as it barrels forward, mixing thoughtful beauty with raw power, while “Move” pairs lead vocalist Bede Kennedy’s silky-smooth vocals with a disco-tinged arrangement that’s pure 1970’s joy. Castlecomer also offers the band a chance to show off the versatility that marks their exhilarating live shows, where punk snarl (“She Knows”) and stripped-back tenderness (“Leaving”) meet undeniable dancefloor jams (“Make Love Make Music”, “If I Could Be Like You”).

Cat Power – Wanderer CD/LP (Domino)

There are few voices more deeply embedded in the iconography and mythology of American indie rock than that of Chan Marshall. Under the musical nom de plume of Cat Power, Marshall has released music for nearly 25 years now and her prowess as a songwriter, a producer, and most notably – as a voice – has only grown more influential with time. Wanderer, Cat Power’s stunning tenth studio album, marks a pivotal moment in both Marshall’s life and her career. In the six years since the release of 2012’s Sun, she has traveled the world, given birth to a child, and parted ways with her previous record label. Even though it was, in many ways, a period of profound upheaval and radical change, those experiences resulted in a record that is arguably the most assured artistic statement of her career. Produced by Marshall and mixed by Rob Schnapf (Elliott Smith, Beck), the album includes appearances by longtime friends and compatriots, as well as guest vocals courtesy of recent tourmate Lana Del Rey. [Limited indie-exclusive clear vinyl pressing also available.]

Eric Church – Desperate Man CD/LP (EMI Nashville)

Country superstar Eric Church introduces his sixth studio album Desperate Man with the single of the same name. The upbeat track, flavored with Church’s usual rock influences, keyboard detail and a singalong motif, was produced by Jay Joyce and written by the singer with fellow artist and Texan music mainstay Ray Wylie Hubbard. Never satisfied with the status quo, Church constantly challenges himself as an artist and that’s certainly the case here. Desperate Man follows-up on the great success and acclaim of 2015’s Mr. Misunderstood, which won the CMA Award for Album of the Year and was certified platinum by the RIAA. “I look forward to seeing you on the road,” Church says. “I’m very proud of this album.”

Echo & The Bunnymen – The Stars, The Oceans & The Moon CD/2xLP+MP3 (BMG)

The Stars, The Oceans & The Moon sees Echo and the Bunnymen, still lead by the indomitable Ian McCulloch and Will Sergeant, revisit their peerless back catalog to reinterpret 13 of their most beloved songs with strings and things. Recorded at The Dog House Studios with co-producer Andy Wright, The Bunnymen hand-picked the selection of tracks for the album from their majestic, four-decade spanning archive. McCulloch said of the new versions: “I’m not doing this for anyone else. I’m doing it as it’s important to me to make the songs better. I have to do it.” The first track, “Seven Seas”, was originally a Top 20 hit in 1984, the third single from their fourth studio album Ocean Rain. A couple of brand new tracks – “The Somnambulist” and “How Far?” – also accompany the rearranged classics. [Limited indie-exclusive luminous vinyl pressing also available.]

[Read more…] about New Releases for October 5, 2018

October Program Titles Released This Week:

All Them Witches – ATW CD/LP (New West)

All Them Witches are a neo-psychedelic, dark blues quartet from Nashville. They unapologetically use the music of earlier eras to forge a loose, spacy, hard rock sound of their own. While it is easy to pick out influences — including Blue Cheer, Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, Mountain, Gris-Gris and Sun, Moon & Herbs-era Dr. John, and the electric Delta swamp blues of Junior Kimbrough — it is much more difficult to pin them down due to a unique meld of crafted songwriting and spacious grooves. “All Them Witches have never been afraid to take risks with their music and it’s seen them build their reputation with each album they’ve released so far. Their fifth album, ATW, sees the band opt for a sixties sounding psychedelic rock sound compared to the heavier blues/stoner rock sound of the last couple albums.” – Outlaws Of The Sun [Limited colored vinyl pressing also available.]

Gouge Away – Burnt Sugar CD/LP (Deathwish Inc.)

“The Florida hardcore band Gouge Away released their debut album, Dies, two years ago, and they’ve been tearing up the DIY underground ever since. Last year, the released a very good 7” single. And this year, they’re making the big leap. The band has signed with Deathwish, Inc., the label run by Converge frontman Jacob Bannon. (If there’s a label operating today that’s worthy of your loyalty, it’s that one.) And now they release their new album, Burnt Sugar. Touché Amoré frontman Jeremy Bolm produced the new album, and Deafheaven collaborator Jack Shirley mixed and mastered it. First single and opening track ‘Only Friend’ is a pretty great summation of what this band does well. It’s an all-out assault, less than two minutes in length. And yet it finds space for nuance and dynamic shifting. The sound fuses the battering-ram fury of today’s hardcore underground with the skronky heaviness of ’90s noise-rock. It promises great things.” – Stereogum [Limited edition transparent green colored vinyl pressing also available.]

Lala Lala – The Lamb CD/LP/Cassette (Hardly Art)

“While grieving the death of a friend, recovering from a home invasion, and starting to become sober, the Chicago singer-songwriter Lillie West was also writing her sophomore album, The Lamb, with her rock band Lala Lala. Its lead single, ‘Destroyer’ plunges into West’s emotional chaos, dealing with the misleading perception that gut feelings will always lead one to an ideal resolution. “Destroyer” begins with a grumbling lo-fi guitar, its brooding emphasized with jabs from a toy piano that echo in the background. West’s voice begins low and weighed down; the lyrics evoke paranoia and confusion as they offer images of violence and black holes. From first verse, West wants to prohibit herself from making more mistakes. ‘If I’m using my hands/Can you cut them off?’ she sings. During the chorus, West’s throaty voice climbs higher and higher, keeping pace with a dizzying guitar melody like a frenzied cuckoo clock. ‘You are the reason my heart broke behind my back,’ she shouts, before a sense of calm descends and guitar reverb fades out the song. In that way, Lala Lala’s music is like watching an open wound being stitched up—jarring and healing.” — Pitchfork

Lynyrd Skynyrd– Live In Atlantic City CD/2xLP (earMUSIC)

There is no other true American rock band quite like massively influential Rock & Roll Hall of Famers Lynyrd Skynyrd. Live In Atlantic City, the band’s brand new live release captured at Decades Rock Arena, pays tribute to and celebrates the group’s legacy with the help of three diverse artists: 3 Doors Down, Hank Williams Jr. and Bo Bice. Newly mixed and mastered, each guest artist performs one of their respective hits alongside Lynyrd Skynyrd to go with classics from the band and the thrilling show peaks in performances of the Skynyrd warhorses “Call Me The Breeze” and “Sweet Home Alabama” in one big jam session from all involved. [Stand-alone DVD and Blu-ray editions are also available.]

[Read more…] about New Releases for September 28, 2018