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