New Releases for March 3-4, 2014
CDs:
American Authors – Oh What A Life CD (Island)
American Authors bring their own influences and experiences to the table, creating pop-flavored alt rock sprinkled with four-part harmonies, spirited lyrics, and contagious optimism.
Bill Anderson – Life CD (Red River Entertainment)
New album from the country music legend, featuring guest appearances by Willie Nelson, John Anderson, Vince Gill, Joey + Rory, and Dailey & Vincent.
Arthur Beatrice – Working Out CD/LP (Harvest)
New album from the London band ironically named after the star of The Golden Girls. Their debut single, “Midland,” drew comparisons to the xx, Warpaint, and the Sundays and the band went on to feature in the The Guardian’s ‘Bands To Watch’ column.
Ashanti – Braveheart CD (E1)
Fifth studio album from the Grammy- winning R&B star.
Ava Luna – Electric Balloon CD/LP (Western Vinyl)
After years of writing and performing, Ava Luna has refined their doo-wop soul meets punk-as-f##k aesthetic into something bold and glaringly defiant in today’s indie music landscape.
Axxa/Abraxas – Axxa/Abraxas CD/LP (Captured Tracks)
Axxa/Abraxas is the music and art project of Ben Asbury, a 23 year old from outside Atlanta, GA. His experiences as a record collector and music obsessive from a very young age are easily evident in his debut release. Going full circle from being introduced to ‘60s pop as a kid, through his foray into punk rock at an early age, into post-rock and Elephant Six indie, right back into ‘60s psychedelia, Ben has honed his influences (Neil Young, Television Personalities), into a cohesive blend to adapt his own take on psych-influenced art-pop.
John Baizley/Nate Hall/Mike Scheidt – Songs Of Townes Van Zandt Vol. 2 CD (Neurot)
Neurot Recordings presents the second installment of praise to the great artist and his brokenhearted love songs and gloom-ridden tales, which now emerge through John Baizley (Baroness), Nate Hall (U.S. Christmas) and Mike Scheidt (YOB, VHÖL), in this beautifully dark tribute.
Bear’s Den – Without/Within CD/LP (Communion)
Of the new music Andrew Davie (vocals, guitar) notes: ‘‘the songs were in many ways our most personal yet and also our most ambitious sonically. Joey’s playing is particularly beautiful to me and his guitar and banjo melodies carry the songs so perfectly at times. Kev was experimenting more with synth bass and piano on top of drums before anyone else even picked anything up. I was experimenting for the first time in my life really on electric guitar and with delayed and reversed guitar loops. We all had our own responsibilities within this record and we all had complete belief and trust in each other. We wanted to push ourselves so that we could grow into the songs on the road and hopefully push ourselves to become a better live band because of it.”
Blutengle – Black Symphonies CD/CD+DVD (Out Of Line Music)
An exquisite selection of Blutengel hits and classics, reinterpreted in symphonic form. Available in Regular and Deluxe editions. Deluxe adds a bonus live DVD containing the best moments from the Gothic-Meets-Klassik-show in Leipzig and as a strictly limited fan box.
Kris Bowers – Heroes And Misfits CD (Concord Jazz)
24-year-old Kris Bowers, winner of the 2011 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Piano Competition, releases his debut Concord jazz recording.
Carla Bozulich – Boy CD/LP+MP3 (Constellation)
Carla Bozulich, an art-punk heroine with almost three decades of exceptional, iconoclastic musical activity under her belt, presents the third record of her storied career to be issued in her own name. Boy is Carla’s self-proclaimed pop record and is a refreshing and much-needed reminder of what pop can mean in the hands of a ferociously commanding singer/lyricist who has cut her teeth on genre-bending, genre blending, and DIY production for 25 years. It is unmistakably a pop-influenced album by way of punk, avant rock and lo/mid-fi.
Stanley Brinks – Gin CD/LP+MP3 (Fika Recordings)
New release from the singer/songwriter formerly known as Andre Herman Dune. On Gin, Brinks is joined by UK trio The Wave Pictures for their third album together.
Gary Burton – Seven Songs For Quartet & Chamber Orchestra [Reissue/1973] CD/LP (ECM)
Sounding as fresh today as it did in 1973, Seven Songs places the Gary Burton Quartet in an orchestral context, with compositions of Michael Gibbs inspired by Messiaen and Charles Ives as well as Miles and Gil Evans and exceptional soloing by Mick Goodrick, Steve Swallow and Burton himself. The production is exemplary: Seven Songs set a new standard for recordings of orchestral jazz.
