What's New 10-27-23
“The 1989 album changed my life in countless ways, and it fills me with such excitement to announce that my version of it will be out October 27th. To be perfectly honest, this is my most FAVORITE re-record I’ve ever done because the 5 From The Vault tracks are so insane. I can’t believe they were ever left behind. But not for long!” – T. Swift
Southall sparks and burns with 11 crank-it-up songs that expertly combine country, rock & roll, dust and grit. Southall manifests the true band album that singer Read Southall first envisioned, a bands album that roars with raw and loud collaborative power with glimpses of hard rock and metal, along with easygoing back-porch vibes.
For over two decades, Taking Back Sunday has brought mature songcraft and pop sensibilities to punk’s rigid conformity, expanding the genre’s contours while carrying the band to new heights. They still bring the sing along choruses on 152, but there is a deeper mix between those anthemic room-fillers and more introspective numbers. A pop-punk masterclass.
The singer-songwriter and pianists’ landmark 1998 album Spirit Trail turns 25 this year. In September, Bruce Hornsby & The Noisemakers will launch a fall tour honoring the occasion with a 25th Anniversary Edition boxed set that includes the remastered album, four unreleased tracks and ten live songs.
In the tradition of their seminal sophomore album The ’59 Sound, The Gaslight Anthem’s sixth full-length—and first new music in over nine years—ultimately achieves the tremendous feat of hitting every raw nerve while endlessly inspiring wildly triumphant punk sing-alongs. It’s the rare gift for finding glory in the inescapable pain of being alive.
Always receptive to singers who can elevate his emotive guitar touch, Trower heard a quality in the smoky power of the acclaimed Sari Schorr that made him want to tear down and rebuild his song craft around her. “I went more down the R&B route this time,” says Trower. “But the blues still underpins everything I do.”
You can feel that heat off the Sunset Strip and see that hair in the wind as Dokken bring their timeless convertible Ferrari rock 'n' roll power to the table with Heaven Comes Down, an unapologetic celebration of everything the LA band has been doing best for over four decades: rock, ballads, rock and more rock.
On their sophomore album, Black Pumas broaden their palette to include a dazzling expanse of musical forms: heavenly hybrids of soul and symphonic pop, mind-bending excursions into jazz-funk and psychedelia, starry-eyed love songs that feel dropped from the cosmos. It’s the fullest expression yet of a frenetic creativity and limitless vision.
Four years on from Our Pathetic Age the maestro DJ Shadow (aka Joshua Davis) slams right back onto the scene with his (would you believe) 7th album which spans a career of massive innovation that kickstarted the trip hop scene. A great comeback from a great talent who’s been in hibernation waiting to release a monstrous set of pure brilliance.
Hearing a killer rock 'n' roll tune is a visceral sensation, like an electric jolt to the soul, and it's this exact sentiment that The Defiant (feat. members of Offspring and Mighty Mighty Bosstones) is tapping into. With their unrivaled blend of clever, quick-witted lyrics and punk rock mastery, this band is on a mission to reignite the fires of musical camaraderie.
The English-American blues-garage duo don’t offer answers about life’s spiritual mysteries here. Nor do they even seek them. Singer Alison Mosshart and guitarist Jamie Hince instead offer primal call-and-response between full body blues-soul vocal catharsis and swaggering, guillotine-smooth guitar transmissions.
Featuring an all-star eclectic ensemble of like-minded musicians, The Third Mind’s second album reflects the members’ varied musical histories with a “no safety parachute” recording approach using free-form studio techniques, no rehearsals, no preconceived arrangements, and recording spontaneous group improvisations live in studio.
Inspired by jazz greats and classical masters while possessing a 21st-century point of view, Bewitched represents an expansion of Laufey’s sonic palette. Breezy bossa nova cuts and smoldering string-assisted ballads feel instantly timeless, while Laufey’s conversational lyrics give her music a relatability to the next generation.
Following up one of their most acclaimed releases was never going to be easy. But OMD’s 14th album holds up among the finest work of their 45-year career as they continue to draw from early electronic music and alternately disregard, mutate or embrace the conventions of the three-minute pop song.
From slow-burning funk to upbeat and grooves, each track on the haunting and mystical Black Bayou showcases Finley's exceptional tone and vocal versatility. Produced by Dan Auerbach, every note on this album is a testament to Finley's musical prowess and his unwavering commitment to soul, R&B, and the blues.
A thunderous testament to modern thrash metal, Aftermath’s relentless energy is anchored by precise guitar riffs and aggressive drumming, while lyrically confronting socio-political themes with razor-sharp intensity. It’s not just a headbanger's delight but also a thoughtful commentary on contemporary issues.
Spine is a tour-de-force, amalgamating some of the most exciting, innovative, and genre-defying moments from Myrkur's catalog into something that is haunting, extreme, and brilliant as ever. Spine lays Myrkur bare, at her most raw and unwavering, and is undoubtedly one of the year's most ambitious and cinematic albums.
A powerful, expansive body of work, replete with an irrepressible dose of joy, My Big Day also finds the band open for a collaborative experience, inviting the likes of Damon Albarn, Nilüfer Yanya and Holly Humberstone who all feature. It’s an album that means business, sculpted by one of Britain’s best guitar bands.
Newly remastered version for the 10th anniversary of Chvrches’ critically-acclaimed debut. The album spawned seven singles including their massive alternate hit "The Mother We Share”. The 2LP/2CD version features previously unreleased songs, four from the album session, along with five live songs recorded at Ancienne Belgique.
Girl group vocal pop has evolved across many generations, without always getting its due as a legitimate musical tradition. As a sophisticated girl group rising out of the Nashville music-making community, The Shindellas are positioned to defy all these perceptions and more with their sunny disco-inspired production and silky smooth harmonies.
Danny Davis knows the galvanizing power of an anthemic, hair-raising song. As Husbands, he’s been meticulously crafting breezy and emotionally potent tunes about finding your place in the world. His writing always strives to break free from monotony and routine, aiming for meaning and clarity through massive choruses and colorful arrangements.
Rather than collecting castoffs and second-tier cuts, Formentera II improves upon its predecessor with a nonstop series of perfectly worked pop, rock and disco. With fluid and engaging music, Metric moves through a series of suggestive and empathetic moments that make this an album worth listening to often.
A mesmerizing journey through the avenues of raw emotion and storytelling, Traffic Fiction paints vivid pictures of life's complexities. Burt's raspy vocals draw listeners in, revealing layers of lyrical depth and experimental reach. Each track feels like a story whispered on a late-night drive. A testament to modern Americana, it’s introspection on the move.