New Release Announcements: Week of 12/04

 New Release Announcements   Comments
Dec 072012
 

Simply a hideous album cover, however.

Ke$ha, Warrior - The polarizing electro-popper has a chip on her shoulder in her second album. She’s pushing her sound in new directions and bolstering her dance genre credentials. A few exciting guest spots – including a couple members from The Strokes – also pop up. Unexpectedly, critics are saying her music has taken a huge step up in quality.

Memory Tapes, Grace/Confusion – Dayve Hawk’s chillwave group thrusts itself back into the limelight  with an epic, melody-obsessed opus. A must-get for fans of the genre.

Smashing Pumpkins, Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness: Deluxe Edition- The landmark alt rock album by one of the 90′s best groups gets a ridiculously exhaustive deluxe reissue. While it’s $125 price tag may put it beyond the reach of all but the most die-hard fans, it’s an ample opportunity to re-listen to one of the few records from Generation X that managed such epic ambitions. And that guitar solo on “Here Is No Why” never gets old.

New Release Announcements June 19th

 New Release Announcements   Comments
Jun 212012
 

Fiona Apple, The Idler Wheel Is Wiser Than The Driver Of The Screw And Whipping Cords Will Serve You More Than Ropes Will Ever Do - The pained, dramatic singer-songwriter (who’s coming to Austin on September 20th!) returns with her first album in seven years. It’s a private, primal affair.


MC Yogi & The Sacred Sound Society, Pilgrimage – Hip-Hop, Reggae, World Beat, Electronica and dance music fuse under the guise of MC Yogi & The Sacred Society, a South Indian outfit that is currently #1 on the iTunes World Music Charts with this record.

Smashing Pumpkins, Oceania – After Teargarden By Kaleidyscope failed to make much of a splash, Billy Corgan must’ve decided to have a proper follow-up to the re-formed Pumpkins’ intermittently enjoyable comeback album Zeitgeist. Word says that it captures what made the Pumpkins special two decades ago better than anything in years.

Rush, Clockwork Angels - Progressive rock’s long-running, beloved trio does another science fiction concept album that ranks with some of their best work.

New Release Announcements 05/08

 New Release Announcements   Comments
May 082012
 

Damon Albarn, Dr Dee – The phenomenally talented Blur and Gorillaz frontman has already given the world a massive wealth of great music, but Albarn keeps exploring and experimenting. This album is an opera based around the story of 16th-century alchemist John Dee. Sounds about right.

Here We Go Magic, A Different Ship – This Brooklyn indie quintet pulled quite a coup in their producer selection for their third album – Nigel Godrich, famed producer of Radiohead. The result is Here We Go Magic’s most consciously crafted studio experience; it’s a far cry from their jumbled live shows.

OFF!, OFF! - Keith Morris’ punk supergroup gears up the enthusiasm and youthful abandon on their second, somewhat-unexpected release. Apparently Morris spends a good chunk at the album calling out his former bandmates in Black Flag and Circle Jerks.

Silversun Pickups, Neck of the Woods – The fuzzy-retro, guitar-painted L.A. quartet returns with one of its grittiest, darkest releases. Seeing as the band has consistently been criticized as Smashing Pumpkins/My Bloody Valentine sound-alikes, that’s a good thing.