New Releases and Staff Picks 6/23/17
STAFF PICKS
Kimber – Jeff Tweedy
Lindsay – Deslondes, King Gizzard & the Wizard Lizard
Dario – The Monks
Brittany- Algiers, King Gizzard & the Wizard Lizard, The Monks
THIS WEEK’S NEW RELEASES
Algiers are a politically conscious indie rock trio who combine elements of post-punk and no wave with blues, gospel, and even early industrial music. They are based in New York City and London, England.
The Birmingham/Nashville-based group’s second full-length has one foot firmly planted in reality as the other tip-toes in and out of mental complexities, self-perception and altered-state illusions. The results are revealing, exhilarating and profound. With the rugged power of a flashy Super Chief locomotive, the Banditos’s bodaciously appropriate elements of ’60s blues-fused acid rock, ZZ Top’s jangly boogie, garage punk scuzz a la Burger Records, the Drive-By Truckers’ yawp, the populist choogle of CCR, Slim Harpo’s hip shake baby groove, gut bucket Fat Possum hill country mojo and the Georgia Satellites. From backwoods bluegrass, to slinky nods to Muscle Shoals soul and unexpected bits of doo-wop sweetness, the Banditos recall many, but sound like no one.
New album from the duo of Krayzie Bone and Bizzy Bone with guest contributions from Tank, Jazze Pha, Yelawolf, Uncle Murda, Rico Love and more.
Circle continue to boldly explore sonic soundscapes, venturing curiously into terrains of Stooges-esque swagger, trance-inducing kraut rock mantras, beautiful electronic ambience, psychedelic rock noodling, arena storming AOR weirdness, ’70s prog rock extravagance, glam pop pomp, and of course their core sound, heavy metal.
The Deslondes is a five-piece band from New Orleans. In the time between the release of their self-titled debut and new sophomore album, Hurry Home, The Deslondes have toured the world and drawn critical acclaim for their studied and inventive take on New Orleans country and R&B. Hurry Home represents a sonic shift from the country-folk of their debut to a sometimes-psychedelic, electrified gospel-soul sound, with a stronger emphasis on organ and electric guitar. The band split up songwriting and lead vocal duties among its five members, continuing its democratic ethos and musical versatility. The sound may continue to draw comparisons to the country-funkiness of The Band, but The Deslondes were equally inspired by the sound of early Sun Records, the punchy rock and roll of VU-era Velvet Underground and the experimental pop of Joe Meek. Perhaps most importantly, Hurry Home is the sound of a band that understands the history of American music, but is deftly finding their own contemporary approach.
Debut album from the instrumental, post-everything quartet led by renowned saxophonist Colin Stetson and featuring the otherworldly drumming of Greg Fox.
Jessica Hernandez and The Deltas – Telephone CD/2xLP (Instant)
Detroit outfit Jessica Hernandez and The Deltas made their Instant Records debut with 2013’s Demons EP and 2014’s Secret Evil. Hernandez, a second-generation Cuban and Mexican-American, felt it her duty to further explore her own Hispanic heritage on The Deltas’ sophomore full-length recording Telephone. The result is an unprecedented work of duality and impossible-to-ignore relevance. Personal and provocative, Telephone is a milestone achievement for the band known for their soundclash of Goth pop, Latin rock, psychedelic surf, punk cabaret, dirty dancehall, and Hernandez’s vocal power. “Gold-flecked grooves of soul pop, jittery and shining with the same accessible vibes despite the varied language.” — Consequence Of Sound
Imagine Dragons – Evolve CD/LP (KIDinaKORNER)
The multi-platinum, Grammy Award-winning Las Vegas quartet returns with their vibrant third album. Billboard has already called lead single “Believer” ‘a whimsical-yet-authoritative anthem” while TIME backs up the claim calling it “another showstopper.”
King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard – Murder Of The Universe CD/LP (ATO)
Melbourne’s King Gizzard And The Lizard Wizard is a once-in-a-generation group playing a heady combination of psychedelia, prog rock, freakbeat, jazz, heavy metal and Krautrock at a breathless punk pace. A concept album to end all concepts, their new record Murder Of The Universe is a face-melting musical assault concerned with the downfall of man and the death of the planet. [Limited “vomit splatter” and “blood pool blue” color vinyl pressings also available.]
The Monks – Hamburg Recordings 1967 CD/LP (Third Man)
A collection of previously unreleased songs from the final months of this legendary group of
American GIs stationed in Germany, likely the last music left to be heard from The Monks.
Rozwell Kid – Precious Art CD/LP (SideOneDummy)
Fronted by the affable, spectacled Jordan Hudkins, Rozwell Kid write massive, gritty, excitable power-punk songs. [Limited purple color vinyl pressing also available.]
Vince Staples – Big Fish Theory CD (Def Jam)
Second album from the Long Beach-based rapper. “Vince Staples is calling America out on its bullsh*t. The Northside Long Beach, California rapper isn’t mincing words or pulling any punches on his new record, Big Fish Theory. He’s lashing out at the Feds, racial profiling, the one percent, pretty women who lie, and the trappings of fame – to name just a few of his lyrical targets – all delivered with Staples’ laid-back West Coast flow. And he’s not alone in his dissatisfied chorus of cultural resistance. Staples enlisted some big-name guest stars to help bring his second full-length studio album to life, including Kendrick Lamar, Damon Albarn, A$AP Rocky, Rick Ross, and Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon – though some contributions resonate louder than others. Vince naturally remains the centerpiece throughout the rapid-fire record, with the 12 spirited songs burning quickly over the course of the album’s scant 36 minutes. But on this record, it is clear that Staples is making his own assertive artistic statement for these turbulent times, while also firmly establishing himself as one of the brash, singular voices that is going to be leading the music world into the chaotic, unpredictable future.” – The Line Of Best Fit (Album Of The Week)
311 – Mosaic CD/2xLP+MP3 (BMG)
Multi-platinum genre jumping band 311 return with their twelfth studio album. Frontman Nick Hexum says that, “Mosaic is our most adventurous collection yet. Some of our highest energy jams ever. Funky grooves, dub riddims, party anthems, heartfelt sincerity, it’s all in there.” Drummer Chad Sexton adds, “Mosaic definitely takes some steps forward into more modern territory, but there are distinct reminders of where we come from in the songs. Something about blending an older 311 style with a newer 311 style is really exciting to us and I think it will be for the fans too.” Mosaic’s album cover is made up of nearly 10,000 photos submitted by fans.
Jeff Tweedy – Together At Last CD/LP (ANTI-)
Together At Last features the Wilco bandleader performing eleven of his own songs, culled from the Wilco catalog as well as from side-projects Loose Fur and Golden Smog, in a solo acoustic setting. [Limited yellow color vinyl pressing also available.]
UNKLE – The Road: Part I CD/2xCD/2xLP (Cooking Vinyl)
James Lavelle returns with UNKLE’s fifth studio album. The Road: Part I is a collective creative venture by musicians including London folk-rock artist and poet Keaton Henson, Primal Scream’s Andrew Innes, The Duke Spirit’s Liela Moss, long time UNKLE collaborator Mark Lanegan, and Mercury prize nominee ESKA. Lavelle also found new friends and collaborators in Queens Of The Stone Age drummer Jon Theodore and Beck drummer Justin Stanley, who make definitive contributions throughout the record. [CD is available in Regular and Deluxe editions. Deluxe adds a bonus instrumental CD.]
Neil Young – Decade [Reissue/1977] 2xCD/3xLP (Reprise)
Digitally remastered edition. 35 of Young’s songs recorded between 1966 and 1976.
Helmet – Meantime [Reissue/1992] LP (Interscope)
Having settled in after a bidding war sent the band to Interscope Records, Helmet didn’t waste any time hitting the studio with noise super producer Steve Albini to lay down their second effort – the tight, focused and unrelenting 1992 masterwork Meantime. Standard black and limited blue/red color vinyl reissues now available.
JJ Doom – Bookhead 1[Reissue/2014] 2” (Lex)
JJ Doom is the artist name for producer/vocalist Jneiro Jarel and British-born, mask-wearing maverick Doom (aka MF Doom). The nine track Bookhead EP features tracks from the expanded “Butter Edition” of the duo’s debut album Key To The Kuffs including Doom collaborations with Clams Casino, BBNG, Del The Funky Homosapien, Beck, and Thom Yorke & Johnny Greenwood. Originally released in 2014 as a limited picture disc, now available on 180gm black vinyl.
NEXT WEEK’S NEW RELEASES