Bad Religion – Age Of Unreason LP (Epitaph)
Vinyl edition now available. Since Bad Religion’s formative years, the acclaimed Los Angeles, CA punk rock band has steadfastly advocated for humanism, reason, and individualism. Now, when these values are in decline and nationalism and bigotry are on the rise, the group’s message has never been more essential. The songs on Age Of Unreason are both furious and meticulously crafted. There are references to contemporary events; racist rallies, Trump’s election, the erosion of the middle class, Colin Kaepernick’s protest, alternative facts, conspiracy theories, as well as homages to the literary and philosophical works that have long inspired the band. This record is both a dire warning and testament to resilience. The overall message being – seek truth about the world and oneself.

Bastille – Doom Days CD/LP (Virgin)
London outfit Bastille’s third full-length album Doom Days sees the Grammy nominated and BRIT-winning four-piece stretch out into new territories and marks something of a shift in perception from its widely acclaimed predecessor Wild World, which confronted the world and the actions of those in power. Doom Days captures the need to temporarily switch off and escape whilst taking the listener on a big night out in search of distraction from the surrounding apocalypse.

Calexico/Iron & Wine – Years To Burn CD/LP+MP3 (Sub Pop)
Calexico and Iron & Wine first made an artistic connection with In the Reins, the 2005 EP that brought Sam Beam, Joey Burns and John Convertino together. The acclaimed collaboration introduced both acts to wider audiences and broadened Beam’s artistic horizons, but it was the shared experience of touring together in the tradition of Bob Dylan’s “Rolling Thunder Revue” that cemented the bond. Their metaphorical roads diverged in the years that followed, but they kept in touch and cross-pollinated where they could. Although they often talked about rekindling their collaboration in the studio and on stage, it wasn’t until 2018 that their schedules finally aligned. While Beam wrote all the songs for In the Reins, this recording features contributions from both Beam and Burns. While the two may have taken differing approaches to songwriting, the spirit of collaboration was alive and well in the studio; Sam shared demos ahead of time and was ready for the others to contribute with arrangement ideas and instrumental parts, while Joey spontaneous as ever, came in with concepts and an eagerness to improvise.

Lukas Nelson & Promise Of The Real – Turn Off The News (Build A Garden) CD/2xLP (Concord)
Straddling rock and roll, country, soul, folk and R&B, Lukas Nelson & Promise Of The Real reach a new high-water mark on Turn Off The News (Build A Garden). This is Lukas Nelson at his best: as a songwriter, a singer, a guitarist and band leader – an artist at the peak of his powers, backed by Promise Of The Real, his nimble and dexterous brothers-in-arms, one of the most talented, in-demand rock and roll ensembles working today. Vocal and instrumental contributions on the album include Margo Price, Sheryl Crow, Willie Nelson, Micah Nelson, Kesha, Shooter Jennings, Randy Houser, Lucius, Madison Ryann Ward, Hunter Elizabeth, and Neil Young. Whether it’s the sweeping, Roy Orbison-influenced production of “Where Does Love Go”, nodding to the Traveling Wilburys on the irresistible “Bad Case”, the cosmic country vibes of “Stars Made Of You”, the ‘60s infused sweet R&B of “Save A Little Heartache”, or the unmistakable Willie Nelson guitar licks that grace the poignant “Mystery”, it all comes together in the most mature and absorbing work of the band’s burgeoning career.

The Chris Robinson Brotherhood – Servants Of The Sun CD/LP (Silver Arrow)
The Chris Robinson Brotherhood’s brand new album, Servants Of The Sun, bursts into the clear blue air with the funky upper atmosphere bubbling of vintage keyboards and driving rhythm. A gateway swings wide open to a universe that the band has been tirelessly constructing for eight years through extraordinary musicianship, endless touring and a roving, seemingly bottomless wizard’s chest of sonic magic. The CRB’s eighth studio effort since forming in 2008 – spread out over six full-length albums and two EPs – sets aside the studio explorations of their more recent work and turns inward to the heart of the band’s universe. Of the origin concept, singer, guitarist and bandleader Chris Robinson explains, “I let my head go to a Saturday night at The Fillmore, and said, what’s the best set we could play?” Indeed, following that guiding principle the CRB bottled their pure essence, the distillation of their journey so far, and in many ways come full circle in delivering their most direct, bare bones, rock ‘n’ roll record since debut companion albums, Big Moon Ritual and The Magic Door.

Julia Shapiro – Perfect Version CD/LP (Hardly Art)
When Julia Shapiro flew home from a cancelled Chastity Belt tour in April 2018, everything in her life felt out of control. Dealing with health issues, freshly out of a relationship, and in the middle of an existential crisis, she realized halfway through a tour supporting her band’s third album I Used To Spend So Much Time Alone that she was going through too much to continue. “I was really struggling; I was really depressed. I felt like I couldn’t sing or be a person,” Shapiro recalls. “At that point I couldn’t even imagine playing a show again, I was so over it.” Returning home to a newly empty Seattle one-bedroom apartment, Shapiro had wanted for a long time to learn how to record and mix her own music, and out of the uncertainty of the future of her music career and her health, she began to record the songs that would become Perfect Version. What she created in the space of ten songs is an intimate and beautifully self-aware examination of feeling lost in the life you’ve created for yourself. It’s an album of shimmering guitars and layered vocals that feels vast in the emotional depth it conveys and masterful in the way each song is intentionally crafted and recorded.

Chris Shiflett – Hard Lessons CD/LP (East Beach)
Raised alongside the California coastline in Santa Barbara, Chris Shiflett kicked off his career in seminal pop-punk groups like No Use For A Name and Me First And The Gimme Gimmes. As the ’90s gave way to the 2000s, he joined the Foo Fighters’ lineup. He’s since become one of the band’s longest-running members, flying the flag of modern rock & roll for two decades. Hard Lessons follows West Coast Town as the second solo record to bear his name alone, and it’s perhaps the most Shiflett-sounding album in his entire catalog, with songs that nod to the classic Bakersfield sound one minute and Keith Richards’ greasy guitar style the next. It is Shiflett’s most vital album to date – a record that blurs the boundaries between country and rock & roll, shining a light once again not only on his guitar work, but his fiery abilities as a frontman and songwriter, as well.

Bruce Springsteen – Western Stars CD/2xLP (Columbia)
Bruce Springsteen’s first new studio album in five years takes his music to a new place, drawing inspiration in part from the Southern California pop records of the late ‘60s and early ‘70s. It was recorded primarily at Springsteen’s home studio in New Jersey, with additional recording in California and New York. “This record is a return to my solo recordings featuring character driven songs and sweeping, cinematic orchestral arrangements,” says Springsteen. “It’s a jewel box of a record.” Introduced by lead single “Hello Sunshine”, the 13 tracks of Western Stars encompass a sweeping range of American themes, of highways and desert spaces, of isolation and community and the permanence of home and hope. Ron Aniello co-produced and plays bass, keyboard, and other instruments. Patti Scialfa provides vocals and contributes vocal arrangements on four tracks. The musical arrangements include strings, horns, pedal steel and contributions from more than 20 other players including Jon Brion (celeste, Moog, farfisa), as well as guest appearances by David Sancious, Charlie Giordano, and Soozie Tyrell.

Baroness – Gold & Grey CD/2xLP (Abraxan Hymns)
Gold & Grey is the fifth studio album release from the Grammy-nominated, Philadelphia-based metal band. As with previous releases, the album’s artwork was designed by frontman and lead singer John Dyer Baizley. It is the band’s first to feature new guitarist Gina Gleason and was mastered by frequent Flaming Lips collaborator Dave Fridmann.

Buzzcocks – A Different Kind Of Tension [Reissue/1979] CD/LP (Domino)
Buzzcocks – Singles Going Steady [Reissue/1979] CD/LP (Domino)
40th anniversary reissues of Buzzcock’s final album and definitive singles collection.

Bill Callahan – Shepherd In A Sheepskin Vest CD/LP/Cassette (Drag City)
The sense of a life thunderstruck by change infuses Shepherd In a Sheepskin Vest – the songs wander from expressions of newfound joy and great contentment to other snapshots, considerations of the not-joy that we all know. Unsettling dream-images and mythic recollections are patiently received; the undertow of the past is resisted, pulling against it instead into the present, accepting revolutions of time and the unconscious as a natural flow.

Crumb – Jinx CD/LP (Crumb)
Crumb is the collaboration of Brooklyn-based musicians Lila Ramani (guitar, vocals), Brian Aronow (synth, keys, sax), Jesse Brotter (bass), and Jonathan Gilad (drums). Following a few EPs, their debut LP Jinx is the best example of their singular blend of hypnotic psych-rock and jazz to date.

Dressy Bessy – Fast Faster Disaster CD/LP (Yep Roc)
20 years after their first release, Dressy Bessy returns with Fast Faster Disaster. Lyrically and sonically, the band remains true to their sound with catchy indie pop/punk hooks and sharp lyrics wrought with intense joy and deep sadness.

Madonna – Madame X CD/2xLP (Interscope)
Madonna’s fourteenth studio album is based on her musical experience in her new hometown of Lisbon, Portugal, which she referred to be a melting pot of culture musically, from Angola to Guinea-Bissau to Spain to Brazil to France to Cape Verde.

Mndsgn – Snaxx CD/LP (Stones Throw)
Album cycles come around about once every two years, but Mndsgn, aka Ringgo Ancheta, is constantly making music. He wanted to do justice to his prolific creativity, so rather than let unreleased tracks wither and die on his hard drive, he decided to put out two records ahead of his next studio album, and the concept of Snax was born. Snax (one ‘x’) was a tape of remixes, self-released in 2018. Snaxx (2 ‘x’s) follows with beat-heavy production including favorites from his hybrid live/DJ shows.

Keb’ Mo’ – Oklahoma CD (Concord)
Fresh off the Grammy-Award winning album TajMo, his collaboration with Taj Mahal, prolific blues musician Keb’ Mo’ returns his first solo record in five years. Sonically timeless but lyrically relevant, Oklahoma solidifies Keb’ as a modern master of American roots music, a reputation he has held and expanded on throughout his 25+ year career.

Mono – Hymn To The Immortal Wind (Anniversary Edition) [Reissue/1999] CD/2xLP+MP3 (Temporary Residence)
Beautifully remastered from the original analog master tapes by Bob Weston at Chicago Mastering Service. The CD format has been repackaged in a gorgeous full-color gatefold jacket with metallic gold inks, matte varnish, and custom inner sleeve. The double-LP vinyl format is packaged in a full-color, custom die-cut jacket with metallic gold foil stamping, matte varnish, and seven interchangeable full-color cover inserts.

Shellac – The End Of Radio: 14 July 1994 Peel Session CD/2xLP (Touch & Go)
The End Of Radio is comprised of two previously unreleased BBC Radio Peel Sessions recorded 10 years apart – 1994 and 2004.

Hank Williams – The Complete Health & Happiness Recordings 2xCD/2xLP (BMG)
If you have a hankering for Hank and haven’t received your fill of music from the Hillbilly Shakespeare over the years, you’re in luck. Audio freshly transferred, restored & mastered from the original 16” transcription discs.

James Blake – Assume Form 2xLP (Republic)
Released last January on CD – now available on vinyl. New album from renowned English artist/producer with guests including Andre 3000 (Outkast), Travis Scott, Moses Sumney and others.

Duster – Stratosphere [Reissue/1998] LP (Numero)
Duster – Contemporary Movement [Reissue/2000] LP (Numero)
Best listened to from inside the womb, Duster’s 1998 debut Stratosphere simultaneously capped off and reinvented the slow core’s first wave. A four-track dreamscape that will wake the neighbors and then lull them back to sleep. Hazy, arpeggiated guitars layer over a deliberate drummer with no real place to be, as semi-inaudible vocals warn of millennial malaise and subtly encourage the listener to rock out, rock out, rock out, rock out. Follow-up Contemporary Movement is a 39-minute drift into the void drenched in Cold War-era reverb and then submerged in four track hiss for good measure.

Brian Eno – Discreet Music [Reissue/1975] 2xLP (Astralwerks)
Brian Eno – Music For Films [Reissue/1975] 2xLP (Astralwerks)
Brian Eno – Ambient 1: Music For Airports [Reissue/1978] 2xLP (Astralwerks)
Brian Eno – Ambient 4: On Land [Reissue/1982] 2xLP (Astralwerks)
180gm half-speed Abbey Road Studios remastered vinyl reissues of Brian Eno’s first four solo ambient albums.

Joy Division – Unknown Pleasures [Reissue/1979] LP (WB)
Limited 180gm ruby red 40th anniversary colored vinyl pressing with an alternative white sleeve. Joy Division rapidly evolved from their initial punk rock influences to develop a sound and style that made them one of the pioneers of the post-punk movement of the late 1970s.

David Rawlings Machine – Nashville Obsolete [Reissue/2015] LP (Acony)
Dave Rawlings Machine’s 2015 folk roots tour de force Nashville Obsolete is available for the first time on vinyl. Recorded on analog tape at Woodland Studios in Nashville, Tennessee, DRM’s stark and stunning second album features seven classic David Rawlings and Gillian Welch compositions.

Sadgirl – Water LP (Suicide Squeeze)
With their new album Water, Los Angeles trio Sadgirl taps into the romantic and nostalgic spirit of their native city while exuding a time-tested authenticity suggesting they’ve had a peek behind the curtain of the glitzy boulevards and relentless sunshine. It’s a collection of breezy pop songs captured with the timbre of old-time recording techniques.

NEXT WEEK’S NEW RELEASES
HOT CHIP – Bath Full Of Ecstasy CD/LP
RACONTEURS – Help Us Stranger CD/LP
FRUIT BATS – Gold Past Life CD/LP
TITUS ANDRONICUS – An Obelist CD/LP
TWO DOOR CINEMA CLUB – False Alarm CD/LP
MORT GARSON – Mother Earth’s Plantasia CD/LP
BAD BOOKS – III CD/LP
PRINCE – Originals CD
WILLIE NELSON – Ride Me Back Home CD
HOLY GHOST – Work CD/LP
BUDDY MILLER/JULIE MILLER – Breakdown On 20th Ave CD/LP
INNOCENCE MISSION – Befriend LP
OCEAN BLUE – Kings and Queens / Knives and Thieves CD/LP
THEE OH SEES – Graver Blockers CD/LP