New Release Round-Up 10-29-21
Tori Amos - Ocean To Ocean - Decca
In spite of the various crises that have occurred since 2017's Native Invader, Tori Amos has emerged with Ocean To Ocean, her most personal work in years - an album bursting with warmth and connection, with deep roots in her earliest song writing. Written during the third lockdown in Cornwall this year, Ocean to Ocean is a universal story of going to rock bottom and renewing yourself all over again.
Mastodon - Hushed And Grim - Reprise
Mastodon release their anxiously awaited ninth full-length album, Hushed And Grim, via Reprise Records. Over the past year, the group recorded the album in their hometown, collaborating with producer David Bottrill [Tool, Rush, Muse, Peter Gabriel] behind the board. As their most ambitious body of work to date, it consists of 15 tracks, surveying sonic landscapes of rock, psychedelia, punk, metal, alternative, and prog threaded together by the innately expressive musical interplay of these four musicians. At the same time, an atmosphere of loss, loneliness, and longing permeates through the trio of cathartic vocals as they musically say goodbye to old friend, confidant, and longtime manager the late Nick John by architecting a magnum opus that bears the influence of his eternal memory.
Alabama Shakes - Sound & Color: Deluxe Edition - ATO Records
Deluxe edition of the groundbreaking, genre-defying second album by Alabama Shakes. Certified gold and the winner of four Grammys, Rolling Stone called "Sound & Color” a "weirder, woozier, fiercer and sexier record than their debut in nearly every way.” This repackaged set features revised artwork, new photos, and seven bonus tracks pulled from unreleased studio material, b-sides and live songs cut at the world renowned Capitol Records Studio A.
SUSTO - Time In The Sun - New West Records
Time In The Sun is the 4th full length album from Charleston, SC band SUSTO. The album was written and recorded in the midst of a lot of life changing events for lead writer/singer Justin Osborne. Like everyone around the world, Osborne was navigating the global issues felt from the pandemic while normal life continued with its own blessings and challenges.. "We were navigating the global and national issues that everyone else was dealing with, but also I became a father and also lost my father. There was a lot of contemplation going on in my brain, a lot of personal evolution going on in my life, and songwriting was my way of working through it all. The title Time in the Sun is meant to be a monument to my own human existence and also a tribute to the human experience in general. I wouldn’t claim to understand what it means to be a human, from the countless different perspectives of the world, but I do have my own experience to reflect on and I want to be able to express and explain that in some way. I guess this album is an attempt at that. At the core though, it’s just a collection of songs about my life and my feelings."
Bad Wolves - Dear Monsters - Better Noise Music
Expectations never mattered to Bad Wolves. Instead, the Los Angeles band fused unpredictable metallic intensity and impressive instrumental proficiency to arena-ready hooks, transforming from underdogs into elite platinum-certified hard rock contenders without compromise or apology. Since 2017, the core group-John Boecklin [drums], Doc Coyle [lead guitar, backing vocals], Chris Cain [rhythm guitar], and Kyle Konkiel [bass, backing vocals]-have consistently subverted expectations and accomplished the seemingly impossible. In 2018, the band earned a platinum plaque, topped iTunes, and ruled Active Rock at #1 for three weeks straight. This momentum also propelled their debut album, Disobey, to a Top 25 debut on the Billboard Top 200. In between performing to sold out audiences on multiple continents with heavyweights such as Five Finger Death Punch and Megadeth, 2019's N.A.T.I.O.N. yielded their fifth straight #1 at Active Rock, "Sober," and brought their total stream tally past the half-billionmark-unprecedented for a modern rock band. Not to mention, LoudWire hailed it among the "50 Best Rock Albums of 2019" as Billboard and Consequence of Sound chronicled their rise. In the midst of 2021, Bad Wolves welcomed Daniel "DL" Laskiewicz-previously of The Acacia Strain-as lead vocalist, ushering in a new chapter with their third full-length offering, Dear Monsters,[Better Noise Music], led by the single "Lifeline."
Save Face - Another Kill For The Highlight Reel - Epitaph
Save Face are a band who have always prided themselves on taking risks and the New Jersey band have doubled down on that sentiment with their sophomore album, Another Kill For The Highlight Reel. Another Kill For The Highlight Reel, which features indelibly human performances, including a guest appearance from Thursday’s Geoff Rickly on “A.M. Gothic”. “There’s something about the New Jersey kinship [between Geoff and I] that really resonates with me,” Tyler Povanda explains. “New Jersey’s music scene is really something special.” Musically, the album—which was produced by the Movielife’s Brett Romnes—sees Povanda taking influence from his Jersey brethren like Thursday but adds a theatrical twist. “‘GLITTER’ was the first song I wrote that ended up being on this album and it bridges the gap between Merci and Another Kill For The Highlight Reel, ” Povanda says. “I think that song serves as a cool sonic metaphor for the transformation of the band. I would say this album isn’t narrative in the same way as the last one, but it does feel much more immersive.”
Spice Girls - Spice: 25th Anniversary - Virgin Records US
Originally released on November 4, 1996, The Spice Girls' debut album Spice celebrates its 25th anniversary this year! The album features the smash singles "Wannabe," "2 Become 1," and "Say You'll Be There" and is the best-selling album in music history by a girl group and one of the best-selling albums of all time. The 2CD set includes the original album along with bonus tracks, B-sides from the hit singles, remixes commissioned for the singles, and previously unreleased demos.
Nat King Cole - A Sentimental Christmas With Nat King Cole And Friends: Cole Classics Reimagined - Capitol
The new album 'A Sentimental Christmas With Nat King Cole And Friends: Cole Classics Reimagined' weaves Nat King Cole's unparalleled, beautifully restored vocals with new arrangements and contemporary artists creating beautiful sentimental duets of holiday classics. Taking its lead from the GRAMMY award-winning virtual duet of “Unforgettable,” by Natalie Cole with her father, this holiday album features brand new duets with John Legend, Kristen Chenoweth, Calum Scott, Gloria Estefan & Johnny Mathis.
ALSO OUT THIS WEEK
Ed Sheeran - = [Indie Exclusive Limited Edition White LP]
Black Veil Brides - The Phantom Tomorrow
Dave Chappelle - 8:46
Khruangbin - Mordechai Remixes
R.E.M. - New Adventures In Hi-Fi: 25th Anniversary Edition
The War On Drugs - I Don’t Live Here Anymore [Indie Exclusive Limited Edition Translucent Blue 2LP]
Joe Bonamassa - Time Clocks
Billy Bragg - The Million Things That Never Happened
Pink Floyd - A Momentary Lapse Of Reason: Remixed & Updated
Emily Scott Robinson - American Siren
Sam Evian - Time To Melt [Indie Exclusive Limited Edition Pink LP]
Iggy Azalea - The End of an Era
Mouse Rat - The Awesome Album [Indie Exclusive Limited Edition Nothing Rhymes With Blorange Orange LP]
Eddie Vedder/Glen Hansard/Cat Power - Flag Day (Original Soundtrack)
The Front Bottoms - The Front Bottoms: 10th Anniversary Edition
Bremer/McCoy - Natten (The Night)
Wolf Alice - Blue Weekend: Deluxe [Limited Edition]
Bnny - Everything
Lindsay Lohan - A Little More Personal (Raw)
Nightmares On Wax - Shout Out! To Freedom...
The The - The Comeback Special [Indie Exclusive Limited Edition Deluxe Box Set]
Tipper - The Seamless Unspeakable Something
Hayes Carll - You Get It All
& More .....
UPCOMING RELEASES
The Black Keys - El Camino: 10th Anniversary Edition - Nonesuch
The Black Keys release a special tenth anniversary edition of their landmark seventh studio album El Camino via Nonesuch Records on November 5, 2021. El Camino (10th Anniversary Deluxe Edition) will be available in several formats including a Super Deluxe edition of five vinyl LPs or four CDs, featuring a remastered version of the original album, a previously unreleased Live in Portland, ME concert recording, a BBC radio Zane Lowe session from 2012, a 2011 Electro-Vox session, a limited-edition photo book, poster, and lithograph, and a “new car scent” air freshener. A three-LP Deluxe edition, which includes the remastered album and the live recording, also will be available.
Diana Ross - Thank You - Verve
Diana Ross sings “Thank You” to the world. “This collection of songs is my gift to you with appreciation and love. I am eternally grateful that I had the opportunity to record this glorious music at this time,” said Ms. Ross. Recorded in her home studio, “Thank You" offers a powerful, inclusive musical message of love and togetherness. With its songs of happiness, appreciation and joy, it wholeheartedly acknowledges that we are in this all together. Her family, friends and loyal and loving audiences all around the globe have been an integral part of her wonderful life’s story. In this special moment, it is time to step into the light. Ms. Ross co-wrote and collaborated on the 13 songs along with award-winning songwriters and producers including: Jack Antonoff, Troy Miller,Triangle Park, Spike Stent, Prince Charlez, Amy Wadge, Neff-U, Freddie Wexler, Jimmy Napes, Tayla Parx, Fred White, and Nathanial Ledgewick. Let us come together in harmony and gratitude with Diana Ross now and for the future. “I dedicate this songbook of love to all of you, the listeners. As you hear my voice you hear my heart. "Let Love Lead the Way”
Bullet For My Valentine - Bullet For My Valentine - Spinefarm
Metal vets Bullet For My Valentine announces their self-titled, seventh album which will be released via Spinefarm Records. It sees the band open a bold new chapter and is easily their heaviest, fiercest album so far.
Garbage - beautifulgarbage: 20th Anniversary - Geffen
beautifulgarbage is the third studio album from Garbage, initially released on October 1, 2001. The album expanded on the band's musical variety, with stronger melodies, more direct lyrics, and sounds mixing rock with electronica, new wave, hip hop, and girl groups. Featuring newly remastered audio by Billy Bush & Butch Vig, this deluxe edition includes Beautiful Garbage on 2 x 180g Black Vinyl, as well as a 12" 180g of B-Sides and memorabilia.
Curtis Harding - If Words Were Flowers - Anti
Simply calling Curtis Harding a soul man feels reductive. Harding's voice conveys pain, pleasure, longing, tenderness, sadness and strength-a full gamut of emotions. Today his voice takes on an optimistic lilt with his his new album, If Words Were Flowers. If Words Were Flowers is Harding's first new music since 2018, a follow up to his critically acclaimed 'Face Your Fears" album. It features songs like " Hopeful", where Harding croons with devotion over a classic soul groove, textured with infectious horn playing, background singers and modern psychedelic flourishes. Harding fuels his psychedelic sound with the essence of Soul but isn't bound by it. Instead, his songs convey an eclectic blend of genres leaping from the many musical lives he has lived from following his evangelical Gospel-singing mother on tour around the country as a child to rapping in Atlanta, forming a garage band with The Black Lips' Cole Alexander to singing back-up for Cee Lo Green. Through these experiences he fully embraces life's darkest intricacies and conjures dynamic, addictive melodies