The very last batch of new music releases for October. Info and links for the ones you want to know about most below, plus some other ones you may not have heard of (but should know) – with audio & video for your listening and viewing pleasure. Click here to see releases from the past several weeks…
Dan Bodan, Soft (DFA)
Chris Webby, Chemically Imbalanced (Homegrown Music/eOne)
The long-anticipated debut full-length album from the rising Connecticut rapper features guest spots by Tech N9ne, B-Real, Dizzy Wright, Jarren Benton and Jon Connor.
Creepers, Lush (All Black Recording Company)
The San Francisco side project of Deafheaven members Dan Tracy and Shiv Mehra, released on Deafheaven frontman George Clarke's boutique label.
Dillon Francis, Money Sucks, Friends Rule (Columbia)
Ex Cops, Daggers (Downtown)
The Flaming Lips, With A Little Help From My Fwends (Warner Bros.)
Surprise! It's another album re-imagined by the Lips — this one Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band — as joined by an all-star cast of guests, including My Morning Jacket, J. Mascis, Miley Cyrus, Dr. Dog, Morgan Delt, Chuck Inglish, Phantogram, Sunbears!, Tegan and Sara, and Foxygen. Even though I have a certain distaste for the state of the current Lips, the guest list intrigues me, I'll admit. "Fixing a Hole" below isn't terrible. At least it makes me want to hear more.
Hard Working Americans, The First Waltz (Melvin)
Daniel Lanois, Flesh And Machine (Anti-)
Jerry Lee Lewis, Rock n' Roll Time (Vanguard)
Lagwagon, Hang (Fat Wreck Chords)
Theophilus London, Vibes! (Warner Bros.)
Jason Marsalis Vibes Quartet, The 21st Century Trad Band (Basin Street Records)
Medicine, Home Everywhere (Captured Tracks)
I am relentlessly intrigued by the noisy experimental WTF? that's happening in the first single "Turning" from this album by LA trio Medicine, their first LP in nearly 20 years. The latest from Brad Laner, Elizabeth Thompson and Jim Goodall is described as "A collection of new songs created with a gaze that is omni-directional. An answer to no other band, movement or genre. An ambitious piece that could be the work of none other than three lifer music weirdos in full inspiration mode." Check out "Turning" below.
Mykki Blanco, Gay Dog Food (UNO NYC)
Mysteries, New Age Music Is Here (Felte)
Obituary, Inked in Blood (Relapse Records)
Pianos Become The Teeth, Keep You (Epitaph)
Bobby Previte, Terminals (Cantaloupe)
Quintron and Miss Pussycat, Spellcaster II: Death In Space (Pizza Burglar Records)
Radio Riddler, Purple Reggae (Mita Records)
A reggae re-imagining of Prince's Purple Rain.
Rancid, Honor Is All We Know (Hellcat/Epitaph)
Restorations, LP3 (SideOneDummy)
Run Boy Run, Something to Someone (Sky Island Records)
Run The Jewels, RTJ2 (Mass Appeal)
The hip hop superduo made up of Killer Mike and El-P have issued a second LP. I don't know about you but I am stoked about it, since the first one was so sick. This one features guest spots by, among others, Zach de la Rocha, Diane Coffee and Travis Barker. Take a listen to "Blockbuster Night Part 1" below. Download the entire album, for FREE, right here.
The Shivas, You Know What To Do (K)
Scissors For Lefty, Bangs & Lashes (self-release)
San Francisco's Scissors For Lefty return with a new full-length after taking a seven-year break from recording, this one delving into Dark Wave, synth rock and art pop territories. "Werewolf" below.
The Twilight Sad, Nobody Wants To Be Here And Nobody Wants To Leave (FatCat)
Yusuf, Tell 'Em I'm Gone (Legacy)
The artist formerly known as Cat Stevens presents his first full-length since 2009's Roadsinger; this one includes including five originals and five covers (("Big Boss Man," "You Are My Sunshine" and Edgar Winter's "Dying To Live" among them) as well as contributions from Richard Thompson, blues harmonica legend Charlie Musselwhite, singer-songwriter Bonnie 'Prince' Billy, Tuareg group Tinariwen, and guitarist Matt Sweeney. A video about its making below. His voice is still magnificent.
ALSO OUT THIS WEEK
Bad Cop, Wish You Well … and Goodbye EP
Bell Gardens, Slow Dawns for Lost Conclusions
Black Milk, If There's A Hell Below
Cut Teeth, Night Years
Hundred Visions, Spite
Martial Canterel, Gyors/Lassù
Leighton Meester, Heartstrings
Nero Di Marte, Derivae
Lisa O'Neill, Same Cloth Or Not
Raw Blow, Slow Choke EP
Riot V, Unleash the Fire
Slowriter, King Of The Void
Small Reactions, Similar Phantoms
Ultimate Painting, Ultimate Painting
Unearth, Watchers Of Rule
Dionne Warwick, Feels So Good
Young Chop, Still
Zulu Pearls, Singles Deluxe
This article appears in Oct 23-29, 2014.