Rocktober continues with some choice albums hitting the shelves this week. 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…
Absolutely Free, Absolutely Free (Lefse)
Backbeat Soundsystem, Together Not Apart (Easy Star)
Maggie Björklund, Shaken (Bloodshot)
The solo debut from Jack White's pedal steel player.
Celestial Shore, Enter Ghost (Hometapes)
The second release from the art rock trio is a more straightforward grungy rock record with its usual doses of math, psychedelia and post-punk dissonance. Video for "Creation Myth" below.
Dads, I’ll Be The Tornado (6131 Records)
Electric Six, Human Zoo (Metropolis)
Favorite Weapon, Sixty Saragossa (Rise)
Fences, Lesser Oceans (Island)
Sallie Ford, Slap Back (Vanguard)
Foxygen, …And Star Power (Jagaguwar)
The Cali indie rock due with pop-psychedelic and '70s rock tendencies and a penchant for lo-fi production qualities mightily impressed with last year's We Are the 21st Century Ambassadors of Peace & Magic. This follow-up is 24 tracks described as "the radio station you can only hear if you believe." Definitely has AM gold appeal replete with lush Bacharach style arrangements and some intriguing guest appearances, including Wayne Coyne, Of Montreal's Kevin Barnes, and White Fence's Tim Presley. The duo is currently touring as a nine-piece 'Star Power' band. Check out latest video "Coulda Been My Love" below.
http://cache.vevo.com/m/html/embed.html?video=US38Y1425227
Frazey Ford, Indian Ocean (Nettwerk)
The Game, Blood Moon: The Year Of The Wolf (eOne)
Greylag, Greylag (Dead Oceans)
Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey, Worker (Royal Potato Family)
The experimenta/post-jazz outfit has been making groundbreaking music for two decades at a near relentless pace and though undergoing various lineups over the years, have always been driven by the creative impulses of Brian Haas (keyboards, Moog bass). Their 26th and latest features the current trio line-up featuring Haaz with Chris Combs (guitar, lap steel) and Josh Raymer (drums), and is made up of short compositions inspired by the band's fascination with experimental hip-hop and electronic music forms, and incorporating cut-and-paste techniques and rhythmic deconstructionism. After hearing "Betamax," I am intrigued. Take your own listen below.
Jessie J, Sweet Talker (Universal Republic)
JW-Jones, Belmont Boulevard (Blind Pig)
Kittyhawk, Hello, Again (Count Your Lucky Stars)
Kindness, Otherness (Female Energy/Mom + Pop)
Hoodie Allen, People Keep Talking (self-release)
Mary Lambert, Heart On My Sleeve (Capitol)
Last Ex, Last Ex (Constellation)
Timber Timbre instrumental side-project
Eliot Lipp, Watch the Shadows (Pretty Lights Music)
Little Big League, Tropical Jinx (Run For Cover Records)
Little May, Little May EP (Capitol Records)
Driving, melodic roots rock with breathy-sweet feminine vocal harmonies and sweeping cinemascopic arrangements. This is the Sydney trio's debut in the U.S. Haunting new single "Bones" below
Andrew McMahon, In The Wilderness (10 Spot)
Solo debut of the Something Corporate/Jack’s Mannequin frontman, who hits St. Theatre on Nov. 18 with Fences, another artist with an album out today…
Meatbodies, Meatbodies (In the Red)
A project led by Chad Ubovich, who plays both Ty Segall and Mikal Cronin's respective backing bands.
Melvins, Hold It In (Ipecac)
[Includes Butthole Surfers guitarist Paul Leary and bassist JD Pinkus]
Kevin Morby, Still Life (Woodist)
Museum of Love, Museum of Love (DFA Records)
Nico & Vinz, Black Star Elephant (Warner Bros.)
You know that track that's playing everywhere right now, that kind of has that uplifting pop/New Age-y production and a dude singing over it, "So am I wrong, for thinking that we could be something for real? / Now am I wrong, for trying to reach the things that I can't see? / But that's just how I feel / That's just how I feel / That's just how I feel / Trying to reach the things that I can't see?" I bet you have it in your head now. Ha. Ha. I do too.
Kele Okereke, Trick (Lilac/Kobalt Records)
A solo release from the frontman of British indie rock outfit Bloc Party.
OK Go, Hungry Ghosts (BMG)
After shooting a video for every single track off their last rather fantastic album, 2010's Of the Blue Colour of the Sky (and playing a rather fantastic show here in Tampa), the LA-by-way-of-Chicago indie rock outfit with upbeat dance grooves and cooing pop appeal finally presents a follow-up. Cue fantastic series of videos … now! New Wave-flavored "Writing's on the Wall" below.
Pharmakon, Bestial Burden (Sacred Bones)
The music is kind of like the cover of the album; dark, nasty, mind-boggling. Good Halloween vibe-setting sounds for sure
Bob Seger, Ride Out (CMG)
Scar Symmetry, The Singularity [Phase 1 – Neo Humanity] (Nuclear Blast)
Set It Off, Duality (Equal Vision Records)
Stars, No One Is Lost (ATO)
U2, Songs of Innocence (Interscope)
UB40, Silhouette (Metropolis)
We Were Promised Jetpacks, Unravelling (Imports)
Jen Wood, Wilderness (New Granada Records)
You+Me, Rose Ave. (RCA)
The project of Dallas Green (City and Colour) & Alecia Moore (P!nk)
ALSO OUT THIS WEEK
Bing & Ruth, Tomorrow Was The Golden Age
Fit For A King, Slave To Nothing
Florida Georgia Line, Anything Goes
Great White Buffalo, Fangs EP
Jay Jacobson, The Ride
Mall Walk, Mall Walk EP
Idina Menzel, Holiday Wishes
Piers Faccini & Vincent Segal, Songs of Time Lost
Priory, Weekend EP
Obliterations, Poison Everything
Ozzy Osbourne, Ozzy Osbourne: Memoirs Of A Madman
Angaleena Presley, American Middle Class
Split Red, Serious Heft
Swallowed, Lunarterial
Jimmy Thackery, Extra Jimmies
Today Is The Day, Animal Mother
This article appears in Oct 9-15, 2014.