Week two of new releases for March! 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…
311, Stereolithic (311 Records/Ingrooves)
Omaha-spawned, SoCal-based multi-platinum punk-reggae rock band 311 presents their 11th and latest album, recorded with longtime collaborator/producer Scott Ralston, behind 1997's Transistor and 1999's Soundsystem. This also marks the quintet's 24th year together and this record is their first fully independent studio album release since 1991's Unity.
Aloe Blacc, Lift Your Spirit (Interscope)
Not really digging the smooth R&B-pop direction that Aloe Blacc’s soulful sounds have taken lately, post-2010’s amazing Good Things. Neither of the radio hits (“Wake Me Up” with Avicci and “The Man”) do it for me at all, especially the latter's sampling of Elton John's "Your Song." Not a fan of that one, either. Check out Aloe Blacc's video for the track in question after the jump, along with the rest of this week's releases, and judge for yourself...
Architects, Lost Forever // Lost Together (Epitaph)
Thomas Azier, Hylas (Casablanca Records)
DENA, Flash (!K7)
Elbow, The Take Off and Landing of Everything (Concord)
The British alt rock band might not be super huge here — though they have three albums on the Top 10 of the Heatseekers charts — but they are platinum-selling stars overseas and their sixth studio album is a much-anticipated release, which reflects the crap-ton of changes each of the band members were going through at the time, especially singer Guy Garvey. He and longtime girlfriend, novelist Emma Jane Unsworth, split in the midst of recording... The lyrics for "New York Morning" were created from one of his diary entries about a trip to NYC he made with Unsworth.
Sara Evans, Slow Me Down (Sony/Nashville)
Joywave, How Do You Feel? (Cultco Music)
Juanes, Loco De Amor (Universal Latino)
Laibach, Spectre (Mute)
Ledisi, The Truth (Verve)
Lune, Music & Sports (Music Box)
Metronomy, Love Letters (Because)
So far, what I've heard from the UK electro pop outfit's latest is not impressive, considering The English Riviera's inherent indie sticky and danceable quality. The one track that is good, however, is the first single, "I'm Aquarius." Check it below; review of this album forthcoming...
MØ, No Mythologies to Follow (RCA)
Charlie Oxford, Charlie Oxford (Rock Ridge Music)
Ozomatli, Place In the Sun (Vanguard Records)
Steve Martin And The Steep Canyon Rangers, Steve Martin And The Steep Canyon Rangers Featuring Edie Brickell Live CD/DVD (Rounder)
Nervosa, Victim of Yourself (Napalm Records)
Patrick Sexx, The Shadow That Took Shape (Alpha Pup Records)
September Girls, Cursing The Sea (Fortuna Pop)
[US release]
Tensnake, Glow (Astralwerks/Universal)
Dean Wareham, Dean Wareham (Double Feature)
Warm Soda, Young Reckless Hearts (Castle Face)
Oakland, California's Bare Wire former Matthew Melton adds a cello to his usual two-guitar, bass and drums lineup on Warm Soda's latest album of scuzzy power pop. It's understated, but adds a rather interesting dimension to his hooky songwriting. Check out "When Your Eyes Meet Mine" below.
Don Williams, Reflections (Sugar Hill/Universal)
Young Money, Rise Of An Empire (Universal Republic)
