Susan Boyle, Someone To Watch Over Me (Columbia)
On December 26, 1967, the "classic" Dave Brubeck Quartet (which included Paul Desmond on alto sax, drummer Joe Morello, and bassist Eugene Wright) gave their final concert in Pittsburgh. Sony Legacy in partnership with the Brubeck Archives offers the concert as a 15-song, two-disc live recording
David J, Not Long For This World (Starry Records)
The former Bauhaus and Love & Rockets bassist/vocalist delivers his eighth offering as a solo artist.
The Decemberists, Long Live The King EP (EMI)
A six-song b-sides companion to The King Is Dead that encompasses outtakes from the recording sessions at Pendarvis Farm; includes a cover of the Grateful Dead's "Row Jimmy."
Dev, The Night the Sun Came Up (Universal Republic)
The Dreaming, Puppet (Epochal Artists / EMI)
Florence and The Machine, Ceremonials (Universal Republic)
The UK indie rock/pop outfit led by throaty vocalist Florence Welch issues their second LP and much-anticipated follow-up to Lungs. Check out "Shake It Out" below.
Girl In A Coma, Exists & All The Rest (Blackheart Records)
The band led by Mexican-American sisters Nina (vocals/guitar) and Phanie Diaz (drums) with long-time bass-playing friend Jenn Alva (bass) was personally signed by Joan Jett on her Blackheart label; this is their fourth record.
Idle Warship, Habits Of The Heart (Blacksmith/Element 9/Fontana)
Hip-hop luminary Talib Kweli and critically-acclaimed alt-soulful singer-songwriter Res — longtime friends and collaborators — issue a full-length album after the success of last year's Party Robot mixtape with master DJ Mick Boogie and singer/songwriter Graph Nobel. Listen to "Laster Beams" below.
The Isaacs, Why Can't We (Gaither Music Group)
Carole King, A Holiday Carole (Hear Music)
Kings of Leon, Talihina Sky: The Story of Kings of Leon (RCA Records)
The KOL documentary — which sheds light on the band’s small town roots and the Followill brothers’ rise to rock stardom — is offered as both standard DVD and Blu Ray editions that come with 45 minutes of bonus features (cut scenes, commentaries, home-movie footage).
Miranda Lambert, Four The Record (Sony Nashville/RCA)
Lightyear, All of The Miles EP (self-release)
New York-based dramatic-pop outfit explores love, loss and ultimately rebirth in their first recording. Check out the pulse-haunting video for first single "It Beats" below.
Lou Reed & Metallica, Lulu (Warner Bros.)
Low Roar, Low Roar (Tonequake Records)
The self-titled debut LP from the ambient electro-atmospheric project of Ryan Karazija (formerly of Audrye Sessions), which loosely documents his adjustment following a move from San Francisco, California to Reykjavík, Iceland. the loneliness and struggles to acclimate when you’re starting over in a foreign land. Listen to “Tonight, Tonight, Tonight” below.
Placebo, We Come In Pieces [DVD/Blu-ray] (Eagle Vision)
Queen, 1984-1995: The Show Must Go On (Hollywood Records)
Queen released their last five studio albums between ’84 and ’95, before and after the passing of Freddie Mercury in 1991. Hollywood Records offers deluxe re-issues of said five albums as part of the band’s 40th Anniversary celebration: The Works (1984), A Kind Of Magic (1986), The Miracle (1989), Innuendo (1991) and Made In Heaven (1995). All are offered individually and as part of exclusive box set.
Seekae, +Dome (Rice Is Nice Records)
Sick of It All, Non-Stop (Century Media)
Frank Sinatra, Sinatra: Best of the Best (Capitol/Reprise)
Offered in single and deluxe 2CD packages; the chronologically ordered album includes 12 classic tracks recorded for Capitol between 1953 and 1960 (among them, "I've Got The World On A String," "Come Fly With Me" and "Love And Marriage") as well as 10 Reprise recordings released between 1962 and 1980 (including "The Way You Look Tonight," "Strangers In The Night" and "Theme From New York, New York." The 2CD version also features a formerly out-of-print Seattle concert recording packaged in a lift-top box with an expanded booklet and six postcards.
Steel Panther, Balls Out (Universal Repulic)
They Might Be Giants, Album Raises New and Troubling Questions (Idlewild Recordings/Rounder)
They Might Be Giants released a new record, Join Us this summer; this record includes some tracks that didn't make it onto the album along with other rarities and previously unheard tracks.
Three Metre Day, Coasting Notes (3MD)
Julian Velard, Mr. Saturday Night (UMG)
The UK piano-pop singer-songwriter’s sophomore album sees its U.S. release.
Tyrese, Open Invitation (Voltron)
Usher, Usher OMG Tour - Live From London [DVD/Blu-ray] (Eagle Vision)
You Can Be A Wesley, Nightosphere EP (self-release)
Boston-based indie-pop lovers self-fund and release their debut EP. Check out the video for "Old In Florida" below.
Wale, Ambition (Warner Bros./Wea)
DC rapper Wale issues his sophomore LP. He and Kid Cudi have officially buried the hatchet with a new track "Focused" featuring Kid Cudi, off Wale's album. Listen below.
A small number of new releases out this week as well as a chunk of deluxe re-issues, DVDs, and special compilations as artists gear up for the big six weeks leading up to the holidays. I've included info and links for the ones you want to know about most below, plus some other ones you may never have heard of (but should know), with audio & video for your listening and viewing pleasure. Click here to check out releases that dropped over the past few months ...
Brite Futures, Dark Past (Turnout)
Buraka Som Sistema, Komba (Enchufada)
Portugal's worldtronica outfit presents a sophomore album described as "an exploration of the borders between life and death,” and is named for an Angolan religious ritual celebrated seven days after someone passes away, where friends and relatives honor the deceased by drinking his favorite drinks, eating his favorite food, dancing and singing his favorite songs while sharing experiences and telling stories about his life.
The Beach Boys, The Smile Sessions (Capitol/EMI)
Capitol/EMI and The Beach Boys (including original members Al Jardine, Mike Love and Brian Wilson team up to release The SMiLE Sessions — a collection of the band's legendary 1966-’67 sessions for the never-completed SMiLE album. How different will these sessions sound from what Brian Wilson produced in 2004 with his solo Smile? Hard to tell, but these were drawn from the original masters so it could be big. All the physical and digital offerings include core session tracks; the box set delves deeper with early song drafts, alternate takes, instrumental and vocals-only mixes, and studio chatter.
Justin Bieber, Under The Mistletoe (Island)
Blouse, Blouse (Captured Tracks)
Portland's Blouse formed started in the summer of 2010. LA native Charlie Hilton met Patrick Adams in art school and the pair began jamming and recording in a Portland warehouse with Jacob Portrait. Two demos later, they were picked up by Captured Tracks. Check out "Videotapes" after the jump, along with the rest of this week's new releases.
