The slow trickle of new music releases has sped up slightly, with a handful of big name releases scheduled to hit stores (and your local online retailer) right before Valentine’s Day. Here’s what you’ll find in the new release bins this week:
Lily Allen “It’s Not Me, It’s You”– Lost in the hubbub about Amy Winehouse was the fact that fellow sassy Brit Lily Allen sold half a million copies of her debut album “Alright, Still”. After some tabloid misadventures (including a public miscarriage), Allen returns with a slightly more sober but still cheeky sound on album #2. With Adele, Estelle and Duffy making a solid showing at this year’s Grammy Awards, it would seem that the ladies from across the pond are making more intriguing music than their American counterparts.
india.arie “Testimony Vol 2: Love & Politics”– The first volume of the neo-soul singer’s “Testimony” series debuted at #1 on the album charts two years back. For the follow-up, arie continues her folksy brand of soul, with a guest appearance by one-time rumored love interest Musiq Soulchild on the first single “Chocolate High”.
Beastie Boys “Paul’s Boutique 20th Anniversary”– The album that turned Mike D., Ad-Rock and MCA from jokes into serious musicians is now 20 years old. Like I need another excuse to feel old. The reissued version of this classic album now has improved sound (thank GOD!) and includes a pullout poster. For true heads, this special edition is also being made available on vinyl, making it all the more easy to scratch and cut this hip-hop essential, which was one of the first to make a case for sampling as a legitimate art form.
The Lonely Island “Incredibad”– The first musical spinoff from “Saturday Night Live” in many years, the Lonely Island’s focal point is Andy Samberg, and yes, many of Samberg’s famous digital shorts are here. This set includes “Iran So Far Away” with Adam Levine, “Dick in a Box” with Justin Timberlake, a guest shot from T-Pain (if you look like that, I guess you HAVE to have a sense of humor), and, of course…”Jizz in My Pants”.
Fleet Foxes “Fleet Foxes”/Ben Folds “Way to Normal: Sticks & Seeds”– The indie darlings and the smartass piano man both get the expanded edition treatment this week, with their 2008 efforts stuffed with even more tracks, pissing off all of the people who may have bought one or both of these albums originally. Sigh.
Also in stores this week: the third album by anonymous R&B singer Bobby Valentino, the sophomore set by Christian metal-lers Red, a solo album by Black Keys’ guitarist Dan Auerbach, and in the “He’s Still Around?” section of your record store, a new album by Warren G. Methinks Warren would be much better served giving his big bro a call and telling him to release “Detox” already.
Get yer entire list of new releases here.
