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Pop Rock Nation

Tag: New Music

  • First Spin 3/3/09: U2, U2, & U2!!!!

    u2

    This is the month that spring starts, right? Because i’m looking at a foot and a half of snow outside and it doesn’t look anything like spring to me.

    Anyway, today’s yet another slow new release day, although today also brings us the most hotly anticipated release of 2009 so far…

    U2 “No Line on the Horizon”; It’s hard to believe it’s been nearly five years since How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb, but the wait is finally over…Bono & the boys are BACK!! While first single “Get on Your Boots” isn’t exactly the strongest song in the U2 catalog, I’m excited to hear what the rest of the album sounds like, especially after reading rapturous reviews from the likes of Rolling Stone and Entertainment Weekly. This album is supposed to be a midpoint between the anthemic U2 of old and the experimental U2 of Pop & Zooropa. Let’s see if it all works.

    The Prodigy “Invaders Must Die”: Thought Liam Howlett and company died after Firestarter and Smack My Bitch Up? Well, you’re wrong, pardner. The granddaddies of British electronica are back, and Invaders is already a smash, at least in their home country where it debuted at #1. Can an American comeback be far behind?

    Neko Case “Middle Cyclone”: I’m not gonna pretend to be the world’s foremost Neko Case authority, because I’m far from it. However, Neko is an alt-country favorite/Americana, her last album, Fox Confessor Brings the Flood, was the most well-received and biggest selling album of her career, and that was something like four years ago, so let’s just say that Middle Cyclone is pretty highly anticipated.

    Grandmaster Flash “The Bridge: Concept of a Culture”: Flash has not released an album since 1987, and this release serves as a bridge (hence the title) between the old and new school, with guest appearances from the likes of Big Daddy Kane, Busta Rhymes and Snoop Dogg. Flash’s album is this week’s sleeper. I’ve heard it already-pretty good stuff.

    Barenaked Ladies “New Year’s Eve @ the Fox Theatre in Detroit: 12.31.08”: Will this be the last BNL release on which we hear the dulcet tones of Steven Page? Could be. This one’s only available digitally, folks.

    Elsewhere…Jesse Harris (who won a Grammy for penning Norah Jones’ Don’t Know Why) is releasing Watching the Sky today, while metal favorites Drowning Pool release their first live album, Loudest Common Denominator. Former Mavericks vocalist Raul Malo is back with Lucky One, and I’m very happy to announce that, coincidentally, both Revolting Cocks and Nashville Pussy are releasing new albums today. Not much going on as far as compliations/reissues go, except for a new Rush anthology package (CD/DVD), and a live set from Thin Lizzy being released on VH-1 Classic’s label.

    Get the full list of this week’s new releases here.

  • First Spin 2/24/09: Jonas Brothers, Chris Isaak & More!!

    jonasI must say, it’s a bit difficult to drum up the enthusiasm to put this column together when there isn’t a damn thing coming out that I’m interested in. For as long as I’ve been buying music as an adult and following release dates, I don’t think I’ve ever gotten this far into a year while buying so little music. Even worse, I’m strangely ambivalent about most of the music that I’ve bought. Weird, huh?

    Anyway, here’s what’s out today:

    B-Real “Smoke & Mirrors”– I think I wrote something a while back about unnecessary solo albums, and here’s yet another one. Do we really need an entire album of B-Real and that VOICE without the respite that Sen Dog’s angry barks provide? Does anyone really care that B-Real has an album out? Has anyone given half a fuck about anything Cypress Hill has recorded in a decade? Talk about flaming out. 2 good albums and then they went straight down shit street.

    Chris Isaak “Mr. Lucky”-I like Chris Isaak. He doesn’t take the being a star thing too seriously, he’s got an appealing voice and he’s quite attractive. That said, I own nothing by Chris Isaak save for a greatest hits compilation. I don’t really feel like I’m missing anything either. Anyhow, Chris has a new TV show premiering which is proably quite good, so he’s hitting us from both angles. Go, synergy!

    Jonas Brothers “Music from the 3-D Concert Experience”– Labels don’t seem to learn when it comes to teen groups. To wit: NKOTB-studio albums, Christmas album, remix album. Hanson-studio album, “early years” release, Christmas album, live album. The result in both cases? People stopped caring. Anyway, the Jonases, fresh from being embarrassed on the Grammys by Adele and embarrassing themselves with Stevie Wonder, are releasing their very first live album, something like six months after their last studio album came out. How long till the bubble bursts? Cue teenage girls going crazy.

    K’naan “Troubadour”– I don’t know much about this guy, other than some great reviews I’ve seen. Considering how little else is out, I might give this one a shot. Looks like he’s working the same alt-rap vibe that fellow Canuck MC k-os does, and the guest list (Adam Levine, Mos Def, Damien Marley) is pretty stellar for an artist unknown in the US. This might be worth it for the right price.

    Van Morrison “Astral Weeks Live at the Hollywood Bowl”-Yup, it’s Van the Man, performing the songs from one of his best-known and most-loved albums forty years after the fact. Albums like this are so unnecessary. I’d rather just listen to the original.

    Elsewhere, there seems to be at least one release from every genre imaginable. If you’re a hip-hopper, you might want to check out Joe Budden’s long-awaited “Padded Room”, his first studio release in something like seven or eight years. Blues rockers will take to JJ Cale’s “Roll On”, while you’ll get more of a straight-ahead blues sound with Shemekia Copeland’s “Never Going Back”. Metalheads will go for the new Lamb of God and Hatebreed releases, while Prince fans (like me) will dig on Wendy & Lisa’s new one, called “White Flags of Winter Chimneys”, which I believe is only available digitally (meaning that I won’t buy it).

    On the reissue tip, Stax is re-releasing some of Isaac Hayes’ classic work, including the seminal “Black Moses” album. Erasure is summarizing their career with a 40-song Best of, reggae superstar Elephant Man has his first hits comp arriving in stores, and in the category of albums no one asked for: there are best-ofs arriving from Bloodhound Gang and Insane Clown Posse.

    Get the full list of releases here.

  • First Spin 2/17/09: Morrissey, Annie Lennox and More!!!

    mozThis week is not exactly the most exciting one for new music releases. Actually, this is one of the first weeks that I can recall where I don’t have anything to discuss besides the five spotlight releases. So this column’s gonna be short this week. I apologize. Here’s what you should expect coming from your local physical and online retailers this week.

    Morrissey “Years of Refusal”-He’s been the King of Mope for the past quarter-century now, don’t expect Moz to change anytime soon. His new album is filled with the typical dramatic renderings of songs like “Something is Squeezing My Head”. Stuff that tons of arrested teenagers who’ve loved Morrissey since the Eighties will relate to with no problem at all.

    Charlie Wilson “Uncle Charlie”- The former lead singer of the Gap Band scored pretty big with his 2005 album “Charlie…Last Name Wilson”, which sold almost half a million copies. The long-awaited follow up features Wilson’s buttery (and much imitated) voice over sensuous midtempo and slow jams. Collaborators include R. Kelly, Snoop Dogg and Justin Timberlake.

    Thursday “Common Existence”– Er…don’t have much to say here. Semi-faceless, semi-successful emo/rock band’s latest album. Excited? Hmmm…maybe they’re not emo…wikipedia calls them post-hardcore (exactly what *is* that?). Indie folks will be excited to know that they’ve signed with Epitaph after a brief dalliance with major labels.

    Annie Lennox “The Annie Lennox Collection”- One of the best female voices in music history, I don’t think that Annie Lennox has ever received the props that she deserved. Starting out in the videogenic Eighties, she’s one of the few artists from the MTV-era whose work stands alone without the visuals attached to it (and she’s made some great videos too). This collection features all of her solo hits like “Why”, “Walking on Broken Glass” and “No More I Love You’s”, as well as a handful of new tracks.

    Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit “Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit”-Jason Isbell split from country/rock powerhouses Drive-By Truckers a couple years ago and enjoyed a well-received solo debut last year. Joining forces with a new band, Isbell’s new album mines familiar country/soul/rock territory with the great storytelling that’s become DBT’s trademark.

    Get your full list of releases here.