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Now Hear This! – November 2023
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What's New 10-27-23
“The 1989 album changed my life in countless ways, and it fills me with such excitement to announce that my version of it will be out October 27th. To be perfectly honest, this is my most FAVORITE re-record I’ve ever done because the 5 From The Vault tracks are so insane. I can’t believe they were ever left behind. But not for long!” – T. Swift
Southall sparks and burns with 11 crank-it-up songs that expertly combine country, rock & roll, dust and grit. Southall manifests the true band album that singer Read Southall first envisioned, a bands album that roars with raw and loud collaborative power with glimpses of hard rock and metal, along with easygoing back-porch vibes.
For over two decades, Taking Back Sunday has brought mature songcraft and pop sensibilities to punk’s rigid conformity, expanding the genre’s contours while carrying the band to new heights. They still bring the sing along choruses on 152, but there is a deeper mix between those anthemic room-fillers and more introspective numbers. A pop-punk masterclass.
The singer-songwriter and pianists’ landmark 1998 album Spirit Trail turns 25 this year. In September, Bruce Hornsby & The Noisemakers will launch a fall tour honoring the occasion with a 25th Anniversary Edition boxed set that includes the remastered album, four unreleased tracks and ten live songs.
In the tradition of their seminal sophomore album The ’59 Sound, The Gaslight Anthem’s sixth full-length—and first new music in over nine years—ultimately achieves the tremendous feat of hitting every raw nerve while endlessly inspiring wildly triumphant punk sing-alongs. It’s the rare gift for finding glory in the inescapable pain of being alive.
Always receptive to singers who can elevate his emotive guitar touch, Trower heard a quality in the smoky power of the acclaimed Sari Schorr that made him want to tear down and rebuild his song craft around her. “I went more down the R&B route this time,” says Trower. “But the blues still underpins everything I do.”
You can feel that heat off the Sunset Strip and see that hair in the wind as Dokken bring their timeless convertible Ferrari rock 'n' roll power to the table with Heaven Comes Down, an unapologetic celebration of everything the LA band has been doing best for over four decades: rock, ballads, rock and more rock.
On their sophomore album, Black Pumas broaden their palette to include a dazzling expanse of musical forms: heavenly hybrids of soul and symphonic pop, mind-bending excursions into jazz-funk and psychedelia, starry-eyed love songs that feel dropped from the cosmos. It’s the fullest expression yet of a frenetic creativity and limitless vision.
Four years on from Our Pathetic Age the maestro DJ Shadow (aka Joshua Davis) slams right back onto the scene with his (would you believe) 7th album which spans a career of massive innovation that kickstarted the trip hop scene. A great comeback from a great talent who’s been in hibernation waiting to release a monstrous set of pure brilliance.
Hearing a killer rock 'n' roll tune is a visceral sensation, like an electric jolt to the soul, and it's this exact sentiment that The Defiant (feat. members of Offspring and Mighty Mighty Bosstones) is tapping into. With their unrivaled blend of clever, quick-witted lyrics and punk rock mastery, this band is on a mission to reignite the fires of musical camaraderie.
The English-American blues-garage duo don’t offer answers about life’s spiritual mysteries here. Nor do they even seek them. Singer Alison Mosshart and guitarist Jamie Hince instead offer primal call-and-response between full body blues-soul vocal catharsis and swaggering, guillotine-smooth guitar transmissions.
Featuring an all-star eclectic ensemble of like-minded musicians, The Third Mind’s second album reflects the members’ varied musical histories with a “no safety parachute” recording approach using free-form studio techniques, no rehearsals, no preconceived arrangements, and recording spontaneous group improvisations live in studio.
Inspired by jazz greats and classical masters while possessing a 21st-century point of view, Bewitched represents an expansion of Laufey’s sonic palette. Breezy bossa nova cuts and smoldering string-assisted ballads feel instantly timeless, while Laufey’s conversational lyrics give her music a relatability to the next generation.
Following up one of their most acclaimed releases was never going to be easy. But OMD’s 14th album holds up among the finest work of their 45-year career as they continue to draw from early electronic music and alternately disregard, mutate or embrace the conventions of the three-minute pop song.
From slow-burning funk to upbeat and grooves, each track on the haunting and mystical Black Bayou showcases Finley's exceptional tone and vocal versatility. Produced by Dan Auerbach, every note on this album is a testament to Finley's musical prowess and his unwavering commitment to soul, R&B, and the blues.
A thunderous testament to modern thrash metal, Aftermath’s relentless energy is anchored by precise guitar riffs and aggressive drumming, while lyrically confronting socio-political themes with razor-sharp intensity. It’s not just a headbanger's delight but also a thoughtful commentary on contemporary issues.
Spine is a tour-de-force, amalgamating some of the most exciting, innovative, and genre-defying moments from Myrkur's catalog into something that is haunting, extreme, and brilliant as ever. Spine lays Myrkur bare, at her most raw and unwavering, and is undoubtedly one of the year's most ambitious and cinematic albums.
A powerful, expansive body of work, replete with an irrepressible dose of joy, My Big Day also finds the band open for a collaborative experience, inviting the likes of Damon Albarn, Nilüfer Yanya and Holly Humberstone who all feature. It’s an album that means business, sculpted by one of Britain’s best guitar bands.
Newly remastered version for the 10th anniversary of Chvrches’ critically-acclaimed debut. The album spawned seven singles including their massive alternate hit "The Mother We Share”. The 2LP/2CD version features previously unreleased songs, four from the album session, along with five live songs recorded at Ancienne Belgique.
Girl group vocal pop has evolved across many generations, without always getting its due as a legitimate musical tradition. As a sophisticated girl group rising out of the Nashville music-making community, The Shindellas are positioned to defy all these perceptions and more with their sunny disco-inspired production and silky smooth harmonies.
Danny Davis knows the galvanizing power of an anthemic, hair-raising song. As Husbands, he’s been meticulously crafting breezy and emotionally potent tunes about finding your place in the world. His writing always strives to break free from monotony and routine, aiming for meaning and clarity through massive choruses and colorful arrangements.
Rather than collecting castoffs and second-tier cuts, Formentera II improves upon its predecessor with a nonstop series of perfectly worked pop, rock and disco. With fluid and engaging music, Metric moves through a series of suggestive and empathetic moments that make this an album worth listening to often.
A mesmerizing journey through the avenues of raw emotion and storytelling, Traffic Fiction paints vivid pictures of life's complexities. Burt's raspy vocals draw listeners in, revealing layers of lyrical depth and experimental reach. Each track feels like a story whispered on a late-night drive. A testament to modern Americana, it’s introspection on the move.
New Release Round-Up 10-27-23
Black Pumas - Chronicles Of A Diamond - ATO Records
As they set to work on their highly awaited sophomore album, Black Pumas broadened their palette to include a dazzling expanse of musical forms: heavenly hybrids of soul and symphonic pop, mind-bending excursions into jazz-funk and psychedelia, starry-eyed love songs that feel dropped from the cosmos. The debut was nominated for 7 Grammys and reached one million album equivalents. Chronicles Of A Diamond arrives as the fullest expression yet of their frenetic creativity and limitless vision.
The Gaslight Anthem - History Books - Rich Mahogany Records
Like so many of the most essential rock bands, The Gaslight Anthem have a rare gift for finding glory in the inescapable pain of being alive. On their new album History Books—their first new music in over nine years—the New Jersey-bred four-piece bring their soulful breed of punk to ten thrilling songs exploring everything from mortality to mental illness to the more precarious dimensions of human connection. In the tradition of their seminal sophomore album The ’59 Sound, The Gaslight Anthem’s sixth full-length ultimately achieves of the tremendous feat of hitting every raw nerve while endlessly inspiring wildly triumphant singing-along.
Nirvana - In Utero 30th - Geffen
Celebrating In Utero’s 30th, the 8LP Super Deluxe features 180-gram pressings of the album + 5 b-sides & extra tracks newly remastered, 2 complete concerts from Los Angeles ’93 & Seattle ‘94 plus 6 additional live songs from the tour – 72 total tracks – 53 unreleased tracks. Added items: an Angel-on-acrylic panel; 48-pg book with unreleased photos; new 20-pg fanzine; LA gig poster litho; 2 ticket stubs; replicas of the promo Angel mobile, 3 gig flyers, all-access tour laminate & 4 backstage passes.
Sam Hunt - Between The Pines (Acoustic Mixtape) - MCA Nashville
Sam Hunt’s Between The Pines (Acoustic Mixtape) was originally released via his website in October 2013. Some of the songs later appeared on his debut studio album, Montevallo, while some were recorded by other artists. The mixtape was released in October 2015 by MCA Nashville. Now, it’s available for the first time on vinyl. This 2 LP set is pressed on CREAM vinyl.
Frank Sinatra - Platinum (70th Capitol Collection) - Capitol
Platinum celebrates in a beautiful, collectable 4LP set, the 70th anniversary of Frank Sinatra signing to Capitol Records, a moment that transformed his career and solidified his standing as one of the greatest interpretive singers of all time. For the next ten years, Sinatra recorded more than three hundred songs for Capitol, the majority of them included on the landmark ‘concept’ albums Sinatra pioneered. It is arguably the finest body of recorded work in popular music.
Jon Pardi - Merry Christmas From Jon Pardi - Capitol Nashville
Jon Pardi releases his first-ever Christmas album which includes standards and originals. Featuring 12 tracks with such holiday favorites as “Winter Wonderland” and “All I Want For Christmas Is You,” as well as new original songs like “Beer For Santa” and “I’ve Been Bad, Santa (with Pillbox Patti).” Merry Christmas From Jon Pardi is available on limited-edition GOLD vinyl.
ALSO OUT THIS WEEK
Taylor Swift - 1989: Taylor's Version
Duran Duran - Danse Macabre [Indie Exclusive Limited Edition Smog 2LP]
The Mountain Goats - Jenny From Thebes [Indie Exclusive Limited Edition Half Yellow/Half Black LP]
Taking Back Sunday - 152
The Kills - God Games [Indie Exclusive Limited Edition Boomslang Green LP]
James Blunt - Who We Used To Be
Mayer Hawthorne - For All Time
Robert Finley - Black Bayou [Indie Exclusive Limited Edition Olive Green w/Black Splatter LP]
Angie McMahon - Light, Dark, Light Again [Indie Exclusive Limited Edition Transparent Green LP]
In This Moment - GODMODE
Ice Spice - Like..?: Deluxe Edition
Motley Crue - Shout At The Devil: 40th Anniversary
SOUTHALL - Southall [Indie Exclusive Limited Edition Black & White Splatter LP]
Peeping Tom - Peeping Tom [Indie Exclusive Limited Edition Tan LP]
DJ Shadow - Action Adventure [Indie Exclusive Limited Edition 2LP]
Bruce Hornsby - Spirit Trail: 25th Anniversary
Video Age - Away From The Castle
Naoise Roo - Emotionally Magnificent
Superchunk - Misfits & Mistakes: Singles, B-Sides & Strays [2007-2023]
Poppy - Zig
Wargasm - Venom [Indie Exclusive Limited Edition Translucent Ruby LP]
Prince & The New Power Generation - Diamonds And Pearls
Laufey - Bewitched
King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard - The Silver Cord [Indie Exclusive Limited Edition Lucky Rainbow 2 LP]
SEVENTEEN - SEVENTEEN 11th Mini Album ‘SEVENTEENTH HEAVEN’
& More .....
UPCOMING RELEASES
New Kids On The Block - The Block: Revisited - Interscope
Bob Marley - Catch A Fire: 50th Anniversary - Tuff Gong
Bad Wolves - Die About It - Better Noise Music
What's New 10-20-23
The hugely anticipated new album by The Rolling Stones. Following the release of 2016's Grammy Award-winning Blue & Lonesome, which featured brilliant versions of blues tracks that helped shape their sound, Hackney Diamonds marks the band's first studio album of original material since 2005's A Bigger Bang. Indie Exclusive Diamond Clear 180g LP.
The Rolling Stones' second hits LP includes numerous classics including "Jumpin' Jack Flash," "Let's Spend The Night Together" and "Honky Tonk Women." And "Paint It, Black". The packaging stays true to the original layout, with its trademark octagonal-shaped album cover. 180G LP in Hexagon Gatefold Jacket.
the highly anticipated new album from blink-182, featuring the group’s iconic lineup together again – Mark Hoppus, Tom DeLonge and Travis Barker. Recorded over the course of 2022 and 2023 in the midst of their blockbuster reunion tour, One More Time… features 17 new songs layering in themes of tragedy, triumph, and most importantly, brotherhood.
There’s a vivid quality to Lahai’s music, rooted in Sampha’s trusty piano sounds and burnished by all manner of different sonic touchstones from jazz to jungle to distorted hip-hop beats and sounds of traditional African music. With a six year gap it’s clear Sampha has put everything he has into this album. The sound of a true master at work.
Grammy Award-winning trumpeter Chris Botti gets back to the jazz essence of his artistry on his upcoming album, Vol. 1. The album features beautiful new ballad renditions of standards including “My Funny Valentine,” and “Someday My Prince Will Come,” as well as a cover of Coldplay’s “Fix You” and the vocal feature “Paris” with John Splithoff.
The optimistic sound of the unfortunately named (and timed) 20/20 album is dead and buried, Knuckle Puck have rediscovered themselves on Losing What We Love. Bursting with the youthful urgency of their breakout days but with more polish, they have come back swinging with the pop-punk album of the year.
What's New 10-13-23
Caleb Shomo has always been upfront in Beartooth‘s songwriting, constantly being honest. While past releases have seen him be tortured by his inner demons, The Surface sees him take a more optimistic outlook – with the band’s towering melody, sleek production, and stellar rock guitars still in full swing.
boygenius (Julien Baker, Phoebe Bridgers, Lucy Dacus) presents the rest, a new four-track EP, serving as an expansion of their critically acclaimed debut full-length, the record. Produced by boygenius, Tony Berg, Jake Finch, Ethan Gruska, Calvin Lauber, Collin Pastore and Marshall Vore. This EP also includes a 16-page newspaper zine.
Ever the hopeless romantic, Holly Humberstone channels her passion and pain into her tracks on the cinematic, soul-stirring, and all-consuming eruption that is Paint My Bedroom Black. It’s not about being happy or sad; it’s about feeling that raw burning in our hearts and running through our veins.
The blues guitar sensation releases his first live album, the eagerly-awaited follow-up to his Grammy Award-winning 2021 release, 662. Since Kingfish burst on the scene, fans have been clamoring for an album that showcases the dizzying heights Kingfish reaches when he gets a chance to stretch out on stage. Live In London is that album.
Debut album from the electronic, experimental project from James "Munky" Shaffer and Chris Hunt. Daring and remarkably immersive, Venera stands alongside the likes of Massive Attack, Unkle, and Davidge with its cinematic, oft-brooding and occasionally beautiful soundscapes. featuring Jacob Duzsik (HEALTH), Rizz (VOWWS), and Deantoni Parks.
For the last 15 years, Allah-Las have alchemically melded surf rock washes with folk rock jangle and rock, building up their lauded music podcast, Reverberation Radio in the process. Zuma 85 signals the start of a new era, and finds the band reinventing itself in defiance of the algorithmic categorization and robotic sterility.
Sivan’s third studio album is a celebration of sex, dance, sweat, community, queerness, love and friendship. Emerging from the tribulations of the last few years, the artist found himself rewiring with the joy of human connection and dance music. Features collaborations with Oscar Görres, Ian Kirkpatrick, AG Cook, and Styalz Fuego.
NCT 127's fifth full-length album Fact Check consists total of nine songs, including the single 'Fact Check (Mysterious)' of the same name, a rhythmical dance song based on an intense main synth loop. It expresses NCT 127's confidence that they wouldn’t fear to ‘fact-check’ to compare themselves with artworks forever valuable.


























