Music Releases 01-08-21

Mike Rosenberg, better known as Passenger, is a multi-award winning, platinum-selling singer-songwriter from Brighton, England. Although still known for his busking, he long ago made the journey from street corners to stadiums – most notably with 'Let Her Go', which reached number 1 in 19 countries and which has now notched more than two billion plays on YouTube. For his latest album "Songs For The Drunk and Broken Hearted" Rosenberg explains, “I chose the album title because a lot of the songs are about drinking and the emotions felt around it” he explains. There are personal references Rosenberg adds, “I’ve recently gone through a break-up, which is always a rough time but can actually be very inspiring too. I spent a few months going out and drinking too much which was fun and heartbreaking and awful all at once. Some of the material is personal and some of it is about other people, either people I’ve met or fictional characters. That’s always been a Passenger thing: sad stories about people drenched in disappointment with that sense of what could have been.”

Big Loud/Republic Records' Morgan Wallen will release his highly anticipated sophomore album, DANGEROUS: THE DOUBLE ALBUM, on January 8th. The vast 30-track project was written largely by Wallen throughout the last three years, while he was becoming "the fastest rising young star in country" (Variety). Further establishing his signature sound, it includes a strong arsenal of writers and features "More Than My Hometown", a countrified version of 3X Platinum Diplo collab, "Heartless" and more.

Soft-spoken with the look of a slightly disaffected 1950s matinee idol, Aaron Frazer possesses a unique voice that's both contemporary and timeless. On Introducing... - his debut solo album produced by The Black Keys' Dan Auerbach, co-released on Easy Eye Sound and Dead Oceans - Aaron melds mid-'60s soul with Auerbach's particular sensibilities ('Over You'), songs with a message in the key of Gil Scott-Heron ('Bad News'), and uplifting tales of love told through a blend of disco, gospel, and doo-wop ('Have Mercy').The Brooklyn-based, Baltimore-raised songwriter first came into the international spotlight as multi-instrumentalist and colead singer of Durand Jones & The Indications, but he's more than a revivalist act. "I didn't want Introducing... to be an exact recreation of an era or a style," Frazer says. "I'm excited to keep breaking some of the expectations around what exactly I'm supposed to be artistically and musically, or what this scene as a whole can be." On Introducing..., Aaron expertly calibrates consciousness-raising and the desire to be enveloped by love. Where previous records were written in a partial state of turmoil, Aaron's debut LP shows maturation and range. Introducing... is both loving and gracious, critical without losing hope, and a showcase of a young artist on a seriously soulful ascent.

Lewis Capaldi's critically acclaimed debut album Divinely Uninspired To A Hellish Extent is coming to its finale as a double CD which includes the Deluxe Edition as well as 12 additional live recordings of the original album tracks. The album also features smash hits "Someone You Loved", which is platinum in 17 markets and has been streamed over 1 billion times world-wide and Top 10 Hot 100 single "Before You Go" .

A lifelong bluegrass and country music fan, legendary singer, songwriter and producer Barry Gibb has long dreamed of a project that would bring him together with some of the artists he admires the most. With the help of Grammy Award-winning producer Dave Cobb, that dream has become a reality with GREENFIELDS: The Gibb Brothers Songbook, Vol. 1—out January 8th via Capitol Records. Featured artists roster includes Alison Krauss, Brandi Carlile, Dolly Parton, Keith Urban, Sheryl Crow and more.

Grandaddy was an American indie pop band formed in Modesto, California in 1992 by singer/guitarist/keyboardist Jason Lytle, bassist Kevin Garcia, and drummer Aaron Burtch. Although a noisy, lo-fi approach characterized early self-released recordings like 1994's Complex Party Come Along Theories, the band's sound expanded exponentially with the 1995 additions of guitarist Jim Fairchild and keyboardist Tim Dryden. Originally released in 2000, The Sophtware Slump is Grandaddy's critically acclaimed second studio release built around a concept concerned with the pitfalls of modern technology

Steven Wilson is a British singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and composer best known for his acclaimed progressive rock band Porcupine Tree. His five solo albums explore the realms of expansive rock, pop, electronica, and industrial, with an occasional metal and jazz tinge. This is a limited edition physical release of the single "12 THINGS I FORGOT" which features two extra tracks: "MOVE LIKE A FEVER" and "KING GHOST (Tangerine Dream Mix)".

2020 Deluxe Limited Edition LP of Beck’s 2019 album, Hyperspace, available December 4th! The LA native is partnering up with NASA for visual space missions tied to tracks from the album. Packaged in a holographic jacket; includes new 24-page booklet with AI images and NASA data for each track. The vinyl features two unreleased songs, ‘Dark Places (Soundscape)’ and ‘I Am The Cosmos (42420)’, plus brand-new 2020 mixes of ‘Star’, ‘Hyperspace’, ‘See Through’ and ‘Die Waiting’. 

'Sunset in the Blue' is an orchestral celebration of Melody Gardot's jazz roots, reuniting with the multi-Grammy winning team from her platinum-selling album 'My One and Only Thrill': Producer Larry Klein (Joni Mitchell, Herbie Hancock), arranger/composer Vince Mendoza ((Björk, Robbie Williams, Elvis Costello), legendary engineer Al Schmitt (Frank Sinatra, Bob Dylan, Paul McCartney). An underlying theme of determination to evolve her craft, present in all her work, continues on the new project.

Vinyl LP pressing. 2021 release. Since their founding in 2015, Swedish post-punk band Viagra Boys have made a name for themselves burning up stages around the world. There's a little Iggy Pop spit and seethe, a David Yow drunken stumble, and a bite of Nick Cave's haunted bark. Add a dash of motorik groove, a pinch of post-punk grime, and a dose of no wave howl. Welfare Jazz doesn't bargain with the anxiety in that defeated feeling, but rather a boiling certainty that nothing and no one is absolute. There's plenty of blame to go around, and things are just a lot more interesting when you admit that you're not always going to be nice, you're not always going to pick the right words in a fist-fight. So why not keep moving forward, swaying and strutting into the night.

Vinyl LP pressing. In 2020, the legendary self-titled debut of metal giants Iced Earth celebrates it's 30th anniversary! Originally released in 1990, Iced Earth now returns in a brand-new edition featuring high class remastering courtesy of Zeuss (Overkill, Queensrÿche). Jon Schaffer comments: "This 30 year old debut classic has been remixed and remastered from the original 2 inch tapes by Zeuss, and it sounds fantastic. It has a modern touch and still retains the dynamics of the original release. This is a big step forward sonically and visually."

White Vinyl. Epitaph Records is proud to announce the re-issue of Greg Graffin's long-out-of-print solo album from 1997. American Lesion,which has been newly remastered.

Swedish metal pioneers Rave The Reqviem are back with their 4th album, Stigmata Itch. With their new vocalist The Sister Svperior, the band has refined their sound to a spiritual level. The new album was masterfully crafted at Fascination Street Studios in Sweden. Prepare for an intense ride with cutting-edge metal, heavy electro beats, sweet melodies, and glorious symphonies that will make you lift your hallelujah!

2020 release. Produced by Grammy-winning Matt Ross-Spang. The popular touring act has built a reputation for surprising people with their talent, humor and sense of "why not?, with their signature American brand and high energy live shows. Bonnaroo labeled Strung Like a Horse the "Best Band Name," a moniker chosen in part for the volume of horsehair broken on their bows in their early days.

Good Night Songs for Rebel Girls album set for release on the 27th of November. The book brand Rebel Girls is partnering with Decca to create an album of empowering songs spanning generations, genres and geographies. It is Decca's goal to celebrate extraordinary women in music, both contemporary and historical.

From glittering New York, the sensational star Marisha Wallace has taken her immense talent around the world! On Broadway, Marisha has starred in shows such as Disney's Aladdin, The Book of Mormon and Something Rotten.  The album, packed full of uplifting covers as well as four brand new, original tracks is released in hopes of helping the world move forward from such a negative time – there are moments in the album intended to comfort & to cry to but also so many tracks to feel uplifted and inspired by as the world bands together, looking for a better ‘tomorrow’.

Digitally remixed and remastered. Nominated for the 2010 Mercury Music Prize. Reflecting the urgency and claustrophobia of city life, the record dispensed with the acoustic, folky and pastoral influences of Weller's recent work and introduced more jagged rock styles with angry, urban and metallic influences - Diamond Dogs, Low-period Bowie riffs. Very experimental, mostly short songs but with a sense of adventure - often packing a suite's worth of twists into one song. Jam fans will love the tightly wound collaboration with Bruce Foxton on 'Fast Car/Slow Traffic', the dense dangerous heartbeat and militaristic sound collage of '7&3 Is the Strikers Name' (featuring My Bloody Valentine's Kevin Shields).

Double vinyl LP pressing. 2020 live release. Recorded at their Worcester hometown headliner deemed their annual Thanxkilling in November 2019. This album features their most popular tracks from The Silver Scream' Every Trick In The Book, and The Predator Becomes The Prey. The album title and artwork pays homage to the classic NOFX I Heard They Suck Live while also featuring all of the horror figures covered in past releases.

On ‘Ugly is Beautiful,’ Oliver Tree takes his millions of followers on an unpredictable roller coaster ride through a cracked world full of comic disaster. ‘Ugly is Beautiful’ is the product of all of Oliver’s otherworldly experiences distilled into fourteen songs – the promise of his EPs, ‘Alien Boy’ and ‘Do You Feel Me?’ fulfilled. “The truth is, it’s my life’s work,” Oliver says.

The "Controlled Chaos" EP features six songs that were recorded in 10 days. The EP is a great balance of loud and clean vocals and a balance of heavy hard rock, grunge and Pink Floyd-esque songs.

By special arrangement with Blue Öyster Cult and its management, Real Gone Music is thrilled to present, for the first time on CD, the band's complete July 24, 1983 concert at Perkins Palace in Pasadena, CA. Originally recorded for radio broadcast, this was long regarded as one of the best-sounding BÖC bootlegs, and now it is finally coming out on authorized physical form, complete with liner notes by Scott Schinder and rare photos. Further confirmation that Donald 'Buck Dharma' Roeser is one of America's great, unsung guitar heroes (don't miss the 10-minute, concert-closing version of "Roadhouse Blues")!

The Waiting Game was the unsung tenor saxophonist Tina Brooks' final album, recorded in 1961 and released in `99. Joined here by Johnny Coles (trumpet), Kenny Drew (piano), Wilbur Ware (bass) & Philly Joe Jones (drums). Brooks penned five tracks, showcasing his unique compositional talent. Highlights include the opener "Talkin' About" and the modal masterpieces "Dhyana" and "David the King." Blue Note Tone Poet Series features all-analog, remastered 180-gram vinyl in deluxe gatefold packaging.

Trumpeter Donald Byrd and Hank Mobley (tenor sax) let listeners know that they are in for an exceptional musical experience on "Ghana". For these Byrd In Flight 1960 sessions, he was joined by Jackie Mclean (alto sax), Duke Pearson (piano), Doug Watkins/Reggie Workman (bass) & Lex Humphries (drums). Higlights include the stunning ballad "Little Girl Blue," and swingers "My Girl Shirl" and "Lex". Blue Note Tone Poet Series features all-analog, remastered 180-gram vinyl in deluxe gatefold package.

Finding Beauty in Negative Spaces is the fourth studio album by Platinum selling South African rock band Seether. The album, now RIAA certified Gold features the band’s biggest single, “Fake It,” as well as “Rise Above This” and “Remedy,” all of which were top 10 singles with the former two reaching #1 on several Billboard charts. This was the band’s first album to achieve Gold status in their home country of South Africa. This 2-LP set, available for the first time on vinyl, features artwork etching on side D and is available on Lavender Opaque Vinyl.

Karma and Effect is the third studio album by Platinum-selling South African rock band Seether. Upon its release in 2005, the album debuted in the top 10 in many countries around the world, with their new single “Remedy” holding the top spot on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart. A strong follow up to the success of Disclaimer II,Karma and Effect is now RIAA certified Gold. This 2-LP set, available for the first time on vinyl, features artwork etching on side D and is available on Burgundy Opaque Vinyl.  

Disclaimer II is the second studio album by Platinum-selling South African rock band Seether, and is known for featuring the band’s breakout hit “Broken.” Originally a simple acoustic ballad, it was reworked into an electric ballad that featured Amy Lee of Evanescence. This version went on to become RIAA certified platinum and reached the top 10 of the Billboard Mainstream Top 40 chart. Now RIAA certified Platinum as well, the album also features the fan favorite “Fine Again.” This 2-LP set has never before been released on vinyl and is available on Raspberry Red Opaque Vinyl.

Nothing about Call Me Spinster is ordinary. The closer you look at this trio of sisters from Chattanooga, Tennessee, the harder it is to locate something about their sound, background, or energy that delivers predictable results. From their arrangements that employ both pristine vocal harmonies and unorthodox instruments to the streaks of self-aware humor that sneak into their videos and social media presence, Call Me Spinster blurs old-timey traditions with modernized pop fun without ever landing in expected territory.

On their first EP of original material, Call Me Spinster manages to illuminate various keystones of their sound as they explore new impulses, the songs cohering around their steadfast musical vision, intricate personalities, and the type of telepathic musical connection that only siblings can share. It’s a brief introduction to their wide-reaching but somehow singular sound, and a stellar starting point for becoming acquainted with a band that’s truly unlike any other.

Triple vinyl LP pressing. 2020 collection. Craft Recordings honors the music of The Gospel Truth Records, a subsidiary of Stax Records, with the first-ever complete collection of all 17 singles-and their respective B-sides-issued by the imprint between 1972 and 1974. This set features in-depth liner notes by Memphis-based journalist Jared Boyd, who captured new interviews with Stax executive Al Bell, trailblazing gospel artist Rance Allen, and Mary Peak Patterson, who helped establish the label.