September has proved a fruitful month already with some rather intriguing releases on its first Tuesday (more about the most noteworthy ones at the very bottom of this post). The second week features some more much-anticipated jams. Info and links for the ones you want to know about most below, plus some other ones you may not 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.
2 Chainz, B.O.A.T.S. II: Me Time (Def Jam)
Arctic Monkeys, AM (Domino)
The punchy snotty upbeat post-punk revivalists from the UK present a fifth studio album that could prove to be a favorite this year, if the first track, "Why'd You Only Call Me When You're High?" (video below) is any indication...
ARMS, EP2 (Paper Garden Records)
Willis Earl Beal, Nobody knows (HXC/XL)
Balance And Composure, The Things We Think We're Missing (No Sleep)
Body/Head, Coming Apart (Matador)
The debut from the new minimalist noise project of Kim Gordon (Sonic Youth) and Bill Nace.
Sheryl Crow, Feels Like Home (Warner Brothers)
Toothy pop-country crossover mistress Crow delivers another twangy record recorded in Memphis.
Delorean, Subiza (True Panther/Mushroom Pillow)
Earth, Wind And Fire, Now, Then & Forever (Legacy)
Gloria Estefan, The Standards (Sony Masterworks)
Factory Floor, Factory Floor (DFA)
Gipsy Kings, Savor Flamenco (Knitting Factory Records)
Goldfrapp, Tales of Us (Mute)
A complete change of sonic direction for Goldfrapp, from the neon-hued synthpop of 2010's Head First to the subtler, more finely layered lushness and organic instrumentation of their cinematic sixth LP. Check out "Drew" after the jump along with the rest of this week's (and last week's) new releases...
Holy Ghost!, Dynamics (DFA)
Human Parts, Human Parts (No Idea)
The project of ex-Against Me! bassist Andrew Seward
Infinity Shred, Sanctuary (Paracadute)
J. Roddy Walston & The Business, Essential Tremors (ATO)
Jacuzzi Boys, Jacuzzi Boys (Hardly Art)
Miami cheeky-fun indie rock trio Jacuzzi Boys — who hit New World Brewery on Fri., Nov. 1 — issue their third full-length. Check out "Double Vision" below.
Joanna Gruesome, Weird Sister (Slumberland)
The tense and coiled noise pop of Cardiff-based five-piece Joanna Gruesome finds itself onto a debut full-length, a blend of fuzzy jangle and discordant feedback with super-speed punk tempos and boy-girl harmonies. "Sugarcrush" below...
George Jones, Amazing Grace (Bandit/Welk)
The first of what’ll likely turn out to be many posthumous releases from the classic country singer. This album was largely recorded in 2002 and finds Jones supported by producer Billy Sherrill as he cycles through a collection of gospel classics
Kaskade, Atmosphere (Ultra Music)
Katatonia, Dethroned and Uncrowned (Kscope)
Mark Knopfler, Privateering (Verve)
Lightnin Malcolm, Rough Out There (Shakedown Records)
Lil Daggers, No Pizza No Peace EP (Beyond Beyond Is Beyond)
Lissie, Back to Forever (Fat Possum)
London Grammar, If You Wait (Columbia)
The U.S. release
Man Man, On Oni Pond (ANTI-)
Maps, Vicissitude (Mute)
Melvins, Live at Third Man Records (Third Man Records)
Minus the Bear, Acoustics II (Self-Release)
Janelle Monáe, The Electric Lady (Bad Boy/Wondaland/Atlantic)
The modern alternative soul/R&B/future funk songstress and rhyme-slinging artist with the Afro-hawk, sweet pixie face and sharp-dressed style has consistently delivered strong material, and the sounds coming from her third full-length are rather intriguing, from her slow jam duet "Prime Time" with Miguel — aka the sensual vocalist who croons on pretty much every hot track these days to the more funky bumpin' jam with Erykah Badu, "Q.U.E.E.N." (video below; classic line: "They be like 'oooh, let them eat cake' / But we eat wang then throw them bones on the ground"). Prince and Esperanza Spaulding also appear on the album.
Moving Units, Neurotic Exotic (Metropolis Records)
Mrenc, All Around Surround (New Granada Records)
Obits, Bed & Bugs (Sub Pop)
The Orwells, Who Needs You EP (East End/Canvasback)
Rathborne, SOFT (Dilettante/True Believer)
The Rubens, The Rubens (Warner Bros.)
The Starfolk, The Starfolk (Korda Records)
The Stepkids, Troubadour (Stones Throw)
Terry Malts, Nobody Realizes This Is Nowhere (Slumberland)
Emiliana Torrini, Tookah (Rough Trade)
The Icelandic songstress who's not Bjork has a more ambient pop-tronic sound than her countrywoman as well as a sexier vocal delivery. This is her sixth studio album. First single "Speed Of Dark" below...
Trombone Shorty, Say That To Say This (Verve)
Two Cow Garage, The Death of the Self-Preservation Society (Last Chance Records)
Keith Urban, Fuse (Hit Red/Capitol Nashville)
The Weeknd, Kiss Land (XO/Republic)
The alternative R&B artist hits the Straz Center on Sept. 26.
The White Buffalo, Shadows, Greys, and Evil Ways (Unison Music Group).
A quick look back at some noteworthy releases that dropped last Tues., Sept. 3, in case you were feeling like you missed out because I was out and couldn’t give you the skinny …
Bastille, Bad Blood (Virgin Records)
U.S. Release
Chelsea Wolfe, Pain is Beauty (Sargent House)
Glasvegas, Later… When the TV Turns to Static (Go Wow Records/BMG)
Holograms, Forever (Captured Tracks)
John Legend, Love in the Future (Columbia)
Jonathan Radio (of Foxygen), Law and Order (Woodsist)
King Khan & The Shrines, Idle No More (Merge)
Ministry, From Beer To Eternity (13th Planet)
Release date: Sept. 6.
Neko Case, The Worse Things Get, the Harder I Fight, the Harder I Fight, the More I Love You (ANTI-)
Nine Inch Nails, Hesitation Marks (Columbia)
North Mississippi Allstars, World Boogie is Coming (Songs of the South Records)
Okkervil River, The Silver Gymnasium (ATO Records)
Volcano Choir, Repave (Jagjaguwar)