New Reviews for October 11, 2024

The Heart, The Mind, The Soul
Verve Forecast
R&B
A three-part spoken-word project with production from James Poyser, Iman Omari, and Robert Glasper.
- Andy Kellman
Backbone
The brilliant Australian singer/songwriter boldly demonstrates why she's been a giant of roots music for a quarter-century.
- Mark Deming
PortraitEditor's choice
Verve
The Grammy-winning singer leads a lushly arranged octet on her fourth album.
- Matt Collar
GoatEditor's choice
Rocket Recordings
The band deliver the usual dose of gnarly guitars, freak folk, and mystical biker psych, this time with some well-played hip-hop influences added in.
- Tim Sendra
Legend of E'boi (The Hypervigilant Eye)
AUM Fidelity
The alto saxophonist and his trio examine free jazz, spirituals, gospel, blues, and wild improvisation on the seventh entry in his Manish Boy project.
- Thom Jurek
Terra FirmaEditor's choice
Foreign Exchange Music
R&B, Rap
A varied and cohesive collaborative work from the Grammy-nominated producer, this ranges from some unexpected boom bap to an "IYKYK" nod to Stevie Wonder.
- Andy Kellman
Blues BloodEditor's choice
Blue Note
With a quartet, vocalists, and select guests, the alto saxophonist explores a racial incident from 1964 through a lens that reflects modern society.
- Thom Jurek
Cosmic American Music: Motel CaliforniaEditor's choice
Various Artists
Numero / Numero Group
The second volume of a compilation series focused on obscure country-rock and psychedelic Americana artists from the late '60s and early '70s.
- Fred Thomas
Shock Tactics
AllMusic Staff Pick - October 11, 2024
1981
Samson's best album, 1981's Shock Tactics, was the last to feature singer Bruce Dickinson (then known simply as Bruce Bruce). The band's songwriting had improved and was comparable to other up-and-coming British heavy metal bands at the time, such as Saxon, Diamond Head, and Iron Maiden.
- Greg Prato