Featured New
Releases for
April 22, 2014
Loom
Kanine Records
Incredibly catchy and dark proper debut by this U.K. indie pop group builds on their brilliantly raw singles collection.
The New Classic
Def Jam
Icy cold and sometimes bold, the Australian rapper's debut is a mix of party anthems and put-downs.
Love Apparatus
Nomadic Music
Chiefly produced by Machine Drum, this offers the best yet from the poetic, breathy-voiced alternative R&B gallant.
Sugar
Brushfire / Republic
Marking the group's 20th anniversary, the original G. Love trio reunited for their seventh studio album.
The Way and Color
Carpark Records
Inspired by '90s R&B, TEEN focus their experimental leanings into a set of exciting, ambitious, and womanly songs.
Pop Psychology
Mercury / Virgin EMI
On their third album, Neon Trees have fun with their emotional crises, resulting in some of their best and most heartfelt music.
The Cautionary Tales of Mark Oliver Everett
E Works
A regretful yet oddly hopeful tone washes through these rather muted, weary, and almost whispered musings.
Demolicious
Reprise
Collection of previously unreleased raw, fun demos recorded around the same time as the band's 2012 album trilogy.
Various Artists
Farewell Transmission: The Music of Jason Molina
Rock the Cause
The third tribute album in the year since his passing is the most satisfying and consistent, and marks the songwriter's ever-widening influence.
Ready Steady Go!
Surfdog Records
The former Nickelodeon star's rockabilly-influenced third album, featuring production from Brian Setzer.
![Album cover for The Amazing Spider-Man 2 [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack] by Hans Zimmer / Hans Zimmer & the Magnificent Six](https://fastly-s3.allmusic.com/release/mr0004128131/front/220/qj5P4GY7KV37DPnpCZQY4SpQg_7iAU1wjqLgK_xGXts=.jpg)
The Amazing Spider-Man 2 [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack]
Columbia
Zimmer strikes a nice balance between the faded glory of Spidey's comic book origins and the high-octane assault of the 2013 summer blockbuster.
Music from Republik der Wölfe
Mute
This all-star musical theater revisioning of the Brothers Grimm fairy tales -- via Anne Sexton -- is dark, funny, engaging, and seductive.
Various Artists
The Space Project
Lefse Records
Conceptual compilation gathers songs by indie-leaning artists based around sounds transmitted from deep space.
Aviation
Redzone Records
The New York glam band goes for a party-ready dance sound via production by Christopher "Tricky" Stewart.
Fortune
Sugar Hill
An album of band originals, all with vocals, done in a garage folk-rock style, and with hardly a trace of bluegrass.
![Album cover for Bad Blood [Bonus Disc] by Bastille](https://fastly-s3.allmusic.com/release/mr0004036271/front/220/_LEVYwx92XDMPEw6ay6QaASijaXJlYnq0St31qpAJWo=.jpg)
Bad Blood [Bonus Disc]
Virgin / Virgin EMI
Demos, B-sides, and two new tracks add more depth to the anthemic electro-pop of Bastille's debut.
Long Time...Seldom Scene
Smithsonian Folkways Recordings
The progressive bluegrass stalwarts return to form with a warmly produced collection of re-adapted fan favorites.
These Are the Good Times: The Complete Capitol Recordings
Now Sounds
Impressive collection of mid-'60s sides from the actress and model, showing she was a gifted vocalist as well.
Amphetamine Ballads
Domino
Emotionally powerful but musically stark debut album from this much buzzed-about U.K. trio.
The Apache Relay
Nomadic Records / So Recordings
The Nashville outfit continues to shift toward a more pop-oriented sound on their resonant and lushly produced third album.
Better Than Expected
Don Giovanni
Acid folk veteran Peter Stampfel creates a modern marvel in six hours with this oddball collection of banjo jams and playful ranting.
![Album cover for Dizzy Polizzy [LP] by Purling Hiss](https://fastly-s3.allmusic.com/release/mr0004116561/front/220/Go5NR4Rh8e1KPFlPE34o0x_TZlp6n_cq-Emr2zx15tU=.jpg)
Dizzy Polizzy [LP]
Drag City
Collection of incredibly lo-fi early tunes captures the germ of what would sharpen into a brilliant grunge pop band.
Give 'Em Hell
Frontiers Records
The Skid Row singer comes back fast and furious on this album, featuring Guns N' Roses' Duff McKagan on bass.
Rollin' with the Blues Boss
Stony Plain
Once again merges old-time boogie-woogie stride piano with a modern and contemporary blues sound.
Haul Away!
Love Da Records / Play It Again Sam
The second offering from the Manchester singer/songwriter continues to play up the jazzy, cabaret-folk tones with inspirations from the sea.
Playing Guitar the Easy Way
Light in the Attic Records
Originally released in 1978, Michael Chapman's guitar instruction record stands on its own as a compelling instrumental entry in his catalog.
Better Days Comin'
Frontiers Records
Winger delicately balance big-haired nostalgia and middle-aged craft.
Brahms & Schumann: The Piano Quintets
Foghorn Classics
Both readings here are tremendously exciting, and the musicians do a good job of getting these two works to belong together.
Bach and the Early Pianoforte
Piano Classics
This program effectively places Bach's music into a wider keyboard context that involves keyboards of several kinds.
Ravel: Ma mère l'oye; Mussorgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition
Zig Zag Territoires
Ravel's Ma mère l'oye and his orchestration of Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition are performed on early 20th century instruments.
Bach: Easter Oratorio; Actus Tragicus
SDG (Soli Deo Gloria) / Soli Deo Gloria
This has the typical positives of Gardiner's Bach recordings: warmth, deep familiarity with the texts, and smooth ensemble work.
Medieval Chant and Tallis Lamentations
Bene Arte / Signum Classics
Musically this works beautifully. The Tenebrae Consort is pared down and the entire event has an intimate quality, centered on the texts.
Le Jardin de Monsieur Rameau
Les Arts Florissants
This ebullient release makes an ideal introduction to the French music of the middle 18th century. Highly recommended.