New Music - May 2011

Felice Brothers

Pop/Folk

". . . [Their] new and fourth LP Celebration, Florida is an exhilarating amalgamation of frightening horn sections, unexpected 808s, ambient synth lines, schoolyard taunts, booming, primitive drum beats, heavy bass lines, piano, violin, accordion, ringing guitars, rave beats, and sinister acid jazz that captivates and mystifies."

Randy Newman

Pop/Folk

Randy Newman takes a fresh look at both classic and more recent work in new solo takes on 16 of his celebrated songs, surveying 40 years of recordings. Songbook Vol. 2, includes songs spanning from the 1968 album Randy Newman through Newman’s most recent, 2008’s Harps and Angels. MusicOMH calls it "an invigorating celebration of the power of music, and a delicate declaration of the power of one man and his piano."

Susana Baca

World Music

"As the album title indicates, the material on Afrodiaspora is from all over South America and the Caribbean, coming from countries with a strong African element in their music due to the slave trade. Baca infuses every song and style with her own understated elegance, adding elements of son, cumbia, plena, son jarocho, and other types of music to her own Afro-Peruvian style."

Greg Brown

Pop/Folk

 The contemporary singer-songwriter's 24th studio album is also his first for the Yep Roc label.  Produced by his longtime guitarist Bo Ramsey, Freak Flag focuses on Brown's more recent country-blues sound, including covers of songs by Iris Dement and his daughter Pieta Brown. 

Levon Helm

Pop/Folk

The former drummer and singer for The Band has been hosting "rambles" at his Woodstock, NY, home for years. Moving the proceedings to Nashville's legendary Ryman Auditorium, Helm is joined by Sheryl Crow, Buddy Miller, Sam Bush, and more.  

Various Artists

Pop/Folk

In celebration of Bob Dylan's 70th birthday, a selection of folk and Americana artists offer their interpretations of his classic songs.  Contributors include John Gorka, Eliza Gilkyson, Hot Tuna, and more.

Roseanne Cash

Pop/Folk

Provides a survey of the contemporary country/folk songwriter.  Songs range from her earliest work to her most recent;  from "Seven Year Ache" to "Sea of Heartbreak."
 

Chip Taylor and Friends

Pop/Folk

For his new project, Chip Taylor assembled a band of longtime friends and musicians for a tribute to unheralded session musicians, "rock and roll joes."  With guitarist John Platania, vocalist and fiddler Kendel Carson and others, the results are consistent with Taylor's more recent releases.  Sometimes whisper-quiet, sometimes irreverent, generally nostalgic glimpses back to a time when Taylor wrote his early hits like "Wild Thing" and "Angel of the Morning".

Joseph Arthur

Pop/Folk

As heard on NPR.  Arthur has filled his last several projects with great amounts of sound and instrumentation.  For this new collection of dark pop, Arthur is still surrounded by strings, drums, and backing vocals, but he demonstrates an ability to exercise restraint and employ nuance.

Brandi Carlile

Pop/Folk

Carlile wowed fans of her first two studio albums with a powerhouse voice and truly dramatic song readings. Her first live album carries on the love affair with the live stage, backed by her longtime band and a symphony orchestra. 

Kate & Anna McGarrigle

Pop/Folk

This tribute to Anna and her late sister Kate focuses on their first two albums as a duo. In addition to remastered versions of these well-known songs, the collection offers outtakes and unheard demos.

Various Artists

Jazz

The world music label offers a veritable "who's who" of essential jazz artists. Offerings include pieces by Louis Armstrong, Chet Baker, Nina Simone, and more.