The third week of new releases for March! 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 see releases from the past several weeks…
Asia, Gravitas (Frontiers/Universal)
Animals as Leaders, The Joy of Motion (Prosthetic)
The Bad Plus, The Rite of Spring (Masterworks)
The piano-bass-drums trio (Ethan Iverson, Reid Anderson, and David King) delivers their interpretation of Igor Stravinsky's infamous score.
The Baseball Project, 3rd (Yep Roc)
Big Scary, Not Art (Barsuk)
Boy George, This Is What I Do (Very Me)
[US release]
Burnt Ones, Gift (Castle Face)
Johnny Cash, Out Among the Stars (Columbia/Legacy)
A 12-track lost album originally recorded at Columbia Studios in 1981 and 1111 Sound Studios in 1984, and produced by Billy Sherrill; includes duets with June Carter Cash and Waylon Jennings and features Cash with an expanded ensemble featuring a young Marty Stuart on guitar and mandolin and Nashville A-Team members Jerry Kennedy (guitar), Pete Drake (steel guitar), Hargus "Pig" Robbins (piano) and Henry Strzelecki (bass). These recordings have never been released in any form — they are truly found recordings that were in the vaults during the years Columbia Records released Johnny Cash's last albums for the label and were subsequently forgotten. Acclaimed director John Hillcoat produced a video for a song fromthe album. Check out the clip after the jump along with the rest of this week's releases...
Chimurenga Renaissance, riZe vadZimu riZe (Brick Lane)
A Shabazz Palaces side project featuring Baba Maraire, Palaceer Lazaro, Hussein Kalonji and guest spotsby Mall Saint, M1 of Dead Prez, and THEESatisfaction. Check "The B.A.D Is So Good" below.
Circa Zero, Circus Hero (429)
The project of Andy Summers (guitarist of The Police) and producer, singer, songwriter Rob Giles (of The Rescues).
The Colourist, The Colourist (Republic)
Combichrist, We Love You (Metropolis)
Future Islands, Singles (4AD)
Grieves, Winter & The Wolves (Rhymesayers)
Golden Retriever, Seer (Thrill Jockey)
Jimi Goodwin, Odludek (PIAS America)
Of Doves
Robby Hecht, Robby Hecht (Old Man Henry Records)
The Hold Steady, Teeth Dreams (Razor & Tie)
Jean Jacket, Jean Jacket (On Decades Records)
Elton John, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road Super Deluxe Box Set (Universal)
An ultimate 40th anniversary re-issue package that, in addition to a brand new remaster of the original album, includes: Goodbye Yellow Brick Road Revisited, nine new cover versions of classic songs from the LP as done by Ed Sheeran, Emeli Sandé, Fall Out Boy, Hunter Hayes, Imelda May, John Grant, Miguel featuring Wale, The Band Perry, and Zac Brown Band; Beyond The Yellow Brick Road, single B-sides and bonus tracks; Elton John Live At Hammersmith Odeon, a complete live concert from December 1973; a DVD of the '73 film, Elton John and Bernie Taupin Say Goodbye To Norma Jean And Other Things; and a 100-page hardback book full of rare pics, memorabilia and a new essay containing interviews with Elton John and Bernie Taupin.
Karmin, Pulses (Epic)
Liars, Mess (Mute)
The follow up to 2012’s WIXIW, described as "an angry, ecstatic, primal burst of ritualistic electronics that sacrifices self persecution for potent, purposeful abandon." More info here. Listen to "Mess on a Mission" below.
London Grammar, If You Wait (Columbia)
Barry Manilow, Night Songs (Stiletto)
Memphis May Fire, Unconditional (Rise)
Kylie Minogue, Kiss Me Once (Warner Bros.)
The Montauk Project, Belly of the Beast (self-release)
Mr Little Jeans, Pocketknife (Harvest)
Owls, Two (Polyvinyl)
John Németh, ‘Memphis Grease (Blue Corn Music)
Jon Porras, Light Divide (Thrill Jockey)
Chuck Ragan, Till Midnight (Side One Dummy)
Sage the Gemini, Remember Me (Black Money Music Group/EMPIRE/Republic Records)
Seahaven, Reverie Lagoon: Music For Escapism Only (Run For Cover Records)
Shakira, Shakira (RCA)
Sleeper Agent, About Last Night (RCA / Mom + Pop)
Tokyo Police Club, Forcefield (Mom & Pop)
Various Artists, Bob Dylan In The 80s: Volume One (ATO Records)
The first in a series produced by Jesse Lauter (Elvis Perkins, The Low Anthem) and Sean O'Brien (Dawes, PAPA) to shed new light on under-appreciated or ignored Bob Dylan cuts spanning 1980's Saved through 1990's Under The Red Sky (and including unreleased material — the "80s Basement Tapes"— as well as songs from The Traveling Wilburys). Among the contributors on this first go-round: Built To Spill ("Jokerman"), Reggie Watts ("Brownsville Girl (Reprise)"), Deer Tick ("Night After Night"), Aaron Freeman (Ween) & Slash ("Wiggle Wiggle"), Marco Benevento ("Every Grain Of Sand") and Blitzen Trapper ("Unbelievable") among others. A portions of proceeds from album sales go to Pencils of Promise, a non-profit that builds schools and increases educational opportunities in the developing world.
Withered Hand, New Gods (Slumerland)