Twostepcub's New Album Roundup 10/23/22...

 

 

Hey folks, it's time for my weekly new album roundup, where I give you my picks of the albums making their debut on the charts in the U.S. and the United Kingdom. You can catch up with my "singles" roundup from yesterday by clicking here..

 

Maxident - Stray Kids

Billboard 200 debut: #1

Billboard Current Album Sales debut: #1

Choice cut: "Case 143"

 

 With the current kings of K-Pop, BTS, on hiatus for solo projects and mandatory military service, younger upstarts Stray Kids pick up the slack with an equal amount of dolled up members to spread around the fanbase. They don't copy, though, as their approach is more about the rhythm than the melody and this bouncy track exemplifies that. 

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Charlie - Charlie Puth

Billboard 200 debut: #10

Billboard Current Albums Sales debut: #5 

British Albums Top-100 debut: #9

Choice cut: "Light Switch"

Puth's third full-length album has the singer/songwriter pairing up with Jungkook of BTS on one song, but the rest is all his quirky nerdness aiming to be the straight Ben Platt.

Blue Rev - Alvvays

Billboard 200 debut: #61

Billboard Current Albums Sales debut: #6 

British Albums Top-100 debut: #27

Choice cut: "Pharmacist"

 

 

 If you're missing Haim, check out this third album from these Canadians for your power-pop fix. 

Into The Blue - Broken Bells

Billboard Current Albums Sales debut: #13

Choice cut: "We're Not In Orbit Yet"

The third effort from the L.A. band is a trippy affair that should win over some Pink Floyd fans. 

 

Digital Noise Alliance - Queensryche 

Billboard Current Albums Sales debut: #14

Choice cut: "In Extremis"

Progressive metal veterans return with their sixteenth studio set, and fourth with new lead singer Todd La Torre. 

Under The Midnight Sun - The Cult

Billboard Current Albums Sales debut: #15

British Albums Top-100 debut: #15

Choice cut: "Give Me Mercy"

Another hard rock act from the 80's are back as Ian Astbury and the guys timed the Halloween release time nicely. Straddling the line between Jim Morrison and Ian Curtis, Astbury leads you down the dark side with a melodic flair.

HEAL - The Rose

Billboard Current Albums Sales debut: #17

Choice cut: "Childhood"

Not all K-Pop is the same, as illustrated by this beautiful album from this Korean indie-rock act that finally breaks free from their former record company for their first full-length that includes this beautiful track.

 

Rolling Golden Holy - Bonny Light Horseman

Billboard Current Album Sales debut: #52

Choice cut: "California"

 

 Folk supergroup delivers their second albums together which is perfect for that fall hike outdoors.

Farm To Table - Bartees Strange

Billboard Current Albums Sales debut: #62

Choice cut: "Wretched"

 

 This second disc from the British-born American singer is maybe my fave of the week, merging driving beats with soulful singing and lyrics and rock sensabilities. A real deep dive of a listen.

Eclipse - Hilary Hahn with the Frankfurt Radio Symphony

Billboard Current Albums Sales debut: #74

Choice cut: "Carmen Fantasy, Op. 25: I. Moderato"

A rare "true" classical piece reaches the charts, as violinist Hahn interprets the works of Dvorak, Ginastera, and Serasate's Carmen adaptation. 

Laminated Denim (EP) - King Grizzard & The Lizard Wizard

Billboard Current Albums Sales debut: #84

Choice cut: "The Land Before Timeland"

The new jam band leaders from Australia enter the chart with two releases this week, but this is my fave thanks to this driving number that didn't lose my interest in its hefty 15 minutes.

N.K-Pop - Paul Heaton & Jacqui Abbott

British Albums Top-100 debut: #1

Choice cut: "Too Much For One (Not Enough For Two)"

 

 Britpop legend Heaton and his Beautiful South bandmate Abbott release their fifth album together with sounds great as an update to the classic sound that dominated the English scene of the early 80s.

Maybe In Another Life - Easy Life

British Albums Top-100 debut: #2

Choice cut: "Dear Miss Holloway"

 

 British indie-rock group's sophomore album is more California pop of today, including a cameo from Brockhampton rapper Kevin Abstract.

Yearbook - RJ Thompson

British Albums Top-100 debut: #40

Choice cut: "Feel Alive"

 

 Singer/songwriter from northern England gives us sweeping pop anthems in the mold of Tom Grennan and Ed Sheeran. 

That's all for this week! Let me know what tickled your fancy, or anything else I may have missed. Cheers!