twostepcub's New Album Roundup 10/9/22...

 

 

Hey folks, it's time for this week's New Album Roundup, where I sample my picks of the albums making their debut on the charts in the United States and United Kingdom this week. You can catch up with my singles recap by clicking here. And off we go...

 

Subject To Change - Kelsea Ballerini

#18 on the Billboard 200

Choice cut: "Heartfirst"

 

 After experimenting with different styles in the past few years, Ballerini returns with her fourth studio album smack dab in what passes for "mainstream female country", aka Taylor Swift in the early 2010s. It's a fun ride, especially in the lead single love story redux.

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Stranger In The Alps - Phoebe Bridgers

#82 on the Billboard 200  

Choice cut: "Motion Sickness"

Well, this record is five years old, but makes its first appearance on the Billboard 200 thanks to a vinyl re-issue. Still, it's great to harken back to realize that Bridgers was a force of nature right out of the gate proving you don't have to have a naive waif-like coo to make it as a woman artist in indie-rock music.

Ali - Vieux Farka Touré and Khruangbin

#11 on the Current Album Sales chart

Choice cut: "Savanne"

Last week I featured Malian guitarist Touré and Texas group Khruangbin's collaboration on my singles recap, and this week the album featuing "Tongo Barra" and other songs of Vieux's father Ali Farka Touré, an icon in African music, arrives on the chart. Stunning guitar work and incorporation of beats that tie the continent to reggae music make this a great weekend afternoon outside listen.

The Hum Goes On Forever - The Wonder Years

#12 on the Current Albums Sales chart

Choice cut: "Oldest Daughter"

This power-pop group from Lansdale, Pennsylvania brings us back to the 2000's with this melodic wall of screaming sound. 

 

Caprisongs - FKA Twigs

#20 on the Current Albums Sales chart

Choice cut: "tears in the club"

 

 You know, I don't quite fully "get" the meaning of "mixtape" these days. In the past, it signified at first the thing you made for your friends from your own cassettes, then a various artists compilations put together by a particular DJ or rapper. Now, it seems like the term is something to avoid record company contracts or the continuity of regular "studio albums" in case of a failure. With FKA Twigs, she didn't take chances by pulling in "ringer" the Weeknd for this song from the set, which blurs the lines between dream-pop and bedroom soul.

The Asylum Albums 1972-1975 - Joni Mitchell

#21 on the Current Albums Sales chart

Choice cut: "Help Me"

The revered folk-rock hero gets a remaster/reissue treatment of three of her 70s studio albums, For The Roses, Court And Spark, and The Hissing Of Summer Lawns, along with the live set Miles Of Aisles, which brings in older classics in concert. Absolutely essential, do not pass her by because of her rightful stance with Spotify.

Denim and Diamonds - Nikki Lane

#24 on the Current Albums Sales chart

Choice cut: "First High"

This slick take on Americana by Carolina newcomer Lane will perk up the ears of Sheryl Crow fans.

The Cage EP - Billy Idol

#30 on the Current Albums Sales chart

Choice cut: "Running From The Ghost"

I actually enjoyed this return from the pioneer in marrying punk with pop more than I did with his counterpart in goth rock, Ozzy Osbourne. Short and to the point, with bangers throughout and Idol in prime form.

In These Times - Makaya McCraven

#34 on the Current Albums Sales chart

Choice cut: "Dream Another"

Jazz fusion artist McCraven delivers a lush and entrancing set that beats the genre's stodgy stereotypes. This song in particular is a great one to fall asleep to.

Detour - Boney James

#36 on the Current Albums Sales chart

Choice cut: "Coastin'"

On the more soulful side of jazz is the return of the saxophone veteran, which includes this lovely number with Lalah Hathaway. Good breakfast music.

Things Happen That Way - Dr. John

#53 on the Current Albums Sales chart

Choice cut: "I Walk On Guilded Splinters"

Three years after his passing, bayou music legend Dr. John gets a release of music he was working on at the time of his death. It's more than a revelation, including this retake of a song from his classic Gris Gris album.

Weather Alive - Beth Orton

#55 on the Current Albums Sales chart

Choice cut: "Weather Alive"

An early leader in the melding of electronic music and folk, Orton is back with this haunting set perfect for the cooler temperatures.

 

High Voltage Blues - Anthony Gomes

#64 on the Current Albums Sales chart

Choice cut: "Painted Horse"

 

 If you want something to crank up in the car with the windows down, here ya go. Unadulterated retro blues-hard rock from the Canadian guitarist/singer.

Married Alone - Sunny Sweeney

#67 on the Current Albums Sales chart

Choice cut: "Married Alone"

Nashville should be brought up on charges for downplaying Sweeney, who is back with her fifth studio album (and third indie set), but thankfully country icon Vince Gill knows better, and lends a hand with this tearjerking title track.

Songs I'd Swore I'd Never Sing - Benjamin Tod

#69 on the Current Albums Sales chart

Choice cut: "Not Coming Home"

Speaking of the jerking of tears, alt-bluegrass singer Tod gets deep and extremely personal on this stark and bleak record. Don't expect happy endings.

Hyper-Dimensional Expansion Beam - The Comet Is Coming

#73 on the Current Albums Sales chart

Choice cut: "CODE"

Along with the sets from McCraven and Boney James, this fusion of electronica and jazz completes the triumvirate of great new jazz releases this week. Not for quite times, but possibly for the dance floor.

Donington '83 - Dio

#89 on the Current Albums Sales chart

Choice cut: "Holy Diver"

The metal band's live sets from the UK from 1983 and 1987 originally out in 2018 are re-released separately this time, and the '83 set is the tighter of the two. Relive your headbanging arena-rock experience from the 80's if you were there (or wish you were).

Love, Drugs & Misery - Eva Under Fire

#99 on the Current Albums Sales chart

Choice cut: "Blow"

Now for the current state of hard rock is this female-led band that kicks it hard, including this track that originally came out a year ago in the cult movie The Retaliaters. Keep on hand for Halloween.

Breathe - Chad Lawson

#100 on the Current Albums Sales chart

Choice cut: "Irreplaceable"

Classical pianist Lawson is out with this beautiful piece that features the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra among others. If you would like to clear your mind, give this a try.

 

Gulp! - Sports Team

#3 on the British Albums chart

Choice cut: "R Entertainment"

 

 Some fist-pumping angst from across the pond with the second album from the band from the oldest surviving university in the world.

EBM - Editors  

#10 on the British Albums chart

Choice cut: "Heart Attack"

The British electronic rock act return with a softer side of industrial music, with the addition of Benjamin John Power of Blanck Mass.

I hope something new and worthy caught your ear. Please let me know what you liked! And as always, thanks for reading!

Cheers

2sc