Twostepcub's New Albums Roundup 02/26/23...
It's time for my weekly new albums roundup, where I take a look at the
big albums on this week's American and British albums charts, along with
my choices of the new records I think you should check out. To catch up
on this week's singles round, you can click here.
This week has a chameleon rock trio enter the top ten on the "big" Billboard 200 chart which counts both sales and streaming (for better or worse), while two metal and two veteran rock acts drop in on the top ten on their current albums sales list.
Billboard 200 debut: #2
Billboard Current Albums Sales debut: #1
Choice cut: "Big Man, Little Dignity"
Official British Albums Chart debut: #1
I featured the threesome's "Running Out Of Time" on my singles recap yesterday, and that track and this easy-going song are my highlighted of this diverse disc that are arranged around insecurity as a common theme.
(Click below to see the rest of the post)
Billboard 200 debut: #14
Current Albums Sales debut: #3
British Albums Chart debut: #43
Choice cut: "Emergency Contact"
After a seven-year break that saw the band's drummer exit amidst statutory rape allegations, the California post-hardcore turned pop-punk band soften up a little bit relatively for their fifth album, but the angst still rages beneath. This one stands out from the shouting.
Billboard 200 debut: #110
Current Albums Sales debut: #6
British Albums Chart debut: #79
Choice cut: "Forgone, Pt. 1"
Almost three decades after their debut album, the Swedish death metal outfit are back reinvigorated and deliver a dirty loud record the fans should eat up if they miss the pop-ification of the genre.
Billboard 200 debut: #186
Current Albums Sales debut: #20
Choice cut: "Mountain With A View"
There's nothing that inspires good country music more than real life, and Kelsea Ballerini bares her soul on Valentine's Day with this short 6-song minimovie and extended play record about the downfall of her marriage to Morgan Evans. It's cutting (she even mentions Evans' current single "Over For You" in it) but completely vulnerable and it's my pick for the album of the week.
Billboard 200 debut: #193
Current Albums Sales debut: #7
British Albums Chart debut: #21
Choice cut: "Midnight Rambler"
This is the 13th live album release from the elders of rock and roll, and the dangling carrots to have people hooked in this mined archive from 2012 are bringing in special guests Lady Gaga (for "Gimme Shelter") and Bruce Springsteen (for "Tumbling Dice"), but it's their professional-level rehashings of classics like "Wild Horses" that shine brighter, and well as bittersweet reunion with Mick Taylor on "Midnight Rambler".
Current Albums Sales debut: #8
Choice cut: "Aselestine"
The Jersey-born indie-rock stalwarts never flipped my wig, and this disjointed set doesn't give me an argument otherwise, but there are a couple post-punk gems like this one inside.
Current Albums Sales debut: #26
Choice cut: "On The Run"
The queer neo-soul singer's second full-length album, six years after her debut, needs a few listens to sink in, but it's sensual and emotional songs sink in.
Current Albums Sales debut: #35
Choice cut: "Let's Make A Mistake Tonight"
Married indie-pop duo give us a perfectly-timed set of dreamy songs to carry out your household chores to while humming along.
Current Albums Sales debut: #45
Choice cut: "Telephone"
This smooth and soothing set of songs conceal a story of a stalker in the disguise of a romantic missive. Beautiful and disturbing at the same time.
Current Albums Sales debut: #79
Choice cut: "Doomscrollers"
The return of the indie-rock duo is worth the price of admission with this sardonic take on social media alone, but there are enough songs like "Nowheresville" that'll also bring out a chuckle.
Official British Albums Chart debut: #4
Choice cut: "Mixed Emotions (I Don't Know How To Tell You What I Was Going Through)"
The pop-punk band from southern England made a brief American crossover nine years ago, but should get a wider audience with this punchy set. (The physical release is March 31, but it's on streaming now.)
And here are a couple gems that came out the same week that didn't make the charts that I feel are worth a listen...
Choice cut: "True Love"
Dutch indie-pop artist Annelotte de Graaf's third album is deep, moody, and ethereal and a great chillout record to put on.
Choice cut: "Goodnight World"
This elegantly sad collection of songs from the Irish indie-folk artist is anchored by the forlorn closer here.
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