Twostepcub's New Albums Roundup 3/26/23...
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 Miley Cyrus is back big, but was not even the biggest dance on either the sales-and-streaming Billboard 200 or the Current Albums sales list (though she does make the grade in the UK)...
Billboard 200 debut: #2
Billboard Current Albums Sales debut: #1
Choice Cut: "Set Me Free"
Yes the female titans of K-Pop are the winners this week, with this 7-track EP of six songs and an English version of the bass-heavy bop "Set Me Free"
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Billboard 200 debut: #3
Current Albums Sales debut: #2
Official British Albums chart debut: #1
Choice cut: "Flowers"
Of course, this set is all about the Hemsworth-bashing "Flowers", but there's more hits than misses on Miley's eighth album. However, I have to admit if I had to choose I unbelievably liked sister Noah's The Hardest Part from last year more for being more cohesive and focused.
Billboard 200 debut: #198
Current Albums Sales debut: #10
Choice cut: "Silhouettes"
The very loud progressive metal band from Washington, DC return with their seventh release that may be too intense to all but the indoctrinated, but this synthwave respite right in the middle of the set is so different, like it was pulled from lost sessions from the 1975, but I quite like it.
Current Albums Sales debut: #48
Choice cut: "What They Call Us"
The third full-length from the alias of Karin Drejier formerly of the Swedish alt-dance duo The Knife is their best yet. Gender-fluid Drejier can mold their voice into many different forms to fit the mood, from this haunting lower-register opener to the mezzo-soprano of "Carbon Dioxide". The cold corporate tone with Asian undertones lies behind all the tracks, though.
Current Albums Sales debut: #57
Choice cut: "That's How Love Is Made"
Absolutely my favorite of this week's crop, husband-and-wife Americana soul duo has packed their major-label debut with so many stellar songs while their voices are Grammy-worthy. If you are into Chris Stapleton and Yola, you need to give this a spin or three.
Current Albums Sales debut: #63
Choice cut: "Bewitched (Are You Leaving Soon)"
Fans of "yacht rock" will get a kick out of this J-pop compilation from the 70s-80s that is just sublime in its selection and diversity, as well as the groove.
Current Albums Sales debut: #64
Choice cut: "The Way"
This mini album that has extras from the recording of their last full-length comes accompanied by a half-hour long music video on YouTube and is quite an ethereal listen in headphones where Andy Hull's voice grabs you at every turn.
Current Albums Sales debut: #66
British Albums Chart debut: #3
Choice cut: "Force 10 From Navarone"
The rabble-rousers of British punk are back and pulling no punches, with a devastating attack on the Tory elite in the video for the title track, along with some nice guests like Florence Shaw from Dry Cleaning on this one as well as Petty Ferrell.
Current Albums Sales debut: #67
Choice cut: "Bye Bye"
Thanks to Cole Swindell's name-checking big country hit "She Had Me At Heads Carolina" last year, Curb Records naturally felt it's time to release another compilation from Messina (and first on vinyl), but it's a tight 11-track set that has most of her biggest hits, though making "Downtime" an even twelve would've been better. Still a great introduction to the new generation.
British Albums chart debut: #82
Choice cut: "Nice Up"
The British alt-dance outfit goes all in with a myriad of reggae/dancehall guest on this great-sounding party disc that will get you moving.
And here's a couple picks that didn't make the charts...
Choice cut: "Milk For Flowers"
An entertaining group of Britpop tunes with a touch of a Bowie influence from this Welsh troubadour.
Choice cut: "Faces In The Firelight"
This dreamy set from the frontperson for the rock group La Luz is a perfect accompaniment to a lazy Sunday afternoon. The cello in the tracks is so damn soothing.
And there we have it. Hopefully something new caught your eye!
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