Music Releases 05-06-22

WE is the new album from Canadian rock band Arcade Fire. This is the sixth Arcade Fire studio album, and is made up of seven songs that speak to this moment with unique directness. Written, recorded, and released during a critical historical juncture, they are divided into two distinct sides, “I” and “WE.” If the “I” side of the record evokes and embodies our holed-up anxiety and lack of physical connection, the “WE” side captures the excitement of new possibilities and the elevating thrill of committing to one another socially and personally. Produced by Nigel Godrich, Win Butler & Régine Chassagne, WE is a 40 minute epic as much about the forces that threaten to pull us away from the people we love, as it is inspired by the urgent need to overcome them.

The Gods We Can Touch is an elegant and celestial but provocative album about shame, desire and morality, all seen through the narrative prism of Greek mythology. In each of the album's fifteen songs we meet a different god. Featuring lead single "Cure For Me," the album is ultimately "a celebration of being human, and what makes us human."

Limited silver colored vinyl LP pressing. The Black Crowes return with a new collection of covers entitled 1972. The six track set was recorded at the world famous Sunset Sound (Prince's 1999, The Rolling Stones' Let it Bleed, Love's self-titled LP) in Los Angeles, California and features takes on The Rolling Stones' "Rocks Off," Rod Stewart's "You Wear It Well," Little Feat's "Easy To Slip," T-Rex's "The Slider," David Bowie's "Moonage Daydream" and The Temptations' "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone." "The year 1972 was a watershed moment, some of the greatest rock and roll songs ever made came out of that year. To get our band back together in the studio, it had to be a celebration of rock and roll," said Chris Robinson. "This record is about love and devotion to something that makes us feel good. We hope that it makes fans around the world feel the same."

The multi-instrumentalist duo that comprises Hermitude - Luke Dubber (aka Luke Dubs) and Angus Stuart (aka El Gusto) holed up together in Angus' home with a pared-back music setup, they began a process that was all about taking back control over how and why they make music as Hermitude. The duo recorded vocal sessions in-person to create a more intimate experience. You can hear it in the way the drums coil themselves around the closely recorded vocals of "When U Feel Like This (feat. The Jungle Giants)," or the confidence in "Promises (feat. Andie)" that allows her voice to soar into the upper octaves easily. This control over their process led to a loosening of their creative inhibitions. A year and a half later, Mirror Mountain was finished. The album acts as a reawakening, a place to draw strength as time goes by. "The production quality & mixing all around is super clean and polished, it's delectable to the ears." - Banger Sound

From the anthemic “Virginia (Wind In The Night),” an ode to Russell’s native state to which he’s recently relocated (“If it was solely up to me, I’d live her for the rest of my life,” he says), to the minimal but momentous “Tiebreaker,” Every Shade of Blue showcases The Head and the Heart’s unique ability to dip its toes into a variety of musical genres. It’s the band’s knack for supreme melody, however, that remains a constant. And it’s why many of the songs on Every Shade of Blue, including the slow-rolling title track, “Every Shade of Blue,” which Russell says has “a Sinatra vibe,” are undeniable pop-radio missiles. The band’s ability to create music that appeals to listeners’ common denominator, Russell says, is something he not only won’t shy away from but is immensely proud of. 

Ukulele Songs comprises a fine mixture of original material penned by Vedder that he initially performed live, alongside vintage classics and standards. A recast, uke-driven version of "Can't Keep," which originally appeared as the opening track on Pearl Jam's hard-charging November 2002 album Riot Act, opens the proceedings, while newer-bred original songs like the resigned lament of "Sleeping By Myself," the charming love orbit of "Satellite," the hopeful brightness of "Light Today," and the instrumental interlude "Waving Palms" all set the table for the 35-minute album.

Guest vocalists appear on a pair of key Ukulele tracks, both of them fine covers of notable standards. First, Glen Hansard (The Frames, Once) adds his Irish folk DNA to "Sleepless Nights," which was written by Felice and Boudreaux Bryant and remade by The Everly Brothers in 1960, in addition to later being covered by the likes of Emmylou Harris, Patty Loveless, and Elvis Costello.

Second, Cat Power lends her passionate tone to "Tonight You Belong To Me," a jazz standard written in 1926 by lyricist Billy Rose and composer Lee David. This track has also been subsequently covered by the likes of Frankie Laine, Patience and Prudence, and Dottie West. Versions of "You Belong To Me" were also recently featured in the acclaimed 2019 film drama Blackbird and in an episode of the 2020 HBO horror-drama series Lovecraft Country.

The LP's other noteworthy covers include stirring takes on Billy Rose and Edward Eliscu's "More Than You Know," Michael Edwards and Bud Green's "Once In A While," and the album-closing reading of Fabian Andre, Wilbur Schwandt, and Gus Kahn's "Dream A Little Dream."

Produced by Eddie Vedder and Adam Kasper (Foo Fighters, Soundgarden), Ukulele Songs peaked at No. 4 on the U.S. Billboard 200, hit No. 2 on the U.S. Top Rock Albums on Billboard, and achieved Gold status in Canada.

EDDIE VEDDER / UKULELE SONGS

The 2 CD companion piece to Sheryl Crow's forthcoming feature documentary, Sheryl, featuring 35 songs spanning 3 decades of music from the 9-time GRAMMY Award winner. 3 new songs are included with her hits "If It Makes You Happy," "Soak Up the Sun," "All I Wanna Do," "My Favorite Mistake," "Redemption Day," and many more! Sheryl Crow has sold more than 35 million albums worldwide.

SUNFLOWER BEAN / HEADFUL OF SUGAR - Marked by two vocalists who often take turns within a song, Sunflower Bean is an indie rock trio out of NYC. Twentytwo in Blue, the band's sophomore album (co-produced by Unknown Mortal Orchestra's Jacob Portrait and Matt Molnar, formerly of Friends) debuted on the UK's TOP 40 Album Charts and on Billboard's Independent Album Charts. In early 2019, the band released a new EP, 'King Of The Dudes' which featured BBC Radio 1"s Hottest Record In The World, 'Come For Me'. They recorded the EP in LA during the summer of 2018 with producer Justin Raisen (Charli XCX, Angel Olsen, Sky Ferreira). 'Come For Me' was the band's first single to chart in the US on Billboard's Triple A Rock Chart. Since then the band has performed at Bernie Sanders' 2020 rally, alongside the Strokes and their 2 subsequent singles 'Moment in the Sun' and 'Baby Don't Cry' were also BBC Radio 1"s hottest record. Julia Cumming appeared on Yves Tumor's 'Strawberry Privilege,' and the band toured extensively with the likes of Beck, Cage the Elephant, Interpol, Courtney Barnett, and more, while also playing countless festivals internationally. The band describes "Headful of Sugar is an album about outsiders, searching for meaning in the desert of modern life, disillusioned but hopeful. All of the opulence we're surrounded by is just sugar, connection to others is the real sustenance."

Released in 1965 My Generation was the debut album by The Who. The album peaked at #5 in the UK & launched the band into worldwide acclaim. Containing “My Generation”, “The Kids are Alright” & “The Ox” mastered by long time Who engineer Jon Astley from the original tapes. Packaged in original sleeve with obi & certificate of authenticity, this black vinyl version is engineered by Miles Showell at Abbey Road Studios with a half-speed mastering technique which produces a superior vinyl cut.