New Music
Jun 17, 2010 by Nick
This week I thought I would try to turn you on to some of the new music that is coming out in the next few months. I always like to know what is going on with some of my favorite artists. I think you are doing yourself a disservice if you are not paying attention to new music even if it is from an older band. Anyway here are some albums that have just been released or will be released in the next few months that I am looking forward to hearing.
Ray Lamontagne & The Pariah Dogs – God Willin’ & The Creek Don’t Rise
As you already know Ray is a favorite of myself and Dave. Earlier this year Ray recorded this album in his home in Massachusetts with his band the Pariah Dogs. The album was produced by Ray and was completed in 2 weeks(by the way that is the time frame most records should be recorded in). You can hear the first song “Beg Steal or Borrow” on his website right now. The song has a great feel with plenty of pedal steel guitar. As always I look forward to the day his album comes out.
Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers – Mojo
This is the first album Petty has made with The Heartbreakers in 7 years. I look forward to anything Petty does but the buzz on this album is that it is some of best work in years. The album just came out yesterday and I plan on digging into it immediately. If you would like to get an idea of what the new album is like check out my video of the week from a few weeks ago.
John Mellencamp – On the Rural Route 7609/No Better Than This
Mellencamp has a double dip of music coming out this summer. The box set his fans have been waiting for since the 1990′s finally came out yesterday. The box set includes 4 discs with songs spanning his entire career. It not only has the usual suspects but he includes demo versions of a lot of his hits including “Cherry Bomb”, “Authority Song”, and “Jack & Diane”. It also has some unreleased tracks such as “Jenny at 16″ which contains lyrics that would eventually end up in “Jack & Diane”. This is a must have for all Mellencamp fans. If that was not enough he is releasing a new album on August 17th titled “No Better Than This”. This album is produced by the prolific T Bone Burnett and was recorded last year while John was on tour. He recorded the songs on analogue equipment and recorded the songs in famous spots such as Sun Records in Memphis, and room 414 of the Gunter Hotel in San Antonio where Robert Johnson first recorded. I don’t care what anybody says Mellencamp is still making vital music well into his 50s and has not become a human jukebox like many of his contemporaries. It also looks like Mellencamp will be putting together the band that backed him through the 1980′s to make a new album as well. That is definitely something to be excited about.
The Gaslight Anthem – American Slang
This New Jersey band has had the critics pass the Bruce Springsteen torch to them after their last album “The 59 Sound”. The Gaslight Anthem defitinely wear their influences on their sleeve. They sound like a young Springsteen and this album is full of instantly accessible songs that sound like you could hear them in a club down the street from where you live or in an arena. This is a band you want to pay attention to.
Jamey Johnson – The Guitar Song
Jamey Johnson is everything that is right about country music. He is cut from the same clothe as Hank, Waylon, Willie and George Jones. His 2008 album “That Lonesome Song” was the best country album I have heard in years. Johnson has a new double album coming out in September that I am really looking forward to hearing. He has already released a new single called “Macon” which is great. If it is anything like the rest of the record I think it could be one of the best albums of the year.
Dierks Bentley – Up On The Ridge
I never thought I would be writing about liking a Dierks Bentley album but his new album is actually very good. Which means it is unlike the rest of his albums. This album is bluegrass album. He gets a lot of help from very good artists which is probably what makes it so good. The Punch Brothers featuring Chris Thile of Nickel Creek play on several cuts as does bluegrass legend Del McCoury. Bentley is also joined by Jamey Johnson and Miranda Lambert on a song as well as Kris Kristofferson. I doubt I will ever see say this again about Bentley but this album is a very good country record and is worth looking into.
Well there you go. Just a few albums I am looking forward to hearing in the next few months. Maybe you can find a couple things you like on my list. If you can’t then you are a dumb ass and need to quit getting on this website.
Later,
Nick
Posted in Nick's Rants
You must have accidentally forgotten about the new Ozzy album due out next week. Don’t worry, you can just write a follow up to this article to make sure all the great new music gets credit.
I thought about writing about Ozzy but I figured the head of our “Metal” department would write a story. I look forward to reading what you think about the album.