It’s just under three weeks until the Grammy Awards airs, and you know what that means…or maybe you don’t.
It’s like a souvenir of the Grammy Awards…almost.
The nominees in the big-ticket categories are compiled each January and dropped into one handy-dandy compilation for all of the new ears that might be intrigued to hear what’s up with the Black Keys and Frank Oceans of the world. Other artists appearing on the 2013 Grammy Nominees CD include Mumford & Sons, Gotye, Ed Sheeran, Bruce Springsteen and Adele. Stay tuned to this site over the next couple of weeks as we run through our yearly predictions-the field’s wide open this year, so there’s just as much of a chance that I’ll be way off as there is that I’ll be way on.
Indie favorites Ra Ra Riot have undergone several transformations over the years. The Syracuse-based outfit’s latest incarnation leans towards the electro-pop side of things (as are many things musical these days.) If you’re a fan of old school Riot, will you be along for the ride they take you on with their new album, Beta Love? These folks are press darlings, so you can bet the blogger-types (oh, wait…I’m one of those) will be on board.
In the latest summit of legends, New Orleans’ favorite son Aaron Neville (what, you thought I was gonna say Lil Wayne??) joins forces with Don Was and Keith Richards for My True Story. This album finds our favorite vibrato tackling classics from the doo-wop era. As much as I hate covers albums, something tells me that True Story will at least be tolerable thanks to the genius of the performer. Then again, Rod Stewart’s got a helluva voice, too. And we know how those albums went…
This week’s other interesting new releases include:
Gary Allan Set You Free
Adam Ant Adam Ant Is the Blueblack Hussar In Marrying the Gunner’s Daughter (Ant’s first album since 1995)
Bad Religion True North
Billy Joel She’s Got A Way: Love Songs
Camper Van Beethoven La Costa Perdida
Casting Crowns The Acoustic Sessions Vol. 1
Helloween Straight Out of Hell
Norah Jones Little Broken Hearts (remixes-digital only)
Otep Hydra
Trapt Reborn
Various Artists 12/12/12: The Concert for Sandy Relief (physical release; it was released digitally several weeks ago…)
Various Artists Now That’s What I Call Love Songs