While the music industry is still dealing with post-Gaga fumes, let’s see what the first full week of June has as far as releases are concerned.
British outfit The Arctic Monkeys have managed to cultivate a solid cult, many of whom are salivating (no pun intended…you’ll see what I mean in about three seconds) for their new album, Suck it & See (album title of the year, I tell ya). They’re some cheeky bastards.
They’re joined on the release docket by a veritable cornucopia of albums! We’ll start with a few legends. Although I most appreciate Chris Difford when he’s partnered with Glenn Tilbrook making beautiful music as Squeeze, he’s occasionally ventured out on the solo tip, as evidenced by his latest effort, Cashmere if You Can (man, this is the week for cleverly titled albums!) He’ll be joined on record store shelves this week by the likes of Randy Travis (who is celebrating his twenty fifth anniversary in the closet show business), Joe Jackson and Def Leppard, the latter two of whom are releasing live albums (in Jackson’s case probably entertaining. In Def Lep’s case, probably not so much.)
Duncan Sheik’s heart is in the Nineties, but for at least one album, he’s stuck in the Eighties and loving it. Covers 80s finds the “Barely Breathing” singer/songwriter tackling classics like “Hold Me Now” by Thompson Twins and “So Alive” by Love & Rockets.
Indie peeps might dig on the new album (the first album? I’m so sorry for not doing my research) by hipsterlicious band Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. (OK, they got me on the name), while more earnest folks looking to capitalize on the neo-folk boom will be wise to pick up the latest album by California’s Dawes. Their second effort, Nothing is Wrong finds the band road tested and in tip-top shape from serving as Robbie Robertson’s backing band on TV appearances this year. This week’s sleeper release might come from popular DJ Benny Benassi, whose latest effort features guest appearances from the likes of T-Pain and Chris Brown.
On the reissue tip, Sony Music is rolling out new versions (with extra tracks) of Paul Simon’s early Seventies catalog, including the classics There Goes Rhymin’ Simon and the Grammy-winning Still Crazy After All These Years. Depeche Mode are rolling out a couple of interesting-looking remix sets, and Universal Music is celebrating the 40th anniversary of Marvin Gaye’s landmark album What’s Going On with a special Super Deluxe Edition containing both vinyl and CD versions of Mr. Gaye’s magnum opus.
As usual, make sure you check out the full list of this week’s releases on Pause and Play.