New Albums - Page 143

The latest studio album from the Zac Brown Band, Jekyll + Hyde, lives up to its literary name, promising a variety of emotional states. Featuring dedicated bassist Matt Mangano, the album not only includes the country/rock crossover hit “Homegrown,” but also the Jason Isbell-penned “Dress Blues” about fallen soldiers, a collaboration with Sara Bareilles, and “Heavy Is the Head,” featuring...

Blur has released its first album in 16 years as a four-piece outfit and its first studio record since 2003 for the three-piece version of the British band. The Magic Whip features bassist, farmer and farming columnist Alex James, drummer Dave Rowntree, vocalist Damon Albarn and guitarist Graham Coxon. The music for the album began life while the band was...

Bassist/composer Bob Gingery has released his debut record, Traveler, with his longtime band. Jazz anchors Gingery’s work, but elements of rock, blues, and folk and modern harmonies can be heard on the record featuring his band: Jon Irabagon on saxophones (winner of 2008 Thelonious Monk competition), Mike Baggetta on guitar and Mark Ferber on drums. “Most of the improvisation on...

Jazz bassist Ben Williams’ second album, Coming of Age, explores the musical and emotional growth of Williams, who won the 2009 Thelonious Monk Institute International Jazz Competition. The album not only includes his own work, but also a cover of Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit.” Here’s the album’s opening track, “Black Villain Music”: Coming of Age is available on ,...

Progressive rock power trio Points North, featuring bassist Uriah Duffy (former Whitesnake) has released its second album. The self-titled record from the band, which includes guitarist Eric Barnett and drummer Kevin Aiello features one track with vocals this time out: “Colorblind.” The opening track, “Ignition” impresses: Points North is available on and as a digital download ( and ). Points...

They Might Be Giants has released its 17th album, Glean. It’s a rock record for the duo, which has also recorded several children’s albums (TMBG reportedly has another children’s record in the offing for 2015 as well). TMBG is fronted by songwriters and musicians John Linnell and John Flansburgh. Bassist Danny Weinkauf has been part of the backing band that...

The Alabama Shakes’ second album, Sound & Color, is being deemed kind of far out by the band itself. Founding member and bassist Zac Cockrell described in Rolling Stone the reaction he’d get when playing the moody, long piece “Gemini” for his friends. ”They’re like, ‘Uhhh…?OK.’ I don’t think they liked it. I finally quit sharing with people.” Here’s what...

Bassist/composer Jason Raso has explored the groove where funk and jazz meet for more than two decades. He continues in that vein on Man of 40 Faces, the Canadian’s latest album of 11 new compositions. Bassist Alain Caron joins him to duet, and trombonist Wycliffe Gordon and vibraphone player Francesco Pinetti also appear on the album. The groove is ever-present,...

Progressive metal multi-instrumentalist Tony MacAlpine has released his twelfth solo album, Concrete Gardens. The instrumental record features not only MacAlpine’s virtuosic guitar work and bass stylings, but also bass contributions from Pete Griffin (Dethklok, Gryphon Labs, and ex-Zappa Plays Zappa) on five tracks, Lucky Islam on one track and Sean Delson (Agent Cooper, Stuck Mojo, ex-Fozzy) on one track. Check...

John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers is a rightly storied band, producing stars like the late bass legend Jack Bruce and guitar great Eric Clapton. It also, through a lineup that was together for a mere three months, the genesis of the first version of Fleetwood Mac. Live music from that short-lived lineup, featuring John McVie on bass (along with Peter Green on...

Jazz bassist/composer Petros Klampanis has released his second album on Inner Circle Music: Minor Dispute. The Greek musician, who burst into view via the New York City jazz scene, has created a work that pulls from a variety of influences, including jazz, of course, and world and chamber music. The core of Minor Dispute is more than the sum of...

Feel like getting your hands on every album The Replacements made, plus an EP, all at once? It’s possible with Rhino Records’ release of an eight-CD set from the cult rockers, who feature Tommy Stinson on bass. The box set includes the 2008 remastered versions of the band’s seven studio albums, alongside the EP. The albums featured include: Sorry Ma,...