New Music Tuesday

It's another week, and a new batch of music has hit the shelves. Thanks to our music buyer, Scott, we have reveiws to share:

 

 

Adele, 21    $11.95

Torchy, soulful London singer evokes white soul singers like Amy Winehouse and Duffy, but reaches further back for influence, to Dusty Springfield and Etta James.  Her second album focuses on her syrupy, sweet voice, perfect for her songs about broken hearts.

Builders and the Butchers, Dead Reckoning  $12.95

This Portland quintet's fifth album ranges from folk to back porch bluegrass to gutbucket blues, all fueled by a raucous garage spirit.  Renowned for their kinetic live performances, their new effort seeks to recreate that energy on disc.

Johnny Cash, From Memphis to Hollywood: Bootleg Vol 2    $15.95

The second album in a series that brings to light rare, archival tracks from Cash's early career.  This new collection features cuts from Cash's personal tapes, recorded between 1954 and 1970, including many from his Sun Studio sessions.

Cave Singers, No Witch  $14.95

The third full-length album by this harmony-heavy Seattle folk-rock outift.  "No Witch is grander and more lush than The Cave Singers' previous efforts. It's also a nervier, scrappier affair: greasy guitars buck and rear up; Eastern-influenced blues snake through songs; gospel choirs rise up like tidal waves."

G. Love, Fixin' to Die    $10.95

G. Love has always occupied a rare space between folk, blues and hip hop.  On his new CD, produced by and with insturmental help by the Avett Brothers, the singer takes a big step towards percussion-heavy roots music.

Gibson Brothers, Help My Brother  $19.95

IBMA Award winners, Eric and Leigh are widely recognized as the finest brother duet in bluegrass music today.Their tenth release features 12 tracks, most of which are originals, feature guest spots by Alison Brown, Ricky Skaggs and Claire Lynch.

Johnny Irion & Sarah Lee Guthrie, Bright Examples    $12.95

The husband and wife duo's second full-length album is produced by Vetiver's Andy Cabic and Thom Monahan. The 12 original songs highlight the duo's patented country rock songwriting and rich vocal harmonies beautifully intertwining with Vetiver's West Coast pastoral psych-rock aesthetic.  Special guests include Mark Olson and Gary Louris.

Loch Lomond, Little Me Will Start a Storm  $13.95

"Elegant yet uneasy, this intriguing Portland sextet echoes the nervous grace of Arcade Fire and the New Pornographers, minus the electric charge. Frontman Ritchie Young can sing delicate and high or mournful and low, and while his dense chamber-pop songs employ clarinet, violin, mandolin, and marimba, they never feel overwrought."

Low Anthem, Smart Flesh    $13.95

The unique Rhode Island multi-instrumentalists straddle both traditional and modern folk, blues and even jazz and neo-classical elements.  Recorded in an abandoned factory, the songs, "shuffle like a Crescent City dirge played on an Appalachian dusty road."

Sean Rowe, Magic  $15.95

Like a hybrid of Leonard Cohen and Greg Brown, the New York singer songwriter sings in a rusty baritone, frequently backed only by a picked guitar and cello, with occasional piano.

Blues/Jazz
Various Artists, Alligator Records 40th Anniversary Celebration  $17.95

Celebrating 40 years of releases, the seminal blues label collects 2 discs of their favorite tracks from across the years.  Artists include Koko Taylor, Marcia Ball, Buddy Guy, JJ Grey and more.

Irish/Celtic

Celtic Thunder, Heritage  $18.95

A frequent presence on PBS fundraisers, these Irish music veterans combine traditional elements of Celtic music with dramatic orchestral flourishes and contemporary rock.

Kids

Putumayo Artists, Acoustic Dreamland  $15.95

Chosen especially for moments of relaxation and rest, the label's new collection features calming pieces played by Hem, Daniel Martin Moore, Lucy Kaplansky and more.

New Music Tuesday

Apologies for the late publication. It's been one of those weeks... Time to soothe that savage beast with some fresh music!

Pop/Rock

* Nicole Atkins, Mondo Amore  $13.95
The New Jersey singer-songwriter's follow-up to her critically praised 2007 Neptune City.  A lot has changed since then, including Atkins' band and label, but what remains is the artist's dramatic, orchestra "pop noir." 

* Drew Holcomb, Chasing Someday  $12.95
"To counter the Nashville hokum-heavy stereotype of big hats, steel guitars and tear-in-your-beer emotion of a man's relationship with his tractor, there's the gloriously un-twang music of Drew Holcomb and the Neighbors.Holcomb's savvy combination of earnest midwestern rock and folksy southern charm have burnished his reputation and dramatically expanded his audience."

* Jessica Lea Mayfield, Tell Me  $15.95
The singer-songwriter's second album is produced by Black Keys guitarist Dan Auerbach, who brings fuzzed-out guitars and a retro spirit and sound to Mayfield's songs.  The eclectic mix blends bits of blues, country and jazz. 

* Various, The Music Inside: Collaboration Dedicated to Waylon Jennings  $10.95
A tribute to the music of the country music legend.  Contributors include Jamey Johnson, Shooter Jennings, Patty Griffin and more. 

* Over the Rhine, Long Surrender  %15.95  DEMO
The husband and wife duo's new album is produced by iconic songwriter and instrumentalist Joe Henry.  In addition to providing instrumental help, Henry contributes his trademark atmospheric touch, as well as an increasing jazz emphasis to the duo's cinematic folk-pop. 

* Danny Schmidt, Man of Many Moons  $17.95
"The arrangements are bare and revealing. It's just Danny and guitar with bass, a tiny bit of piano and harmonica, and some haunting vocal support from fellow Red House artist, Carrie Elkin and Raina Rose. The songs center around the tricky concept of commitment, and the result is another glimpse into the complicated psyche of this talented, Austin-based emerging singer-songwriter."

* Teddy Thompson, Bella  $13.95
Thompson's fifth album of melodic folk-pop.  The son of Richard and Linda Thompson fills Bella with more upbeat, buoyant melodies than on previous efforts.  The album also continues the artist's recent flirtation with Roy Orbison-esque classic country. 

* Wailin' Jennys, Bright Morning Star  $17.95  DEMO
The third studio album by the Canadian female trio highlights the Jennys strength as songwriters and instrumentalists, as well as harmony vocalists.  Heather Masse, Nicky Mehta and Ruth Moody composed all but one of the album's tunes, which weave traditional and contemporary folk and americana. 

New Age

* Yanni, Truth of Touch  $16.95
The new age legend's first new collection since 2003.  Yanni's compositions bring together the orchestral with the electronic, incorporating world music influences throughout.

New Music Tuesday

Are you tired of listening to Justin Bieber yet? Stop by and check out the newest CDs in stock at Grass Roots this week!

 Pop/Rock

Hot Club of Cowtown, What Makes Bob Holler  $17.95
With their guitar/violin/bass and vocal line-up, the Hot Club puts their special spin on the 1940s Western swing of Bob Wills.  This tribute was released first in the UK, where it vaulted into the top 10 for several weeks. 

Bobby Long, Winter Tale $11.95
British singer-songwriter Long first came into the public eye with a contribution to the soundtrack to the teen vampire movie Twilight.  The poetry and guitar-centered music on his debut CD have been likened to Leonard Cohen playing the music of Ryan Adams. 

> David Lowery, Palace Guard  $11.95
As a bandleader, Lowery formed and fronted the seminal indie bands Camper Van Beethoven and Cracker.  For his debut solo CD, Lowery channels the quirky jam-inspired sounds of his previous bands into a more intimate, acoustic direction. 

North Mississippi Allstars, Keys to the Kingdom  $13.95
In the wake of their father Jim Dickinson's passing Cody and Luther Dickinson gathered friends at their Zebra Studios to record a tribute to the legendary producer and musician.  Keys to the Kingdom features guest spots by Ry Cooder, Mavis Staples, Alvin Youngblood Hart and more. 

Todd Snider, Live: the Storyteller  $16.95
This 2-disc set features the contemporary americana singer-songwriter's greatest hits, recorded live with a backing band.  It also  highlights Snider's prowess and good humor as a storyteller as he tells the tale behind his tunes. 

Tennis, Cape Dory  $13.95
As featured on NPR, this husband and wife duo play retro pop music in the spirit of the 1960s.  Some of the album's songs were inspired by boat trip along the Eastern seaboard. 


Kids
Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Songs From a Zulu Farm  $13.95

The celebrated South African vocal ensemble present their second album for young listeners.  Sung primarily in the Zulu language, the songs also feature the sounds of farm animals and children.