Yesterday, Scotty offered up a fantastic B-List of albums hitting shelves this month that he’s looking forward to. I thought I’d continue along those lines today with a mix tape chocked full of music that is also being released in the coming months, as we see the leaves turn colors and our days grow shorter. So sit back and enjoy some Feel Good Hits For The Fall…
We kick things off with the first single off of Ray Lamontagne’s third album Gossip In The Grain. Here’s the emotive singer/songwriter with the soul-infused You Are The Best Thing. Next comes some straight ahead rock from the Kings Of Leon with Sex On Fire. From there we move into the gospel tinged Acid Tongue, the title track from the ever adorable Jenny Lewis’ sophomore effort, that features Chris Robinson, M. Ward and others on backing vocals. Then, we’ve got a couple from two former BtN artists Okkervil River with Singer Songwriter (which might be one of my favorite tunes of the year) and Blitzen Trapper with the rootsy, harmonica laced cut Furr. Finally, we close things out with some indie-piano-pop from Ben Folds with You Don’t Know Me which features vocals from Regina Spektor.
Traditionally, September has always been a big month for the release of new albums and September 2008 is looking finer than Sarah Palin. For this week’s B List, I’ve put together a list of the nine September releases you’ve gotta hear.
One of my favorite albums of 2006 was Cowards and Robbers by the unknown at the time Cold War Kids. After seeing them steal the show at MSG last summer, where they opened for Muse, I realized these guys are the real deal: a band that produces amazing albums and bombastic live shows.
The Kids have been touring behind their latest album, Loyalty to Loyalty, and the new songs sound darker and groovier than the previous batch. Loyalty to Loyalty drops on September 23. For a taste of the new album check out the video for Something Is Not Right With Me on the Kids’ homepage.
READ ON for eight more terrific albums coming out this month…
Last week, HT Contributor Wade Ellis Wilby listed The Unauthorized Biography of Reinhold Messner as one of his top fall albums of all-time. Well, it turns out Ben and the Ben Folds Five really dig that album as well, as the oddly-named trio will reunite on September 18 in Chapel Hill, NC for the first time since 2000 to play that album in its entirety. Coincidence? Completely.
Folds, Darren Jesse and Robert Sledge last toured together nearly a decade ago to support that massively underrated album. The boys return just a few short days after Ben’s latest album, Way To Normal, hits stores. Tickets go on sale this Monday at 10am. No word yet on whether this is a one time deal, but we sure hope not.
The fall beckons the romantic in all of us. Most any music fan you talk to will have a list of albums that remind them of the fall. There is an emotional attachment to the scenery around you, the climate change, and the music you were listening to that time of year. I’m not going to wax poetic about the autumn, as we all know the myriad of emotions the fall conjures. Rather, I would love to have your list of fall albums speak for those emotions. Sound off in the comments if you are feeling inspired and if your team is hunting for the Wild Card spot as well, god bless ‘em.
10. John Mayer - Heavier Things
On his second major label outing, Mayer sounds composed, more mature, and well produced. With Jack Joseph Puig at the helm and Matt Chamberlain and Steve Jordan sharing time behind the kit, you can hardly go wrong. This sonic milkshake pours from loop to horn line without spoiling the stomach and is just sweet enough to please the ladies, while maintaining an aura of professional gloss the guys can get behind. Kudos, John. Unfortunately, his next best accomplishment would be Jennifer Aniston. Fall Mix Disc Track: Something’s Missing
READ ON for the rest of Wade’s list of favorite albums for the fall…
In just two short weeks from today the Langerado Music Festival kicks off at Big Cypress in the Florida Everglades. I’ve attended the last two Langerado festivals, but this year’s lineup takes things to a new level. As someone who doesn’t get to many festivals, I think the best part of going is the enjoyment I get from checking out artists I haven’t seen before. So for the next two edition of The B List, I’ll look at the five bands I’m excited to see for the first time at Langerado:
1. Ben Folds - Ben Folds arrived on the scene in 1995 with his trio: Ben Folds Five. You couldn’t walk around the campus of my alma-mater, Skidmore College, without hearing Folds’ refreshing sound that combines elements of jazz and arena-rock with typical singer-songwriter fare. The Ben Folds Five continued to release great albums over the next few years including 1999’s The Unauthorized Biography of Reinhold Messner, a record which hasn’t left my iPod in over two years. Read on for more about Ben Folds and four other bands you gotta catch at Langerado…
