Pick Of The Week: New
Bad Brains, Into The Future
Though the current iteration of Bad Brains would be hard-pressed to make something nearly as creative as I Against I, Into The Future is an attempt to recapture the group’s early-’80s sound. The classic lineup (H.R., Darryl Jenifer, Dr. Know, and Earl Hudson) claims the record is the band’s purest recording since its 1982 self-titled debut on ROIR records, but it has at least one modern bent to it: One of the tracks, “MCA Dub,” is dedicated to the late Beastie Boy Adam Yauch, who produced the band’s previous record, 2007’s Build A Nation.
Reissue Of The Week
The Faint, Danse Macabre
Eleven years after its initial release, Danse Macabre is finally getting the acclaim it deserves. Saddle Creek has reissued and remastered the influential dance-rock record, which now features six bonus tracks, extensive liner notes, and a DVD featuring archival footage of the band. The Faint is also currently on tour, playing the album in its entirety.
Do Not Break The Seal
Kid Rock, Rebel Soul
While Kid Rock might be one of the more sensible minds in right-wing politics, his music has been a little more all-over-the-place in recent years. He’s been a rap-rocker, a country crooner, and a Warren Zevon champion. With Rebel Soul, though, Rock is promising a return to form, meaning—presumably—more songs about strippers and America. While that’s fine for diehard Rock fans, everyone else should be fine with all the other material he’s put out to date.
What Else?
Rihanna, Unapologetic
Rihanna’s diamond-studded latest comes amid rumors of her being back together with Chris Brown, but as her album title states, she doesn’t really care what anyone thinks about that. A duet with Brown on the record, “Nobody’s Business,” attempts to quell naysayers, but will inevitably just incite additional discussion of her personal life.
The Twilight Sad, No One Can Ever Know: The Remixes
While No One Can Ever Know was a fine record, The Twilight Sad has decided to remix things up a bit. The group recruited acts like JD Twitch, Optimo, Liars, and Com Truise to craft new versions of some of the record’s best tracks, resulting in a more dance-floor-friendly take on the notoriously sinister rock band’s aesthetic.
Dinosaur Jr., Chocomel Daze
To celebrate the 25th anniversary of its 1987 breakthrough, You’re Living All Over Me, Dinosaur Jr. is dropping Chocomel Daze, a live LP recorded that same year. Featuring the band’s original lineup, Chocomel Daze was taped November 19, 1987, at a show in Doornroosje, Nijmegen, Netherlands.
Led Zeppelin, Celebration Day
In 2007, 27 years after the group disbanded, Led Zeppelin reunited—sans John Bonham, of course—to headline London’s O2 Arena. More than 20 million people applied for tickets, but only 18,000 people were fortunate enough to get in. Luckily, the show was recorded, and the resulting product, Celebration Day, has been released as both a record and a film. Led Heads can get their sway on once again.
Massive Attack, Blue Lines
21 years ago, Massive Attack released Blue Lines, an album that launched the trip-hop genre. Now the record has been spit-polished and reissued on CD, as a download, and as a deluxe box set, which includes a CD, DVD, two LPs, and a promotional poster. The band’s reportedly hard at work on a new record in England, but until that comes out, listening to “Safe From Harm” on repeat will have to do.
Graham Parker & The Rumour, Three Chords Good
Spurred on by Judd Apatow, who wanted to use the group in his film This Is 40, Graham Parker has reunited The Rumour for its first album in 31 years. Three Chords Good features both an absolutely hideous cover and a bunch of dub-infused old-guy rock, but it should hit any Parker diehards right in their nostalgic sweet spots.