Maren Morris didn't precisely arrive out of nowhere when she delivered her major-label debut in the summer of 2016 -- she racked up three independent records between 2005 and 2011, the first arriving when she was 15 years old -- but Hero certainly felt unexpected and fresh upon its release. Much of this inventiveness reflects Morris' cross-cultural sensibility, cultivated from equal exposure to classic country, modern pop, and hip-hop, an aesthetic that places Hero at the crossroads of a couple of strands of modern country. At her core, Morris is a singer/songwriter in the vein of Brandy Clark, Miranda Lambert, and Kacey Musgraves -- writers with a keen eye for telling domestic details, composing songs that draw upon tradition but address the present -- but the production she developed with Busbee draws sharply from the lithe R&B influences pioneered by Sam Hunt and the colorful crossover pop of Little Big Town. With its stuttering reggae-inflected electronic rhythms, "Rich" recalls "Painkiller" but it's not a re-creation: Morris twists the rhymes, riding the beat while undercutting her boasts with sly wit. Attitude is a big thing with her. She's funny, profane, and passionate, qualities that serve her well on the album's bolder, brighter numbers, songs where she bends and clips her words in a fashion that owes some debt to hip-hop. On the slower numbers, she flips this skill, easing into the sultry, soulful simmer of "I Wish I Was" or the hushed "I Could Use a Love Song" with an elegant grace. One of the pleasures of Hero is how Morris skillfully slides between styles, blurring distinctions between genre and eras. Much of the album takes its cue from its breakthrough single, "My Church, " a piece of secular gospel praising the power of the radio: she draws her strength from the power of pop culture. Maybe that's why she can so easily glide between old-school soul, glistening pop, trash talk, and contemporary R&B on Hero, letting each provide an essential element on an album that feels thoroughly modern and thoroughly country. By drawing upon so many cross-currents, Hero belongs to the digital era but it's the songs -- smart, sharp, and hooky -- that make this a great modern pop album, regardless of genre.
Publisher: n/a
|
888751688520
|
Audio CD
Diamond Star Halos
By Group), Def Leppard (musical
EDITORIAL REVIEWS
Diamond Star Halos is the new album from Def Leppard since their chart topping self-titled record in 2015. It features 15 tracks including the anthemic, stadium-ready singles "Kick" & "Fire It Up", with guest vocals from Alison Krauss on "This Guitar" & "Lifeless". The album title references T. Rex's "Bang a Gong (Get It On) " with nods to T.Rex, David Bowie & Mott The Hoople across the album. The 1CD features a black & white cover with color logo, packaged in a jewel case.
UMe
|
602438945115
|
Audio CD
Legacy Recordings NOW That's What I Call Music! Vol. 81
By Artists, Various
Publisher: n/a
|
194399266823
|
Audio CD
Down Under
By Straits, Dire
Released in May 1985, Dire Straits' fifth studio album, Brothers in Arms, entered the UK album list at number 1 and spent a total of 228 weeks on the chart. It went on to become the best-selling album of 1985 in the UK. The record was similarly successful in the US, peaking at No. 1 on Billboard 200 for nine weeks, going multi-platinum, and selling nine million copies. The album spent 34 weeks at number 1 on the Australian ARIA Chart, and it remains the longest-running number one album in Australia. The 1985-1986 Brothers in Arms world tour which followed the album's release was phenomenally successful, with over 2.5 million tickets sold. The jaunt included dates in Europe, Israel, North America, and' of course, Australia and New Zealand. The band played 248 shows in over 100 different cities.
Good Ship Funke
|
823564030432
|
Audio CD
Live From Moscow
By John, Elton
2019 is the 40th anniversary of Elton John's historic first tour of Russia - he was the first Western rock star to ever perform in the country. The show in Moscow on 28th May 1979 with Ray Cooper was broadcast on BBC radio in the UK. This release is taken from the original broadcast masters, which have been remastered by Bob Ludwig at Gateway Mastering. Now available on 2CD with mini gatefold-style sleeve.
Mercury
|
602577889424
|
Audio CD
Let It Be
By Beatles, The
The Let It Be album has been newly mixed by producer Giles Martin and engineer Sam Okell. All the new Let It Be releases feature the new stereo mix of the album as guided by the original "reproduced for disc" version by Phil Spector and sourced directly from the original session and rooftop performance eight-track tapes.
Publisher: n/a
|
602507138585
|
Audio CD
Starting Over
By Stapleton, Chris
Chris Stapleton to release his brand-new studio album, Starting Over, on November 13th. With 14 tracks, it's his first project with new material since his last album in 2017. Stapleton plans on touring in support of this release as part of the All-American Road Show in Summer 2021. Chris has received 5 GRAMMY Awards, 7 ACM Awards, 10 CMA Awards, and 5 Billboard Music Awards to date.
Publisher: n/a
|
602435030036
|
Audio CD
The Very Next Thing
By Crowns, Casting
The Very Next Thing marks Casting Crowns' 15th release and eighth studio album since the label debut release in 2003. With more than nine million records sold, the band currently holds the position as Billboard's top-selling act in Christian music since 2007. Casting Crowns began in, serves in and continues to be rooted in the local church. It is at the local level that they are walking along with people in ministry and where the inspiration for albums are formed. "Because we have the honor of walking with people in our churches, we get to see what people are going through - the issues that are impacting everyone now," shares front man Mark Hall. "It is in these situations that ideas are born for what we all need to hear right here right now." The Very Next Thing is full of intimate songs as well as upbeat, fresh sounding tracks that will meet the listener with lyrics that impact with a strong message song after song. Selling Points* New record includes "Oh My Soul," song Mark Hall wrote about his journey through a cancer diagnosis* The Very Next Thing Tour fall 2016 featuring Matt Maher and Hannah Kerr* Sold more than 9 million albums* Multiple awards including a GRAMMY Award, 17 GMA Dove Awards, 4 American Music Awards and 2 Billboard Music Awards
Publisher: n/a
|
602341021227
|
Audio CD
El Rio
By Ballard, Frankie
He may trade in some Spanish lingo in its title, but El Rio finds Frankie Ballard embracing his Midwestern roots, turning out a record that's a proud throwback to the heartland rock of the '80s. Unadorned yet muscular, El Rio easily evokes the lean crackle of prime John Mellencamp, but just in case you didn't get the point, Ballard covers Bob Seger's "You'll Accomp'ny Me, " the ballad providing one of few quiet moments here. Which isn't to say El Rio is all high-octane roar, either. Sure, Ballard slides into the such sensitive murmurings as the sepia-smeared "It All Started with a Beer, " but the album is grounded by earthy open-road anthems -- music made for summertime drives with cruise control. If the leather coat on the cover wasn't a giveaway, Ballard does ratchet up his macho stance, leaning into his cigarette-and-whiskey growl and letting it get subsumed by guitars that both twang and howl. It's an appealing sound, one that zeroes in on the enduring appeal of classic rock, and it's also slyly versatile: the aside to Little Feat on "Southern Side" provides a gateway for a funky rhythm and "L. A. Woman" contains a widescreen splendor that's not entirely indebted to Southern California. Still, the charm of El Rio is its simplicity: with a handful of key collaborators -- including Chris Stapleton, who co-wrote "El Camino" and "Cigarette, " but producer Marshall Altman is prominent here -- Ballard replicates the appeal of Scarecrow, a record that helped enshrine a certain idea of tarnished romantic Midwestern rock.
Publisher: n/a
|
93624919506
|
CD
The Nothing
By Korn,
EDITORIAL REVIEWS
KORN vocalist Jonathan Davis elaborated on the forthcoming LP: "Deep, within our Earth lives an extraordinary force. Very few are aware of the magnitude and significance of this place where good/evil, dark/light, bliss/torment,loss/gain and hope/despair all existas one- pulling at us every moment of our lives.Its not something we can choose to navigate, but rather anawarenessof this presence that surrounds us with every breath, as if we are being watched at every moment. Its the place whereblack and white energiesattach themselves to our souls, and shape our emotion, choices, perspective and ultimately our very existence. There is amiraculous and small realm within this vortex and itsthe only place where balance between these dynamic and polarizing forces exists-where the soul finds its refuge. Welcome to ... ..THE NOTHING." KProduced by GRAMMY® Award-winner Nick Raskulinecz, THE NOTHING follows the bands acclaimed 2016 LP, THE SERENITY OF SUFFERING, which debuted at #4 on the "Billboard 200," #1 on both the "Top Rock Albums" and "Hard Rock Albums" charts, #3 on the "Current Albums chart," and includes the GRAMMY® Award-nominated single "Rotting In Vain."
HERO
By Morris, Maren
Maren Morris didn't precisely arrive out of nowhere when she delivered her major-label debut in the summer of 2016 -- she racked up three independent records between 2005 and 2011, the first arriving when she was 15 years old -- but Hero certainly felt unexpected and fresh upon its release. Much of this inventiveness reflects Morris' cross-cultural sensibility, cultivated from equal exposure to classic country, modern pop, and hip-hop, an aesthetic that places Hero at the crossroads of a couple of strands of modern country. At her core, Morris is a singer/songwriter in the vein of Brandy Clark, Miranda Lambert, and Kacey Musgraves -- writers with a keen eye for telling domestic details, composing songs that draw upon tradition but address the present -- but the production she developed with Busbee draws sharply from the lithe R&B influences pioneered by Sam Hunt and the colorful crossover pop of Little Big Town. With its stuttering reggae-inflected electronic rhythms, "Rich" recalls "Painkiller" but it's not a re-creation: Morris twists the rhymes, riding the beat while undercutting her boasts with sly wit. Attitude is a big thing with her. She's funny, profane, and passionate, qualities that serve her well on the album's bolder, brighter numbers, songs where she bends and clips her words in a fashion that owes some debt to hip-hop. On the slower numbers, she flips this skill, easing into the sultry, soulful simmer of "I Wish I Was" or the hushed "I Could Use a Love Song" with an elegant grace. One of the pleasures of Hero is how Morris skillfully slides between styles, blurring distinctions between genre and eras. Much of the album takes its cue from its breakthrough single, "My Church, " a piece of secular gospel praising the power of the radio: she draws her strength from the power of pop culture. Maybe that's why she can so easily glide between old-school soul, glistening pop, trash talk, and contemporary R&B on Hero, letting each provide an essential element on an album that feels thoroughly modern and thoroughly country. By drawing upon so many cross-currents, Hero belongs to the digital era but it's the songs -- smart, sharp, and hooky -- that make this a great modern pop album, regardless of genre.
Diamond Star Halos
By Group), Def Leppard (musical
EDITORIAL REVIEWS Diamond Star Halos is the new album from Def Leppard since their chart topping self-titled record in 2015. It features 15 tracks including the anthemic, stadium-ready singles "Kick" & "Fire It Up", with guest vocals from Alison Krauss on "This Guitar" & "Lifeless". The album title references T. Rex's "Bang a Gong (Get It On) " with nods to T.Rex, David Bowie & Mott The Hoople across the album. The 1CD features a black & white cover with color logo, packaged in a jewel case.
Legacy Recordings NOW That's What I Call Music! Vol. 81
By Artists, Various
Down Under
By Straits, Dire
Released in May 1985, Dire Straits' fifth studio album, Brothers in Arms, entered the UK album list at number 1 and spent a total of 228 weeks on the chart. It went on to become the best-selling album of 1985 in the UK. The record was similarly successful in the US, peaking at No. 1 on Billboard 200 for nine weeks, going multi-platinum, and selling nine million copies. The album spent 34 weeks at number 1 on the Australian ARIA Chart, and it remains the longest-running number one album in Australia. The 1985-1986 Brothers in Arms world tour which followed the album's release was phenomenally successful, with over 2.5 million tickets sold. The jaunt included dates in Europe, Israel, North America, and' of course, Australia and New Zealand. The band played 248 shows in over 100 different cities.
Live From Moscow
By John, Elton
2019 is the 40th anniversary of Elton John's historic first tour of Russia - he was the first Western rock star to ever perform in the country. The show in Moscow on 28th May 1979 with Ray Cooper was broadcast on BBC radio in the UK. This release is taken from the original broadcast masters, which have been remastered by Bob Ludwig at Gateway Mastering. Now available on 2CD with mini gatefold-style sleeve.
Let It Be
By Beatles, The
The Let It Be album has been newly mixed by producer Giles Martin and engineer Sam Okell. All the new Let It Be releases feature the new stereo mix of the album as guided by the original "reproduced for disc" version by Phil Spector and sourced directly from the original session and rooftop performance eight-track tapes.
Starting Over
By Stapleton, Chris
Chris Stapleton to release his brand-new studio album, Starting Over, on November 13th. With 14 tracks, it's his first project with new material since his last album in 2017. Stapleton plans on touring in support of this release as part of the All-American Road Show in Summer 2021. Chris has received 5 GRAMMY Awards, 7 ACM Awards, 10 CMA Awards, and 5 Billboard Music Awards to date.
The Very Next Thing
By Crowns, Casting
The Very Next Thing marks Casting Crowns' 15th release and eighth studio album since the label debut release in 2003. With more than nine million records sold, the band currently holds the position as Billboard's top-selling act in Christian music since 2007. Casting Crowns began in, serves in and continues to be rooted in the local church. It is at the local level that they are walking along with people in ministry and where the inspiration for albums are formed. "Because we have the honor of walking with people in our churches, we get to see what people are going through - the issues that are impacting everyone now," shares front man Mark Hall. "It is in these situations that ideas are born for what we all need to hear right here right now." The Very Next Thing is full of intimate songs as well as upbeat, fresh sounding tracks that will meet the listener with lyrics that impact with a strong message song after song. Selling Points* New record includes "Oh My Soul," song Mark Hall wrote about his journey through a cancer diagnosis* The Very Next Thing Tour fall 2016 featuring Matt Maher and Hannah Kerr* Sold more than 9 million albums* Multiple awards including a GRAMMY Award, 17 GMA Dove Awards, 4 American Music Awards and 2 Billboard Music Awards
El Rio
By Ballard, Frankie
He may trade in some Spanish lingo in its title, but El Rio finds Frankie Ballard embracing his Midwestern roots, turning out a record that's a proud throwback to the heartland rock of the '80s. Unadorned yet muscular, El Rio easily evokes the lean crackle of prime John Mellencamp, but just in case you didn't get the point, Ballard covers Bob Seger's "You'll Accomp'ny Me, " the ballad providing one of few quiet moments here. Which isn't to say El Rio is all high-octane roar, either. Sure, Ballard slides into the such sensitive murmurings as the sepia-smeared "It All Started with a Beer, " but the album is grounded by earthy open-road anthems -- music made for summertime drives with cruise control. If the leather coat on the cover wasn't a giveaway, Ballard does ratchet up his macho stance, leaning into his cigarette-and-whiskey growl and letting it get subsumed by guitars that both twang and howl. It's an appealing sound, one that zeroes in on the enduring appeal of classic rock, and it's also slyly versatile: the aside to Little Feat on "Southern Side" provides a gateway for a funky rhythm and "L. A. Woman" contains a widescreen splendor that's not entirely indebted to Southern California. Still, the charm of El Rio is its simplicity: with a handful of key collaborators -- including Chris Stapleton, who co-wrote "El Camino" and "Cigarette, " but producer Marshall Altman is prominent here -- Ballard replicates the appeal of Scarecrow, a record that helped enshrine a certain idea of tarnished romantic Midwestern rock.
The Nothing
By Korn,
EDITORIAL REVIEWS KORN vocalist Jonathan Davis elaborated on the forthcoming LP: "Deep, within our Earth lives an extraordinary force. Very few are aware of the magnitude and significance of this place where good/evil, dark/light, bliss/torment,loss/gain and hope/despair all existas one- pulling at us every moment of our lives.Its not something we can choose to navigate, but rather anawarenessof this presence that surrounds us with every breath, as if we are being watched at every moment. Its the place whereblack and white energiesattach themselves to our souls, and shape our emotion, choices, perspective and ultimately our very existence. There is amiraculous and small realm within this vortex and itsthe only place where balance between these dynamic and polarizing forces exists-where the soul finds its refuge. Welcome to ... ..THE NOTHING." KProduced by GRAMMY® Award-winner Nick Raskulinecz, THE NOTHING follows the bands acclaimed 2016 LP, THE SERENITY OF SUFFERING, which debuted at #4 on the "Billboard 200," #1 on both the "Top Rock Albums" and "Hard Rock Albums" charts, #3 on the "Current Albums chart," and includes the GRAMMY® Award-nominated single "Rotting In Vain."