Richard Ashcroft, Keys to the World (Parlophone Import)
The outspoken former Verve frontman, nicknamed “Mad Richard,” by the U.K. press, returns to the fray with his third full length solo album of spacey drone-core.
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Rosanne Cash, Black Cadillac (Capitol)
Johnny Cash’s first-born daughter pens an album dealing with the death of her father through an exploration of the family’s history.
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Cat Power, The Greatest (Matador)
Indie rock’s unstable poster woman releases her seventh full-length album, The Greatest, which was recorded in Memphis with celebrated soul musicians like Leroy “Flick” Hodges and Mabon “Teenie” Hodges.
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The Elected, Sun, Sun, Sun (Sub Pop)
Along with babyfaced Jake Gyllenhaal in Brokeback Mountain, the Elected is ushering in a new era of the sensitive cowboy. Their songs take cues from spaghetti western soundtracks, replete with lap steel and slowly plodding guitar work, but ultimately they’re like Ennio Morricone as sung by Rufus Wainwright (read more).
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Also Read
Compact Discs: Sound of the Future
Ester Drang, Rocinate (Jade Tree)
Ester Drang manages to make some flawlessly ethereal music: Think Elliott Smith’s seriousness (minus the sheer misery), Chris Carrabba’s sincerity (minus the whining), and Imogen Heap’s innovativeness (minus the cool name) (read more).
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The Gossip, Standing in the Way of Control (Kill Rock Stars)
The Olympia, Washington, by way of Arkansas trio comes out with their fifth LP of punky, poppy, LGBTQ-friendly dance tunes.
Buy: Amazon | iTunes
Jenny Lewis, Rabbit Fur Coat (Team Love)
Rilo Kiley’s button-cute frontwoman goes solo with this album of confessional tunes recounting her screwed-up childhood plus a Traveling Wilburys cover.
Buy: Amazon | iTunes
Test Icicles, For Screening Purposes Only (Domino)
Test Icicles play the role of house band at a monster mash. The synthesizers woven through Test Icicles’ debut EP Boa vs. Python sound positively Transylvanian in places, particularly on the title track where creepy digital organs echo throughout a church of the damned (read more).
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