This week of new releases brings a Mark Ronson-produced Black Lips album, the country debut of psychobilly idol Nick 13, an inventive career-spanning set from Randy Travis, and another Arctic Monkeys album, continuing their interesting progression from Brit garage brats into muscular rockers with the help of guardian scum-angel Josh Homme.
For younger indie-rockers, this week brings news discs from Givers, Battles and Cults, bands that to the naked and jaded eye are all mostly the same, but upon closer inspection prove to have more under the covers. Nouveau Americana titans Dawes come out swinging with Nothing Is Wrong, a collection that is already converting people into their camp.
Next week brings Eminem's collaboration with Royce Da 5'9", Hell: The Sequel, a 1984 live disc from Neil Young, along with releases from Marc Broussard, Owl City, and The Dear Hunter.
Arctic Monkeys, Suck It And See:Continuing the old-school blues-metal tip from 2009's Humbug, the former It-Boys keep proving that there is life after hype. Who would have known that the kid who sang "I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor" could get spooky and sultry five years on?
Black Lips, Arabia Mountain: Produced by Mark Ronson, this may be the first fully-realized Black Lips album yet. Their sounds goes Technicolor here without losing the spit and bong resin from the first handful of albums. This time around Ronson helps them get cosmic.
Cults, Cults: Holy Phil Spector's Ghost! This is some snazzy shit, and totally unexpected. A lot of newer bands are trying to do this epic, echoey, garage thing, a la the Shangri-Las, but Cults are pulling it off. Yes, we know Spector is still alive in prison. For now.