Aural Notes™

Well, today is the New Release Tuesday of the month.  Make sure that you give a listen to this week’s new music.

First up is Brazil’s Seu Jorge and Almaz. For diehard Seu Jorge fans, this is a bit of a departure given that it is an album of mostly covers.  However, Jorge’s signature gravel-like voice is in full effect.  Love the Brazilian standards; however, I must say that I’m impressed with the moxy that the group displayed in covering three long-standing, English language classics:  Michael Jackson’s “Rock With You”, Roy Ayers’ “Everybody Loves the Sunshine”, and Kraftwerk’s “The Model”.  Check it out.

Best Coast releases Crazy For You, an oh-so-fun romp into the world of beach music.  I can’t help but think that this is the perfect summertime release.  Bound to be one of the best pop releases of the year.

Also out today is music from Avenge Sevenfold, Slum Village, Tom Jones, Robert Cray, Fat Joe, Mark Olson, Menomena, Mike Phillips, and Incognito.

Finally, Jesca Hoop’s latest offering, Hunting My Dress, is beautiful and delicate.  This will probably be the new release that I play the most this week.  For just a taste of what the album offers, here’s the video for “Murder of Birds”, which is Jesca’s duet with Elbow‘s Guy Garvey.  Exquisite!

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Hello fine folks and Happy Tuesday to you!  What new music will you add to your collection this week.

After a few controversial months (New York Times article, dissing label mate, canceled concert), M.I.A. releases her third album, entitled MAYA.  Here’s her latest single “XXXO”.

Also out this week is new music from STING, CROWDED HOUSE, KORN, HELLYEAH, NORMA JEAN, CAPONE N NOREAGA, DANGER MOUSE & SPARKLEHORSE, THE MAINE, SCHOOL OF SEVEN BELLS, THE INNOCENCE MISSION, TRACY BONHAM, MYSTERY JETS, and PAUL WALL.

Enjoy and happy listening.

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We’re at the halfway point for new releases this year.  A lot of great music so far and a lot more to come.

This may be the week of the dance-pop diva. Aussie Kylie Minogue releases her 11th title Aphrodite.  Her first release in three years, Kylie gives us more of the dance-pop excellence that we’ve come to expect from her, without missing a beat.

In what is a bit of a departure from her usual sound, Kelis releases Flesh Tone, her first release since signing with Interscope.  Leaving her R&B/Hip-Hop sound behind, Kelis explores dance and electronica with this release.  See for yourself here with her single “Acapella”.

New music also out this week from Poison frontman Bret Michaels, Enrique Iglesias, Juvenile, Ed Kowalczyk, Jimmie Vaughn, and The Cat Empire.

And last, but definitely not least comes the “official” debut release from Big Boi Sir Lucious Leftfoot…The Son of Chico Dusty.   Big Boi has carved out his own unique sound, which is a departure from what fans may be familiar with from OutKast.  Make no mistake, this release is bound to be one of summer’s biggest hits.  Here is just a taste…”Shutterbug.”

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New Release Tuesday!  Grab new music from Wolf Parade, Blue Six, Peter Case, 3OH!3, Alejandro Escovedo,The Dream, Scissor Sisters, and Dwele.

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Without a doubt, I’ve been eagerly awaiting this week in music for months.  There is so much new music out this week that your debit card will beg for mercy.  Get those wallets out.

We start with hip-hop “legends”.  The Roots (aka The Legendary Roots Crew) drop their 11th release, entitled How I Got Over.  The group’s career spans nearly 20 years and they could not be any hotter and on top of their game.  Truly a feat in hip-hop music. True musicianship + lyric mastery = The Roots.  This album is rock solid, from start to finish. And what about the enviable list of guest artists who make a guest appearance?  Joanna Newsom, John Legend, Phonte Coleman, Monsters of Folk, members of Dirty Projectors. Outstanding.  Want further proof? Take a listen to “Dear God 2.0″ and tell me that this is not destined to be one of the top releases of the year.

And speaking of hip-hop, one of the most gifted MCs ever has just released his latest.  Eminem unleashes Recovery (which, up until recently, was to be titled Relapse 2) on the masses.  After listening to the new album, the title change was brilliant, given that this is indeed a departure for 2009′s Relapse.  The rapid-fire delivery is still there, but the tone of this album feels different.  Serious and a bit forlorn, but the biting lyricism is still there, and really, that is why his many fans keep coming back for more.

Some old favorites also have new music out this week.  Look for new music from Laurie Anderson, Cyndi Lauper,  Herbie Hancock, Keith Sweat, and Macy Gray.

And finally, look for new music from Stars, The Chemical Brothers, Bob Baldwin, Samantha James, Danzig,  Vince Neil, Robert Randolph and the Family Band, Sarah Harmer, Uffie, Kele, Front Line Assembly, The Constellations, Ozzy Osbourne, and Sia.  Speaking of Sia, here’s her latest single “Clap Your Hands.”  If nothing else, she’s quirky…and can sing.

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Online collaboration has now taken an interesting turn in the form of SongVote.  The site enables a community of online users to come together and create a unified playlist, regardless of genre.  This is what SongVote touts as “Collaborative Playlisting.”  I like the premise.  A group of people coming together, some you may know, some you may not know, to build the ultimate playlist based on a theme, occasion, or just for the fun of it.  With different people involved in the process, the possibilities are endless for a diverse, robust playlist.

The process has been easy. (so far) To test out the site, I created my first contest, which is the first step that must be initiated before online users can participate.  Given that this is the first day of Summer, I thought that a summer-themed playlist would be the perfect theme.

I created the parameters of the contest and activated it.  Online users can then weigh in and vote on songs (basically, they can add songs to the playlist or co-sign any songs already on the list) before the contest deadline.

Once the contest has ended, the initiator of said contest will receive an e-mail with the completed playlist and an option to purchase the songs from iTunes or Amazon.com.  Check out SongVote and feel free to participate in Aural Notes’ first contest.  This should be very interesting.

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Let’s just dive into this week’s new releases.

Finally, we have the debut CD from Drake.  It has been a long time coming.  One year after signing with Young Money Entertainment, Thank Me Later has been released for the masses.  Well, I don’t think that I have never known of an artist to be deemed the hottest thing in hip-hop BEFORE ever releasing an album.  Depending on the source, Thank Me Later was already at #1 on iTunes by 8:00 this morning.  (some sources say #4, while another says #5, at best)  Impressive, to say the least.

One of the most interesting releases of the week is Ocotea comes from Jyoti. This is Georgia Anne Muldrow‘s side project in which she explores her jazz influences while paying homage to Alice Coltrane, who bestowed the new moniker on Georgia.  Very interesting listening experience.

It has been 20 years since Devo‘s last album.  And while many years have passed, Something for Everybody embodies what one has come to expect from the band.  True blue fans of Devo will really enjoy this new album.

Rounding out the new releases for the week is the following:  Sarah McLachlan, Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, Nappy Roots, Cowboy Junkies, Gaslight Anthem, We Are Scientists, Ed Harcourt, Kevin Rudolf, Robyn, Punch Brothers, Gerald Albright, Rasputina, The Like, and Lucy Woodward.

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For many, the concert experience is about socializing with friends while enjoying music from a favorite band.  Big Live puts a new slant on this by providing a socially interactive concert experience.  Big Live enables users to watch concerts online…live…as they’re happening.  The home page not only gives a brief synopsis of the Big Life experience, but a rotating cube on the right side of the screen promotes upcoming shows.

The interactive component of the experience is that users can chat with each other while watching the concert.  Like many other social networking sites, one can connect with friends or browse for new ones.  There is also “Global Chat”, which is an open chat forum, as well as, “Private Chat”, which is self-explanatory.  You can also link you Big Live account with your Facebook profile.  There is also an option of inviting friends via Gmail or Yahoo, too.  Currently in Beta, Big Live has a few kinks that must be worked out, but the premise is interesting.  At the very least, it could be a great way of catching a few bands that you’ve not heard of previously.  That’s how I learned of London Souls.

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It is New Release Tuesday!  Brace yourself for an avalanche of new music.

New tunes this week from Rhymefest, Dutch, Christina Aguilera, Dierks Bentley, Lil Jon, Jewel, Hanson, Andy Bell, Travie McCoy, Blitzen Trapper, Blk Jks, Hot Hot Heat, Nada Surf, Ratatat, Casiokids, Teenage Fanclub, Deer Tick, Delta Spirit, Grace Potter & The Nocturnals, Orianthi, Rooney, Plies, Chali 2na, Against Me!, Tokyo Police Club, and Tiesto.

Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti

Also out today is the latest release from Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti, Before Today.  The 12-track CD is available on 4AD.  Here’s the latest single “Bright Lit Blue Skies.”

Alex Cuba

Finally, Cuban-Canadian musician Alex Cuba releases his third (self-titled) CD.  Although Alex usually sings in Spanish, this CD contains his first Spanish language song, “If You Give Me Love.”

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Wow!  It is already June 1st. How did that happen?  Five months down and I’m still trying to catch up on the full spectrum of music releases for the year.  Just when I thought that I was making headway, another New Music Tuesday rolls around.

This week, we have new music from JACK JOHNSON, SLEIGH BELLS (one of my favorite live performers this year…catch them), BERES HAMMOND (the Marvin Gaye of reggae), THE FUTUREHEADS, THE MELVINS, TAIO CRUZ, SERGIO MENDES (legendary), BORN RUFFIANS, GEMMA RAY, UNBUNNY, PAUL WELLER (my favorite songwriter, bar none) and (La) INDIA.

And here’s the latest single from India, entitled “Estupida”.  Until next week…

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