Category: Album Releases

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Barnes Family “Floodlight” Album Tops iTunes Charts

The Queensland flood relief efforts have received a boost after the Barnes family album Floodlight shot to number one on the iTunes chart a little more than a day after its release.

But why wouldn’t it? The digital album features some amazing songs from Jimmy Barnes, his children EJ and Mahalia, and David Campbell, his brother John “Swanee” Swan, his brother-in-law Diesel, his son-in-law Ben Rodgers, and a couple of special guests. And it costs just $4.99, which is a price that even the most cash-strapped music fan should be able to afford.

I made my donation at Coles when news of the floods first broke, but this album has inspired me to dip back into my wallet again. Every little bit helps after all. Click here to purchase your copy through iTunes.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Country Music Supports Flood Victims Digital Album Raises Money for Queensland Relief Appeal

Leading local and international country acts have banded together for the release of Country Music Supports Flood Victims, a digital compilation to raise funds for the Premier’s Flood Relief Appeal.

Australian acts Lee Kernaghan, Catherine Britt, Sara Storer, Adam Brand, and Kev Carmody (to name a few) appear alongside international artists Doc Walker, Sean Brody, and Emerson Drive on the release.

“Watching the television coverage of the Queensland floods tragedy unfold from my home in Darwin, it has been hard to comprehend the enormity of the devastation,” Sara Storer said in a statement.

“Queensland has always been one of my favourite places to tour and I have made friends with a lot of people throughout the state during the past ten years, many of whom have been directly affected by the recent events. My heart goes out to all those who have lost relatives and friends as well as those whose homes and property have been damaged or destroyed. I pray that recovery comes as quickly as possible.”

The 13-track digital album is available for $10 exclusively from BigPond Music, which sounds like a pretty good deal to me. If you haven’t given yet, or if you’re feeling extra generous, this might be the album to get you into action.

Image source: BigPond Music

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Autumn Gray Has Love Handles

Melbourne indie act Autumn Gray is preparing to release its new mini-EP Love Handles with a pair of launch shows.

For the uninitiated, Autumn Gray is something like a mini folk army, with seven members contributing lush harmonies and rich musical melodies. Their music features everything from traditional instruments like flutes and pianos to more modern innovations like synthesizers and iPhones!

Autumn Gray’s new EP features “Love Handles,” from their previous album A Diary of a Falling Man, a live version of “Reason,” and “Address Book Blues” and “Moving Target,” two great songs left over from the last recording process. It hits stores on January 21.

Currently Autumn Gray are holed up in an old wool storage warehouse writing and recording their next album, but they’re escaping for a Melbourne launch at The Toff in Town on January 22, and a Sydney one at the Lewisham Livehouse on February 11.

Image used with permission from Positive Feedback

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Art Vs Science Debut Album on the Way

After wowing dance fans everywhere with tracks like “Parlez Vous Francais?” and “Magic Fountain,” Art Vs Science figured it was about time they released an album. That album is The Experiment, and it’ll hit stores on February 25.

The disc was recorded last year with the assistance of Berkfinger, Magoo, Eric J Dubowksy, and acclaimed British engineer Adrian Bushby. It’ll feature “Magic Fountain,” the new single “Finally See Our Way.” The iTunes version has a few remix of that single, while anyone who forks out for the physical disc will get the bonus track “New World Order.” I think that is a great recent to embrace the old school CD!

Art Vs Science will play shows in the United Kingdom and Japan in February, but they’ll be home to play Future Music Festival and the Chemical Brothers support slots in March.

Image source: own photo

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Laneous & The Family Yah Do Festivals Ahead of EP Releases

Laneous & The Family Yah have had a massive 2010, releasing their second album Found Things and a swag of singles, and clocking up plenty of touring kays. You’d think they’d have earned a rest, but the Brisbane band is already preparing to release an ambitious three EPs.

The indie outfit will release the Found Things Collection as a kind of companion to the original Found Things album. The first of the three discs, named Scissors, will hit stores in February, with Paper and Rock to follow.

But before those CDs drop the Laneous crew are packing up their tour bus and enjoying the summer festival season. Here are the places you can catch them around the country.

27 December 2010 – Joyluck Club @ Woodford Folk Festival, Woodfordia
28 December 2010 – Dancehall @ Woodford Folk Festival, Woodfordia
29 December 2010 – The Underworld @ Peats Ridge Festival, Glenworth Valley
30 & 31 December 2010 – The Grande @ Woodford Folk Festival, Woodfordia
6 January 2011 – Hibiscus Stage @ Sunset Sounds Festival, Brisbane
7 January 2011 – Main Stage, ‘Post-Festival Party’ @ Shush, Sydney
23 January 2011 – Big Day Out, Gold Coast

Image used with permission from Heapsaflash

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Jebediah Albums Finally Released Online

After a hiatus that stretched far too long, Jebediah are finally back together and in the studio preparing a brand new album for our listening pleasure. To celebrate, Sony Music has gone back in the vault to release a digital box set of the band’s first three studio albums.

Slightly Odway, Of Someday Shambles, and Jebediah will be available as a set called The Murmur Years 1997-2002, or individually. While you’re updating your MP3 collection you can also add the now out-of-print Gleesides and Sparities, and the indie release Braxton Hicks.

All that Jebediah goodness should get you in the mood for the newie, which will drop some time next year.

Image used with permission from Chrissie Vincent Publicity

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The Bride and In Hearts Wake Team Up for Split EP

Split EPThe Bride and In Hearts Wake have combined their powers for one mighty metal EP, appropriately called Split.

Like so many of the best ideas in music, the EP came about after a drunken chat while the bands were touring together.

“We have seen split EPs work well in the past for some of Australia’s best artists so we thought, ‘Why not?’ Plus it was a great way to come out with our new vocalist and sound gearing up for our album,” explained The Bride’s guitarist Matt Gravolin.

“We had been on tour with In Hearts Wake for about a month and the more it was talked about, the more everyone got excited about the idea.”

It’s a great concept which should help expose the bands’ enthusiasts to one another’s audience. New fans are sure to follow. The six-track Split EP is out now through New Justice Records.

Image source: JB Hi Fi

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Melbourne’s Wild Weather Inspires New Big Scary EP

Melbourne is a city where you can experience four seasons in one day. So it’s appropriate that the Victorian capital’s woolly weather has inspired the new EP of its indie rock/folk/pop duo Big Scary.

Vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Tom Iansek and drummer Jo Syme went about translating the way the unpredictable climate made them feel for The Big Scary Four Seasons EP. It’ll be released on Friday through iTunes, but you can take an early listen through new Melbourne-based digital label Gaga Digi.

This band is bound to blow up soon after booking appearances at Falls, Southbound, and the Peats Ridge festival. If you’re getting along to any of those shows, make sure you don’t miss Big Scary’s sets!

Image used with permission from Light Parade

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Listen to MC Tuka’s “Tall Poppy”

Here are some cool hip hop grooves to brighten up your Thursday. MC Tuka has been sharing the stage with urban acts like Thundamentals, Rumpunch, and Sketch the Rhyme for the last few years, but with the recent release of his debut album Will Rap for Tuka he’s stepping into the spotlight.

I love the way the cool brass works with MC Tuka’s clever lyrics on this track “Tall Poppy.” This is so interesting and different to anything I’ve heard lately, and the good news is that there’s more where that came from. MC Tuka loves to play with genres, and the tunes on his album have obvious jazz, dub, and gypsy influences.

But MC Tuka is more than just a talented rapper. When he’s not working on his music he teaches hip hop to disadvantaged youth through the NSW TAFE Outreach Program. The classes help to improve the literacy skills of these kids who need the extra help.

What a nice guy!

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Inland Sea are Something Special

When you bring together ten musicians that are serious about their craft and good music, magic is sure to happen. And there’s magic indeed in Inland Sea, a folk-influenced band from Brisbane.

Their debut EP Traitor was only released around a week ago, and already it’s earning rave reviews and some serious airplay from Triple J. And it’s little wonder, with its gorgeous five-part harmonies and lush sound featuring the mandolin, ukulele, cello, violin, and heaps more. This is the kind of music I can really get excited about.

If you can too, make sure you see the band doing their thing in the flesh at the following shows. The first two shows are free, so there are really no excuses!

28 November 2010 – Brisbane Powerhouse, Brisbane (from 3:30 pm)
4 December 2010 – Rics, Fortitude Valley (from 8 pm)
15 December 2010 – The Zoo, Brisbane