Category: Album Releases

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Jimmy Barnes Goes Back to the Blues

He might be 53 years old, but Jimmy Barnes shows no signs of slowing down. The Aussie music veteran recorded not one, but two new albums in a recent trip to the United States.

The first is a prequel to his famous Soul Deep album, titled The Rhythm & the Blues. As the name suggests, the covers disc will feature bluesy numbers from the 50s and 60s.

Jimmy assembled an all-star band for the disc, including guitarist Johnny Lee Schell (Lucinda Williams, BB King), pianist Mike Thompson (Eagles), bassist Reggie McBride (Aretha Franklin, James Brown, Stevie Wonder) and drummer James Gadson (Quincy Jones, Bill Withers). Being the consummate professionals that they are, the album was recorded in just three days. We’ll hear a taste of it next month when the first single is released.

While stateside Jimmy also teamed up with Jonathan Cain, the co-writer of “Working Class Man” for another original rock album. Who knows whether another single so strong will grace this disc, but I can’t help crossing my fingers.

We can expect both albums to hit record stores soon.

Image source: DianeSunshineCoast @ Wikimedia Commons

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The Scare Reborn with Oozevoodoo

The Scare are back with a brand new album, curiously titled oozevoodoo.

“oozevoodoo is about cleansing and rebirth,” explained Scare frontman Kiss Reid. “It represents the rebirth of this band’s hunger.”

It’s a natural progression from Chivalry, with a heavier attack, back-to-basics rhythms, and more complex vocal melodies. We get a taste of these elements in the disc’s first single, “Could Be Bad,” which is now streaming online.

Oozevoodoo will hit record stores on August 7. To support the release The Scare will join old mates Children Collide on the Chosen Armies tour. You can also catch them at the Triple J Party at The Gov in Adelaide on Thursday, and the Coaster Festival in September.

Image used with permission from Delinquents

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Holy Smoke! Gin Wigmore Readies Debut Album

Honorary Aussie Gin Wigmore is preparing to release her debut album Holy Smoke, hot on the heels of her breakout EP Extended Play.

While the EP was a local production, Gin’s spread her wings for her first long player. It was recorded in Los Angeles with a dream team including Ryan Adam’s backing band The Cardinals, producer Mike Elizondo (Fiona Apple, Eminem, Maroon 5), and Joe Chiccarelli (White Stripes, The Shins, Beck).

And it seems she’s impressed those heavy hitters.

“Gin Wigmore is unquestionably one of the most exciting new artists to emerge in many years,” said The Cardinals’ Neal Casal. “Her songwriting is at once diverse, intelligent, melodic, and soulful. Her voice is raw and emotional, with phrasing far beyond her years. Her debut record is a fully realized statement of intent, promising a great career ahead.”

Holy Smoke will hit record stores in Australia and the States on September 25. Local audiences will get a sneak peek of the new songs are the following shows around the country.

27 August 2009 – Notes, Sydney
2 September 2009 – The Toff in Town, Melbourne
3 September 2009 – Troubadour, Brisbane
12 Sep 2009 – Coaster Festival, Gosford Showgrounds

Image used with permission from The White Agency

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The Black Ryder Prepare Debut Release

Australian rockers The Black Ryder burst onto the scene last year supporting Black Rebel Motorcycle Club. Since then they’ve shared the stage with The Raveonettes, The Brian Jonestown Massacre, and The Charlatans. They’ve generated plenty of buzz, so it’s probably about time they released an album!

Well they’ve been locked away in their home studio for the last few months, and we’re almost ready to hear the fruits of their labour. The Black Ryder will release their debut disc The Anti-Machine Machine on their own label, in conjunction with EMI Music Australia and Original Matters, this October.

The unique release deal allows the band to develop independently and maintain creative control while enjoying the benefits of a major label’s support.

“Since the inception of this project we’ve felt very passionately about allowing the music and everything that surrounds it to evolve in it’s most natural (and for the most part unconventional) form,” explained The Black Ryder’s singer, Aimee Nash.

“This new initiative with Original Matters and EMI Music will allow us to release the album we always wanted to release on our own (newly created) label. To have their support in releasing our album in such a unique way is the best possible outcome we could have hoped for. To say we’re pleased or excited by this outcome would be an understatement. We’re very proud to be a part of this new initiative & direction.”

For a sneak peek at the album, head to the band’s MySpace page where they’re showcasing the track “Burn and Fade.” The song features guest appearances from Black Rebel Motorcycle Club’s Peter Hayes and Leah Shapiro and The Brian Jonestown Massacre’s Mr. Ricky Maymi.

If that whets your appetite you can catch the band playing at Spectrum in Sydney on July 24, or the Cherry Bar in Melbourne on July 31.

Image used with permission from Original Matters

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Mark Vincent Realises His Dream

15-year-old Mark Vincent wowed the country as this year’s winner of Australia’s Got Talent. And today the talented young opera star is set to do it all again with the release of his debut album, My Dream – Mio Visione.

There are no real surprises here, which is likely to be a good thing for his adoring fans. After all, they’re going to be much happier hearing Mark belt out opera classics “Ava Maria” and “Nessun Dorma” and modern classics “Unchained Melody” and “Hallelujah” than more traditional teen hits.

If you’re a fan of Paul Potts and Il Divo, make sure you check out this kid. If he can sing this well at 15, he’s bound to have a big future ahead of him. If you missed him before, here’s Mark’s first performance on Australia’s Got Talent.

 

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Southern Sons Gets a Rerelease

In news that’s a little out of left field, Sony Music has decided Southern Sons‘ debut self-titled disc is worthy of a re-release!

The 1990 album launched the band, which consisted of Jack Jones (aka Irwin Thomas), Virgil Donati, Phil Buckle, Geoff Cain, and Peter Bowman. It featured the hits “Heart in Danger,” “Always and Ever,” and the tearjerker “Hold Me In Your Arms.”

The band released two more albums before breaking up in 1995. They seem to have well and truly moved on, with Irwin Thomas now playing in the rock outfit Electric Mary. They’ll support Alice Cooper on his August tour, a gig that couldn’t be more different than the Southern Sons shows of the 90s.

If, like me, you preferred the big haired heart-throb to the edgy new image, you can pick up the Southern Sons CD from June 22. Just thinking about it I had to fire up YouTube and see what I could see. I unearthed this old performance of “Hold Me In Your Arms” on Steve Vizard’s show. I think I just fell in love all over again!

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Sarah Blasko Gets Musical

Just 1000 Sarah Blasko fans will get their hands on a special limited edition of her new album As Day Follows Night. But lucky fans they will be. They’ll receive a special bonus disc featuring Sarah’s reinterpretations of her favorite songs from musicals.

Cinema Blasko includes “Seems Like Old Times” from Annie Hall, “Something Good” from The Sound of Music, “Maybe This Time” from Cabaret, “Out Here On My Own” from Fame, and “Xanadu” from Xanadu. It sounds completely worthwhile for “Xanadu’s” presence alone!

Sarah will sign all the special edition boxes, which will also include four magic ink reveal cards and a paintbrush for you to reveal the artwork.

Sarah fans will need to get to their local record store bright and early on July 10 to snap up the limited edition As Day Follows Night CDs.

Image source: Boboroshi @ Flickr

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The Galvatrons Studio Diary Dishes Dirt on "Laser Graffiti"

Retro rock fans everywhere are getting excited about the release of Laser Graffiti, the debut album from The Galvatrons next month. Today I received the band’s studio diary from Warner Music and was told I could share it with you all. It’s definitely whetted my appetite for the long-play!

Studio Diary for the making of Laser Graffiti Or When Keyboards try to be Guitars
Chapter 1 – Pre- Production, or how the bloody hell are we gonna do this?
The first week of December 2008 we spent doing pre‐ production for the album at Deluxe Studios in South Melbourne. During this time we met with great anticipation and trepidation our producer, Scott Horscroft. Scott previously worked with The Presets, The Panics, and silverchair, and we were keen to see what would come of our collaboration with this eccentric man (which for all descriptions he is …)

Scott flew down from Sydney for the week to get a vibe for what we wanted to do for the record, telling us his vibe, just a lot of vibing really in South Melbourne, which really has no vibe at all. Most of what we worked at was re‐ jigging structures for the songs, and where the extra bits would come into it. It was a fairly relaxed week, jamming in the studio live and getting the structure right for tracking. Notable was the writing of “Molotov Cocktail” during this time (the albums “party” track … maybe the chorus lyrics have something to do with that … moving on …)

Continue reading “The Galvatrons Studio Diary Dishes Dirt on "Laser Graffiti"” →
Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Guy Sebastian Releases EP in United States

Guy Sebastian has released his first music in the United States, a digitally-downloadable EP.

The three-track recording including new songs “All To Myself” and “Like It Like That” from Guy’s forthcoming album, also called Like It Like That, as well as his cover of “Take Me To The River” from the Memphis Album.

Like It Like That will be Guy’s first full-length album released in the United States. It is scheduled to hit stores in January 2010.

Image source: The Harbour Agency

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Hype Escalates Over Eskimo Joe Inshalla Release

There are just eight days to go until Eskimo Joe release their brand new album Inshalla. To celebrate the release, the band has given their website a hot new makeover.

But that’s just the start of the Inshalla excitement. If you’re in Sydney on Tuesday May 26 make sure you get down to the Apple Store on George Street, where the band will perform as part of the iTunes Live from Sydney series. The free show kicks off at 9 pm, but as access is limited fans are encouraged to arrive early. If you can’t make it to the show, or if you just want to relive it, you can buy an EP of the performance through iTunes.

The band isn’t forgetting their fans home in Western Australia, with a very special preview concert coinciding with the album launch on May 29. Tickets to the show can be won through Nova937 or the Eskimo Joe e-mail list.

But that’s not the only perk for Western Australians. The band will also release a special WA-only edition of Inshalla, featuring a live disc with tracks recorded on the band’s last album tour. Copies are strictly limited, so make sure you reserve your copy at your local WA record store!

Image source: Newscom