Hey music fans! I know it’s been awhile and I hope you have had your ears filled with amazing music since the last time we spoke. If you have been hungry for some new music then let me be the first to tell you that the releases out this week might be the best overall collection of new music this year. There are so many musical genres dropping some of the best music this week from alternative to folk to soul and everywhere in between.
Austin, TX psychedelic soul duo Black Pumas are back with their full-length sophomore album Chronicles of a Diamond. The duo mix rock, jazz and hip-hop so effortlessly on the record as they continue to harness their own unique sound while still paying homage to some of their influences. By the time the standout track “Angel” comes to a close it has moved from an acoustic jam to resting firmly in the lush sounds of the Beatles and Julee Cruise. On the heavily The Doors influenced “Gemini Sun” you could easily switch out singer Eric Burton’s vocals for Jim Morrison’s and the world would have an amazing new song from the Lizard King and his bandmates.
Rock and Roll Hall of Famers Duran Duran have delivered an album perfect for Spooky Season. Danse Macabre finds the band revisiting their Las Vegas Halloween show from last year where they donned gothic costumes and played among stage decorated as a graveyard. There are three new original Duran Duran songs sprinkled throughout this haunting cover album. The somewhat original “Super Lonely Freak” will find the listener half way through the song thinking this could have been a forgotten song from The Wedding Album days of the early ‘90s before I very familiar 80s bass line takes over and you are suddenly captivated by Simon LeBon singing about Rick James’ Super Freaks.
An album highlight is the funky rendition of The Talking Heads “Psycho Killer” that enlist the help of Måneskin’s bassist Victoria De Angelis. Some of the other covered artist include The Rolling Stones, Billie Eilish, Siouxsie & The Banshees and The Specialist. The band’s original lineup reunite along with Nile Rogers to travel back time for the Rio-esque“Nightboat” and “Black Moonlight.” Throw on Danse Macabre this Halloween and have a spooky dance party.
Nigerian rapper Blaqbonez shines on the ambitious Emeka Must Shine as he perfectly fuses Afrobeats, hip-hop, R&B, and other genres together. Each song flows effortlessly from one to the next to paint a vivid painting of the rappers trials and tribulations.
Inviting a notable list of guest features to help captivate the listener and create a unique listening experience is brilliant and helps to glue the album together. Ludacris, Zlatan, Young Jonn and others help Blaqbonez take his musical journey to the next level. Standout track “Like Ice Spice” is just a vibe that would fit perfectly in a sweaty club that hasn’t had air conditioning in five summers as bodies are just glued together as they sway together in rhythm.
Everyone’s favorite cult leader has a new ‘version’ of one of her albums but she is not the only one with remastered or deluxe editions of their classic albums. Prince and the New Power Generation album Diamonds and Pearls has gotten ‘super deluxe edition’ treatment. In addition to the albums 13 tracks receiving the remaster makeover there is 15 additional tracks of remix and edits of some of the albums singles as well their B-sides. The third, fourth, and fifth discs are complete of never before released songs straight out of Prince’s legendary Vault plus early versions of some of the songs that made the final cut of Diamond and Pearls.
Prince was well known as being one of the greatest live performers to ever grace a stage and fans get to relive what Prince was like during this era as the final two discs in the collection are one of the shows Prince and the N.P.G. performed at his old nightclub the Glam Slam. The Diamonds and Pearls (Super deluxe Edition) includes the 13 track original album completely restored plus 33 previously unreleased studio tracks, live audio, and over 2 hours of rare and never-before-seen concert footage via all physical, digital, and streaming formats.
Make sure to check all of the other amazing new releases out this week including…
- Taking Back Sunday 152
- Alexandra Kay All I’ve Ever Known
- Mayer Hawthorne For All Time
- Don Trip Red October
- Sundara Karma Better Luck Next Time
Steven McCash is the Lead Music Writer and Utility Man for SoBros Network. Steven is the host of the ‘Drinking With…’ podcast, and the pioneer of New Music Friday, highlighting each week’s new releases in the world of music in addition to the occasional live show review. He also pitches in as a Nashville lifestyle writer and football analyst (hence the ‘Utility Man’ title). Follow on Twitter: @MC_Cash75
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