Welcome to this week's Release Round-Up, featuring a selection of the new titles in stores today!
Paul Simon, Seven Psalms (Owl/Legacy)
CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
Amazon-Exclusive Colored Vinyl: Amazon U.S.
Paul Simon is ready to unveil Seven Psalms, his fifteenth studio album: a 33-minute suite of music consisting of seven dreamlike, meditative compositions which are meant to be played as one continuous piece (and tracked as such, at least on the digital version). The album has been produced by Simon and Kyle Crusham, and was recorded by the artist entirely on acoustic instruments. Focused on the intimacy of Simon as vocalist and guitarist, the album also features choral contributions from British vocal group VOCES8 and an appearance by singer-songwriter (and Paul's wife) Edie Brickell. This journey is simultaneously heavy and light as Simon wrestles with, and muses on, mortality and the inevitable in provocative, elliptical, often moving fashion. Read more here.
Galen Ayers and Paul Simonon, Can We Do Tomorrow Another Day? (Legacy) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)
Paul Simonon (The Clash, Gorillaz, The Good, The Bad & The Queen) and singer-songwriter Galen Ayers have teamed for this new collaborative album of duets (some of which are bilingual). Its ten transporting and easygoing tracks sung in English and Spanish present a varied overview of European musical styles including loving homages to music of the U.K., Spain, Greece, France, and beyond. Simonon and Ayers conjure a breezy '60s soundscape with trumpet and Hammond organ on the opening "Lonely Town," take a galloping journey through London on "It's Another Night," channel their inner Del Shannons on "Room at the Top," and playfully banter on the mock chanson "I've Never Had a Good Time...in Paris." A good time is definitely to be had, though, on such fizzy, lighter-than-air tunes as the slinky but emphatic "No Es Necesario," the tropically-tinged "Esmeralda," and goofy "A Sea Shanty." The album was produced in spare fashion by Tony Visconti (David Bowie, T Rex), clearly in service to the songs and the duo's contrasting yet complementary voices as he eschews any modern-day production flourishes. The LP features musicians Simon Tong, Sebastian Rochford, and Don Donovan, as well as special guest Damon Albarn on melodica. Can We Do Tomorrow Another Day? is available on CD, vinyl, and digital formats, and the duo's official webstore is selling an exclusive white vinyl LP as well as signed CDs and LPs. The first single, "Lonely Town," is streaming now.
Graham Nash, Now (BMG) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)
Graham Nash reflects on his present-day life on Now, a collection of original songs also including his unique recording of "Buddy's Back" with longtime Hollies pal Allan Clarke. Available on CD, LP, and digital formats.
Def Leppard, Drastic Symphonies (UMe) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)
Def Leppard have revisited some of their biggest hits as they meld new vocal and guitar parts to symphonic backings by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra recorded at Abbey Road. Available on CD, LP, and digitally.
Marty Stuart and The Fabulous Superlatives, Altitude (Snakefarm) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)
For his first album in five years, Marty Stuart and his band The Fabulous Superlatives return with an album evoking the best of "cosmic American music." Available on CD, LP, and digitally.
Kimberly Akimbo: Original Broadway Cast Recording (Ghostlight) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)
Featuring book and lyrics by Pulitzer Prize winner David Lindsay Abaire (based on his play) and music by Tony Award winner Jeanine Tesori, the multiple Tony-nominated musical Kimberly Akimbo comes to CD today. Currently playing at Broadway's intimate Booth Theatre, the heartfelt and quirky show stars Tony Award-winner Victoria Clark (The Light in the Piazza) as Kimberly, a New Jersey teenager with a rare aging condition that not only shortens her life expectancy but makes her look like a senior citizen while still in high school. Both heart-wrenching and side-splittingly funny, Kimberly's company features Justin Cooley (who is making his Broadway debut), Tony Award nominee Steven Boyer (Hand to God), Alli Mauzey (Cry Baby), Bonnie Milligan (Head Over Heels), Olivia Elease Hardy (in her Broadway debut), Fernell Hogan (The Prom), Michael Iskander (in his Broadway debut), and Nina White (in her Broadway debut). Kimberly Akimbo remains available digitally, as well.
The Little Mermaid: Original Soundtrack Recording (Walt Disney Records)
CD: Target.com / Amazon U.K.
LP: Amazon U.S. (Black Vinyl) / Barnes and Noble (Blue Vinyl) / Target.com (Oceanic Blue Blend Vinyl) / Disney Music Emporium (Baby Blue Vinyl)
The soundtrack to director Rob Marshall's remake of the Disney animated classic arrives in stores today, one week in advance of the film's release. The Little Mermaid features the classic score by Alan Menken and Howard Ashman together with new songs by Menken and lyricist Lin-Manuel Miranda. Halle Bailey stars as Ariel while Melissa McCarthy plays Ursula, Daveed Diggs is the voice of Sebastian, Awkwafina is the voice of Scuttle, and Jonah Hauer-King is Prince Eric. Available on CD (Target-exclusive) and vinyl (including various color versions).
Harry N Cohen says
I was pleasantly surprised to see this week's releases available on cd. I forgot that I had pre ordered 7 Psalms. It is arriving today. I will be opening and playing an actual cd. Huzzah!