Happy Monday music maniacs! Like new stuff? Great! You’ve come to the right place. Each week all sorts of audiolicious goodies are unleashed onto the masses and this is where they come to be judged. I’ll tell ya what’s good, what’s bad, and what’s a waste of your time. Thanks for stopping by!
The Big News!
Okay, a little business first. Like I said last week, this will be the last New Music Monday of the year. I’ll post a few top ten lists and some holiday stuff but if you’re looking for info on the new Smashing Pumpkins or Nicki Minaj stuff you’ll have to turn elsewhere. Also, if you have any suggestions for best records or singles of the year leave ’em in the comments, send ’em to me or whatever. On to the music.
Australian hard rock masters AC/DC return with their latest, and first in six years, the Brendan O’Brien produced Rock or Bust. Recorded while the band was dealing with the sad news that founding member Malcolm Young was slipping into dementia, and released amid the controversy of drummer Phil Rudd’s legal problems, this is a highly anticipated record that’s getting great reviews. Quoth NME: “Like The Ramones or Iron Maiden, AC/DC have never released a bad album because they’ve never shown any interest in making a great one… As a creative endeavor, Rock or Bust is ninety-nine perspiration, nought percent inspiration, and one percent chutzpa. It’s a testament to the often derided power of formula: these guys have spent a lifetime figuring out where to turn the screws on a lick, where to swing the drumbeat.”
Could Maybe Be Something to Fuck Wit?
Wu Tang Clan return with their first super-massive effort since 2007, A Better Tomorrow. Good stuff? Don’t know, haven’t heard it! For some reason Warner Brothers didn’t send me an advance copy! Geez!Let’s ask someone with a little more credibility. Via Consequence of Sound: “… while the goodwill is obfuscated by a lack of direction, Tomorrow is made further futile because of the misinformed goal of simply giving the fans another Wu-Tang album. The world doesn’t need another one; even the fans know the Clan aren’t and may never be as unified as they were during the ’90s… it’s about business.” Yeesh!
The Queen Returns
Keepin’ everyone honest, Miss Mary J Blige returns with her thirteenth release, The London Sessions. Recorded with rising stars from the UK dance scene, Time hails the record as “proof positive that [Blige] is still a creative force with great instincts.”
Classics Restrung
She and Him, the, according to Under the Gun, “unfiltered, and unabridged,stripped down pop” group made up of Zooey Deschanel and M Ward, unveil Classics. It’s an album of covers retooled to appeal to hipsters. Or something. I got really, really, bored reading about it and I have no plans to listen to it.
My Recommendation
Two recommendations this week. A while back I raved about the work rock and roll mad scientist Shawn Ames is doing for his Out of My Head series. Last week he unleashed Out of My Head Volume 4, another five slivers of joyful musical exploration that will leave you smiling, dancing, and hopefull wanting more. Check it out here.
The new project from Lightening Bolt drummer Brian Chippendale and Deerhoof drummer Greg Sauntier is a drum duo improvisation freakout called, well it looks like it’s untitled, but it’s going to be freaking awesome! It all stems from this documentary.
Next Week
Taking next week off, kiddos. Keep an eye out for holiday related posts and the end of the year lists! And happy holidays!
