Don’t Miss New Albums Out Today From Neil Young, Andy Frasco & The UN + Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy

Each week Release Day Picks profiles new LPs and EPs Team JamBase will be checking out on release day Friday. This week we highlight new albums by Neil Young, Andy Frasco & The U.N. and Bonnie “Prince” Billy. Read on for more insight into the records we have ready to spin.

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Neil Young – Chrome Dreams

Rock ‘n’ roll legend Neil Young planned to release a studio album entitled Chrome Dreams in 1977 that some Youngologists feel would have been his most powerful record of the 70s. While Neil made the decision 46 years ago to shelve Chrome Dreams, the “final version of an album that includes some of rock’s most unforgettable songs” has finally been released today via Reprise Records. Chrome Dreams consists of studio recordings captured between 1974 and 1977. Two of the 12 tracks are previously unreleased versions and four will appear on vinyl for the first time. Each tune has a special place in Neil Young history, including such classics as “Powderfinger,” “Like A Hurricane,” “Homegrown” and “Pocahontas.” The long awaited Chrome Dreams just as Young envisioned it. “Powderfinger” is the early/first solo version, while “Pocahontas” is the take from Rust Never Sleeps sans overdubs. Additionally, both “Sedan Delivery” and “Hold Back The Tears” contain lyrics not found in later released versions.

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Andy Frasco & The U.N. – L’Optimist

Andy Frasco & The U.N. released their new studio album, L’Optimist, today through Fun Machine Records/Soundly Music. Frasco’s sixth studio album, L’Optimist was primarily recorded in Nashville and Los Angeles by the core band – Frasco on keyboards, Shawn Eckels on guitar, Ernie Chang on saxophone, Andee Avila on drums and Floyd Kellogg on bass and other instruments. Kellogg was also among those with production and writing credits along with Caleb Hawley, Paul McDonald, Kenny Carkeet, Chris Gelbuda and Cason Cooley. Guest contributors include hip-hop duo Little Stranger and the reggae outfit Artikal Sound System. Frontman Andy Frasco described the mindset behind L’Optimist, stating:

“With so much bad news in the world, why not try to figure out a way to get out of the darkness. We’re not going to be able to change the world, but at least we can change the mind state we have moving forward. We can at least help the process along by being optimistic that the future will turn itself around. And if everyone changes their mind state about the future, then maybe we can change the world.”

[SPOTIFY LINK]

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Bonnie “Prince” Billy – Keeping Secrets Will Destroy You

Singer-songwriter Bonnie “Prince” Billy (Will Oldham) issued his new album, Keeping Secrets Will Destroy You, today through Drag City. Keeping Secrets Will Destroy You (KSWDY) is the first solo Bonnie “Prince” Billy album since 2019’s I Made a Place. Bonnie “Prince” Billy did participate in a pair of collaborative albums — Superwolves with Matt Sweeney and Blind Date Party with Bill Callahan — in 2021. KSWDY saw Oldham recording in his hometown of Louisville, Kentucky with Nick Roeder. Contributors on the record include violinist Sara Louise Callaway, keyboardist Kendall Carter, violinist/violist Elisabeth Fuchsia, mandolinist Dave Howard, saxophonist Drew Miller and vocalist Dane Waters.

“The presence of so many local players and music educators in the band lends not only to a flow of moments so fluidly encompassing of a wide range of musics from classical to Japanese acid folk and elsewhere,” a description of KSWDY stated, “but perhaps even more importantly, to the sense of community, heredity and the triumph of inheritance that is the marrow and life blood of this music.”

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Compiled by Team JamBase.