Don’t Miss New Albums From Widespread Panic, Luke Combs, RJD2, Oliver Wood, Moby & More

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 Widespread Panic, Luke Combs, RJD2, Oliver Wood, Moby, Staples Jr. Singers, The Decemberists, Mike Campbell & The Dirty Knobs, Bilal, NxWorries, PJ Morton, John Cale, Hermanos Gutiérrez, and Jerry Garcia Band. Read on for more insight into the records we have ready to spin.

Widespread Panic – Snake Oil King

Widespread Panic released their 13th studio album, Snake Oil King, which they announced one week ago. The six-song collection features the five studio singles the veteran jam band has shared so far this year, plus vinyl-exclusive “Small Town.” Snake Oil King marks Panic’s first studio album since 2015’s Street Dogs and second with drummer Duane Trucks behind the kit. The sextet recorded the LP with longtime collaborator producer John Keane at his studios in the band’s hometown of Athens, Georgia. Glenn Schick and Pete Lyman handled mastering duties. Widespread Panic tapped visual artist Marq Spusta to create the artwork for the album.

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Luke Combs – Fathers & Sons

Singer-songwriter Luke Combs released his fifth album, Fathers & Sons, which he announced eight days ago. The new record trails Combs’ 2022 album Growin’ Up and its 2023 follow-up Gettin’ Old. Combs recorded Fathers & Sons with an ace group of musicians, mandolinist Sam Bush, fiddler Stuart Duncan, dobro player Josh Matheny, keyboardist Jim “Moose” Brown, electric guitarist Joey Landreth, bassists Mark Hill and Steve Mackey, drummers Josh Hunt and , and acoustic guitarists Bryan Sutton, Jonathan Singleton and Charlie Worsham. Arriving just before Father’s Day, the 12-song Fathers & Sons was previewed by the single, “The Man He Sees in Me,” which came accompanied by a note Combs wrote to his sons:

“To my boys, first and foremost, I will always love you, no matter what. With this song I want you to know that even though I’m not perfect, I try my hardest every day to be the best version of myself for you both. I’ll make mistakes along the way and some days you’ll be sick of your old man, I’m sure, but, dang, we’ll have some fun too. I can’t wait to see what you both turn out to be like and I hope someday down the road, I get to watch you and your kids do the same. Love, Dad.”

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RJD2 – Visions Out Of Limelight

Producer RJD2 issued a new album entitled Visions Out Of Limelight via his Electrical Connections label. RJD2 Ramble Jon Krohn was inspired on the follow-up to 2020’s The Fun Ones by the TV theme songs of the ’70s, ’80s and ’90s. “I realized how incredibly composed and skillfully complex many of them were,” RJD2 stated. Along with the TV theme songs, the producer was also inspired by the classic bass lines at the heart of Dr. Dre’s “Deep Cover,” KMD’s “Black Bastards” and Diamond D’s “Sally Got A One Track Mind.” RJ made it a “mini-mission” of his to create a new record that focuses on bass. The majority of Visions Out Of Limelight’s 13 songs were tracked with live instrumentation, while the rest were broken down and put back together via sampler “like the olden days,” the producer explained. The album art pays tribute to the visuals fronting both Funkadelic’s iconic 1971 LP, Maggot Brain, and Redman’s acclaimed 1994 album, Dare Iz A Darkside. “Through It All,” featuring British soul singer Jamie Lidell, is one of two tracks on the mostly instrumental Visions Out Of Limelight to feature vocals. In addition to Lidell’s contributions to the lead single, the album’s “Fools at the Haul” includes falsetto vocals by R&B singer Jordan Brown.

“I was listening to some classic Aaliyah and taking in how Timbaland used amorphous mouth sounds as a textural element,” RJD2 said. “I put a bunch of ‘mouth water drop sounds’ into the MPC. From there, the song really built itself in the fashion you hear it – drums, chords, and vocals from the illustrious Jamie Lidell.”

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Oliver Wood – Fat Cat Silhouette

Oliver Wood‘s new solo album, Fat Cat Silhouette, arrived today via Honey Jar Records/Indirecto Records. Produced by wood’s The Wood Brothers bandmate Jano Rix, Fat Cat Silhouette saw Wood working in the familiar confines of The Studio Nashville — capturing the nine-track LP direct to tape. Wood, Rix and bassist Ted Pecchio were joined by special guests Steve Berlin (Los Lobos), singer-songwriter Katie Pruitt and Marshall Tucker Band’s Marcus James Henderson. The record contains songs co-written with Seth Walker, Sean McConnell and Ric Robertson. For Wood, Fat Cat Silhouette was a canvas for experimentation.

“I wanted to get outside my box and embrace the uncertainty of what’s out there,” Wood stated. “I wanted weird guitar tones. I wanted more percussion and less drums. Once we began experimenting and doing whatever inspired us, the pressure melted away and I felt liberated.

“Making this album was a process of being immediate, making quick decisions, and trusting that the universe and my years of experience would handle the rest,” Oliver continued. “We gave ourselves permission to just be artists, rather than being a part of the music business.”

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Moby – Always Centered At Night

Moby‘s new collaborative album, Always Centered At Night, dropped today via Mute. Each track on Always Centered At Night, some previously released, sees the New York-based electronic musician teaming with a different collaborator including Lady-Blackbird (“Dark Days”)Gaidaa (“Transit”), José James (“Ache For”), Akemi Fox (“Fall Back”), serpentwithfeet (“On Air”), Aynzli Jones (“Medusa”) and more. The record also contains a posthumous appearance by late British poet and activist Benjamin Zephaniah on “Where Is Your Pride?”

“For the last 30 years, I’ve worked with amazing singers–everyone from David Bowie to Freddie Mercury, Gregory Porter to Jill Scott,” Moby stated. “Always Centered At Night continues my love of collaborating, but has a focus of working with amazing singers who might not be as well known as David Bowie and Gregory Porter.”

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Staples Jr. Singers – Searching

For the first time in nearly 50 years, the Staples Jr. Singers have released a new album, Searching, which came out today on Luaka Bop. The family gospel trio comprised of siblings Annie Brown Caldwell, Edward Brown and R.C. Brown were teenagers growing up in rural Aberdeen, Mississippi, when they recorded an album, When Do We Get Paid, which saw a limited release in 1975. The album was reissued in 2020 by Luaka Bop, garnering renewed attention for the Staples Jr. Singers. The eight songs making up the long-awaited Searching were recorded over two days in October 2023. Sessions were held at The Message Center, a one-room church located in West Point, Mississippi. The album was produced by Ahmed Gallab (who performs as Sinkane) and features the three Brown siblings accompanied by a rhythm section made up of R.C’s son Gary Brown on bass and grandson Jaylin Brown on drums. Additionally, backing vocals were provided by Edward’s son Troy Brown.

“The process was very easy,” said Gallab. “There’s nothing like a family bond/band. It was so special to watch how locked into each other everyone was. You can hear and feel that on this record. I feel like I was able to witness part of this family’s continued story and legacy in real time. That was a very special thing to witness.”

“It was good to be able to go back and look back over our life,” Annie stated. “Some of the same songs that we had sung, those songs have a new meaning to me.”

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The Decemberists – As It Ever Was, So It Will Be Again

The Decemberists released As It Ever Was, So It Will Be Again, their first new album since 2018, via YABB Records (Thirty Tigers). As It Ever Was, So It Will Be Again marks The Decemberists’ ninth studio album and longest yet. Produced by lead singer Colin Meloy and Tucker Martine, the 13-track follow-up to 2018’s I’ll Be Your Girl features guest appearances by James Mercer of The Shins and R.E.M.‘s Mike Mills. The band previewed the double album with “Joan In The Garden,” a 19-minute aptly described as a “prog-rock epic.” Meloy shared the following in regards to new single “Joan In The Garden”:

“Joan in the Garden” has been kicking around as an idea since the ‘I’ll Be Your Girl’ sessions. I got into a Joan of Arc kick after reading Lidia Yuknavitch’s beautifully batshit novel ‘The Book of Joan.’ I wanted to make my own version of Joan — but the song that came was as much about the creative process as it was about the actual woman, about angelic visitation and creative visitation and the hallucinogenic quality of both.

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Mike Campbell & The Dirty Knobs – Vagabonds, Virgins & Misfits

Mike Campbell & The Dirty Knobs issued a new album entitled Vagabonds, Virgins & Misfits via BMG. The group led by the Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers guitarist recruited several special guests for the new LP, getting contributions from Graham Nash, Lucinda Williams, Chris Stapleton and Campbell’s fellow Heartbreaker keyboardist Benmont Tench. The new record marks the third studio effort from Mike Campbell & The Dirty Knobs — Heartbreaker Steve Ferrone on drums, guitarist Chris Holt (Don Henley) and bassist Lance Morrison — following their 2020 studio debut Wreckless Abandon and 2022’s External Combustion. Campbell co-produced the previous LPs with George Drakoulias and Martin Pradler who reprised their role on Vagabonds, Virgins & Misfits. According to Campbell, the previous albums saw the group “trying to find our way as a rock & roll band. Now it’s down to great songs, the depth in the lyrics and chords.” The guitarist also shared something Tom Petty once related to him.

“Tom said, ‘I love the English language. There’s so much you can do with it.’ I’m discovering that, too. Looking for rhyme schemes, the right word. At first it was a struggle. Now that door has opened. I’ve turned a corner.”

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Bilal – Live at Glasshaus

Grammy-winning artist Bilal issued a collaborative new album, Live at Glasshaus, today through Glasshaus Presents. Bilal — who’s collaborated with Kendrick Lamar, Jay-Z, Beyoncé, Erykah Badu and more — steps into the spotlight on Live at Glasshaus alongside master players drummer Questlove, vocalist Common, pianist Robert Glasper and bassist Burniss Earl Travis II. The set captured on December 2, 2023 at Brooklyn’s Glasshaus was produced/directed by Jarrett Wetherell.

“I felt comfortable to create because I knew I had some of the best motherfuckers in the world playing,” Bilal said of the performance in front of 100 fans. “I like intimate vibes where everyone’s drawing off the energy in the room. When you’re up there making something and giving, with the people up there listening and receiving, it creates this circular motion of energy, it’s a timeless moment.”

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NxWorries – Why Lawd?

NxWorries, the duo of Anderson .Paak and Knxwledge, are back with their second album, Why Lawd?, available now on Stones Throw Records. NxWorries released their debut album, Yes Lawd!, in 2016 to critical acclaim. The follow-up from NXWorries has been on the horizon since the duo released a pair of singles, “Daydreaming” and “Where I Go,” the latter featuring H.E.R., in 2023 and 2022 respectively. Both tracks landed on Why Lawd? Among the guests appearing across the album’s 19 tracks include Dave Chappelle, Snoop Dogg, H.E.R., Thundercat, Charlie Wilson, Earl Sweatshirt, October London and Rae Khalil.

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PJ Morton – Cape Town to Cairo

PJ Morton‘s new album, Cape Town to Cairo, consists of songs he crafted over the course of 30 days while traveling through four African countries, Egypt, Ghana, Nigeria and South Africa. Released today through Morton’s own Morton Records/EMPIRE, Cape Town to Cairo is the follow-up to the Maroon 5 keyboardist’s last solo album, 2022’s Watch The Sun. Entirely written and recorded during Morton journey through Africa, the album features Fireboy DML, Mádé Kuti, Asa, Ndabo Zulu, and Soweto Spiritual Singers, memberso Morton’s live band and local musicians. Producers P.Priime and The Cavemen also were part of the recording process. Morton spoke about Cape Town to Cairo, stating:

“When you’ve been in music as long as I have, you’re constantly looking for inspiration.And you’re looking for the things that made you want to do it in the first place. I’ve made albums every type of way you can think, so I wanted to try something I hadn’t done before. As a Black American who had never been to South or West Africa, I knew there was something there waiting for me. So I put a little pressure on myself to make a full record in a month, but I also said, ‘If I’m gonna go to Africa, I want to see Africa.’ We made music, but we also formed connections. We made new friends, and this is just the start.”

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John Cale – POPtical Illusion

Veteran musician John Cale released his 18th solo album, POPtical Illusion, today through Domino. The 12-track LP was co-produced by Cale and his longtime artistic partner Nita Scott and recorded at Cale’s Los Angeles recording studio. The album comes on the heels of The Velvet Underground co-founder’s 2023 solo album, Mercy. According to a description of the album:

Cale has often said that something shifted inside his mind during the pandemic, realizing that, nearing 80, he was living and working through something that many of his past contemporaries weren’t. He wanted to document it. He wrote more than 80 songs in a period of a little over a year, collectively surveying the range of human experience in the process—humor bled into frustration, regret gave way to forgiveness, sadness tangled with surrealism. What’s more, Cale has never relegated himself to the old guard, to sitting on the sidelines and kvetching about modernity and the way things used to be done. The classically trained violist who studied with Cage and Copland has long been a hip-hop zealot, especially the creative ways it wields technology to create multi-dimensional textures or build surprising melodies. POPtical Illusion synthesizes those emotions and enthusiasms into a dozen electronic playgrounds, Cale’s magisterial voice webbing across it all with puns and insights, grievances and quips, life and some version of truth.

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Hermanos Gutiérrez – Sonido Cósmico

Hermanos Gutiérrez — sibling guitarists Alejandro Gutiérrez and Estevan Gutiérrez — released their latest album, Sonido Cósmico. Produced by The Black Keys’ Dan Auerbach and issued by his Easy Eye Sound label, Sonido Cósmico was recorded at Auerbach’s Nashville studio. Along with Auerbach, the 12-track LP features keyboardist Mike Rojas, guitarist Tom Bukovac, drummers/percussionists Sam Bacco, Adam Schreiber and Jeffrey Clemens, and Matt Combs providing strings. Sonido Cósmico sees the brothers breaking new ground on the follow-up to their acclaimed 2022 album, El Bueno Y El Malo.

“We didn’t want to write El Bueno Y El Malo Volume Two,” Estevan stated.

“As long as it’s you, and you’re authentic, it’s going to be fine,” Auerbach shared.

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Jerry Garcia Band – GarciaLive Volume 21: February 13th, 1976 Keystone Berkeley

Available today, the next installment of the Jerry Garcia live archival audio series, GarciaLive, documents the Jerry Garcia Band‘s February 13, 1976 performance at the famed Keystone club in Berkeley, California. GarciaLive Volume 21: February 13th, 1976 Keystone Berkeley captures the JGB lineup at the time consisting of Garcia joined by his Grateful Dead bandmates keyboardist Keith Godchaux and vocalist Donna Jean Godchaux as well as drummer Ron Tutt and bassist John Kahn. GarciaLive Volume 21: February 13th, 1976 Keystone Berkeley consists of the nearly complete two-set performance at the Bay Area venue. The collection is rounded out by takes on “How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)” and “My Sisters And Brothers” recorded at Sophie’s in Palo Alto, California on February 15, 1976. “My Sisters And Brothers” is the first known performance while the Keystone setlist features the first known JGB performances of “Moonlight Mile,” “After Midnight” and “Talkin’ ‘Bout You.” Legendary recording engineer Betty Cantor-Jackson originally captured the show on 1/4″ analog reels.

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