Release Day Picks: April 13th New Album Highlights

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 John Prine, The New Mastersounds, The Nels Cline 4, Brazilian Girls, and Derek Smalls. Read on for more insight into the records we have all queued up to spin.

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John Prine – The Tree Of Forgiveness

The Scoop: It’s taken 13 years, but we finally have an album of all new original material from beloved singer-songwriter John Prine. Recorded in the famed RCA Studio A in his current hometown of Nashville with Americana IT producer Dave Cobb (Jason Isbell, Sturgill Simpson), The Tree Of Forgivness is a 10-track collection that sees Prine sharing songwriting credits with Dan Auerbach, Pat McLaughlin, Roger Cook, Keith Sykes and Phil Spector. The album is “classic Prine” filled with his down-home wit and wry observations about life that have made him a favorite for critics and musicians alike, and should land on just about every best-of list at year’s end. Check out the music video for “God Only Knows” which features Isbell and Shires:

Label: Oh Boy Records

Producer: Dave Cobb

Number Of Tracks: 10

Running Time: 32:52

Guest Musicians: Jason Isbell, Amanda Shires, Brandi Carlile, Dave Cobb

Tracklist:

1. Knockin’ On Your Screen Door
2. I Have Met My Love Today (ft. Brandi Carlile)
3. Egg & Daughter Nite, Lincoln Nebraska, 1967 (Crazy Bone)
4. Summer’s End
5. Caravan Of Fools
6. The Lonesome Friends Of Science
7. No Ordinary Blue
8. Boundless Love
9. God Only Knows
10. When I Get To Heaven
11. Not In Love We’re Just High
12. If You’re Going To Break Yourself

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The New Mastersounds – Renewable Energy

The Scoop: British quartet The New Mastersounds build on their signature jazz-funk sound for their 11th studio album, Renewable Energy. The group still focuses on instrumental grooves, but aren’t afraid to add vocals to some tracks this time around. Guitarist Eddie Roberts, bassist Pete Shand, drummer Simon Allen and keyboardist Joe Tatton recorded Renewable Energy over the course of two separate sessions, one in New Orleans and another in Denver a few months later. The New Mastersounds called upon former band mate Sam Bell, from their days as The Mastersounds, to add percussion to many of the songs on the album. Orgone vocalist Adryon de León sings “Gonna Be Just Me,” while Roberts handles vocals on a cover of “Funk 49” by The James Gang. Once again, The West Coast Horns of Mike Olmos and Joe Cohen guest on the record, the third TMS LP in a row they’ve appeared on. Check out the video for “Tantalus”:

Label: One Note Records

Producer:Eddie Roberts

Number Of Tracks: 12

Running Time: 58:13

Guest Musicians: Sam Bell, Mike Olmos, Joe Cohen, Adryon de León

Tracklist:

1. Chicago Girl
2. Tantalus
3. Gonna Be Just Me
4. Pudding & Pie
5. Green Was Beautiful
6. Funk 49
7. Yokacoka
8. Living That Jazz Life
9. Stash
10. Groovin’ On The Groomers
11. Hip City
12. Swimming With My Fishes

Stream / Download / CD/LP

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The Nels Cline 4 – Currents, Constellations

The Scoop: The latest project from Wilco guitarist Nels Cline is (aptly named) The Nels Cline 4. The newly established quartet finds the six-string whiz performing jazz fusion alongside guitarist Julian Lage, drummer Tom Rainey and bassist Scott Colley. The album out on the famed Blue Note Reocrds features seven new Cline originals along with a cover of The Jimmy Giuffre 3’s arrangment of Carla Bley’s “Temporarily.” Originally titled “Jazz Fusion Composition,” watch the video for “Imperfect 10” below:

Label: Blue Note Records

Number Of Tracks: 8

Running Time: 44:13

Guest Musicians: N/A

Tracklist:

1. Furtive
2. Swing Ghost ’59
3. Imperfect 10
4. As Close As That
5. Amenette
6. Temporarily
7. River Mouth (Parts 1 & 2)
8. For Each, A Flower

Stream / Download / CD/LP

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Brazilian Girls – Let’s Make Love

The Scoop: It’s been a decade since New York-based electronica act Brazilian Girls issued their last full length album (2008’s New York City). The quartet of Sabina Sciubba, Jesse Murphy, Didi Gutman and Aaron Johnston have long been working on the 13-songs that make up Let’s Make Love. Recording sessions were held over several years in various locations including Istanbul, Madrid, Paris and New York City. The band once again enlisted producer Frederik Ruben to bring together the material into the new album. “Right now ‘Let’s Make Love’ seems like a very good message to put into the world,” stated Sciubb. “It’s not even ‘Make love, not war’ — it’s just ‘Make love,’ and nothing else.” Watch the video for the single “Pirates” below:

Label: Six Degrees Records

Producer: Frederik Ruben

Number Of Tracks: 13

Running Time: 49:18

Tracklist:

1. Pirates
2. Go out More Often
3. Wild Wild Web
4. We Stopped
5. Salve
6. Let’s Make Love
7. Karaköy
8. Balla Balla
9. Woman in the Red
10. The Critic
11. Impromptu
12. Sunny Days
13. Looking for Love

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Derek Smalls – Smalls Change (Meditations Upon Ageing

The Scoop: Harry Shearer, who was part of the comedy team that brought the faux-metal band Spinal Tap to life in the 1984 mockumentary This Is Spinal Tap, is once again stepping into the character of bassist Derek Smalls for the release of his debut solo album – Smalls Change (Meditations Upon Ageing). For his first album without the help of David St. Hubbins and Nigel Tufnel, Smalls has recruited an all-star cast of musicians to back him on the 14-track effort with the likes of Peter Frampton, David Crosby, Donald Fagen (Steely Dan), Dweezil Zappa, Taylor Hawkins (Foo Fighters), Chad Smith (Red Hot Chili Peppers), Rick Wakeman (YES), Richard Thompson, Steve Lukather (Toto), Joe Satriani, Jeff “Skunk” Baxter, Paul Shaffer and Steve Vai among the special guests. The album is described as “poignant and oftentimes furious contemplation on aging that explores the passing of time and all things loud. With styles that cross the gamut of musical genres.” Check out the music video for “If Don’t Get Old”:

Label: Twanky Records/BMG

Producer: CJ Vanston

Number Of Tracks: 14

Running Time: 59:04

Guest Musicians: Peter Frampton, David Crosby, Donald Fagen (Steely Dan), Dweezil Zappa, Taylor Hawkins (Foo Fighters), Chad Smith (Red Hot Chili Peppers), Rick Wakeman (YES), Richard Thompson, Larry Carlton, Steve Lukather (Toto), Joe Satriani, Jim Keltner, Jeff “Skunk” Baxter, Paul Shaffer, Steve Vai, The Hungarian Studio Orchestra, Phil X (Bon Jovi), Judith Owen, Danny Kortchmar, Russ Kunkel, The Snarky Puppy Horns, Michael League, Waddy Wachtel, Gregg Bisonnette, Jane Lynch, Todd Sucherman

Tracklist:

1. Openture – Derek with The Hungarian Studio Orchestra
2. Rock ‘n’ Roll Transplant – Derek with Steve Lukather (guitar, Toto), drum legends Jim Keltner (George Harrison) and Chad Smith (Red Hot Chili Peppers)
3. Butt Call – Derek with Phil X (guitar, Bon Jovi) and Taylor Hawkins (drums, Foo Fighters)
4. Smalls Change – Derek with The Hungarian Studio Orchestra, Judith Owen (vocals) Danny Kortchmar (guitar, Don Henley) and Russ Kunkel (drums, James Taylor)
5. Memo To Willie – Derek with Donald Fagen (vocals), Jeff “Skunk” Baxter and Larry Carlton (guitars, Steely Dan) and The Snarky Puppy Horns
6. It Don’t Get Old – Derek with Peter Frampton (guitar, vocals) and Waddy Wachtel (guitar Keith Richards)
7. Complete Faith – Derek with The Hungarian Studio Orchestra
8. Faith No More – Derek with The Hungarian Studio Orchestra and Todd Sucherman (drums, Styx)
9. Gimme Some (More) Money – Derek with Paul Shaffer (piano and organ), Waddy Wachtel (guitar) and David Crosby (vocals)
10. MRI – Derek with Dweezil Zappa (guitars)
11. Hell Toupee – Derek with The Hungarian Studio Orchestra
12. Gummin the Gash – Derek with Steve Vai (guitar), Gregg Bisonnette (drums, Ringo Starr) and Jane Lynch (vocals)
13. She Puts the Bitch in Obituary – Derek with Richard Thompson (guitar) and Jane Lynch (vocals)
14. When Men Did Rock – Derek with Michael League (bass), Joe Satriani (guitar), Rick Wakeman (keyboards) and The Hungarian Studio Orchestra

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Compiled by Jeffrey Greenblatt, Andy Kahn and Scott Bernstein.