Release Day Picks: April 28th New Album Releases

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 Gorillaz, Willie Nelson, Old Crow Medicine Show, Twiddle, Trombone Shorty, Feist and Flow Tribe. Read on for more insight into the records we have all queued up to spin.

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Gorillaz – Humanz

The Scoop: It’s been seven years since virtual rock band Gorillaz released Plastic Beach and The Fall. With today’s release of Humanz Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett return to pair animated vocalist 2D, bassist Murdoc Niccals, guitarist Noodle and drummer Russel Hobbs with a diverse and extensive slate of guest performers. Among those appearing on the record include Mavis Staples, Vince Staples, De La Soul, Grace Jones, Danny Brown and Savages’ Jehnny Beth. The album was recorded in Chicago, London, New York, Paris and Jamaica, and is also being issued as an additional six-track deluxe edition featuring Carly Simon and even more special guests. Listen to “Let Me Out” featuring Mavis Staples and Pusha T:

Label: Warner Bros. Records

Producer: Gorillaz, The Twilight Tone of D /\ P, Remi Kabaka

Number Of Tracks: 26 (deluxe edition), 20 (standard edition)

Running Time: 68:55 (deluxe edition), 49:19 (standard edition)

Guest Musicians: Mavis Staples, Pusha T, Jehnny Beth, Danny Brown, Benjamin Clementine, De La Soul, D.R.A.M., Peven Everett, Anthony Hamilton, Grace Jones, Zebra Katz, Kelela, Vince Staples, Popcaan, Jamie Principle, Rag’n’ Bone Man, RAY BLK, Kali Uchis, Carly Simon, Kilo Kish, Brandon Markell Holmes

Tracklist:

1. Intro: I Switched My Robot Off
2. Ascension (Feat. Vince Staples)
3. Strobelite (Feat. Peven Everett)
4. Saturnz Barz (Feat. Popcaan)
5. Momentz (Feat. De La Soul)
6. Interlude: The Non-conformist Oath
7. Submission (Feat. Danny Brown & Kelela)
8. Charger (Feat. Grace Jones)
9. Interlude: Elevator Going Up
10. Andromeda (Feat. D.R.A.M.)
11. Busted and Blue
12. Interlude: Talk Radio
13. Carnival (Feat. Anthony Hamilton)
14. Let Me Out (Feat. Mavis Staples & Pusha T)
15. Interlude: Penthouse
16. Sex Murder Party (Feat. Jamie Principle & Zebra Katz)
17. She’s My Collar (Feat. Kali Uchis)
18. Interlude: The Elephant
19. Hallelujah Money (Feat. Benjamin Clementine)
20. We Got The Power (Feat. Jehnny Beth)

Bonus material on Deluxe:

1. Interlude: New World
2. The Apprentice (Feat. Rag’n’ Bone Man, Zebra Katz & RAY BLK)
3. Halfway To The Halfway House (Feat. Peven Everett)
4. Out Of Body (Feat. Kilo Kish, Zebra Katz & Imani Vonshà)
5. Ticker Tape (Feat. Carly Simon & Kali Uchis)
6. Circle Of Friendz (Feat. Brandon Markell Holmes)

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Willie Nelson – God’s Problem Child

The Scoop: Tomorrow, outlaw country legend Willie Nelson turns 84-years-old, and today he releases his first set of all new compositions in almost three years. Nelson’s regular collaborator Buddy Cannon was once again integral to the project. Willie was aided in writing and recording by Tony Joe White and Jamey Johnson and the album showcases the final recordings of late keyboard great Leon Russell. God’s Problem Child also presents a Gary Nicholson-penned a memorial song entitled “He Won’t Ever Be Gone,” which was written for Nelson’s longtime friend Merle Haggard who passed away last year. Watch the video for the tribute below:

Label: Legacy Recordings

Producer: Buddy Cannon

Number Of Tracks: 13

Running Time: 44:25

Guest Musicians: Tony Joe White, Jamey Johnson, Leon Russell

Tracklist:

1. Little House on the Hill
2. Old Timer
3. True Love
4. Delete and Fast Forward
5. A Woman’s Love
6. Your Memory Has a Mind Of Its Own
7. Butterfly
8. Still Not Dead
9. God’s Problem Child
10. It Gets Easier
11. Lady Luck
12. I Made a Mistake
13. He Won’t Ever Be Gone

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Old Crow Medicine Show – 50 Years Of Blonde On Blonde

The Scoop: As longtime Bob Dylan devotees, Old Crow Medicine Show put together a special 50th anniversary performance in 2016 of one of Dylan’s most iconic albums, Blonde On Blonde, during which they covered the double LP in its entirety at the CMA Theater in Nashville. This week, they are releasing a special live album of that performance. As one would expect, Old Crow Medicine Show puts their own spin on a lot of the material. At times, they stick with a softer more refined style to stay true to the original material, but they also take plenty of liberties in breaking out in manic boot stomping fiddle brigades. Naturally, the slow versions will be pretty, but the heavy hitting string band arrangements will be what make or breaks this album. Old Crow Medicine Show isn’t for everyone, nor is Blonde On Blonde necessarily everyone’s favorite Dylan album (including Old Crow themselves), but this project should be a blast to listen to and an even bigger blast to catch on the 26 date tour. Have a look at the promo video for 50 Years Of Blonde On Blonde:

Label: Columbia Nashville

Producer: Self Produced/Mixed by Ted Hutt and Ryan Mall

Number Of Tracks: 14

Running Time: 65 minutes

Guest Musicians: N/A

Tracklist:

1. Rainy Day Women #12 & 35
2. Pledging My Time
3. Visions Of Johanna
4. One Of Us Must Know (Sooner Or Later)
5. I Want You
6. Stuck Inside Of Mobile With The Memphis Blues Again
7. Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat
8. Just Like A Woman
9. Most Likely You Go Your Way And I’ll Go Mine
10. Temporary Like Achilles
11. Absolutely Sweet Marie
12. 4th Time Around
13. Obviously 5 Believers
14. Sad Eyed Lady Of The Lowlands

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Twiddle – PLUMP Chapters 1 & 2

The Scoop: Vermont jam act Twiddle follows the release of last year’s PLUMP Chapter One by today issuing the double album PLUMP Chapters 1 &2. The massive, 28-track set includes a re-mastered and re-sequenced PLUMP Chapter One which also includes the additions of “When It Rains It Pours” and “Five” (Radio Edit). Mihali Savoulidis, Ryan Dempsey, Brook Jordan and Zdenek Gubb are joined by a bevy of guests throughout such as keyboardist Todd Stoops, guitarist Tim Palmieri, saxophonist Kenny Brooks and Pappy Biondo on banjo. The double LP saw producer Ron Saint Germain work directly with Mihali on “When It Rains It Pours” and “Five,” while Claude Villani oversaw the final mixes and mastering. Watch the official lyric video for “When It Rains It Pours”:

Label: SoNo Recording Group

Producer: Twiddle with Ron Saint Germain and Claude Villani

Number Of Tracks: 28

Running Time: 2:11:23

Guest Musicians: Tim Palmieri, Caleb Elber, Nelson, Caldwell, Brett Linear, Kenny Brooks, Chazz Canney, Todd Stoops, The New Old School Horns, Colin McCaffery, Pappy Biondo, Benjamin Burr, Colin Holter, Lane Gibson, Eli Leppla, Merrill Woodruff, Ella Holter, Lucas Williams, Rivers Redolay, Emma Jean, Stefanie Weigand

Tracklist:

Chapter 1

1. When It Rains It Pours
2. Amydst The Myst
3. Complacent Race
4. Lost In The Cold
5. Five (Radio Edit)
6. Every Soul
7. Syncopated Healing
8. Dusk ‘til Dawn
9. Polluted Beauty
10. Be There
11. Indigo Trigger
12. White Light
13. Five

Chapter 2

1. Enter
2. Orlando’s
3. Juggernaut
4. Moments
5. Milk
6. Nicodemus Portulay
7. New Sun
8. Forevers
9. The Fantastic Tale Of Ricky Snickle
10. Peas And Carrots
11. Indigo Trigger
12. Drifter
13. Blunderbuss
14. Fat Country Baby
15. Dinner Fork
16. Purple Forrest

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Trombone Shorty – Parking Lot Symphony

The Scoop: Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews has become a fixture at Jazz Fest, so it’s only fitting the New Orleans native has issued his latest studio album on the first day of this year’s festival. Parking Lot Symphony is Trombone Shorty’s debut for the famed Blue Note label and contains a total of 12 songs. Ten of the tracks are originals, while he also works in covers of Allen Toussaint’s “Here Come The Girls” and “It Ain’t No Use” by The Meters. Shorty shows off his multi-instrumental prowess on the LP as he contributed vocals, trombone, keyboards, drums and trumpet to Parking Lot Symphony. Guests include fellow New Orleans stars Ivan Neville, Tony Hall and Leo Nocentelli as well as most of his long-time band Orleans Avenue. Listen to the horn-driven single “Here Comes The Girls” featuring Ivan Neville on piano:

Label: Blue Note

Producer: Chris Seefried

Number Of Tracks: 12

Running Time: 42:43

Guest Musicians: Ivan Neville, Leo Nocentelli, Pete Murano, Dan Oestreicher, BK Jackson, Tony Hall, Choir

Tracklist:

1. Laveau Dirge No. 1
2. If It Ain’t No Use
3. Parking Lot Symphony
4. Dirty Water
5. Here Comes The Girls
6. Tripped Out Slim
7. Familiar
8. No Good Time
9. Where It At?
10. Fanfare
11. Like A Dog
12. Laveau Dirge Finale

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Feist – Pleasure

The Scoop: Leslie Feist’s music has always been hard to neatly define and put in a box. The singer-songwriter has a knack for seamlessly melding elements of folk, pop, jazz, rock, show tunes and more on her records. For Pleasure, her fifth full-length release and first in six years, Feist went with a back-to-basics approach recording the album live in a room without heavy editing or mixing giving it a bit of a rough around the edges feel. Lyrically the 11-track effort is being described as pieces of advise from 2017 Feist to a future version of herself. Check out the music video for the album’s title track:

Label: Interscope Records

Producer: Leslie Feist, Mocky and Renaud Letang

Number Of Tracks: 11

Running Time: 52:38

Guest Musicians: Jarvis Cocker, Colin Setson

Tracklist:

1. Pleasure
2. I Wish I Didn’t Miss You
3. Get Not High, Get Not Low
4. Lost Dreams
5. Any Party
6. A Man Is Not His Song
7. The Wind
8. Century
9. Baby Be Simple
10. I’m Not Running Away
11. Young Up

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Flow Tribe – BOSS

The Scoop: New Orleans sextet Flow Tribe focus on soulful funk for their latest full-length studio album, BOSS. The six-piece tapped the Crescent City’s own Mannie Fresh to produce the album and the Grammy-nominated hitmaker also makes a cameo on “You Know What It’s About,” the LP’s catchy lead single. Flow Tribe’s 10-track effort features an additional guest appearance from PJ Morton. The band labels their sound “backbone-cracking music” and BOSS lives up to the description. Watch the video for “You Know What It’s About”:

Label: Faction Entertainment

Producer: Mannie Fresh

Number Of Tracks: 10

Running Time: 32:19

Guest Musicians: Mannie Fresh & PJ Morton

Tracklist:

1. Intro
2. Sexy Body (Feat. PJ Morton)
3. Boss
4. Don’t Want To Be In Love
5. Interlude
6. You Know What It’s About (Feat. Mannie Fresh)
7. Turning Table
8. Blackmail
9. Diamond
10. Outro

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Compiled by Jeffrey Greenblatt, Ryan Dembinsky, Andy Kahn and Scott Bernstein.