Release Day Picks: June 10th New Albums

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 Allen Toussaint, Band of Horses, Shawn Colvin & Steve Earle and Moon Hooch. Read on for more insight into the records we have all queued up to spin.

Allen Toussaint – American Tunes

The Scoop: Today marks the release of the final recording from legendary composer/producer/arranger/musician Allen Toussaint. American Tunes was recorded at two sessions, one in 2013 and another in October 2015 just before he died. The 14-track effort contains two songs he wrote as well as tunes written or recorded by Paul Simon, Professor Longhair, Duke Ellington, Bill Evans and Fats Waller. Joe Henry produced the LP which features contributions from musicians Bill Frisell, Charles Lloyd, Greg Leisz, Jay Bellerose and David Piltch as well as Rhiannon Giddens and Van Dyke Parks. American Tunes takes its name from Paul Simon’s 1973 song “American Tune” which Toussaint recorded for the album. Stream Allen’s cover of “Big Chief” from American Tunes:

Label: Nonesuch

Producer: Joe Henry

Number Of Tracks: 14

Running Time: 51:31

Guest Musicians: Bill Frisell, Charles Lloyd, Greg Leisz, Jay Bellerose, David Piltch, Rhiannon Giddens, Van Dyke Parks

Tracklist:

1. Delores’ Boyfriend (Allen Toussaint)
2. Viper’s Drag (Thomas “Fats” Waller)
3. Confessin’ (That I Love You) (Doc Dougherty, Ellis Reynolds & Al Neiburg)
4. Mardis Gras in New Orleans (Henry Roeland “Roy” Byrd)
5. Lotus Blossom (Henry Roeland “Roy” Byrd)v
6. Waltz For Debby (Bill Evans)
7. Big Chief (Earl King)
8. Rocks In My Bed (Duke Ellington)
9. Danza, Op. 33 (Louis Moreau Gottschalk)
10. Hey Little Girl (Henry Roeland “Roy” Byrd)
11. Rosetta (Earl “Fatha” Hines)
12. Come Sunday (Duke Ellington)
13. Southern Nights (Allen Toussaint)
14. American Tune (Paul Simon)

Stream / Download / CD/LP

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Band Of Horses – Why Are You OK

The Scoop: If the worst that you can say about Band Of Horses is that they’ve been a model of consistency since releasing their debut album in 2006, I think they’d take that compliment any day of the week. Ben Bridwell & Co. didn’t quite become arena-sized headliners like some of their peers, but they also have managed to stick around a lot longer than many of the buzzed about bands from the early 2000s. The South Carolina via Seattle-based band have continued to release well-received records that build on their blend of Pacific Northwest grunge meets hazy, psychedelic-tinged Southern Rock and folk. The band’s latest, Why Are You Ok, could be classified as a “Dad Rock” record, with Bridwell finding inspiration from his wife and four kids, but still moves their sound into new spaces thanks in part to first-time producer Jason Lytle of Grandaddy. Check out the video for “Whatever, Wherever”:

Label: Interscope Records

Producer: Jason Lytle

Number Of Tracks:12

Running Time: 49:34

Guest Musicians: J. Mascis (Dinosaur Jr.), Sera Cahoone, Jenn Champion

Tracklist:

1. Dull Times / The Moon
2. Solemn Oath
3. Hag
4. Casual Party
5. In A Drawer
6. Hold On Gimme A Sec
7. Lying Under Oak
8. Throw My Mess
9. Whatever, Wherever
10. Country Teen
11. Barrel House
12. Even Still

Stream / Download / CD/LP

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Shawn Colvin & Steve Earle – Colvin & Earle



The Scoop: Friends for more than 30 years, following a succussful tour together in 2014 singer-songwriters Shawn Colvin and Steve Earle teamed up to record a joint album that includes new co-written originals and a few covers like The Rolling Stones’ “Ruby Tuesday” and Emmylou Harris’ “Raise The Dead.” Medeski, Martin & Wood bassist Chris Wood, drummer Fred Eltringham, guitarist Richard Bennett and others were employed as supporting musicians on the album recorded by veteran producer and performer Buddy Miller. Here’s the Colvin/Earle composition “Happy & Free”:

Label: Fantasy Records

Producer: Buddy Miller

Number Of Tracks: 10

Running Time: 33:39

Guest Musicians: Buddy Miller, Chris Wood, Fred Eltringham, Richard Bennett, Kelley Looney

Tracklist:

1. Come What May
2. Tell Moses
3. Tobacco Road
4. Ruby Tuesday
5. The Way That We Do
6. Happy & Free
7. You Were On My Mind
8. You’re Right (I’m Wrong)
9. Raise The Dead
10. You’re Still Gone

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Moon Hooch – Red Sky



‘Red Sky’ cover art designed and illustrated by Ari Warner

The Scoop: NYC-based jazz trio Moon Hooch shows off their unconventional sound and DIY ethos on Red Sky. The band aimed to use as few “studio tricks” as possible to record and produce the 13-track effort. For those unfamiliar Moon Hooch consists of a drummer and two saxophone players and found their footing by busking for those using the subway in NYC. “What we discovered playing in the subway,” said horn player Wenzl McGowen, “is that the more focus and the more energy you put into the music and the more you listen to everything around you and integrate everything around you into your expression, the more the music becomes this captivating force for people.” Stream “Psychotubes,” the first single off Red Sky:

Label: Hornblow

Number Of Tracks: 13

Running Time: 47:45

Guest Musicians: N/A

Tracklist:

1. Red Sky
2. That’s What They Say
3. Sunken Ship
4. Low 5
5. Psychotubes
6. On the Sun
7. Booty House
8. Shot
9. Something Else
10. Rough Sex
11. The Thought
12. Alien Invasion
13. Broken Tooth

Stream / Download / CD/LP

Compiled by Jeff Greenblatt, Andy Kahn and Scott Bernstein

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