Randy Newman – Dark Matter
Aside from Father John Misty's Pure Comedy, we're unlikely to hear a more cuttingly satirical, humorous and at the same tender album this year. In Newman's first studio album outside of film and theatre for nine years, wry lyrics and emotional orchestral sounds fit perfectly on subjects as diverse as the stolen identity of bluesman Sonny Boy Williamson, a dialogue between the Kennedy brothers about Cuban music, a portrait of Vladimir Putin (if only he'd included the Donald Trump penis song on this record) and the opener, a grand treatise on religion, science, space, evolution and climate change:
Randy Newman – The Great Debate
The Cribs – 24-7 Rock Star Shit
The Wakefield indie trio of brothers return following their exhibition at their local museum, with engineer Steve Albini (Nirvana, Shellac, Pixies) the humorous title also pertains to returning to their roots– raw, rough-around-the-edges approach and sonic aggression.
The Cribs - Rainbow Ridge
Girl Ray – Earl Grey
Influenced by Todd Rundgren, Cate Le Bon, Ray Davies and more, the female trio from North London concoct a pleasing, humorous mix of melancholy balladry and wry indie.
Girl Ray – Don't Go Back At Ten
Dead Cross – Dead Cross
Something of a hardcore punk and metal supergroup, this will please fans of the genre, but the album contains plenty of freshness and witty titles. All guns blazing then for guitarist Mike Crain (Retox), bassist Justin Pearson (The Locust, Head Wound City and Retox), drummer Dave Lombardo(Suicidal Tendencies, Misfits, Slayer and Fantômas) and vocalist Mike Patton (Faith No More and Fantômas).
Dead Cross – Seizure and Desist
Frankie Rose – Cage Tropica
The fourth full-length album from the former member of Crystal Stilts, Dum Dum Girls, Vivian Girls and Beverly. Her work echoes the 80s feel of Cocteau Twins, undercut with a classic krautrock beat.
Frankie Rose - Trouble
5 Billion In Diamonds – 5 Billion In Diamonds
Another supergroup, featuring Butch Vig, Garbage drummer and producer of Nirvana’s ‘Nevermind’, Smashing Pumpkins’ ‘Siamese Dream’, Foo Fighters’ ‘Wasting Light’ joins DJ James Grillo and producer Andy Jenks to form 5 Billion In Diamonds, plus a host of other musical guests. Also featuring Ebbott Lundberg from Soundtrack Of Our Lives, the psychedelic single Gravity Rules is the first taster from their self-titled debut album.
5 Billion In Diamonds - Gravity Rules
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