Every day we’re faced with an onslaught of album announcements so we thought we’d start sharing the soon-to-be-released love by putting together a list of the most notable and exciting album announcements on a weekly basis.
DZ Deathrays
Black Rat
Release Date: 2nd May
Label: I Oh You
Why You Should Care: Brisbane’s thrash pop duo return with their sophomore album Black Rats hyped as bigger, badder and better after spending 18 months perfecting their craft as a late night party team. Continuing to push boundaries and develop their sound they entered the Grove St Studio with producer Burke Reid (The Drones, MSTRKRFT, The Mess Hall) and emerged 6 weeks later with 39 minutes of tracks primed for use after 9pm. Our first taste ‘Gina Works At Hearts’ finds the group comfortable with darkness and deciding to go deeper after their ARIA award winning debut Bloodstreams.
Tracklisting:
1. Black Rat
2. Gina Works At Hearts
3. Less Out Of Sync
4. Reflective Skull
5. Keep Myself On Edge
6. Northern Lights
7. Nightwalking
8. Fixations
9. Ocean Exploder
10. Tonight Alright
11. Night Slave
The Horrors
Luminous
Release Date: 2nd May
Label: XL / Remote Control Records
Why You Should Care: Post punk revivalists The Horrors have been busy working for the last 15 months in a studio-laboratory-bunker in East London on their latest recording Luminous. After the acclaimed Skyling shot the 5-peiece to fame the follow up is definitely worthy of the phrase ‘highly anticipated’ tipped as one of the biggest British albums of 2014. Partnering with producer Paul Epworth (Adele, Paul McCartney, Foster The People) the band have written a collection of brighter, more electronic tracks of a refined sound ‘music to make you dance, music that elevates. Luminous by name, luminous by nature’.
Tracklisting:
1. Chasing Shadows
2. First Day Of Spring
3. So Now You Know
4. In And Out Of Sight
5. Jealous Sun
6. Falling Star
7. I See You
8. Change Your Mind
9. Mine And Yours
10. Sleepwalk
Sharon Van Etten
Are We There
Release Date: 30th May
Label: Jagjaguwar / Inertia
Why You Should Care: Drawing inspiration from free-flowing emotional honesty and a thirst for challenging herself, American Singer/Songwriter Sharon Van Etten has announced her fourth studio LP, Are We There, her third in four years. Full of imagination, freedom and intimacy the self-produced effort illustrates her confidence as we witness her transition into a world of recording and producing to a place that appears untouchable. Reaching a new divide and taking the plunge to turn the corner the record creates a valuable connection with the listener through Van Etten’s vulnerability and compelling song writing. Having just released an album trailer to allure us into her world of impossible decisions, desire, emptiness and fear of change the full version will be available on May 30.
Tracklisting:
No tracklisting available.
We Are Scientists
TV en Francais
Release Date: 7th March
Label: Dine Alone Records
Why You Should Care: Hailing for California is indie rock sensation We Are Scientists back with their fourth studio album TV en Francais. Showcasing the bands musical prowess through fiery guitar riffs and buoyant melodies they’ve partnered with producer Chris Coady (Beach House, Smith Westerns, Yuck) which has had a ‘huge effect – he has such a distinct and well developed sense of what’s cool and what sounds good’ says front man Keith Murray. First cut ‘Dumb Luck’ incorporates an ultra-gory love of horror films with a charmingly fun accompanying video clip that provides the band a great reason to splatter themselves in fake blood…its been a long time coming.
Tracklisting:
1. What You Do Best
2. Dumb Luck
3. Make It Easy
4. Sprinkles
5. Courage
6. Overeacting
7. Return The Favour
8. Slow Down
9. Don’t Blow
10. Take An Arrow
Brody Dalle
Diploid Love
Release Date: 25th April
Label: Sub Pop / Inertia
Why You Should Care: The debut solo release from former front woman of The Distillers and Spinnerette is a deeply personal recording about life: creating it, living it and surviving it. Co-produced at Alain Johannes’ (Arctic Monkeys, Them Crooked Vultures, Mark Lanegan) studio as well as husband Josh Homme’s studio Pink Duck it’s a handcrafted sound with Dalle playing almost all the instruments you can hear. Featuring distinguished guest appearances from Shirley Mason (Garbage), Nick Valensi (The Strokes) and Michael Shuman (Queens Of The Stone Age) the first cut Meet The Foetus / Oh They Joy plays as centrepiece for the forthcoming release and is set to dominate with her own solo project.
Tracklisting:
1. Meet The Foetus/Oh The Joy
2. Rat Race
3. Don’t Mess
4. Dressed In Dreams
5. Blood In Gutters
6. Underworld
Brian Eno & Karl Hyde
Someday World
Release Date: 9th May
Label: Warp Records / Inertia
Why You Should Care: Brian Eno and Karl Hyde have come together to complete an album for the very first time. Utilizing a reputable array of supporting musicians such as Tessa Angus, Don E, Andy Mackay and Eno’s daughter Darla just to name a few, the finished product is a continuance of the ongoing collaboration between the two. Eno speaking on the background of the record informed ‘I had a big collection of ‘beginnings’ sitting around waiting for something to galvanise them to life. That something turned out to be Karl Hyde.’ A homecoming recording that promises to breathe youth back into fans across the continents.
Tracklisting:
1. The Satellites
2. Daddy’s Car
3. A Man Wakes Up
4. Witness
5. Strip It Down
6. Mother Of A Dog
7. Who Rings The Bell
8. When I Built This World
9. To Us All
Bonus Disc:
1. Big Band Song
2. Brazil 3
3. Celebration
4. Titian Bekh
Afghan Whigs
Do To The Beast
Release Date: 11th April
Label: Sub Pop / Inertia
Why You Should Care: After taking a hiatus from releasing new music for 16 years the alt-rock collective are back, reformed and welcomed back into our lives with Do To The Beast. After reuniting for a series of festival appearances in 2012, The Afghan Whigs have reignited the fun loving relationships that inspired their initial blistering paced, effects heavy tunes adopting their unique glum angst driven lyrics and minor keyed mid-tempo songs. Lead single ‘Algiers’ has been released and gives us the a mouth watering, laid back tune with the group delivering everything you’d expect, just like we’re back in 1998.
Tracklisting:
1. Parked Outside
2. Matamoros
3. It Kills
4. Algiers
5. Lost In The Woods
6. The Lottery
7. Can Rova
8. Royal Cream
9. I am Fire
10. These Sticks
Soundgarden
Superunknown (Reissue)
Release Date: 30th May
Label: A&M Records / USM
Why You Should Care: To mark the 20th anniversary of the heavy rock idols, Soundgarden are releasing two deluxe editions including rare demos and rehearsal recordings flashing back to the iconic fourth studio album released originally in 1994. To top it off they also have announced five limited edition 10-inch vinyl limited collections of singles for Record Store Day on April 19. Having been a stalwart in the heavy rock scene for over the last 20 years this year promises to be a very loud year with the band confirming an appearance at Sasquatch Festival in the US, they’re urging fans to stay tuned for further announcements for the anniversary.
Tracklisting:
Deluxe Edition
CD ONE:
1. Let Me Drown
2. My Wave
3. Fell on Black Days
4. Mailman
5. Superunknown
6. Head Down
7. Black Hole Sun
8. Spoonman
9. Limo Wreck
10. The Day I Tried to Live
11. Kickstand
12. Fresh Tendrils
13. 4th of July
14. Half
15. Like Suicide
16. She Likes Surprises
CD TWO: Demos, Rehearsals, B-Sides & More
1. Let Me Drown (Demo
2. Black Hole Sun (Demo)
3. Half (Demo)
4. Head Down (Rehearsal)
5. Limo Wreck (Rehearsal)
6. The Day I Tried to Live (Rehearsal)
7. Like Suicide (Acoustic)
8. Black Days III*
9. Birth Ritual (Original Demo Version)
10. Exit Stonehenge
11. Kyle Petty, Son of Richard
12. Jerry Garcia’s Finger
13. Spoonman (Alternate Steve Fisk Remix)
14. The Day I Tried To Live (Scott Litt Mix)
15. 4th of July (Instrumental)
16. Superunknown (Instrumental)
SUPERUNKNOWN SUPER DELUXE TRACK LISTING:
CD ONE:
1. Let Me Drown
2. My Wave
3. Fell on Black Days
4. Mailman
5. Superunknown
6. Head Down
7. Black Hole Sun
8. Spoonman
9. Limo Wreck
10. The Day I Tried to Live
11. Kickstand
12. Fresh Tendrils
13. 4th of July
14. Half
15. Like Suicide
16. She Likes Surprises
CD TWO: B-SIDES & MORE
1. The Day I Tried To Live (Alternate Mix)^
2. Spoonman (Alternate Steve Fisk Remix)^
3. Beyond The Wheel (Live)
4. Fell On Black Days (Live)
5. Birth Ritual (Original Demo Version)
6. Jesus Christ Pose (Live)
7. Like Suicide (Acoustic
Version)
8. Kickstand (Live)
9. My Wave (Live)
10. Spoonman (Steve Fisk Remix)
11. Exit Stonehenge
12. Kyle Petty, Son of Richard
13. Black Days III*
14. Ghostmotorfinger**
15. Jerry Garcia’s Finger
16. Fell On Black Days (Video Version)
CD THREE: THE DEMOS (unreleased)
1. Let Me Drown (Demo)
2. Fell On Black Days (Demo)
3. Superunknown (Demo)
4. Black Hole Sun (Demo)
5. Spoonman (Demo)
6. Fresh Tendrils (Demo)
7. 4th of July (Demo)
8. Half (Demo)
9. Like Suicide (Demo)
CD FOUR – THE REHEARSALS (unreleased)
1. Black Hole Sun (Rehearsal)
2. Bing Bing Goes To Church (Rehearsal)
3. Half (Instrumental)
4. Head Down (Rehearsal)
5. Kyle Petty, Son Of Richard (Rehearsal)
6. Let Me Drown (Rehearsal)
7. Limo Wreck (Rehearsal)
8. My Wave (Rehearsal)
9. Fresh Tendrils (Rehearsal)
10. Like Suicide (Rehearsal)
11. Ruff Riff-Raff (Rehearsal)
12. Spoonman (Rehearsal)
13. The Date I Tried To Leave (Rehearsal)
14. The Day I Tried To Live (Rehearsal)
DISC FIVE: BLU-RAY AUDIO 5.1 MIX
1. Let Me Drown (5.1 Mix)
2. My Wave (5.1 Mix)
3. Fell On Black Days (5.1 Mix)
4. Mailman (5.1 Mix)
5. Superunknown (5.1 Mix)
6. Head Down (5.1 Mix)
7. Black Hole Sun (5.1 Mix)
8. Spoonman (5.1 Mix)
9. Limo Wreck (5.1 Mix)
10. The Day I Tried To Live (5.1 Mix)
11. Kickstand (5.1 Mix)
12. Fresh Tendrils (5.1 Mix)
13. 4th Of July (5.1 Mix)
14. Half (5.1 Mix)
15. Like Suicide (5.1 Mix)
16. She Likes Surprises (Int’l Vers & Us 12″) (5.1 Mix)
