Autumn’s CD Harvest
Summer never lasts long enough, but this year’s fall crop of upcoming albums gives music fans much to look forward to. MiltonSearch.com has gathered up a cornucopia of new releases sure to brighten up your Autumn.
Patti Scialfa: Play It as It Lays (Sept. 4, Columbia). Springsteen’s tambourinist gets her third solo album out a month before her man’s new one arrives.
Joe Henry: Civilians (Sept. 11, Anti). Rootsy and Waitsian, with guest spots from guitarist Bill Frisell and pianist Van Dyke Parks.
The Go! Team: Proof of Youth (Sept. 11, Secret City). Album number two from U.K. laptop auteur Ian Parton and his excitable crew boasts blaxploitation boogie, clap machines and less samples than 2005’s brilliant “Thunder, Lightning, Strike.”
Keyshia Cole: Just Like You (Sept. 25, Geffen). Compared to Mary J. Blige upon the release of 2005’s debut The Way It Is, the soulful R&B singer’s sophomore effort falls under the “much anticipated” category.
Stars: In Our Bedroom After the War (Sept. 25, Arts & Craft). The sparkly pop of the Montrealers’ fourth album gets heard at Toronto’s upcoming Virgin fest.
Blue Rodeo: Small Miracles (Sept. 25, Warner). After recent moonlighting projects from all its members, it’s roundup time at the Rodeo ranch.
Foo Fighters: Echoes, Silence, Patience and Grace (Sept. 25, RCA). More melodic hard rock from Dave Grohl, who does it as well as anybody.
Herbie Hancock: River: The Joni Letters (Sept. 25, Verve). An all-star jazz tribute to Joni Mitchell, covering her own material and remakes of songs that influenced her.
Devendra Banhart: Smokey Rolls Down Thunder Canyon (Sept. 25, XL Recordings). Multilingual freak folk, or as the modern hippie himself calls it, “historical world music.”
Bruce Springsteen: Magic (Oct. 2, Colombia). Produced by Brendan O’Brian (The Rising and Devils and Dust), the new one from the Boss and his E Street Band is, according to Springsteen’s manager, “high energy rock” that’s “light on its feet.”
Neil Young: Chrome Dreams II (Oct. 16, Reprise). Taking its title from an unreleased 1977 album, the “diverse” disc features two tunes that are colossal, clocking in at 13 and 18 minutes apiece.
Robert Plant and Alison Krauss: Raising Sand (Oct. 23, Rounder). More a collaboration than a duet album, with country and blues covers of material by Little Milton, Townes Van Zandt, Doc Watson and others.