Ice Cream Man

There are a bunch of albums coming soon you should check out. The best part is you can spin most of them for free via NPR’s First Listen series, where they stream albums for a week or three before they come out. It’s worth checking back frequently because they’re always adding new tunes. You should download the NPR Music app too because you can stream the albums on your phone.

Sharon Van Etten – Tramp
Sharon’s been gaining steam for a couple years now and this album shows why she has so many friends and fans. Tramp is a collection of songs centered around a break up and the mix of that subject matter with Sharon’s edgy vocals makes for an album that might not instantly grab you but will grow on you during every listen. I’ve rocked it seven times the last week so give it a spin

Heartless Bastards – Arrow
I’m a Heartless Bastards fan and have been looking forward to this album for months. It didn’t knock my socks off initially like some of their older albums with super-catchy singles but I’m sure it’ll grow on me. Also recommended is their live set on Spotify from Austin City Limits Festival

Air – Le Voyage Dans La Lune
I’ve only spun this once but I reckon there are some Air fans out there who’d wanna check out their new album.

Tis crazy… I started writing this yesterday and this morning they’ve already added Field Music, Shearwater and Brooklyn Rider

Here’s a few other things I’ve been diggin lately
Dusty Springfield – Dusty… Definitely
This is the album she made before Dusty in Memphis (which is also worth many spins)

The Zombies – Odessy and Oracle
Known for the single “Time of the Season” this album packs a lot more of a punch as a whole. Pure late-sixties rock goodness.

Barry White – Can’t Get Enough
Most people only know Barry White as a singles or greatest hits artist but this album is a complete piece of art that I’ve listened to half a dozen times the last couple weeks. The 10-minute jam, “I Can’t Believe You Love Me” is the most souful, hypnotic, love song you’ll ever hear.

Blind Pilot – We Are The Tide
This is for the folks that love The Avett Brothers and Mumford and Sons.

Twilight Singers – Dynamite Steps
Somehow I slept on this record from last year, glad I finally came around. If you like Afghan Whigs you’ll love it, if you like gritty, rockin’, white boy soul you’ll dig it too.

Red Hot & Rio 2
Like so many other albums in the Red Hot series this is jam-packed with many songs that are worth your time. What got me started was Tha Boogie’s cover of Os Mutantes “Panis et Circensis”

That’ll do it for now… enjoy!