Ryan Adams, Ashes & Fire (Capitol)
“Adams” appears
just a little before “angst” in the dictionary and nobody does
heartache, loss and pain quite like Ryan. This new album is produced by
the legendary Glyn Johns and might be the most cohesive set of songs in
Ryan’s career.
Feist, Metals (Interscope)
An exciting, exuberant and yet ultimately intimate collection of new songs from one of our favorite Canadians; Rolling Stone has already hailed this album as their favorite for fall.
Indigo Girls, Beauty Queen Sister (IG Recordings)
Amy Ray and Emily Saliers are back with their 14th album, continuing their grand tradition of smart songwriting and lush vocals over intricate arrangements, here backed by top Nashville musicians like Viktor Krauss.
William Shatner, Seeking Major Tom (Cleopatra)
Captain
Kirk has us in a tractor beam pulling us toward his new album of covers
done as a metal album. With Shatner singing over heavy guitars on songs
like Thomas Dolby’s “She Blinded Me With Science” and guests including
Bootsy Collins and Brian May, this is either going to be the can’t miss
or the can’t play album of 2011.
Various artists, The Lost Notebooks Of Hank Williams (Columbia)
What
started as a project for Bob Dylan – recording new songs from
discovered old lyrics of Hank Williams – ended up being a group effort,
with performances by Dylan, Lucinda Williams, Norah Jones and many
others.
