March 20, 2011 - 4:37pm
Album Release Guide — 3/15/10
BY MIKE KUNTZ
So far, 2010 has yielded some pretty stunning albums. As if the music world needed a breather, this week is notably quieter on the album release front (though not without at least some solid new music), leaving you plenty of time to fill out college basketball brackets and find some old Van Morrison or Chieftains LPs for Wednesday. Check out what’s new this week:
The Drive-By Truckers — The Big To-Do (ATO)
The Southern country-rockers return with their eighth studio album and first on ATO Records (label owned by Dave Matthews) joining similarly axe-wielding Southerners My Morning Jacket. Vocalist Patterson Hood has stated that it is “very much a rock album,” keeping it squarely in the same soulful vein as their earlier material.
Gin Wigmore and The Cardinals — Holy Smoke (Universal Motown)
A New Zealander with a Southern drawl reminiscent of Amy Winehouse and Lucinda Williams, Gin Wigmore is an amalgam of American soul, country and rock‘n’roll. Enlisting The Cardinals (Ryan Adams’s old band) for support, Wigmore’s aptly titled debut (released down under late last year) was certified Platinum in New Zealand after just one week (Spoiler: Platinum in New Zealand = 15,000 copies.)
Happy Birthday — Happy Birthday (Sub Pop)
The Vermont pop minimalists might turn some heads down in Austin at SXSW later this week, and are sure to shore up some hype for their Sub Pop debut. Plus these guys just have a really good name.
