We always play the best new albums on our radio shows, so here’s a dozen of the most recent with some unbiased comment from album purchasers. 2009 was one of the best ever album release years, but 2010 is also shaping up very nicely…

Michael Franti & Spearhead ALL REBEL ROCKERS

Michael Franti and Spearhead’s new release on Anti-Records, All Rebel Rockers, is the sound of an artist moving further towards the source. Listening to Michael Franti & Spearhead’s latest disc, All Rebel Rockers, it’s easy to imagine the tracks blasting from a classic soundsystem on the streets of Trenchtown. It’s an image that makes perfect sense being that Franti and company recorded the album in Kingston with the legendary producers Sly & Robbie (Peter Tosh, Jimmy Cliff, No Doubt). The result is a joyous update of classic rebel dance music. From the opening dub influences of Rude Boys Back in Town to the intoxicating groove of Soundsystem, and the international flavored soul workout of High Low featuring Zap Mama’s Marie Daulne, this record is a rockin’ celebration of consciousness. While Franti’s work has always contained pointed social observations, the twist here is you can now dance into the night with your fist raised high.

ED: We’ve played many Franti songs from many albums, but this new one is up there with his very best. It opens in strong Reggae style and then skirts around rock, blues and pop in superb style. The acoustic-dominated tracks are highlights for me, but it’s one of those albums you stick in the player and keep pressing repeat play. It’s that good. 4.5/5

KD Lang RECOLLECTIONS

This two-disc retrospective, which includes favorites like “Constant Craving” and “Smoke Rings”, as well as ten tracks that never appeared on K.D. Lang albums; and interpretations of classic songs like Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” and The Hollies “The Air That I Breathe”; illustrates how Lang got to this significant point in her career, 25 years after the independent release of her debut, A Truly Western Experience. As Lang moved from the subversively whimsical cow-punk sound of her early career in Western Canada to a broader pop palette, she has shown an ever-increasing sophistication, both as songwriter and interpreter. Dramatic, country-meets-lounge opener “Trail of Broken Hearts,” from her 1989 Grammy Award-winning Absolute Torch and Twang album, encapsulates where she came from and where she was heading. The luxurious adult pop of “Constant Craving,” from the platinum-selling 1992 Ingenue, garnered her a Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female Grammy and remains her best known and most successful single. The effervescent “Miss Chatelaine,” also from Ingenue, remains a concert favorite and “I Dream of Spring,” is a particularly lush example of what she so artfully created for the acclaimed Watershed.

“KD Lang arguably has the most pure and ethereal vocals in the music industry. She can wondrously sing country, ballads, jazz and torch music. Some of her songs literally send enthralled shivers up listeners spines. Recollection is loaded with fantastic songs. “Trail Of Broken Hearts” is a melancholic marvel. “Constant Craving” remains an awesome vocal performance. Her rendition of “Air That I Breathe” is amazing. “Helpless” is an astoundingly brilliant rendition of a Neil Young song. “The Valley” is incredibly emotive and gorgeous. Her rendition of the iconic Leonard Cowen’s “Hallelujah” is indeed heavenly. “Crying” with Roy Orbison is one of the greatest vocal performamnces in history. “Calling All Angels” with Canada’s Jane Siberry is refined perfection.”

ED: This is a must-have for KD Lang fans and just about anybody who loves music. It’s a double-CD that includes a brand new version of Cohen’s ‘Hallelujah’ in addition to her original interpretation, and a wonderful duette with Tony Bennett (with a very complementary intro from the great man). For those of you who have never heard this world-leading artist, this is a wonderful introduction. 4.5/5

David Byrne & Fatboy Slim LOVE LIES HERE

Here Lies Love is a double-disc song cycle, improbably poignant, decidedly surreal, surprisingly thought provoking, about the rise and fall of the Philippines’ notorious Imelda Marcos. It was conceived by David Byrne; composed by Byrne and DJ/recording artist Fatboy Slim, AKA Norman Cook; and performed by a dream cast drawn from the worlds of indie rock, alt country, R&B and pop. Byrne’s taste in collaborators is as imaginative as it is impeccable, including Cyndi Lauper (who recounts, to lighthearted disco beats, Imelda’s courtship with Ferdinand Marcos), Steve Earle (as the power-hungry Ferdinand), Dap-Kings vocalist Sharon Jones (recalling Imelda’s introduction into New York society) and Natalie Merchant (as spurned Imelda confidante Estrella, anticipating the onset of martial law). Along with vocal turns from such stars as Tori Amos and the B-52’s Kate Pierson, Byrne works with rising indie rockers St. Vincent and My Brightest Diamond; New York chanteuses Nellie McKay and Martha Wainwright; and dance music divas Roisin Murphy and Santigold. Byrne himself appears as the voice of imperialistic America on “American Troglodyte”, a send-up that wouldn’t have seemed out of places in Talking Heads’ True Stories.

Byrne originally envisioned this as a musical theatre piece, to be mounted in disco and nightclub settings, reflecting the globe-trotting Marcos’ taste for such velvet-roped spots as Studio 54 and Regine’s. In 2006, he performed work-in-progress versions to enthusiastic audiences at New York City’s Carnegie Hall and the Adelaide Festival in Australia. While plans for a US theatrical production continue to evolve, he has delivered this unique recording. Here Lies Love has an effervescent disco feel, redolent of Fatboy Slim’s own dance-floor anthems, with warm undercurrents of the Latin rhythms that have percolated through Byrne’s recent solo work. The sunny arrangements act in counterpoint to the reality of the Marcos’ increasingly repressive regime, reflecting the imagined inner life of the glamour-obsessed Imelda. Explains Byrne, “For me, the darker side of the excesses are, for the most part, a matter of record. A lot of the audience is going to come with that knowledge already. What’s more of a challenge is to get inside the head of the person who was behind all of that, and understand what made them tick.” Byrne offers no judgment and avoids the obvious - there is no mention of Imelda’s infamous shoe collection.

Many of Byrne’s lyrics are, astonishingly enough, constructed from actual Imelda quotes, including the project’s title, the words that Imelda, now returned to the Philippines from US-assisted exile in Hawaii, would like to have inscribed on her gravestone. Byrne generously annotates each song in the CD booklet and illustrates the story with archival photos. In a detailed preface, he reveals what drew him to this subject and the bumpy route he took to launch the project and, ultimately, record this CD. The lavish booklet is indeed a page-turner, just as Here Lies Love is a wonderfully old-school album that rewards start-to-finish listening. Once again, Byrne, beloved as musician, thinker and bicyclist-about-town, reveals the breadth and singularity of his vision.

ED: It’s another must-have from the master! I had a difficult task choosing what to play as so many of the songs are so good. In the end I selected ‘A Perfect Hand’ sung by Steve Earle and ‘Order 1081′ sung by Natalie Merchant, but trust me several more will be playlisted over the coming months… 4/5

Slash SLASH

‘Slash’ is the debut self titled solo release from the legendary guitarist. The album features a host of guest vocalists, including Ozzy Osbourne, Kid Rock and Chris Cornell, with Dave Grohl and Duff MaKagan also appearing on the instrumental track ‘Watch This’. Eric Valentine produced the songs which blend the different styles of vocalists with Slash’s renowned guitar prowess to culminate in a varied and cohesive sound.

“I did not have too much hope for this release as most of these type of releases where famous guitarist/musician release an album with their friends on it usually disappoint! However this is one that does not disappoint and is a lot braver than most of these type of albums are. After all when people heard that Fergie was going to be on one of the tracks there was talk that Slash was losing it and was doing anything to stay in the limelight, which in turn could turn the die hard fans off. After listening to the album all fears disappeared as Slash delivers one of the best albums of 2010 so far. He has enlisted rock ‘n’ roll’s (and pops) finest and a quick roll call of names will wet the appetite, just look at these names, Ozzy, Chris Cornell, Alice Cooper, Lemmy, Dave Grohl, Myles Kennedy, Iggy Pop and do these guys sound familiar Duff, Izzy Stradlin’, Steven Adler. Yes thats right, all the original members of Guns ‘N’ Roses with the exception of Axl appear on the album. Of course that’s not all as the main band consists off Josh freese(nine inch nails & a perfect circle) on drums and Chris Chaney(janes addiction) on bass. So he has the people but what about the actual songs? No need to worry as they deliver, starting off with ‘Ghost’ that has Ian Astbury (the Cult) on vocals and features a killer riff and shows what a great vocalist Astbury is. Chris Cornell sings on the brilliant ‘Promise’, a song that is so good that you just might forgive him for Scream! Watch This shows what a great rhythm section Dave Grohl and Duff McKagan make! Myles Kennedys performance is probably being closely watched as it is he who will perform vocal duties when Slash tours the album and it’s safe to say he doesn’t dissapoint, of the two tracks he sings on ‘Back From Cali’ is probably the better of the two. The big surprise comes from Fergie as she totally rocks on the track ‘Beautiful Dangerous’, so much in fact you end up wishing she would do more stuff like this and totally justifies Slash’s faith in her.”

ED: My favourites which were playlisted: ‘Ghost’ (Ian Astbury), ‘Beautiful Dangerous’ (Fergie singing a decent song for a change and dramatically well!), ‘By The Sword’ (Andrew Stockdale from Wolfmother) and ‘Watch This Dave’ (Dave Grohl & Duff McKagan). Brilliant album. 4.5/5