USA TODAY International Edition
FALL MUSIC PREVIEW
Green Day is on the way. Taylor Swift? We hope.
BOB MEHR music critic, The ( Memphis) Commercial Appeal Green Day, Revolution Radio, Oct. 7
Following 2012’ s trilogy of albums (¡ Uno!, ¡ Dos! and ¡ Tré!), the Bay Area pop- punk titans are back with a new release. If first single Bang Bang is any indication, the record will be a return to classic early-’ 90s form for Billie Joe Armstrong and Co. Armstrong and Green Day are back with a Revolution.
PIET LEVY music writer, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Bon Iver, 22, A Million, Sept. 30 I caught Bon Iver’s premiere performance of its next album, 22, A Million, at the Eaux Claires Festival in frontman Justin Vernon’s Wisconsin hometown. The bold, creative choices, including surprisingly gritty production, are fascinating.
THE CINCINNATI ENQUIRER STAFF
Todd Snider, Eastside Bulldog, Oct. 7 The concept of Snider’s first solo release since 2012 sounds like Dock Ellis run amok: Alterego Elmo Buzz records songs made up on the spur of the moment while railing at what’s wrong with the world — folk music and Todd Snider in particular — and celebrating what’s right: Hank Williams, girls, partying and fighting.
DAVE ACOSTA entertainment reporter, El Paso Times French Montana, MC4, Oct. 14
French Montana’s fourth installment of his popular “Mac & Cheese” mixtape series also will serve as his proper sophomore album. Though it was unexpectedly pushed back and accidentally leaked by Target in August, Montana has built up enough steam with the Drake-assisted single and video for No Shopping that he may avoid the dreaded sophomore slump.
BRUCE FESSIER music, film, creative class reporter, The ( Palm Springs, Calif.) Desert Sun Beck, untitled, November
I love his single, Wow, and he talks of approaching the LP with the same production sensibilities as he did with Odelay. So, with what he has learned from Guero and Morning Phase, I’m excited.
MATTHEW LEIMKUEHLER music reporter, The Des Moines Register Norah Jones, Day Breaks, Oct. 7
If the first single, Carry On, is any indication, we’re in for another beautiful collection of songs from Norah.
ED MASLEY music critic, The Arizona Republic Cymbals Eat Guitars, Pretty Years, available now
The two songs they released early — 4th of July, Philadelphia ( Sandy) and Have a Heart — find these New Yorkers taking two completely different paths to tapping into something that feels timeless on arrival.
MAEVE McDERMOTT entertainment reporter, USA TODAY Hamilton Leithauser + Rostam, I Had A Dream That You Were Mine, Sept. 23
After teaming up for past projects, Hamilton Leithauser ( from The Walkmen) and Rostam Batmanglij ( of Vampire Weekend) are releasing their first album as Hamilton Leithauser + Rostam. It’s unclear how Rostam’s shimmering pop production will mesh with Leithauser’s showy voice and penchant for vintage ’ 50s melodies, but their collective talent makes us hopeful.
PATRICK RYAN entertainment reporter, USA TODAY Bon Iver, 22, A Million, Sept. 30
With the arrival of James Blake, Radiohead and Frank Ocean albums, you’d think we’d met this year’s quota for sad dudes making melancholy masterpieces. But there’s still room for Bon Iver’s 22, A Million, an enchanting, electronic effort that is shaping up to be this fall’s answer to Sufjan Stevens’ The Age of Adz.
BEN GOAD music editor, The ( Nashville) Tennessean Miranda Lambert, The Weight of These Wings, Nov. 18
The release in July of Vice ( the racy first song on her upcoming album) only raised anticipation of the singer’s first new music since her break from Blake Shelton. Lambert also makes an appearance on John Prine’s upcoming duets album For Better or Worse, which includes collaborations between the iconic songwriter and Iris DeMent, Kathy Mattea, Lee Ann Womack and Kacey Musgraves.
JIM BECKERMAN staff writer, The ( Bergen County, N. J.) Record Bobby Rush, Porcupine Meat, out now
There’s not too many new ways to sing the blues, but Bobby Rush, a Louisiana native who has been busy since the 1960s, has found one or two by mixing funk and hip- hop into his brew. On this new album, he’s joined by a killer guest list: Dave Alvin, Joe Bonamassa, Keb’ Mo’ and Vasti Jackson, among others.
DAVID LINDQUIST entertainment reporter, The Indianapolis Star Danny Brown, Atrocity Exhibition, Sept. 30
Always ready to deliver vivid tales from the wild side, rapper Brown is expected to stay the course on Atrocity.
RYAN CORMIER entertainment reporter, The ( Wilmington) News Journal The Drive- By Truckers, American Band, Sept. 30
With 20 years of clear- eyed anthems behind them, the gripping lead single What It Means tackles racism in America, written by Patterson Hood after the deaths of Trayvon Martin and Michael Brown.