Record Rack: A round-up of the week’s new albums, expanded reissues and/or box sets, appearing each Monday on Slicing Up Eyeballs.
ARTIST : Dinosaur Jr
RELEASE: I Bet On Sky
BACKSTORY: The indie-rock legends this week release their third post-reunion album, the 10-track set that the band — J Mascis, Lou Barlow and Murph — recorded earlier this year. The new album, which follows 2007′s Beyond and 2009′s Farm, was preceded by lead-off single “Watch the Corners” (stream the full album).
BUY: Amazon.com (CD, vinyl, digital)
ARTIST : Ian McCulloch
RELEASE: Candleland, Mysterio, Slideling
BACKSTORY: The first three solo albums from the Echo & The Bunnymen frontman are reissued this week, in the U.K., by Demon Music Group in expanded collectors’ editions — packed with bonus tracks including non-album singles, B-sides, live cuts and remixes — to coincide with the singer’s U.K. tour (see full tracklists).
BUY: Amazon.co.uk (Candleland, Mysterio, Slideling)
ARTIST : Aztec Camera
RELEASE: High Land, Hard Rain, Dreamland, Frestonia
BACKSTORY: Demon Music Group this week, in the U.K., releases reissues of three more albums from the Roddy Frame-led Scottish indie-pop act, expanded editions of the band’s 1983, 1993 and 1995 albums, each featuring an assortment of bonus cuts including non-album singles, B-sides, remixes (see full tracklists).
BUY: Amazon.co,uk (High Land, Hard Rain, Dreamland, Frestonia)
ARTIST : Aimee Mann
RELEASE: Charmer
BACKSTORY: The former ‘Til Tuesday singer returns this week with her eighth solo album, an 11-track set produced by longtime collaborator Paul Bryan, who also co-wrote two of the record’ songs (“Living a Lie” and “Soon Enough”) with Mann and comedian Tim Heidecker. Other tracks on the record include “Labrador” and “Gumby.”
BUY: Amazon.com (CD, vinyl, digital)
ARTIST : Paul Weller
RELEASE: “The Attic”
BACKSTORY: The Modfather this week issues a U.S.-only, orange-vinyl 7-inch single of one of the tracks on his latest album, Sonik Kicks. The record comes backed by the previously unreleased “We Got a Lot.” Of the A-side, the ex-Jam leader says: ”It’s like a 50s pop song, but revved up: like Helen Shapiro on gear. … Lyrically, it’s a bit lovelorn.”
BUY: Amazon.com (Vinyl)
