There's a ton of new music releases for November 2011, and with a barrage of reissues, solo records and special releases, it's a damn good thing there's someone out there helping guide us through it all!
With new offerings from Rihanna, The Decemberists, Chris Cornell, Drake, Florence & The Machine and yes, even Metallica/Lou Reed's ill-fated Lulu project, we've got quite a bit to get through this month! To help you stay on top of it all we've compiled a list of all the major releases you should have on your radar. We're covering all the musical bases so none of the awesome slips through the cracks!
Metallica & Lou Reed - Lulu
Release Date: November 1
Label: Warner Bros/Vertigo
What's the deal? On its face, it's an odd union of two iconic cross-generational powerhouses (even if in name only), for no discernible reason other than to send one act off into his accelerating decomposition on a power-chord buzz. Nevermind the references to high art from a century ago - if it stands as a matter of personal indulgence in creative experimentation, it stands as an inside-joke that pitifully few will appreciate. It's a club-handed ode to high art from a century ago, translated for the hordes of morebetterfasterNOW.
Why should you care?Caring is relative. There is no escaping what Lulu truly is: the single worst mash-up record ever made.
Link me: Read our review.
Megadeth - TH1RT3EN
Release Date: November 1
Label: Roadrunner
What's the deal? Dave Mustaine & Co. are back with their thirteenth album, the last album in Megadeth’s contract with Roadrunner and first to feature returning co-founder David Ellefson in a decade. A hotly anticipated return for the thrash stalwarts is a solid, if slightly underwhelming, affair.
Why should you care?Because this one's actually pretty solid. Endgameproducer Andy Sneap wasn’t available and his absence is noticeable, replaced by Johnny K (Disturbed, 3 Doors Down, Trapt), and as a result lacks the aggressive immediacy and high-energy attack of Sneap’s work. Nevertheless, it maintains a character all its own, with a blizzard of shred and no sign of aging among the members, nearly all of whom are pretty long in the tooth these days.
Link me: Megadeth.com
Florence & The Machine - Ceremonials
Release Date: November 1
Label: Island
What's the deal? The album is noted for having a larger, more baroque pop sound than its predecessor, with a massively lush & orchestral sound. A sonic cathedral of enchanting emerald forest wood-nymph mating serenades, this is the kind of shit that Enya breakdances to.
Why should you care?Reviews are consistently positive across the board, but know this - it whups the hell out of of Lungs. The dog days are most certainly over, and if you can get down with the possessed goddess beat-chants of "Bedroom Hymns," you're my kind of cat.
Link me: http://florenceandthemachine.net/
The Decemberists - Long Live The King
Release Date: November 1
Label: Capitol
What's the deal? This odds and ends collection of leftovers from the band's The King is Dead sessions are mostly acoustic Americana-based material. In addition to five original numbers from The Decemberists, Long Live The King will feature a cover of the Grateful Dead’s 1973 opus "Row Jimmy".
Why should you care?Look, damnit. I'm moving to Portland. There's a clear bias in play here, but The Decemberists are one of the most cerebrally fantastic folk-rock bands in existence. Have a listen for yourself before picking up the jams - but you won't regret the buy.
Link me: http://decemberists.com/
U2 - Achtung Baby Reissue (deluxe, vinyl, super deluxe and uber deluxe versions)
Release Date: November 1
Label: Island
What's the deal? U2 is going all out to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Achtung Baby, with massive reissue sets that include previously unheard material and a wealth of special-edition goods enough to satiate any superfan. The 20 Years of Achtung Baby project arrives in five different formats, including unreleased material and the new documentary From the Sky Down, directed by Oscar-winner Davis Guggenheim.
Why should you care?Because Achtung Baby is one of the greatest albums ever made, that's why. The Kindergarten disc, essentially an early version of Achtung Baby. The best of the unheard tracks may be "Down All the Days," an early version of "Numb" with Bono on vocals instead of the Edge. Oh yeah, and we're giving away a Super Deluxe Box Set for free!
Link me: http://www.u2.com/
Sigur Ros, Rihanna, Chris Cornell & much more on Page 2!
