The Friday Refrain: A bit of what's new in music

And I'm back! Well, I am the worst at staying connected on vacation and all plans for pre-planning fell through, but this week here I am with new music for you to fill your music coffers with.

I didn't have as much time to dig into the music this week, but here is The List.

As for popular releases this week, there aren't as many of the headliners as usual. Spoon released They Want My Soul, Godsmack is out with 1000hp, and Al Jarreau released My Old Friend: Celebrating George Duke. Let's see what else we've got...

Rebranded (or a releases from artists formerly of a different band/name)

EDJ, EDJ - The guy behind Fruit Bats is the name behind EDJ. He maintains his singer-songwriter sound with lyrics that tell a story.

Flux Forteana, September - From the bassist of Coheed & Cambria comes this solo project

Operators, EP1- Dan Boeckner (Wolf Parade, Handsome Furs, Divine Fits) teams up with Divine Fits drummer, Sam Brown for this new band.

Owl John, Owl John - Scott Hutchinson of Frightened Rabbit released this new solo project. The album is pretty solid and falls soundly in the category of Playground of Rock.

The 69 Cats, Transylvanian Tapes

The Empty Hearts, The Empty Hearts

Tuatara, Underworld - more of a supergroup than a rebrand, but still. Mike McCready of Pearl Jam joins up for this album.

Wovenwar, Wovenwar - As I Lay Dying bandmembers sans frontman paired up with a new singer to do that modern metal thing.

The To-Listen List:

 

Billy Joe Shaver, Long in the Tooth  - classic country sound

Alestorm, Sunset on the Golden Age - Pirate metal, do you really need any more convincing? Well, then listen to the first track, "Walk the Plank." Or just save this one for September 19th, Talk Like A Pirate Day

Goodnight, Texas; Uncle John Farquhar

Angus & Julia Stone, Angus & Julia Stone - It's got that boy and girl duet fun to it that is playful and intriguing at the same time.

Twin Peaks, Wild Onion - It's got that vintage record store sound to it.

The Rosebuds, Sand + Silence

Wildcat! Wildcat!, No Moon At All

Albums with throwback covers

Roses, Dreamlover

Family Force 5, Time Stands Still

Mozart's Sister, Being

Blues Pills, Blues Pills

Well there we have it, happy listening!

 Friday Refrain is a weekly post regarding what new releases have caught my ear for the week. I try to compile a pretty comprehensive list of releases of the week and see what is available for me to listen to on the web. This is just my non-scientific, highly-subjective, randomly-listened-to list of stuff from the week. Oh, and I don’t always listen to lyrics or look at album art/music videos, so appropriateness is left up to the listener