I was just checking out the Miles of Music site, and a handful of upcoming releases caught my eye. I haven't heard much or any advance notice on any of these things:
Sister Vanilla Little Pop Rock
Miles of Music Wrote:
Featuring ex-Jesus And Mary Chain luminaries Jim Reid, William Reid and Ben Lurie with Jim and Williams sister Linda on vocals, Sister Vanillas Little Pop Rock is an exhilaratingly fresh pop record which also serves as a timely reminder of just how essential the seminal group from East Kilbride actually were. There can be no doubt that the song-writing on Little Pop Rock incorporates many elements that will be familiar to Mary Chain fans, but to focus solely on the input of the estranged Reid brothers would be a disservice to the vocals of their sister Linda. If the reconvening of Jim and William on the same album (since The Jesus And Mary Chains final offering Munki in 1998) is some cause for celebration, its the sheer strength of Little Pop Rock, the allure of Lindas vocals and how angry, reflective and urgent the songs sound that should have you throwing an all-out street party. (Chemikal Underground Records)
Grant Lee Phillips Strangelet
Miles of Music Wrote:
Grant-Lee Phillips calls Strangelet "an album for strange times." Combining the warmth of Grant`s recent solo albums with the pure pop hooks found in his albums fronting Grant Lee Buffalo, Strangelet is a highwater-mark in Phillips` career. Grant was fascinated by magic as a child, and he brings the talents of a skilled magician to his songwriting, filling the songs on Strangelet with mystery, suspense and joy. From the soaring choruses of the single "Soft Asylum (No Way Out)" to the T. Rex-ish swagger of "Raise the Spirit," Strangelet is guaranteed to both thrill longtime Grant fans and to bring new members into that fold. (Zoe/Rounder)
Graham Parker Don't Tell Columbus
Miles of Music Wrote:
Suffused with the heft of the epic, Dont Tell Columbuss lyrical and emotional resonance straddles the Atlantic and evinces GPs stature as one of the most gifted writers in rock n roll. From the personal and metaphorically grand `The Other Side of the Reservoir` to the overtly political and swinging `Stick to the Plan,` this album ripples with tension between the melancholic, the urgent and the hopeful. Best of all, its wrapped in his gifted brawny pop and blue-eyed soul smarts. Only GP can have you happily humming along to songs swaddled in desperate loneliness and internal mayhem. (Bloodshot)
Tommy Womack There I Said It
Miles of Music Wrote:
It`s been four years since Tommy Womack`s last solo release, which was also the year he suffered a nervous breakdown and after twenty-some years of performing had to re-enter the 8-5 work force. The street smart, literate post punk rocker/songwriter thought he was out of the music business and the business was through with him. However, the songs did not give up on Tommy Womack and he has returned with the career-defining record, There, I Said It.What began as a catharsis for the discerning songwriter, resulted in the personal There, I Said It!. Produced by John Deaderick, (keyboard playing and producer known for his work with The Dixie Chicks and Patty Griffin), the songs deal almost exclusively with the intersection of family responsibility and the ups and downs of a life making music. Tommy`s wit and wryness are now balanced with an heartbreaking honesty of life`s small, good and perfect things and yet many of the songs are still wrapped in the spirit and take risk attitude of the best in rock `n roll. The new songs still hook the listener with rhyme and his psycoactive mix of Dave Davies and Hubert Sumlin guitar playing, but Tommy`s heart of gold has been laid bare. (Cedar Creek Music)
Ian Hunter Shrunken Heads
Yep Roc Wrote:
Shrunken Heads is Ian Hunter's 12th solo studio album since his eponymous debut in 1975. Recorded in 2006 in Pawling, NY, the 11-song Shrunken Heads covers a wide-range of honest emotions and wry observations that we've come to expect from Mr. Hunter: touching on such topics as late-night soul-searching to the devastation of Hurricane Katrina and today's political climate. Produced by Andy York (veteran guitarist for John Mellencamp) and himself, Hunter stated "The record was done quickly and very much as a band effort. It's more relaxed than usual for some reason and all in all a most enjoyable experience."
The recording also features Wilco's Jeff Tweedy performing backing vocals on three tracks, "Words (Big Mouth)," "Fuss About Nothing," and "Guiding Light." E-Street Band Violinist Soozie Tyrell also appears on "Words (Big Mouth)," and "Brainwashed." The backing band is additionally comprised of superstar talent with Steve Holly on drums (Wings, Joe Cocker), Graham Maby on bass (Joe Jackson, Natalie Merchant, Joan Baez), Jack Petruzzelli on guitar (Rufus Wainwright, Joan Osbourne), James Mastro on guitar (John Cale), Andy Burton on keyboards (The dB's, Tommy James) and Producer Andy York on guitar and keyboards.