Every Friday our NoiseTrade New Music Tip Sheet highlights three recommended picks from that week’s batch of new releases that we think are worth checking out at your local record shop or via your preferred online music distributor of choice.
This Will All Blow Over in Time
Cold War Kids
Over the last 15 years, Cold War Kids have been one of those prolific bands that have peppered in EPs and one-off singles between full album releases, often with material that rivaled (and even outshined) their “traditional” album tracks. Their new double-disc compilation, This Will All Blow Over in Time, combines some of those adventurous rarities alongside radio singles from their time on Downtown Records (roughly spanning 2005-2015). The first disc is titled “Singles Worked at Radio” and captures 12 of their most popular singles from their first five albums. The second disc is titled “Songs from All Over the Place” and features 11 scattered rarities, including the previously unreleased “Vacation in Chicago,” the groove-laden “Goodnight Tennessee,” and an absolutely beautiful cover of Nick Cave’s “Opium Tea” that was previously only available to stream online. This Will All Blow Over in Time is currently available on 2CD and digital, with the double LP translucent yellow vinyl version coming out in February.
Mama Said Knock You Out (Marvel Comics Reissue)
LL Cool J
The worlds of hip-hop and comics have always co-mingled in really cool ways, so the 2015 announcement of Marvel Comics’ hip-hop variant covers project gained immediate approvals from fans in both arenas. The clever mixture of placing Marvel characters into redrawn versions of classic hip-hop album artwork has now moved from comic book covers to actual album reissues and first out of the gate is a vinyl reissue of LL Cool J’s double platinum, Marley Marl-produced 1990 album Mama Said Knock You Out featuring the Punisher reimagined in LL’s iconic pose. The artwork originally appeared on a variant cover of Tim Bradstreet’s Punisher #1 comic and seeing it in a 12×12 vinyl LP format is truly fitting for the unique art piece. Come for the classic tracks (“Around the Way Girl,” “The Boomin’ System,” and the untouchable title track), stay for the cool new updated artwork and opaque red vinyl pressing.
The Hex (Physical Release)
Richard Swift
After Richard Swift’s untimely passing due to alcohol-related illness this past July, his final album The Hex was posthumously released in September, though only across digital platforms. With the physical release on CD and vinyl available now, listeners can finally hold a tangible copy of the unintended eulogy to mourn and enjoy. Since many of the songs deal directly with grief and death – the close passings of Swift’s mother and sister inform some of the songwriting on the album – The Hex is almost impossible to take in outside of its relation to Swift’s death. However, there are moments of reprieve – piano ballads and psych-pop experiments – that peek through the clouds as well. While Swift was often praised for the performances he drew out of others as a producer (Damien Jurado, Nathaniel Rateliff, Guster), band member (The Shins, Starflyer 59), or occasional touring instrumentalist (The Black Keys), The Hex is a nice reminder of the sonic magic he summoned on his own across the six solo albums he released name.
