Tim Fite: Ain’t Ain’t Ain’t (Anti-, 3/6/12)
Singer-songrapper Tim Fite has a unique way of bringing together humor and painful observation. His most recent album, Ain’t Ain’t Ain’t, focused on the joy and heartbreak of the teenage years, and in a wonderfully weird video combining hand-drawn and stop-motion animation, Fite puts visuals to his call for acceptance and love.
Taiwanese extreme-metal band Chthonic’s latest album is in the bag, and while it’s being mixed in Sweden, the band is taking care of other business — notably, promoting its recent mobile game, Rhythm Crusher. It’s similar to other play-along games on the market, but it features Chthonic’s brutality and metal background art. And the band is promoting it in a unique, take-it-to-the-streets fashion.
“Nine Eyes” is an example of folk duo Brown Bird’s varied influences, as Eastern rhythms mix with upright bass strums, psych-rock guitar, and vocal harmonies.
Shining: I Won’t Forget single (Universal Norway, 2/8/13)
Following the band’s superlative, groundbreaking album Blackjazz in 2010, progressive metal outfit Shining (the Norwegian former jazz band, not the Swedish suicidal metal band) is back this year with a new full-length, One One One. Its first single, “I Won’t Forget,” is still en route to America, with a seemingly spectacular video to match a gnarly rock/metal tune. Get a glimpse of the futuristic, industrialized visuals, directed by Kyrre Larsen (who also did “Fisheye”), and get ready.
Kaki King: Glow (Velour, 10/9/12)
Celebrating the 10th anniversary of her debut LP, guitar virtuoso / singer-songwriter Kaki King will perform Everybody Loves You from start to finish at four special shows on the East Coast. Head here to get tickets for the dates (April 24, 25, 28, 29), and watch the brand-new black-and-white video for “No True Masterpiece Will Ever Be Complete.”
Featuring former Miles Davis and Fishbone collaborator John Bigham, this new jam from The Greyboy Allstars plays out as a discussion between singer and self, with the titular assertion serving as a toe-tapping chorus.
Sole: No Wising Up No Settling Down (Black Canyon Music, 5/1/13)
Sole doesn’t stand still. His 2012 album, A Ruthless Criticism of Everything Existing, was one of our favorites from last year, and this May, barely six months later, the activist MC is dropping yet another solo endeavor, No Wising Up, No Settling Down.
Melodic post-hardcore heavyweight Helms Alee is looking for your help. The former Hydra Head standout is planning to self-release (via its ROLF NESLUND label) its next album, Sleepwalking Sailors, and has taken to Kickstarter to judge demand.
So watch the band’s ridiculous pitch video (which highlights six years of Helms Alee goofiness) and then head over to Kickstarter to get in on the pre-sale. BUY THE ALBUM!