It is the middle of autumn and the fall music releases
are pouring out like a good hard cider from the tap. A lot of good music has
been unleashed this autumn. And with the plethora of great releases, it can be
hard to figure out which albums to listen to, let alone purchase and add to
your regular rotation. Fortunately, I have gone through a lot of these new
releases with the intent of helping you narrow down your choices. Listed below
are some of the brightest releases this fall. All of them are worth checking
out and adding to your collection! Happy autumn everyone!
Bruce Springsteen – Chapter and Verse
Bruce Springsteen finally released his autobiography in
September. This was the definitive book that fans had been waiting years to
see. With the release of the book, Springsteen also put out a companion,
compilation record that includes five previously unreleased songs spanning his
time with The Castilles, Steel Mill, and the Bruce Springsteen Band. And while
some may be quick to write this off as just another greatest hits package,
there is so much more to Chapter and
Verse than that. It’s a deep collection of handpicked Springsteen songs
that serves as the soundtrack to his autobiography. And while the five previously
unreleased tracks aren’t the best work of his career, they show a true insight
to the early days of Bruce Springsteen. That alone is worth the price.
The Head and The Heart – Signs of Light
With the release of their third album, Signs of Light, The Head and The Heart
are getting a lot of deserved attention. Lead track “All We Ever Knew” could be
the best song they have recorded to date. Signs
of Light as a whole is a terrific record that should really place this band
on the radar of most music fans. And for as grand as “All We Ever Knew” is, a
later track, “Take a Walk” is just as exceptional. The Head and The Heart took
everything that was good about their first two records and made them better for
their latest release. Their hard work and learning paid off in a big way.
Kings Of Leon – Walls
Exceptional! That’s what this album is – just
exceptional! I’ll admit that I haven’t paid much attention to Kings of Leon
since “Sex On Fire” was ripping up the airwaves. But with the push that their
new album received, I figured that Walls
was worth checking out. I am so glad that I took the time to listen to this
beauty. Walls is a treat for the ears
from start to finish. If you haven’t given this record a chance yet, you
absolutely must. You will not be disappointed.
The Narrowbacks – Arrogance & Ignorance
Celtic Punk Rock band, The Narrowbacks, have released
their new album, Arrogance &
Ignorance. This is an enjoyable collection of Celtic rock tunes that fans
of the genre are bound to enjoy. Even if you aren’t a fan of the Celtic rock
scene, Arrogance & Ignorance is
worth checking out and giving a few plays. It is a solid record that produces
joy for the ears. Songs like “Banner County Soldier” and “Shannon” get your
feet tapping and your body swinging after just one listen and then finds you
going back for more. Arrogance &
Ignorance is certainly a worthy addition to your fall release collection.
Airbourne – Breakin’ Outta Hell
First and foremost, Breakin’
Outta Hell is an Airbourne record. For that reason alone it should be in
your collection. This band has not (and probably never will) disappointed. They
are a simple hard rock, heavy volume band that know how to bring the energy to
their music. Every song is a killer track that makes you want to throw your
fist in the air, stomp your feet on the ground, and just bang your head like
never before. That’s the Airbourne format and it’s been extremely successful
for them thus far, so they didn’t bother to change it for Breakin’ Outta Hell. And that’s a very good thing. Airbourne makes
the music that I wish there was more of and they don’t deviate from that set
path. Airbourne is true arena rock at its finest and I love it!
Sum 41 – 13 Voices
It’s been a long time coming, but Sum 41 is back with a
new album and a new outlook on their musical life. With short, compact, hard
hitting songs, Sum 41 ventured back to the music style that made them famous (think
their debut album). Their return to form is a truly welcomed addition to the
2016 music releases. A lot has happened to this band in the five years since
their last release. They learned hard lessons and poured all of that into their
new music. The end result is an exceptional record in 13 Voices. If you haven’t listened to or followed this band in a
while 13 Voices is an excellent
returning point.
Those are my picks for the best fall releases thus far.
What’s yours? Comments are open. Feel free to post some.
