New Album Releases – July 5, 2011

After a mainstream lineup of album releases last week (Dolly Parton, David Cook, Limp Bizkit, Taking Back Sunday and Beyonce) July is off to a more indie start. The Old 97’s, SebastiAn, The Chemical Brothers, Benjamin Francis Leftwich, and Unearth are all releasing new albums today.

Old 97’s “The Grand Theater, Volume Two”

The Old 97’s are an alternative country band from Dallas, Texas that got their start playing bars in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. After the release of their album 1995 “Wreck Your Life” the Old 97’s signed to Elektra Records only to be dropped after the merger of Time Warner and America Online. Now the band is releasing their second album with New West Records entitled “The Grand Theater, Volume Two”.

SebastiAn “Total”

Sebastian Akchote aka “SebastiAn” is a french electro house artist who started producing his own music at the ripe age of 15. In 2005 SebastiAn signed to French electronic record label, Ed Banger Records, to release his debut EP “Smoking Kills”. You may have even heard some of SebastiAn’s mixes in the video games GTA IV, Midnight Club:Los Angeles, and Grand Turismo 5. Six years later SebastiAn is releasing his debut album “Total”. The first single for the album “Embody” was released on April 4,2011 and has already been remixed by DJ Premier and Kavinsky. The album features appearances from M.I.A., Mayer Hawthorne, and production by Gaspard Auge of Justice.

The Chemical Brothers “Hanna”

Based out of Manchester, UK The Chemical Brothers are the second electronic group releasing an album this week. In October 2010 film director Joe Wright announced that The Chemical Brothers would be composing the score for his upcoming picture “Hanna”. Released in North America on April 8th and Europe on May 5th the motion picture “Hanna” would go on to make over $53 million in ticket sales. Originally released exclusively on iTunes, the soundtrack is now available in its tangible form thanks to Black Lot Music.

Benjamin Francis Leftwich “Last Smoke Before The Snowstorm”

Citing Bruce Springsteen, Fleetwood Mac, and Tom Petty has his influences, Benjamin Francis Leftwich is releasing his debut album “Last Smoke Before The Snowstorm” today. Ben’s most recent single “Pictures” was named the “Hottest Record In The World” by Radio One DJ Zane Lowe. I definitely expect to see this guy in the states soon!

Unearth “Darkness in the Light”

Definitely the heaviest album being released this week, “Darkness in the Light” is Unearth’s fifth studio album. The metalcore band’s new album was produced by Times of Grace and Killswitch Engage guitar player Adam Dutkiewicz with drums being tracked by Killswitch Engage drummer Justin Foley.

Following the album’s release, Unearth will be on the Mayhem Festival tour with Godsmack, Megadeth, and In Flames.