John Doe
Keeper
Yep Roc
Street: 08.30
John Doe = Bruce Springsteen + Joe Ely + Richard Hell
John Doe is one of those musical luminaries responsible for bridging the gap between punk rock, early rock n’ roll and roots music. His band X gave some credence to punk rock, and ever since he went solo in 1990, he’s given new breath and perspective to country, folk and blues while keeping his edge and simultaneously, fully delving into this new territory. Keeper is a fine example of just how great Doe is at building an entire record of roots music while still keeping things highly original. The country rocker “Walking out the Door” would be right at home in any honky tonk, and has a slight air of Johnny Cash to it. The saxophone-soaked “Never Enough” is an upbeat number that has enough life in it to wake the dead. It’s hard to say what we’ll get in the future from a guy like John Doe, but I do know that whatever it is, I’ll be glad to get more of it. –James Orme

Jonathan Keevil
Bellflower OST
Oscilloscope Records
Street: 09.06
Jonathan Keevil = Bon Iver/Brian Eno
The A Side of this record is a collection of folk ballads meant to sound as if Keevil is holing up in a bunker with nothing but his husky voice and a cheap mic. The inspiration behind the songs’ melancholy is unnamed, and presumably the film, Bellflower, provides the additional context; either way, they’re great dressing if a traumatic event is provided elsewhere. The film is about two friends who spend their time constructing weapons for an impending apocalypse, only to have a girl come between them. From the mood of the soundtrack, especially the wallflower ambient synths of Side B, the tone of the movie is more somber than the homemade weapons would imply. As with most soundtracks, this one needs some context to be fully affecting. –Nate Housley

Katy B
On a Mission
Columbia Records
Street: 09.13
Katy B = (Alicia Keys + Adele) x Rusko
You probably haven’t heard of Katy B before, but since she’s a 22-year-old graduate of BRIT School with a degree in popular music from Goldsmiths, University of London, you can be sure that you will. Her debut album, On A Mission, is a showcase displaying her unbelievably enchanting voice, beautifully framed with dubstep and garage music. “Lights On” (featuring Ms. Dynamite), “Easy Please Me” and “Katy On A Mission” are particularly captivating. You can pick up the album on iTunes, but be sure to check out her music videos on YouTube, cause it doesn’t look like her tour is leaving the UK anytime soon. –Johnny Logan

Ladybirds
Shimmy Shimmy Dang!
Departure
Street: 09.06
Ladybirds = The Cramps + Imelda May + Ruth Brown
The Ladybirds play an electrifying mix of R&B, rockabilly, and pop, all with a garage attitude and feel. There’s a lot of potential here; the band is incredibly versatile, but retains a signature sound no matter which genre they switch to. The songwriting feels a little unfocused at times, but the hooks and melodies are there. Vocals are good, but with this type of band, so much relies on the vocals being outstanding, which I believe they could be; they just aren’t through this entire record. Please don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed Shimmy Shimmy Dang! quite a bit. If the right producer, or if the band themselves pushed just a little further I think the band really show us something, but I’m happy with this for now. –James Orme

Library Voices
Summer of Lust
Dine Alone Records
Street: 10.18
Library Voices = New Pornographers x Architecture in Helsinki
While Library Voices put a few strident twee signifiers up front—cutesy song titles (“Que Sera Sarah”), the grade-school nostalgia of their name, the boy-girl album cover—the music is more grown up than they let on. It’s fun, to be sure, but they temper the energy with genuine hooks that give their infantilism a sardonic slant. Single “Generation Handclap,” upbeat and catchy like the rest of the record, is a standout with its especially urgent chorus. I could have done without the book-on-tape style “Intro” and “Outro” tracks, though. –Nate Housley

Little Red
Midnight Remember
True Panther
Street: 10.25
Little Red = Phoenix + Washed Out + The Beach Boys
They say that location makes all the difference, and in the case of Little Red, I think that holds true. These Melbourne, Australia, natives recorded their most recent album, Midnight Remember, on the central coast of Australia, and they couldn’t have created a better sound. After three years of experimentation, one EP, and one full-length album, the band teamed up with producer Scott Horscroft (The Temper Trap), to form Midnight Remember. The soft, dreamy voices of Dominic Byrne and Adrian Beltrame will bring you back to the nostalgic days of summer, when you were carefree, kicking back with a Natty Ice at the beach. Every track has something different to offer, but a few stand out among the crowd. “Slow Motion” captures the titled sentiment perfectly, with the combination of lyrics about “everyone moving so fast,” and the leisurely, major chord progressions and percussive piano in the background. If you’re looking for something a little bit more along the dance lines, there is “Rock It,” with a killer bass line and a chorus you can chant along with. The album is fresh, it has an interestingly unique sound, and it’s enjoyable to listen to. If you like fun and games, this is the album for you. –Kylie Cox