Robert Plant‘s beautifully understated folk explorations, Red Hot Chili Peppers‘ deluxe Stadium Arcadium anniversary release, Mike McCready‘s ambitious Farewell to Seasons project and Kings of Leon‘s rootsy new single “Cold Blue Dawn.”
KINGS OF LEON – “COLD BLUE DAWN”
Instantly sounding nostalgic, Kings of Leon reached back to their raw, country roots for their new song, “Cold Blue Dawn.” It’s a song for a late night sitting on the porch with friends after maybe one too many and looking back at what was and what could have been.
There’s grinding, and sprawling guitar solos, and some Southern melancholy in Caleb Followill‘s thoughtful delivery. A nice tease for the full album, O My Beloved, coming out early November.
Stream • Virgin • Connect: @kingsofleon
MIKE McCREADY – FAREWELL TO SEASONS
Mike McCready is known for being a founding architect of Pearl Jam and the Seattle grunge sound. He weathered the storm of the 80s/90s music scene that ate young musicians up and spit them out, with very few surviving to continue making music today.
For the last 20 years or so, he’s been meditating on that story and finally teamed up with Z2 comics to release his original graphic novel and “lost” rock opera, Farewell to Seasons. The new music McCready wrote gives voice to his lead character, David Williams, and follows his brutal journey through the Seattle music scene of the ’80s and the explosion of grunge in the ’90s.
Z2 Comics • Connect: @mikemccreadypj
ROBERT PLANT – SAVING GRACE: ALL THAT GLITTERS… EP
Robert Plant has spent most of his post-Zeppelin career avoiding expectations, and Saving Grace: All That Glitters continues that tradition beautifully. Recorded with the musicians who make up Saving Grace, the album leans into folk, Americana, and traditional music rather than hard rock bombast.
Plant sounds completely at ease, following songs wherever they want to go rather than forcing them into a preconceived shape. Songs like “Two Coats,” are warm and unspool gently like a folk lullaby. He’ll be bringing some of these sounds to the State Theater on Oct. 14th.
Stream • Nonesuch • Connect: @robertplant
RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS – STADIUM ARCADIUM (20TH ANNIVERSARY)
Twenty years later, Stadium Arcadium remains one of the most ambitious records the Red Hot Chili Peppers ever made. A sprawling double album packed with singles, deep cuts, ballads, funk workouts, and stadium-sized hooks, it captured the band at a commercial and creative peak.
Their 9th album is full of hits like, “Dani California,” “Snow (Hey Oh),” and “Tell Me Baby” still receive regular airplay. The anniversary edition is a 4 LP set in blue, yellow, ruby and cherry red vinyl.
Stream • Warner • Connect: @chilipeppers
