March welcomes myriad of musical riches via three new releases

England's groundbreaking alternative rock band Elbow, singer-songwriter John Oates and blues great Joe Louis Walker shine bright and push their legacies forward on their latest releases. 

Artist: Elbow

Title: The Take Off and Landing of Everything (Concord Records)

You might like if you enjoy: Peter Gabriel, Radiohead, U2

Tell me more: Lush and textured arrangements, flawless musicianship and palpable emotion are just the icing on the cake across Elbow's The Take Off and Landing of Everything, which is anchored by 10 songs that boast the musical depth and scope of the quintet's previous discs. Highlights on the epic LP include the introspective "This Blue World" and emotive "My Sad Captains." And leave to a band out of Manchester, England to craft one of the greatest songs ever penned about the Big Apple; "New York Morning" captures the energy, feel and power of the East Coast metropolis with grace and force. The Take Off and Landing of Everything will be released in the U.S. on Tuesday, March 11, 2014. Information: elbow.co.uk.
Purchase The Take Off and Landing of Everything now

Artist: Joe Louis Walker

Title: Hornet's Nest (Alligator Records)

You might like if you enjoy: Michael Bloomfield, Freddie King, Albert King

Tell me more: Whether performing ferocious guitar-anchored blues-rock ("Stick a Fork In Me"), intense ballads ("As The Sun Goes Down") or singing energetic Memphis-styled soul ("All I Wanted to Do"), singer-songwriter-guitarist Joe Louis Walker shines bright on his latest album Hornet's Nest. At 64, Walker is still in top form, with his rich vocals and virtuoso lead guitar prowess a duel wonder. Not content to immerse his guitar playing in cliches, Walker's fret work recalls greats such as Michael Bloomfield and Jimi Hendrix. Information: joelouiswalker.com.
Get Hornet's Nest here

Artist: John Oates

Title: Good Road To Follow (PS Records / Elektra Records)

You might like if you enjoy: Vince Gill, OneRepublic, Hall & Oates

Tell me more:  Certainly not content to rest of his accomplishments with Hall & Oates (the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame duo played before a sold-out crowd of 3,500 fans at Fantasy Springs Resort in Indio on March 7), John Oates is set to release his latest solo project Good Road To Follow on March 18. The ambitious three-CD set finds Oates exploring everything from modern R&B and hip house (including the lead single "Stone Cold Love"performed with OneRepublic front man Ryan Tedder) to folk ("Close," penned with Americana legend Jim Lauderdale), ballads ("Lose It In Louisiana") and soul-tinged country-blues ("Don't Cross Me Wrong," written by Vince Gill and Oates). Information: johnoates.com.

Purchase Good Road to Follow on CD

Robert Kinsler