A mix of new music, deluxe reissues and a special vinyl single are featured in my column this week.
Artist: The Beach Boys
Title: Sounds Of Summer — The Very Best Of The Beach Boys (Capitol/UMe)
You might like if you enjoy: The Beach Boys, Brian Wilson, Mike Love, Jan and Dean
Tell me more: Originally released back in 2003, the wonderful collection Sounds Of Summer: The Very Best Of The Beach Boys was an immediate commercial success remaining on the charts for 104 weeks and ultimately earning 4x platinum certification for sales of four and a half million albums. Fast forward to 2022 and that 30-track collection has been expanded to a total of 80 tracks in celebration of The Beach Boys' yearlong 60th anniversary celebration. It includes 26 new mixes, two first-time stereo mixes as well as 24 new-and-improved stereo mixes. The good news is that both casual and die-hard fans of the beloved group will be rewarded with this expansive title. The parade of stellar hits that spans disc 1 is certainly a great overview of the band's timeless radio favorites ("California Girls," "Surfing' Safari," "Don't Worry Baby," In My Room," "God Only Knows," "Good Vibrations" and so many more), but discs 2 and 3 provide a vast and wider appreciation of the Beach Boys via treasures from the '60s, '70s and '80s. Among the standout selections include the luxurious "All Summer Long," lovely "Disney Girls," tender "Forever," joyous "Sail on Sailor," shimmering "Baby Blue," ambitious "Wind Chimes," harmonies-filled "Add Some Music To Your Day" and rollicking garage rocker "All I Want To Do." Sounds Of Summer: The Very Best Of The Beach Boys is available in a variety of formats including digitally, 3CD soft pack and as a Super Deluxe Edition 6LP vinyl boxed set on 180-gram black vinyl in two options - a standard set or a numbered, limited edition version featuring a rainbow foil slipcase and four collectible lithographs. The Beach Boys are currently on tour and will headline at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles on Aug. 7. Information: TheBeachBoys.com.
Title: Brighter Day (Think Like A Key Music)
You might like if you enjoy: The Kinks, The Beatles, The Zombies
Tell me more: Rogers and Butler are back with their outstanding sophomore album, the shining Brighter Day, a melody-drenched set of 11 inviting tracks. The terrific return includes the Kinks-flavored title track, shining power pop gem "Where Does The World Hide," affecting piano ballad "Last Reply," the tuneful Baroque pop gem "Marmalade Eyes" (which captures the magic of Beatles and Zombies favorites), melodic rocker "Desire" and wistful "The Sun Won't Shine." Along the way, the talented songwriting team of Edward Rogers (lead vocals) and Steve Butler (lead vocals, guitars, keyboards, percussion) are joined by a skilled cast of players (guitarist Don Piper, bassist Sal Maida, drummer Konrad Meissner, keyboardist Joe McGinty, accordion player Joe Chiofalo and strings player Chris Carmichael) to further elevate the album. Information: ThinkLikeAkey.com.
Title: Dance Fever [Deluxe Edition] (Republic)
You might like if you enjoy: Kate Bush, Florence + The Machine, Bat for Lashes
Tell me more: Expanded beyond the standard 14-track version, Florence + The Machine's Dance Fever [Deluxe Edition] find's the artist's fifth studio album packaged in a hardback book; the audio CD includes five bonus tracks. Described as a "Fairytale in Fourteen Songs," Dance Fever marks the first release by British songstress Florence Welch and company since 2018. The majestic opener "King" (bolstered by all manner of sonic shifts), propulsive electronica-tinged "Free," soulful "Dream Girl Evil," anthemic "Cassandra," driving "Daffodil," acoustic "The Bomb" and intoxicating "My Love" are among the many standouts on the terrific return. Welch is a singer armed with a soprano that is both powerful and expressive, and the track listing across Dance Fever is the perfect expression of those marvelous gifts. The bonus tracks also serve to more fully appreciate Welch's artistry; she revisits four of the LP's cuts with sparse arrangement anchored by her poignant vocals — "Cassandra," "Free" and "My Love" are especially moving. Closing out the title is "Search and Destroy," a fiery take on the Iggy Pop-penned 1973 Stooges classic. Fans of Welch's singular vision will definitely want to pick up this version. Florence + The Machine are set to embark on a North American tour on Sept. 2, 2022, including two dates at The Hollywood Bowl on Oct. 14 and Oct. 15. Information: florenceandthemachine.net.
Artist: William Shatner
Title: Rocket Man (Cleopatra Records)
You might like if you enjoy: William Shatner, Ritchie Blackmore & Candice Night, Steve Hillage, pop culture
Tell me more: In 2021 — at the age of 90 — actor/author/icon William Shatner become the oldest person to fly into space after his flight aboard the Blue Origin sub-orbital capsule. Now fans of the star can celebrate his historic flight with the limited edition "Rocket Man" single released by Cleopatra Records. The silver vinyl release features Shatner's take on the Elton John classic "Rocket Man" on Side A, where he joined by influential Gong guitarist Steve Hillage. Shatner delivers an especially strong performance of David Bowie's "Space Oddity" on Side B; that version is enhanced by the tandem talents of guitar great Ritchie Blackmore and vocalist Candice Night. Information: CleopatraRecords.com.
Robert Kinsler
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