This year, the astronomical fall begins on Sept. 23 (at 4:21 a.m. EDT, to be exact) and ends Dec. 21. In those two months before winter, there’s the usual slew of new music releases on the horizon.
Get those iTunes and Amazon gift cards ready: This is Pauseandplay.com’s Fall Music Preview. Here are just a few of the highlights … click on the dates for expanded listings.
“Music Complete” (their first album in 10 years; producers: New Order, Tom Rowlands, Stuart Price; guests: Brandon Flowers, Iggy Pop Elly Jackson of La Roux; Hear here; MP3)
“Unbreakable” (her first album in seven years; producers: Jackson, Jimmy Jam, Terry Lewis; guests: Missy Elliott, J. Cole; first single: “No Sleeep”; Hear here; MP3; iTunes)
(Rhythm Nation / BMG)
Joe Jackson
“Fast Forward” (his first album of original material in seven years; recorded in four cities: New York, Amsterdam, Berlin and New Orleans; guests: Bill Frisell, Regina Carter, Brian Blade, Graham Maby, Mitchell Sink, Tindersticks drummer Earl Harvin, Stanton Moore, Robert Mercurio, Jeff Raines, etc.; first single: “Fast Forward”; Hear here; See here; Read here; MP3)
“Cradle to the Grave” (their 14th studio album, featuring the first collection of new songs from Chris Difford and Glenn Tilbrook since 1998; producers: Tilbrook, Laurie Latham; Hear here; Read here)
“Still Got That Hunger” (their U.S. “Odyssey & Oracle 2015 Tour” opens Sept. 30 in Dallas and ends Oct. 27 in San Francisco; producer: Chris Potter; Hear here; Read here)
“We Love Disney” (covers of Disney songs by Ariana Grande, Ne-Yo, Jessie J, Jason Derulo, Gwen Stefani, Jhene Aiko, Fall Out Boy, Tori Kelly, Kacey Musgraves, Rascal Flatts, etc.; producer: David Foster; Hear here; Deluxe Edition)
“Compromised” (his 16th studio album; producers: Forbert, John Simon; Hear here)
(Rock Ridge Music / ADA)
MC Lars
“The Zombie Dinosaur LP” (producers: Lars, Jim Greer, Damondrick “D.J.” Jack; guests: Watsky, Kool Keith, Spose, Roger Lima of Less than Jake, STZA Crack of Leftöver Crack, Brian Mazzaferri of I Fight Dragons; Hear here)
(Horris)
Natalie Merchant
“Paradise Is There: The New Tigerlily Recordings” (all-new recordings revisiting her 1995 solo debut album, “Tigerlily”; accompanied by a documentary DVD containing live performances, archival footage and interviews; Hear here; MP3)