New Music: Collective Soul, Orianthi, Thundermother, Nick Frater, Goo Goo Dolls

American rock troupe Collective Soul, singer-guitar great Orianthi, Swedish rockers Thundermother, singer-songwriter Nick Frater and alt rock favorites Goo Goo Dolls are all back with essential new recordings worth adding to your music library.

Artist: Collective Soul

Title: Vibrating (Fuzzy-Flex Records)

You might like if you enjoy: Collective Soul, Toad the Wet Sprocket, Psychic Rain

Tell me more: Nearly 30 years after their outstanding debut Hints Allegations and Things Left Unsaid introduced their fully original mix of melodic alternative rock and post-grunge to the world, Collective Soul continues to chart their own course with albums rooted in stellar songcraft, creative arrangements and inspired performances. "Cut The Cord" opens the album, a searing hard rocker bolstered by loads of crunchy guitar and a driving beat; the propulsive "Reason" enhanced by an especially melodic chorus follows. The energy on the 10-track album is palpable, with singer-guitarist Ed Roland, lead guitarist Jesse Triplett, rhythm guitarist Dean Roland, bassist Will Turpin and drummer Johnny Rabb each adding sophisticated magic to the proceedings. Other highlights on the excellent album include the enticing "Take" with its hypnotic mix of '60s jangle garage rock and mellifluous musical layers, the shining "Undone," symphonic-tinged gem "Rule No. 1," genre-defying delight "Looking Around" and the ambitious romance-mining "Where Do I Go." My favorite track is the undeniably captivating "All Our Pieces," a soaring anthem with singer Ed Roland's expressive vocals bringing an emotional heft to the euphonious cut. Information: CollectiveSoul.com.

Artist: Orianthi

Title: Live From Hollywood (Frontiers Music Srl)

You might like if you enjoy: Orianthi, Nita Strauss, Michael Jackson's "This Is It" documentary

Tell me more: Singer-songwriter/guitar hero Orianthi is back with Live From Hollywood, a sharp 11-track set of hard-hitting melodic rock captured on Jan. 8, 2022 at the Bourbon Room in Hollywood, CA.  The release — available on audio CD/DVD and Blu-ray — sees the guitarist and her excellent five-member backing band playing songs from the Australia native's most recent release O (notably the hard rocking lead-off track "Contagious," soulful "Sinners Hymn" and edgy "Impulsive") and audience favorites like the kiss-off "What's It Gonna Be?" and stirring romantic cut "Blues Won't Leave Me Alone." Additional highlights include the AC/DC-styled "Think Like A Man," undeniable ear candy hit "According To You" and blues rock-mining album closer "How Do You Sleep?" Orianthi has a winning soprano and her astonishing guitar work impresses at every turn. Information: Facebook.com/Orianthi. 

Artist: Thundermother

Title: Black and Gold (AFM Records)

You might like if you enjoy: AC/DC, Scorpions

Tell me more: Tapping into the take-no-prisoners rock assault of AC/DC, Sweden's all-female rock outfit Thundermother delivers a dozen head banging tracks on Black and Gold (available via AFM Records on Aug. 19). Experts at fusing Guernica Mancini's signature lead vocals with riff rock, big choruses, guitar crunch and infectious rhythms, there is plenty for hard rock fans to celebrate across the band's fourth full-length release. The high voltage opener "The Light In The Sky," anthemic title track (featuring marvelous lead guitar from Filippa Nässil), bluesy power ballad "Hot Mess," driving rocker "Watch Out," snappy "Loud and Free" and explosive "Stratosphere" fully deliver on Thundermother's moniker. Thundermother will be on tour with Scorpions and Whitesnake beginning with a date in Toronto on Aug. 21. The trio of bands will perform at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, CA on Oct. 4. Information: thundermother.com. 

Artist: Nick Frater

Title: Aerodrome Motel (Big Stir Records)

You might like if you enjoy: Squeeze, XTC, Nick Frater's 2021 album "Earworms" 

Tell me more: Armed with a wonderful tenor voice as well as a sharp knack for crafting literate and tuneful power pop, Croydon, England-based singer/multi-instrumentalist Nick Frater's myriad of talents are displayed in full across his forthcoming album Aerodrome Motel (coming to audio CD and via streaming platforms worldwide on Friday, Aug. 19 via Big Stir Records). Frater's last several albums (2021's Earworms and 2020's Fast & Loose) were critically acclaimed and the artist's latest effort continues that strong streak with a disc imbued with melody and musical hooks that grab the listener and (thankfully) don't let go. The stellar Aerodrome track listing includes the exuberant opener "The Pleasure Is Mine," driving "Love Heist," the harmonies-adorned "Stuck In My Ways," Americana-tinged ballad "No Hard Feelings." The last half of the disc continues to deliver in sonic spades via the intoxicating "Rough & Tumble," baroque pop sortie "Dear Modern Times," charmed single "Dancing With A Gertrude" and wistful "White Courtesy Telephone." Information: BigStirRecords.com. 

Artist: Goo Goo Dolls

Title: Chaos in Bloom (Warner Records)

You might like if you enjoy: Goo Goo Dolls, Fastball 

Tell me more: Modern rock heroes Goo Goo Dolls are back with a tuneful and infectious collection of 10 songs on their latest album Chaos in Bloom, the veteran outfit's first-ever album produced by frontman John Rzeznik. There is a lyrical depth and range of topics tackled by Rzeznik and Robby Takac across the album that was developed in the midst of the global pandemic. The driving opener "Yeah, I Like You" is a tuneful and uptempo delight. "War" is a more reflective take on relationships, the dynamics of the track creatively building with each measure as Rzeznik's signature vocals soar. Other outstanding tracks on the disc include the shimmering "Loving Life," inward-looking rocker "Going Crazy," magnetic "Day After Day" and poignant "Superstar." Information: GooGooDolls.com. 

Robert Kinsler

Collective Soul ‘Vibrating’ With Excitement About New Music Set For Release August 12; “All Our Pieces” Single And Video Out Today

Listen to the fantastic new advance track from Collective Soul. More details on the band's forthcoming full-length return 'Vibrating' are below too...Robert Kinsler 

COLLECTIVE SOUL

‘VIBRATING’ WITH EXCITEMENT ABOUT NEW MUSIC

SET FOR RELEASE AUGUST 12;

 

“ALL OUR PIECES” SINGLE AND VIDEO OUT TODAY;

 

MASSIVE SUMMER TOUR WITH SWITCHFOOT

STARTS JULY 15

July 8, 2022 -- COLLECTIVE SOUL--Ed Roland (vocals/guitar), Dean Roland (rhythm guitar), Will Turpin (bass/background vocals), Jesse Triplett (lead guitar/background vocals), Johnny Rabb (drums/background vocals)—is so excited about their 11^th new studio album that they’re literally VIBRATING with excitement.

 

It’s due out August 12 on their label, Fuzze-Flex Records via AMPED Distribution, and pre-orders are available now on CD, vinyl and digital formats everywhere music is sold which include an instant download of the first single out today, “All Our Pieces.”

 

A lyric video for “All Our Pieces” premiered on SPIN.com yesterday and can now be seen on the band’s official YouTube page. SPIN.com describes the new album as a “…masterful pop-rock effort…” and as Ed Roland explained to them about the song, “you got to go to that point where you say we’re not clicking on all cylinders but we’ll get there, you know it’s there because you had it before.” 

 

VIBRATING sends the band’s artistic spirit into the next stratosphere. All ten songs positively pulsate with the boundless energy that has been COLLECTIVE SOUL’s aural calling card for over three decades. From the propulsively gnarly kiss-off of “Cut the Cord” to the reflective midtempo jangle of “Take” to the heart-wrenching reality check of “Rule No. 1” — replete with a soaring string section, no less! — to the choir-backed emotional crossroads of “Where Do I Go,” VIBRATING contains 42 minutes of irrefutable sonic evidence of a band wholly uninterested in sitting still.

 

“I think we’re on a roll,” observes Ed Roland, the band’s frontman and chief songwriter. “We’re not afraid to stretch the boundaries, but we do know how to stay in our lane when we need to. Sometimes, though, we just have to go faster.” As he continues, “Our fans have been waiting for VIBRATING for almost three years now, and I can’t wait for them to hear it. They’re excited because both SEE WHAT YOU STARTED and BLOOD set such a high standard for where we’re going as a band, and it’s only going to continue getting better with VIBRATING. I really do believe that.”

 

VIBRATING is the follow-up to their critically acclaimed tenth studio album, BLOOD, which was released June 21, 2019 on Fuzze-Flex Records/ADA. It garnered impressive debuts on various Billboard’s charts, including #3 on the “Alternative Albums” chart. Elsewhere, it debuted at #4 on the “Independent Albums” chart, #5 on the “Rock Albums” chart, #12 on the “Digital Albums” chart, #15 on the “Top Current Albums” chart, and #19 on the “Internet Albums” chart.

 

Seeing eye to eye, and ear to ear, is part of the secret sauce of why COLLECTIVE SOUL continues to both record and play together at an uncompromised level of high quality. “That’s the end goal for everybody in this band,” agrees Roland. “Just because I write the songs doesn’t mean I’m the only one who wants it all to come out right. We all want it to be right, and that’s because this is a band that acts like a band.”

 

Meanwhile in touring news, in addition to various headlining shows, the band will join forces with Switchfoot--for the very first time—for a massive summer tour that will launch Friday, July 15 in Gary, IN at the Hard Rock Casino. Ed Roland can’t wait to get the tour started. “It’s always a thrill to go on tour, but this year is going to be so special because we get to be with not only our friends but a great band, Switchfoot! Southern boys meet Southern California boys, which will be a fun time for all!”

 

Here's the complete track listing for VIBRATING:

 

1. Cut The Cord

2. Reason  

3. All Our Pieces  

4. Take  

5. Undone  

6. Rule No. 1  

7. A Conversation With  

8. Just Looking Around 

9. Back Again  

10. Where Do I Go 

 

Check out COLLECTIVE SOUL and Switchfoot at any of the following stops:

 

DATE               CITY                             VENUE

 

Fri 7/15             Gary, IN                        Hard Rock Casino

Sat 7/16            Council Bluffs, IA          Harrah’s Council Bluffs – Stir Cove

Sun 7/17           Maryland Heights, MO   Saint Louis Music Park

Tue 7/19           Cleveland, OH               Jacobs Pavilion at Nautica

Wed 7/20          Columbus, OH               KEMBA Live! – Indoor Music Hall

Sat 7/23            Fond du Lac, WI            Fond du Lac Fair

Sun 7/24           Wabash, IN                   Honeywell Center

Tue 7/26           Newport, KY                 PromoWest Pavilion at OVATION

Wed 7/27          Midlothian, VA               AfterHours Southside

Sat 7/30            Grantville, PA                Penn National Racecourse – Hollywood Casino

Sun 7/31           Hampton, NH                Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom

Tue 8/2             Silver Spring, MD          The Fillmore Silver Spring

Wed 8/3            Huntington, NY              The Paramount

Thu 8/4             New York, NY               Palladium Times Square

Sat 8/6              Webster, MA                 Indian Ranch

Sun 8/7             Pittsburgh, PA               Stage AE

Mon 8/8            Jackson, MI                  Jackson County Fairgrounds

Sat 8/13            Billings, MT                   MetraPark – First Interstate Arena

Sun 8/14           Denver, CO                   The Mission Ballroom

Mon 8/15          Sandy, UT                     Sandy City Amphitheater

Wed 8/17          Jacksonville, OR           Britt Pavilion

Sat 8/20            Paso Robles, CA           Vina Robles Amphitheatre

Sun 8/21           Saratoga, CA                The Mountain Winery

Tue 8/23           Inglewood, CA               YouTube Theater

Wed 8/24          San Diego, CA              Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre

Fri 8/26             Henderson, NV             Sunset Station Outdoor Amphitheater

Sat 8/27            Flagstaff, AZ                 Fort Tuthill Park – Pepsi Amphitheater

Mon 9/5            New Haven, KY             The Amphitheater at Dant Crossing

Wed 9/7            Cary, NC                       Koka Booth Amphitheatre at Regency Park

Fri 9/9               Charleston, SC              The Riviera Theater – Sottile Ballroom

Sat 9/10            Atlanta, GA                   Cadence Park Amphitheatre at Chastain Park

Sun 9/11           Nashville, TN                 Grand Ole Opry House

Tue 9/13           Jacksonville, FL            Florida Theatre

Wed 9/14          Clearwater, FL              Ruth Eckerd Hall

Fri 9/16             Orlando, FL                   Hard Rock Live

Sat 9/17            Pompano Beach, FL      Pompano Beach Amphitheatre

Sun 9/18           Tallahassee, FL             Donald L. Tucker Civic Center

Tue 9/20           New Orleans, LA           Mahalia Jackson Theater

Wed 9/21          Sugar Land, TX             Smart Financial Centre

Fri 9/23             Austin, TX                     Austin City Limits Live

Sat 9/24            San Antonio, TX            Majestic Theatre

Sun 9/25           Dallas, TX                     The Factory in Deep Ellum

 

www.collectivesoul.com

www.facebook.com/collectivesoul

www.twitter.com/collectivesoul

www.instagram.com/collectivesoul

www.youtube.com/user/collectivesoultv

 

###

 

 

 

“All Our Pieces” lyric video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rgDOeU5VtsM

 

VIBRATING buy link:

https://found.ee/CollectiveSoulVibrating

Legends take center stage via new releases

Rock music is alive and well. Look no further than a handful of inspired and notable new titles that should be a part of any discerning fan's music library. 

Artist: The Rolling Stones
Title: Bridges To Bremen (Eagle Vision)
You might like if you enjoy: The Rolling Stones
Tell me more: With the Rolling Stones having just embarked on their highly-anticipated "No Filter Tour" (which arrives in Southern California in late August), fans might want to catch up on the British band's legacy and unequaled discography via the newly-released Bridges to Bremen. Available on digital, DVD + 2CD, Blu-ray + 2CD, triple vinyl and digital audio, the multi-format release chronicles the band's Sept. 2, 1998 performance in Bremen, Germany. Performing before a relatively-intimate crowd of 40,000 fans, the Stones' 155-minute concert was filled with favorites and rarities all offered up with persuasion and firepower. Dipping back to their early '60s to get the concert started, "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" and "Let's Spend The Night Together" provide a one-two punch. "Gimme Shelter" features some of Mick Jagger's strongest vocals of the set, and that turn is enhanced by Lisa Fisher's high-reaching vocals. Standouts keep comin. A rocking "Paint It Black," freewheeling "It's Only Rock 'n' Roll (But I Like It)," heady "Jumpin' Jack Flash" and celebrative "Brown Sugar" are among the cuts that help make this title something special. As if that wasn't enough, there are four bonus performances from a concert in Chicago as part of that same tour – great versions of "Rock and a Hard Place," "Under My Thumb," "All About You" and "Let It Bleed." Information: eagle-rock.com.

Artist: The Alarm
Title: Sigma (Twenty First Century Recording Company)
You might like if you enjoy: The Alarm, U2, Simple Minds
Tell me more: Singer-songwriter/guitarist Mike Peter has returned with yet another fantastic album. The Alarm's stellar Sigma (set for release on June 28) bristles, soars and flat out rocks with a collection of heartfelt and infectious originals that equal the band's best efforts from the '80s and '90s. "Blood Red Viral Black" finds the Alarm joined by legendary Cult lead guitarist Billy Duffy for a fiery opening. The U2-flavored "Brighter Than The Sun" finds Peter's incredible voice offering up the probing verses in a low baritone; the dramatic choruses are marked by his voice lifting to the heavens with power and fervency. The mid tempo and introspective "Time" is one of the album's standouts with Peters powerfully noting our time here is short and it's best to make each moment count. Original Alarm lead guitarist Dave Sharp returns for a earnest plea for world peace via the luxurious Equals. The album closes out with a reprise of the gorgeous "Two Rivers," the track that launched 2018's fantastic Equals (which was the Alarm's first new album in eight years). If you have lost touch with the Alarm or simply need an introduction to the troupe, listen to both Sigma and Equals, and make plans to catch the band when they tour the U.S. this summer. Information: TheAlarm.com.

Artist: Collective Soul
Title: Blood (Fuzze-Flex Records/ADA)
You might like if you enjoy: Collective Soul, Gin Blossoms, Blur
Tell me more: Twenty five years after their humble beginnings in Stockbridge, Georgia, modern rockers Collective Soul are back with their latest disc, the aptly-titled Blood. The spirited anthem "Right As Rain," heavy rocker "Crushed" and evocative "Them Blues" (the latter which recalls some of Queen's genre-bending gems) confirm that singer-songwriter E Roland's instincts are as sharp as ever. Fans of the band's timeless hits (including "Shine," "December," "The World I Know" and "Run") will be thrilled with plenty of other new tracks splashed across Blood such as the modern Southern rocker "Now's The Time," tuneful "Good Place to Start" and gentle "Porch Swing" that propel this terrific LP from start to finish. Catch Collective Soul on their U.S. tour this summer. Information: CollectiveSoul.com.

Artist: Peter Frampton Band
Title: All Blues (UMe)
You might like if you enjoy: Humble Pie, Kim Wilson, Peter Frampton
Tell me more: When it was revealed earlier this year that Peter Frampton had been diagnosed with Inclusion Body Myositis (a progressive autoimmune disease that is marked by muscle inflammation, weakness and atrophy), the music community was unified in its concern about one of rock's most beloved heroes. The good news is that Frampton, now 69, is still strong enough to play guitar and recently embarked on an ambitious farewell tour that will run through October 2019. Frampton – a gifted singer and lead guitarist – has also issued his tribute to the blues via an outstanding 10-track disc (All Blues) that features some great guests as well. The authenticity and artistic touch of Frampton comes through in all of the tracks on this special set; there are well-known classics ("I Just Want To Make Love To You" featuring harmonica virtuoso Kim Wilson, the B.B. King signature track "The Thrill Is Gone" bolstered by Sonny Landreth's slide guitar) and under-the-radar nuggets (the sassy "She Caught the Katy," the Chicago blues-styled "Going Down Slow" featuring Deep Purple guitarist Steve Morse, and winning talk box-adorned "I'm a King Bee"). It's no wonder that All Blues debuted atop Billboard's Top Blues Albums Chart earlier this month. Information: Frampton.com.

Artist: Travis
Title: Live at Glastonbury '99 (Craft Recordings)
You might like if you enjoy: Elbow, Snow Patrol, Oasis
Tell me more: Two decades may seem like a lifetime when measured in musical years but the release of Travis' Live at Glastonbury '99 showcases just how timeless and relevant the Scottish band's sound remains in 2019. When singer-songwriter Fran Healy, guitarist Andy Dunlop, drummer Neil Primrose and bassist Dougie Payne took to the so-called Other Stage at the Glastonbury festival in June 1999, they were relatively unknown and their career-defining album The Man Who had only been available in music stores for a month. The weather at the festival had been glorious, but that all changed When Travis launched into their original song "Why Does It Always Rain on Me?" – the skies opened up and the thrilled crowd was doused. Travis' legendary 16-song performance at Glastonbury has been released and it's a journey back in time more than worth the wait. The band's performance was powerful, with melodic and compelling material delivered with a master's touch. The edgy "Blue Flashing Light," melancholy-drenched "Writing to Reach You" and "Driftwood," glorious "Why Does It Always Rain on Me?" and driving closer "Happy" all resonate with the obvious sway they did during that fabled show back in 1999.  Information: CraftRecordings.com.



Robert Kinsler