Return of The KingYears of Refusal | Morrissey
A return to form for the former Smiths front-man, who emerges in a comeback of sorts with an album that readily showcases his unique voice and piercingly clever lyrics. But the astute listener will notice that age has given Morrissey a new perspective that lends an added gravitas to songs like “That’s How People Grow Up.” Available in stores and on iTunes now.
Stopping By WoodsFor Emma, Forever Ago | Bon Iver
Singer/songwriter Justin Vernon spent three months alone in a remote Wisconsin cabin to record this gorgeously melancholy album. In the process, he transformed himself into Bon Iver, named for the French term bon hiver, or good winter. Fittingly, songs such as “Skinny Love” and “Flume” evoke the season in a way that feels both desperately cold and achingly beautiful. Available in stores and on iTunes now.
Even Better Than The Real ThingOnly by the Night | Kings of Leon
This engaging Nashville foursome blends their signature brand of southern garage rock with an epic, arena-anthem sound that calls to mind U2 back in the early 90s. Lead singer Caleb Followill may sound like he’s channeling Bono (as well as The Black Crowes’ Chris Robinson), but the band is clearly carving a niche that is unmistakably their own. Available in stores and on iTunes now.
The RisingPlanet Google: One Company’s Audacious Plan To Organize Everything We Know | Randall Stross
An intriguing look behind the doors of Google that examines the company’s revolutionary business model and uncanny knack for staying fresh—while their competitors consistently fail to adapt to the ever-changing world. Stross painstakingly explores the company’s strategies for maintaining their domination of cyberspace. On shelves now.
Run, Baby RunWhat I Talk About When I Talk About Running | Haruki Murakami
Murakami intentionally invokes Raymond Carver with the title, and the similarities don’t end there. His deceptively spare style makes for a straightforward, engaging voice as he documents a 30-year obsession with long-distance running—one which mirrors his pursuit of writing in more ways than one would imagine. On shelves now.
Standing On a BeachLittle Bee | Chris Cleave
The lives of two disparate souls—a Nigerian refugee and a British woman attempting to reconcile a hopeless marriage—collide during an unforgettable encounter on an African beach. The pivotal scene changes the course of both characters’ lives, and is likely to cause ripples in the literary world as well. On shelves now.
