Music Shopping List: Good Charlotte & Dreezy Highlight

Ah – the third release week of July 2016! Friday, July 15 is a relatively quiet date for hot new albums.  Two new efforts stand out in particular: the return of Good Charlotte (Youth Authority) and the debut effort from Dreezy (No Hard Feelings).  Neither effort nor the remainder of releases is “game changers,” but worth checking out.

1. Good Charlotte, Youth Authority

[MDDN, LLC]

It has been six years since Good Charlotte released a new album.  With the arrival of Youth Authority, the wait is over.  Even though Good Charlotte dropped Cardiology back in 2010, one has to look back arguably to 2004 (The Chronicles of Life and Death) to find the last time the pop-punk band was relevant.

• Tracks: 13
• Featured Guests: Kellin Quinn & Simon Neil
• Pre-Release Singles: “Life Changes,” “Makeshift Love,” “40 oz. Dream” & “Life Can’t Get Much Better”

2. Dreezy, No Hard Feelings

[Interscope]

Up-and-coming rapper/singer Dreezy releases her major label debut, Hard Feelings.

• Tracks: 19
• Featured Guests: Gucci Mane, Jeremih, Wale & T-Pain
• Pre-Release Singles: “We Gon Ride” (ft. Gucci Mane), “Spazz,” “Body” (ft. Jeremih) & “Close to You” (ft. T-Pain)

3. Steven Tyler, We’re All Somebody from Somewhere

[Big Machine]

Beloved, idiosyncratic Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler goes solo on We’re All Somebody from Somewhere.

• Tracks: 15
• Featured Guests: The Loving Mary Band
• Pre-Release Singles: “We’re all Somebody From Somewhere,” “Love Is Your Name,” “Only Heaven” & “Red, White & You” 

4. NEEDTOBREATHE, H A R D L O V E

[Atlantic]

South Carolinian rock band NEEDTOBREATHE return with sixth studio album, HARDLOVE. HARDLOVE properly follows up 2014 effort, Rivers in the Wasteland, though the band released a live album in 2015 (Live from the Woods).  The band hopes to match or exceed the no. 3 opening that greeted Rivers in the Wasteland.

1. Tracks: 12
2. Featured Guests: Shovels & Ropes
3. Pre-Release Singles: “Hard Love,” “Money & Fame,” “No Excuses,” “Happiness” & “Great Night” (ft. Shovels & Ropes)

5. Jeff Beck, Loud Hailer

[Rhino]

Rock vet Jeff Beck releases his latest album, Loud Hailer.  Loud Hailer follows live album Live+ (2015), properly following up Beck’s 2011 studio effort, Rock ‘n’Roll Party (Honoring Les Paul).

• Tracks: 11
• Featured Guests: none
• Pre-Release Singles: “Live in the Dark,” “Scared for the Children” & “Right Now”

6. David Nail, Fighter

[MCA]

Country singer/songwriter David Nail returns with fourth studio album, Fighter.  Fighter arrives two years after I’m A Fire.  I’m A Fire gave Nail his first top-15 album on the Billboard 200 (no. 13). Nail has yet to earn a gold or platinum album, but has earned one platinum and two gold singles.

• Tracks: 11
• Featured Guests: Brothers Osborne, Lori McKenna, Vince Gill, Bear Rinehart & Bo Rinehart
• Pre-Release Singles: “Good at Tonight” (ft. Brothers Osborne), “Night’s on Fire,” “Fighter” & “Got Me Gone” 

7. Ghostbusters (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)

[RCA]

The original soundtrack to the remake of Ghostbusters arrives! Most of the songs are recent, but the original “Ghostbusters” as performed by Ray Parker, Jr. closes out the compilation.

• Tracks: 14
• Featured Artists: Walk the Moon, G-Eazy, Elle King, Fall Out Boy, etc.
• Pre-Release Singles: “Saw it Coming” (G-Eazy), “Good Girls” (Elle King), “Ghostbusters (I’m Not Afraid)” (Fall Out Boy) 

8. Michael Kiwanuka, Love & Hate

[Interscope] 

British singer/songwriter Michael Kiwanuka returns with his sophomore album, Love & Hate.  Love & Hate arrives four years after debut Home Again.  Home Again peaked at no. 86 on the Billboard 200 and topped the Top Heatseekers chart.

• Tracks: 10
• Featured Guests: None
• Pre-Release Singles: “Cold Little Heart,” “Black Man in a White World,” “Love & Hate” & “One More Night”

9. Dirty Heads, Dirty Heads

[Five Seven Music]

Reggae-rock band Dirty Heads returns with its fifth studio effort, Dirty Heads.  Dirty Heads follows Sounds of Change (2014), which debuted at no. 8 on the Billboard 200.

• Tracks: 11
• Featured Guests: None
• Pre-Release Singles: “That’s All I Need,” “Too Cruel” & “Oxygen”

Also Released: Clams Casino, 32 Levels [Columbia]; Hillsong United, Of Dirt and Grace (Live from the Land) [Hillsong Church]; Kidz Bop 32 [Concord]; Z-Ro, Drankin’ & Drivin’ [1 Deep Entertainment]