Album Drop: This Week’s New Releases, From Wale To Echo & The Bunnymen

This week, I’ve got some sad news, people. Gerhardt Fuchs, the drummer from Maserati and !!! (pronounced chk-chk-chk)—aka my favorite band—died tragically over the weekend. It was a horrible elevator shaft accident; you can read all the gory deets of how his attendance at a fundraiser went horrible awry. We join the long list of music lovers who would like to send their condolences. Fuchs was a beat maker and a very talented guy who was too young to die. (34!) Tear.

But it’s new release Tuesday, and new jams always make us feel better. So let’s take the latest tunes for a spin, shall we? This week it’s all about newcomer Wale hip-hopping his way into our hearts, legends Echo & The Bunnymen giving us classic cuts, folk singer Pieta Brown putting out her first EP, and Switchfoot and Flyleaf keeping alternative rock rockin’ on. So, let’s get into the groove, after the jump!

Wale, Attention Deficit
Mark Ronson produced DC MC Wale’s debut record, but he’s got plenty of people backin’ his stylin’s up—including Lady Gaga.  Man, his rhymes are so hot, I’m definitely going to try to find a picture of this rapper shirtless.

Echo & The Bunnymen, The Fountain
Their tenth record is full of anthemic riffs and thoughtful, sexy, grizzled vocals by Ian McCulloch. Thirty years later, the ‘80s gods still got it—obvi!

Switchfoot, Hello Hurricane
Alternative electric guitar backs up a crooing man’s emo pop. Yums.

Flyleaf, Memento Mori
Their second record turns the volume up on their formula of the chick singer whining over her all-male hard rock band.

Pieta Brown, Shimmer
The folksy singer/songwriter just released an EP, and just like a woman, it’s too pretty to be ignored.