New Stuff: The Cribs, Organ Thieves, Melvins

Occasionally, I look at the list of upcoming releases on the right of this page and realize I haven't had your back as far as sampling what you're in for with these records. So I thought, with a week passed between posts and these records sneaking up on us, that I should probably post up a few tracks.

Seeing release next Tuesday, In The Belly Of The Brazen Bull is The Cribs' fifth album, and sees them working with longtime Flaming Lips producer Dave Fridmann and the legendary Steve Albini. The album bristles with the big rock sound you'd expect considering Albini's involvement, as evidenced in the pounding-yet-pretty first single Come On, Be A No-One:

Already out on iTunes if that's your thing, Organ Thieves release Somewhere Between Free Men And Slaves on May 22. Although it's the band's first full-length album, they've been making the Ontario rounds for the better part of four years. You may recognize Chuck Coles and Dave Baksh from Brown Brigade, and Baksh from his time with Sum 41. Now, before you dismiss this band based on those credentials, give Phoebe a spin:

To complete the trifecta, we have a taste of Melvins' new album (you may have heard them referred to as Melvins Lite for this one; they've given the Big Business guys a break on this one and recorded as a trio this time). Freak Puke, their 18th(!) album, comes out June 5; by scaling back band members, they've lost some of the punch of recent albums, but the focused attack gives their distinctive sound a little more bite.

That should hold you for another week, no?

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