This has to be one of the best ways to kick off the new year with 7 solid new album releases that can set the tone for what us fans can expect for the New Year. There’s something for everyone if you enjoy Roots, Funk, Hip Hop, Acoustic, Dub or just some good old generic Reggae.
This is a month where tours will slowly start to pick up as everyone awakes from the holiday hangover to get back to the daily grind of new releases, new tours in an effort to reach new ears in the New Year. We at ThePier would like to do our part by showing off 7 fresh new releases that can play as our soundtrack to new beginnings.
Whenever there is new music, there is generally tours to support them, so be sure to check our Show Locator to see where each band will be playing next. If there’s a group you don’t see inside our Show Locator, let us know and we’ll update it. In the meantime, save your paycheck and take a peak at what the first month of January holds for us with new album releases…
January 2012 Album Releases
Zen Robbi – Lovely In The Middle An Acoustic Collection
Release Date: January 3rd, 2012
Zen Robbi has released their new album on January 3rd titled Lovely In The Middle: An Acoustic Collection”. It was produced by Mic Dangerously at Hollywood Stock Studios as well as Fork & Spoon Studios in Long Beach, CA. It includes guest appearances by Micah Brown on Slide Guitar/Dobro, Josh Fischel on Back Vocals as well as Todd Forman (Sublime with Rome).
There are 10 total tracks and here’s what the group had to say about their new acoustic themed release: ”We went about things a bit differently this time around. We wanted to see how much noise we could make in our home studios with a few acoustic guitars and a 2 piece drum set. So, we left out the amps and pedals, and gathered a bunch of old school recording gear and microphones so we could bring you a classic sounding acoustic soul record, guaranteed to put a big smile across your face. Here comes the change up!”
– Zen Robbi
Read The Pier’s Official Album Review HERE
Rebelution – Peace of Mind
Release Date: January 10th, 2012
Rebelution has released their 3rd studio album, Peace Of Mind, through their own label 87 Music in partnership with Controlled Substance Sound Labs. Voted by YOU the fans as The Pier’s Live Artist of the Year, Rebelution will be expanding beyond their normal in-house production routine, collaborating with five different producers comprised of Michael Goldwasser (Easy Star All-Stars), Amplive (Zion-I), Yeti Beats (George Clinton, Kool Keith), Keith Armstrong and Errol Brown (Stephen, Ziggy, Damian, and Bob Marley).
One reason behind the hall of fame cast of producers was due to Rebelution’s idea of putting out a triple album, complete with a standard studio album, a stripped down acoustic album, as well as a dub remix album of all 12-album tracks. Although, nothing is standard about Rebelution’s Peace of Mind, the band keeps building upon their signature style while expanding the musical landscape that is reggae-rock.
Read The Pier’s Official Album Review HERE
VooDoo Glow Skulls – Break The Spell
Release Date: January 17th, 2012
Voodoo Glow Skulls will be releasing their new 14 track album titled Break The Spell on January 17th. The Casillas brothers and Jerry O’Neill have been around for nearly 24 years writing music together and this will be their first album since 2007’s California Street Music. The group has gone on record to say that this release will stretch back to their roots. This will be the groups 9th studio album and contains such song titles as “Bro Truck”, “My Girlfriend Is A Chola”, and “Police Knocking On My Door”.
SkillinJah – Reality
Release Date: January 22nd, 2012
SkillinJah has plans to release his 2nd album titled Reality on January 22nd. The former Jah Roots artist will be releasing his 2nd album on his former band member’s label, GanJah Records. SkillinJah’s release will contain 10-13 tracks with a full live backing band vs his more acoustic friendly debut album Emergency Spliff. The rad cover art your seeing was designed by none other than KC Cowan, whom also designed The Movement’s new cover art! Looks sick!
Authority Zero – Less Rhythm More Booze
Release Date: January 31st, 2012
Authority Zero will be releasing a double album titled “Less Rhythm, More Booze”. The double album will feature 18 live songs and over an hour of live footage of the group’s onstage performance. The forthcoming live album will be released in partnership with Pennywise guitarist Fletcher Dragge’s Viking Funeral and the Kottonmouth Kings Brad Xavier’s Suburban Noize Records. This should hold fans over until their next full length studio releases in June/July. The live album was recorded at Club Red in Tempe, AZ and is the 2nd live album since their 2006 release of “Rhythm and Booze”. Jason DeVore of Authority Zero told The Pier, “It’s been a long time coming for this release. We had so much fun doing the first one we figured why not do a second one and film it this time around,” Jason Devore went to say, “A lot of work and a lot of play went into putting this together. We’re just fired up to finally get it out there and let people experience what we all did that night. This record was all about having fun and doing something for the fans.” – Jason Devore, Authority Zero
Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad – Country
Release Date: January 31st, 2012
Nominated as The Pier’s 2011 Live Artist of the Year, Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad will be releasing their new album ”Country” which will be released via Controlled Substance Sound Labs and includes 10 total tracks. It was produced by Giant Panda as well as Billy Hume (NAS, STS9, Ludacris) at The Zone in Atlanta, GA. Here’s what the group told The Pier in regards to their newest release, Country:
”The recording of “Country” was the most natural experience GPGDS has ever had making music together. All of our songs are born on acoustic guitars. We play them for comfort and we play them for joy. We play them to pass the time. More importantly, we record them to leave a legacy that will be here when we are not. For this album we walked into Joel’s newly constructed sound ranch in summer 2011 and he pressed record for the first time. “Country” is what got laid down. It was unplanned, fun, and real. We’re so happy to present this experience to you in a way that will keep for eternity. Please hold it close to your hearts and use it to get through the tough times and enhance the better ones. Sing, play, and share these songs. Listen at HERE” – James Searl, GPGDS
SOJA – Strength To Survive
Release Date: January 31st, 2012
SOJA, voted by YOU the fans as The Pier’s 2011 Artist of the Year, will be releasing their 4th studio album titled Strength to Survive on January 31st via ATO Records (Dave Matthews Band). The album will include 13 brand new tracks which was produced by John Alagia (Dave Matthews, John Mayer, O.A.R.).
Lead singer Jacob Hemphill says Strength To Survive was greatly inspired by Bob Marley’s Survival.
“That’s the greatest reggae album ever made. Marley wrote that album after he went to Africa, and I lived in Africa when I was a kid. I remember listening to that album for the first time and having all these long-forgotten memories unleashed. So Africa was always a big part of our lives—it defined our family, in a way. Music came right after that, so, for me, music was always tied to Africa and music was always something powerful.”
– Jacob Hemphill, SOJA