Its October, and this month not only delivers all that fall and Halloween fun, but October also seems to be another month with a ton of great new releases, perfect for some upcoming Holiday gifts! Honestly, every month is great as long as there’s a few new tunes released, but this month there are several albums The Pier is pretty excited to hear.
October fittingly has a few interesting psychedelic rock albums that have been widely discussed. Primus and their Primus & The Chocolate Factory, the band’s cover of the infamous soundtrack or A Little Help From My Fwends, an all-star The Flaming Lips Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band tribute record should be good to listen to around Halloween.
As always, we have our list of several new releases that you may not have heard much about. This month brings 9 new records from the Reggae-Rock realm. A nice international mix with records by artist from all over, including Australia, England, Germany, Jamaica and both coasts of the US. Don’t miss out on any of this new music & check out October’s new releases below.
If there are any albums we missed, drop them in the comments below or on our Facebook or Twitter.
Check out the Album Releases from prior months:
October 2014 Album Releases
The Beautiful Girls – Dancehall Days
Release Date: October 3rd
It has been four years since Australian musician, Mat Mchugh, has released music under the moniker, The Beautiful Girls. After releasing a string of solo projects, Mat McHugh has released a new album by The Beautiful Girls titled Dancehall Days. Produced independently, released on October 3rd, the new record features 9 tracks piecesd together by McHugh himself as well as teaming up with his good friend and long-time co-producer & TBG co-founder, Ian Pritchett. Utilizing a crowd sourcing campaign to help fund the new record, McHugh also aimed to raise money for a charitable organization. McHugh will be donating 15% of everything raised over the goal from the Pledge campaign to Waves For Water; A firm with a mission to get clean water to every single person who needs it.
Read more about the album by clicking HERE!
You can pick up Dancehall Days on iTunes now, by clicking HERE!
Groundation – A Miracle
Release Date: October 10th
After working in the studio through March and April, and between tours abroad and through the US, Groundation was able to record their new album titled, A Miracle. The 9th album for Groundation and follow up to 2012’s Building An Ark, was created in dedication to ”the Great Female Spirit.”
Released on October 10th, wrapped in album art illustrated by Neville Garrick, A Miracle, contains 10 tracks produced through Soulbeats Records. Included are two features on this record with Bob Marley singers Marcia Griffiths on the song ”Defender of Beauty“ and Judy Mowatt on the title track.
Read more about the album by clicking HERE!
You can pick up A Miracle on iTunes now, by clicking HERE!
Backbeat SoundSystem – Together Not Apart
Release Date: October 13th
Based out of Cornwall, England, is an eight-piece funky reggae outfit that goes by the name of Backbeat Soundsystem. Signing to Easy Star Records for the release of their 3rd studio album, titled Together Not Apart, the record dropped on October 14th. Including 12 total tracks, the album was recorded as well as produced & mixed by vocalist Dean Forrest, at Cube Recordings.
Together Not Apart includes a fresh and acoustic feel through the presence of classic microphone techniques and analogue outboard equipment. Additional recording took place with Bob Williams at Analogue Systems using their modular synthesizers, sought after by bands such as Radiohead & Kaiser Chiefs.
Read more about the album by clicking HERE!
You can pick up Together Not Apart on iTunes now, by clicking HERE!
Sara Lugo – Hit Me With Music
Release Date: October 17th
Out of Munich, Germany, singer-songwriter Sara Lugo covers a beautiful mix of Reggae, Soul, Jazz, Pop and Hip-hop. Following her debut album, 2011’s What About Love, Sara released her long awaited second album, titled Hit Me With Music on Oct 17th. Produced by Umberto Echo and Sara Lugo, this new record was released by Oneness Records and Soulfire Records. Hit Me With Music features 12 tracks, including tracks with Protoje, Ras Muhamad and Kabaka Pyramid.
You can pick up Hit Me With Music on iTunes now, by clicking HERE!
Kevin Kinsella – Riding Higher Still
Release Date: October 21st
Kevin Kinsella, original founder and singer of both John Brown’s Body and 10 FT Ganja Plant, has been busy, not only performing his solo-material and with 10 FT Ganja Plant, but also recording records for both projects. Late in September, 10 FT Ganja Plant released the third volume of their instrumental 10 Deadly Shots albums, and this month Kinsella will release his 4th solo record. The Follow-up to 2011’s Great Design, released on his own I Town Records, Riding Higher Still will drop on October 21st. Kinsella’s new record features 10 Roots Reggae Tracks, all backed by Rochester, New York’s Roots and Dub collective, Thunderbody.
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Read more about the album by clicking HERE!
You can pick up Riding Higher Still on iTunes now, by clicking HERE!
Ballyhoo! – The Cool Down EP
Release Date: October 21st
Ballyhoo! will be releasing a new EP titled The Cool Down Vol 1. It’ll drop Oct 21st, 2014 via their own Right Coast Records
. The new EP includes three new tracks, as well as a remix of three older songs, including an acoustic version of “Walk Away.” The EP was recorded, mixed, and mastered by Mike Stebe at Sound Lounge Studios in Orlando, Florida. Ballyhoo! guitarist/vocalist, Howi Spangler, shares that: “With ‘The Cool Down,’ we wanted to bring back that laid back vibe we had in our pre-‘Daydreams’ releases. It turned out to be even more chill than we went for and we love it.”
Read more about the album by clicking HERE!
You can pick up The Cool Down on iTunes now, by clicking HERE!
Rancid – …Honor Is All We Know
Release Date: October 27th
It’s been six years since the release of their last record & after much anticipation, Hellcat Records’ Punk Rockers Rancid will release their 8th studio record, Honor Is All We Know on October 27th. Following 2009’s Let the Dominoes Fall, this latest studio effort is the second record after the band’s short break and reformation with Drummer, Branden Steineckert, formerly of The Used. Originally set to be released in 2012, the drop-date was pushed back as the band continued to tour, write and work on their own individual interests. Following several years of production and much anticipation by their fans, the 30 minute 14-track = record, Honor Is All We Know, will be sold in stores, on most digital outlets as well as available in multiple formats, including cassette.
You can pick up Honor Is All We Know on iTunes now, by clicking HERE!
Radio Riddler – Purple Reggae
Release Date: October 28th
Marking the 30-Year Anniversary of Prince‘s iconic album, Purple Rain, Radio Riddler gives it the reggae treatment with Purple Reggae. The album features Sinead O’ Connor on “I Would Die 4 U”, UB40‘s Ali Campbell on the title track, andCitizen Cope on “When Doves Cry”. Produced & performed by Radio Riddler’s Brian Fast Leiser and Frank Benbini & after more than 5 years in the making, their debut album, Purple Rain, drops on October 28th via MITA Records.
Read more about the album by clicking HERE!
Read our review of the album by clicking HERE!
You can pick up Purple Reggae on iTunes now, by clicking HERE!
Etana – I Rise
Release Date: October 28th
Coming out October 28th, 2014 via VP Records is Etana’s fourth studio album, titled: I Rise. A follow up to her 2013 release of Better Tomorrow, Etana’s new album includes 15 total songs beautifully orchestrated by the legendary Jamaican multi-instrumentalist and producer Clive Hunt. Clive arranged an all-star team of the island’s musicians to contribute to the set – including himself, Sly Dunbar, Robbie Shakespeare, Grub Cooper, Handel Tucker, and Dean Fraser. The album even includes a Bob Marley remake of “Selassie Is the Chapel”.
Read more about the album by clicking HERE!
You can pick up I Rise on iTunes now, by clicking HERE!
Article By: Aaron Solomon
