Finally a Friday of new releases to get excited about. The last couple of weeks haven’t given me much that I enjoy.  I hope there is something that excites you.  The ones that I will be listening to first and probably the most are highlighted in blue.

•   Train – Does Led Zepplin II – (Crush Music) – Train is one of my favorite bands and I am anxious to listen to their take on Led Zeppelin II.  The great thing about this album is all proceeds go to charity.  The charity is Family House, which offers temporary lodging for families of ill children being treated at a hospital in San Francisco, the band’s hometown.  If you want to see what else I like by Train check it this post.

•   Hellyeah – Unden!able – (Eleven Seven Music) – Hellyeah is such a heavy, in your face rock band and they are great for my anger issues.  I always feel better after listening to them.  I don’t usually like every song they do, but there are always enough to make my anger go away.

•   Jorn – Heavy Rock Radio – (Frontiers Music Sri) – Just this week I did an artist profile on Jorn (click here) so you already know I am a fan.  It is another covers album, but his renditions are usually great and the fact he does a Frida cover and a Paul Stanley cover shows he doesn’t stick to the normal cover songs people do over and over.

•   Michael Franti & Spearhead – SOULROCKER – (Fantasy) – I have just started listening to him thanks to the band Train.  He has been their opening act many times. Michael Franti & Spearhead have been around since the ’90’s and their style is a blend of hip hop, reggae, funk, jazz, folk and even rock.  I nice eclectic mix.  The song below really makes me feel there are some great things to come on this album.

•   First Signal – One Step Over The Line – (Frontiers Music SRI) – This is First Signal’s second album.  The lead singer is Harry Hess from the Canadian band Harem Scarem of which I am a fan.  So anything he does, I will give it a listen.  Give it a try if you want and go back and look up Harem Scarem as well.

•   Volbeat – Seal The Deal & Let’s Boogie – (Republic)
•   Paul Simon – Stranger to Stranger – (Concord Records)
•   Tegan and Sara – Love You To Death – (Warner Bros.)
•   Dan + Shay – Obsessed – (Warner Music Nashville)
•   Nik Day – Miracle (EP) – (Mountain Records)
•   Beartooth – Aggressive – (Red Bull Records)
•   The Strokes – Future Present Past EP – (Cult Records)