Brandon's Buzz

Fall’s new music slate looms large, but for this week at least, it’s still awfully lean out there, with only one major release vying for attention. If one-day sales reports are to be believed, however, that one release is looking competitive to be the crunchy’s best-selling album by week’s end. Dig in:

My startling lack of use for one Sara Bareilles and her relentlessly cheery brand of power pop has been documented well in a handful of previous Buzz posts. Regardless, I am man enough to admit that I find myself utterly intoxicated by “King of Anything,” the masterfully melodic lead single from Bareilles’ sophomore album, Kaleidoscope Heart, which makes landfall this week. I have not a clue how the remainder of this record sounds — and, for all I know, “King” is an anomaly and Heart is otherwise more of the same — but I think Sara still deserves major props for stepping outside the box and seeing where the groove might take her, and I’m greatly looking forward to seeing where it might take me. (Take note: Target has an exclusive deluxe version of Heart, which contains three bonus tracks, including a strings-laden acoustic take on “King.”)

Also noteworthy this week:

• Sherry Ann unleashed upon me no end of hell last week for failing to mention I’m Having Fun Now, a She & Him-style side project from Rilo Kiley’s Jenny Lewis and indie singer/songwriter Johnathan Rice,
  working here simply as Jenny & Johnny.

 

• Rock legend Jerry Lee Lewis gets able assistance from a wide array of his pals — including John Mayer, Shelby Lynne, Ringo Starr, Sheryl Crow, Tim McGraw, and others — on his latest, Mean Old Man.

 

• My old faves Train are riding a new railway of fame on the strength of their surprise smash “Hey, Soul Sister,” an exclusive acoustic version of which appears on the band’s new six-track iTunes Session digital EP. Other noteworthy tracks on the new set: a bouncy take on the terrific title track from Train’s latest album Save Me, San Francisco, and a fascinating, note-perfect cover of Janis Joplin’s “Piece of My Heart,” on which the bravely game Pat Monahan shines like a diamond.

 

• Swedish pop star Robyn is back with her latest EP, Body Talk, Pt 2.

 

• Finally, if you’re as captivated as I am by the song which closes the trailer for How Do You Know, the upcoming Reese Witherspoon / Paul Rudd romantic dramedy, it’s called “The Lucky Ones,” and it can be found on the new self-titled sophomore effort from Brendan James.

names dropped with reckless abandon: Brendan James, Janis Joplin, Jenny & Johnny, Jenny Lewis, Jerry Lee Lewis, John Mayer, Johnathan Rice, Pat Monahan, Paul Rudd, Reese Witherspoon, Rilo Kiley, Ringo Starr, Robyn, Sara Bareilles, She & Him, Shelby Lynne, Sherry Ann, Sheryl Crow, Tim McGraw, Train