This Week’s New Releases: July 31st

As we head into August it’s a traditionally quiet time for album releases, but there’s still plenty to discover. Joss Stone is up first with her sixth album The Soul Sessions, Vol. 2 – a continuation of 2003 debut The Soul Sessions. Closing the loop nine years later, Vol. 2 is already showing up in her Last.fm charts: “While You’re Out Looking For Sugar” is her #7 track over the last week. With 877,261 listeners to date, there shouldn’t be a shortage of fans for the new set of cover versions.

Joss Stone appearing at:

Celebrating 20 years as a band, California’s Reel Big Fish release Candy Coated Fury this week. Their eighth studio album, it’s getting some love from fans, but tracks from 1996′s Gold-certified album Turn The Radio Off are steadfast at the top of their overall charts for the moment. We’ll have to see if this changes once the album’s had a week to reach fans.

Reel Big Fish appearing at:

At the newer end of the spectrum, South Carolina’s Shovels & Rope release their first fully-fledged band release, O’ Be Joyful. With only 8,004 plays to date on Last.fm, the duo of Cary Ann Hearst and Michael Trent have honed their craft touring America, and should see that translate into listeners as their raw folk-rock gains a physical release.

Shovels & Rope appearing at: