THIS WEEK

Other new releases

Preservation Hall Jazz Band: That’s It! (Legacy; photo above by Shannon Brinkman)
Celebrating the group’s 50th anniversary, the current Preservationists serve up the first-ever PHJB album of new compositions. Creative director Ben Jaffe and other band members contribute material, along with guest writers Paul Williams, Dan Wilson, and Chris Stapleton. The album was produced by Jaffe and My Morning Jacket’s Jim James. For a New York Times feature on the project, click here.

The Octopus Project: Fever Forms (Peek-a-Boo; photo above by Mike Lambert)
Last time out, for 2010’s Hexadecagon, these experimentalists staged an elaborate live performance in surround sound. To learn how they pulled it off, click here.

Editors: The Weight of Your Love ([PIAS] America)
Studio Album No. 4. Says lead singer and songwriter Tom Smith via press release: “It’s a band record, a musical record, a rock record . . . with a foot in that alt-rock/Americana world.”

The Mother Hips: Behind Beyond (Mother Hips)
Studio Album No. 8. Says lead singer and songwriter Tim Bluhm via press release: “I’m trying to make music that has a spiritual aspect . . . an emotional experience that you might not even know is happening because it’s surrounded by a loud rock band.”

Alastair Moock & Friends: Singing Our Way Through — Songs for the World’s Bravest Kids (Moockshake)
Proceeds will benefit the Boston folkie’s effort to distribute the CD as a free resource for kids with cancer, their families, children’s hospitals, and pediatric oncology programs. The friends here include Elizabeth Mitchell and Chris Smither. Visit singingourway.com and moockmusic.com.

Maps: Vicissitude (Mute)
Maps is the nom de band of indie/electro artist James Chapman. Two albums ago, his 2007 debut, We Can Create, was nominated for the prestigious Mercury Prize of the U.K. and Ireland.

Deep Forest: Deep Africa (BIG3)
U.S. release of April album by the ethnic-electronica ensemble now led by Eric Mouquet alone.

Dana Fuchs: Bliss Avenue (Ruf)
Blues-rock singer is already a veteran of the off-Broadway musical Love, Janis (in the title role) and the film Across the Universe (as Sadie).

Pat Travers Band: Can Do (Frontiers)
Journeyman guitarist.

Michael Martin Murphey: Red River Drifter (Red River)
Inspirational titles: “Peaceful Country,” “Rolling Sky,” “Hardscrabble Creek,” “Mountain Storm.”

. . . and what about Jay-Z? The official release date of Magna Carta . . . Holy Grail (Roc-a-Fella/Roc Nation) was changed to July 9 very late in the game. And “game” is the right word for the hoopla surrounding the album’s promotion. See last week’s column.

Archival releases

Travis Tritt: The Calm After . . . (Post Oak; photo above by Judith Ann)
“Revised” reissue of 2007’s The Storm, with two new bonuses. “Sometimes Love Just Ain’t Enough” is a remake of the Patty Smyth and Don Henley duet (written by Smyth and Glen Burtnik), with Travis joined by his 15-year-old daughter Tyler Reese. And “Stay with Me” is the Faces classic.

Solomon Burke: Live at Montreux 2006 (Eagle)
Recorded in the midst of his late-career comeback, 4 years before his death. Also on DVD.