Artist: The VaccinesAlbum: What Did You Expect From The Vaccines?
Producer: Dan Grech
Label: Columbia
Release: March 14,2011 UK, May 31, 2011
Rating: 7.1 RockRolls
Thrust from relative obscurity into recording 2011's most anticipated album, Brit-rockers "The Vaccines" have a lot of industry hype to live up to with their debut "What Did You Expect From The Vaccines?" Considering their near overnight success in London it's possible the title was selected to be able to withstand a knockout record or commercial failure. Fortunately for these garage rock revivalists, they won't have to be hanging up their hats just yet.
Artist: Avril LavigneAlbum: Goodbye Lullaby
Producer: Deryck Whibley, Max Martin, Shellback, et al.
Label: RCA
Release: March 2,2011
Rating: 3.6 RockRolls
It's been three years since we've even seen a release from Canadian pop-rocker Avril Lavigne, and four years since her last full length studio album. Met with static between the label and artist, the current album was stretched into a two-and-a-half year effort wherein Avril attempted to release the record with her version of a stripped down effort. After negotiations, Goodbye Lullaby was released at a healthy 51 minutes (16 more minutes on the extended and Japanese releases). In interviews, Avril stated that they had recorded enough material for a second album, perhaps an EP or follow-up will follow in the near future.
Artist: Eddie VedderAlbum: Ukulele Songs
Producer: Adam Kasper, Eddie Vedder
Label: Universal
Release: May 31, 2011
Rating: 7.4 RockRolls
Eddie Vedder welcomes fans of Pearl Jam and of his solo work for Into The Wild to relax, sit around the fire, and enjoy the simple tunes of Ukulele Songs. Vedder's second solo album, Ukulele Songs pulls no punches and hosts no gimmicks in it's name. It is openly and honestly an album of songs on ukulele. And as counter-counter-culture or anti-traditional-Pearl Jam that may seem, Vedder seems to mesh the instruments of his voice and impeccably strummed ukulele beautifully.
Artist: Darwin DeezAlbum: Darwin Deez
Producer: Darwin Deez
Label: Lucky Number
Release: May 23, 2011
Rating: 6.2 RockRolls
Following a three month delay, Darwin Deez' self-titled debut album finally made its US release. Formerly only available as an international import, the New York-based indie rockers return home (at least digitally as they are preparing to kick off their tour in Europ this week) to their awaiting fans with a more accesible version of their album. The art rock group plan to make it back to the US themselves in early July.
Artist: Lady GagaAlbum: Born This Way
Producer: Paul Blair, DJ Snake, Fernando Garibay, et al.
Label: Streamline, Interscope, Kon Live
Release: May 23, 2011
Rating: 7.0 RockRolls
Born This Way is a departure from what you might expect following Lady Gaga's previous offerings. The shock pop star hasn't backed down any from her usual themes, target fanbase or social activism, but her second full-length studio album boasts a style unique to the New York-based artist, while varied and separate from 2008's The Fame. More dance than anti-pop, Born This Way boasts an impressivley eclectic track list (even for Gaga) that charges on full steam ahead from the opening note to the last beat.