New CD Releases, Aug. 7: Jonas Brothers, Constantine Maroulis, Grace Potter and the Nocturnals
Jonas Brothers “Jonas Brothers”
The New Jersey siblings–Kevin, Nick and Joe Jonas–deliver a self-titled set that marks the pop-rock band’s second album, following 2006’s “It’s About Time.”
The Jonas Brothers are a big hit with younger listeners, thanks in large part to appearances on television. They’ve been featured on MTV, Nickelodeon, the Cartoon Network and the Disney Channel. Furthermore, the Disney Channel is set to air a new series starring the Brothers–“J.O.N.A.S!”–in which the young musicians will be cast in the roles of government-hired spies.
The band has had many chart-toppers on Radio Disney, including “Year 3000,” “Hold On” and “Kids of the Future.” All of those songs are on “Jonas Brothers,” which is why this record has a good chance at debuting at No. 1 on the Billboard charts.
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Constantine Maroulis “Constantine”
Fans of “American Idol” might have been wondering, “Whatever happened to Constantine Maroulis?” Well, this week brings an answer: the two-year-in-the-making solo outing “Constantine.”
Maroulis, who competed during the fourth season of Fox-TV’s “American Idol,” is striking out on his own after having previously fronted the New York-based rock quartet Pray for the Soul of Betty.
Despite being a fan favorite, Maroulis finished in sixth place on “Idol.” That explains the name for his record label, 6th Place.
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Grace Potter and the Nocturnals “This Is Somewhere”
The Vermont-based group, which combines blues, funk and rock and is often lumped into the “jam band” category, returns with a follow-up to 2006’s “Nothing But the Water.”
Led by vocalist Grace Potter, who also is capable with keyboards and guitar, the troupe has a Jammy Award to its credit. The band won the Jammy for “Best New Groove” in 2006.
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Robben Ford “Truth”
The Northern California blues great, who has backed such mega-stars as Joni Mitchell and George Harrison, picks up his guitar and strums out the “Truth.” The album features fellow blues-guitar champ Susan Tedeschi on “One Man’s Ceiling is Another Man’s Floor.”
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Bruce Hornsby “Camp Meeting”
Having recently released an album with bluegrass star Ricky Skaggs, the ever-restless Hornsby now takes a turn toward jazz music. “Camp Meeting” features the pianist leading a jazz trio of bassist Christian McBride and drummer Jack DeJohnette. The threesome is touring in support of the album.
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More new releases:
Kat DeLuna, “9 Lives” (Sony)
Drowning Pool, “Full Circle” (Eleven Seven)
Fuel, “Angels and Devils” (Epic)
Billie Holiday, “Remixed and Reimagined” (Sony)
Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes, “Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes: Live in Concert” (Soul Concerts)
Plies, “The Real Testament” (Atlantic)
John Pinette, “Making Lite of Myself” (Uproard)
The Receiving End of Sirens, “The Earth Sings Mi Fa Mi” (Triple Crown)
Diana Ross, “Last Time I Saw Him” (Hip-O)
Joe Satriani, “Surfing with the Alien” (Sony)
Slightly Stoopid, “Chronchitis” (Megaforce)
Third Day, “Chronology, Vol. 2” (Essential)
Throwdown, “Venom and Tears” (Trustkill)
UGK, “Underground Kingz” (Jive)
Jennifer Warnes, “Famous Blue Raincoat: 20th Anniversary Edition” (Shout Factory)
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