New and Coming Soon from Iron Maiden, Jeff Beck, and More

Book of Souls, by Iron Maiden
There’s more to Bruce Dickinson than Christopher Walken’s legendary impression of him on Saturday Night Live; when he’s not demanding more cowbell, Dickinson is the singer for legendary heavy metal band Iron Maiden, whose newest album, Book of Souls, drops on September 4th. This is their sixteenth album, believe it or not, and their first-ever double LP, and they’re making both milestones count. The classic Maiden sound is in top form here, and Dickinson’s vocal performance is impressive, especially considering his recent chemotherapy treatments. Many of the album’s tracks were recorded live, immediately after each song was written, so the album as a whole has a refreshing, spontaneous feel. And as an added bonus, the first single from Book of Souls (“Speed of Light”) starts off with cowbell.

Yours Dreamily, by the Arcs 
Iron Maiden isn’t the only band dropping an album on September 4th; the Arcs, a side project of Black Keys member Dan Auerbach, are releasing their debut album, Yours Dreamily, today as well. Black Keys fans will find a lot to like about this album, which features Auerbach’s stylishly slurred vocals and a vibrant backing band consisting of Leon Michels, Richard Swift, Homer Steinweiss, and Nick Movshon. It’s clear that Auerbach is expanding his horizons. The music here has more moving parts (including an all-female mariachi band performing backing vocals) and more diverse instrumentation, which steers the album as a whole towards indie rock and away from the Keys’ less complex blues rock. From that perspective, “Stay In My Corner” and “Put A Flower In Your Pocket” are the standout tracks.

From Sleep, by Max Richter
Post-minimalist classical composer Max Richter is known for his prolific output and ambitious projects, and From Sleep is no exception. Taken from an eight-hour composition called SLEEP, intended as a lullaby for adults and as Richter’s own “personal exploration into how music interacts with consciousness,” From Sleep is an hour-long selection that’s meant as a “daytime listening version,” in Richter’s words. Unsurprisingly, Richter’s composition is a lush, soothing piece of work that is equal parts symphonic and cinematic, which makes sense, given how much film scoring Richter has done over the years. This LP comes in limited-edition transparent vinyl, so get it while you can!

Live+, by Jeff Beck 
One would think, after his time with the Yardbirds and his incredible solo career, that guitar legend Jeff Beck wouldn’t have anything left to prove. He may not, but he still plays like he does, and Live+ is proof of that passion. Recorded during Beck’s 2014 tour, this album is a 14-track summary of Beck’s decades-long career thus far, with particular focus on his trippy instrumental versions of rock ‘n roll classics. Jeff’s band (singer Jimmy Hall, bassist Rhonda Smith, drummer Jonathan Joseph, and guitarist Nicolas Meier) are as impressive as he is, and make it immediately clear that Beck is no mere nostalgia act; this band leaves it all on the field. In addition to the live material, this album includes two new studio tracks, “Tribal” and “My White Tiled Floor.”

Peanuts Greatest Hits, by Vince Guaraldi Trio 
Bonus album: This one doesn’t drop until September 11, but it’s available for pre-order, and we couldn’t resist including it here. There’s a lot to love about the classic Peanuts animated specials, but the music is usually what people remember most fondly from those cartoons. Peanuts Greatest Hits is a 12-track selection of the very best songs from those soundtracks, all of which were composed by jazz pianist Vince Guaraldi and performed by his Vince Guaraldi Trio. Guaraldi’s smooth, sophisticated bossa nova compositions were perfect for cartoons about precocious children, and they’re just as satisfying to listen to on their own; “Linus and Lucy” is the classic Peanuts melody that everyone remembers, but “Baseball Theme” and “Oh, Good Grief” are just as good, with deceptively simple piano arrangements laid over a rock-solid drums-and-bass rhythm section.