June 2012 Album Releases

June 9, 2012

It’s the month of music! There are so many albums coming out in June to be excited about. Not only in reggae rock, but in a broader sense as well, like the long awaited, commercial releases by The Beach Boys, Linkin Park, and The Smashing Pumpkins. This month The Pier spotlights several albums due out from reggae rock fan favorites with a couple outside of the genre that we felt noteworthy.

There are several albums dropping from aspiring bands in the scene, as well as several albums that drop with a ton of fan anticipation and expectations. These new June tunes, are sure to keep the pool parties and BBQ’s jamming with the right vibes. As the summer heat cranks up, chill out with some good music. Make sure not to miss a beat this season… Check out the info on the 13 total upcoming album releases we’ve featured for the month of June.

June 2012 Album Releases

Bert Susanka & The ALT – Space Junk
Release Date: June 5th
After two years of preparation and having some fun in the meantime, Bert Susanka and The Astronaut Love Triangle are set to release their monster of an album Space Junk to the masses. The eighteen-track album will be the first with The Astronaut Love Triangle. Space Junk is inspired by a variety of obscure, but delightfully-contingent matters such as The Peanuts creator Charles M. Schulz, author Todd Zalkins, the Balloon-boy hoax, and celebrity overdoses. From their brainwaves and motivations, it is clear-as-day Space Junk is meant to be a good time.

Read more about Great Escape HERE!

Read The Pier’s Official Album Review by clicking HERE.

Rome –Dedication EP
Release Date: June 12th
Rome Ramirez, of Sublime with Rome, has announced that his debut solo release, titled Dedication EP”, will be out on June 12th. For his first solo project the singer-songwriter joined forces with Fueled by Ramen Records, and an array of producers and songwriters, such as Benny Blanco, RoboPop, and The Futuristics. The EP’s title track is now available HERE! Rome describes the track, saying “The song’s about loving someone who is struggling with getting their life together and eventually having to move on.”
Read more about Rome’s solo release by clicking HERE!

Sono Vero –Babylon Lady EP
Release Date: June 17th
Californian eight pierce, Sono Vero, will release their second EP, Babylon Lady on June 17th.The band told The Pier “With this EP we wanted to broaden our horizons within the reggae genre. We’re excited to release it, to show our development as musicians and songwriters. This Lewis Richards produced EP, contains three tracks, recorded at the famous 17th Street Recording Studios. The songs on the EP include “Salvation Stay,” “Feel It, and the title track, “Babylon Lady.”

Dirty Heads –Cabin By The Sea
Release Date: June 19th
The long anticipated arrival of the Dirty Heads’ follow up album to their highly acclaimed debut release Any Port in a Storm is nearly here. The official release date for DH’s sophomore release is set for June 19th. All of the track titles and full listing have been revealed as well. Another bonus feature for this album will contain a special DVD that will be available through the deluxe album purchase. Collaborating with guest artist like Rome Ramirez, Matisyahu, Ky-Mani Marley, and Del The Funky Homosapien, and recorded and mixed at southern California’s 17th Street Recording Studios, this album is already slated for best album of the summer!

Read more about Cabin By The Sea HERE!

Outlaw Nation –HISTORICALLYCURRENTBYTHEPAST
Release Date: June 19th
New Orleans’, Outlaw Nation is set to release a new record titled, HISTORICALLYCURRENTBYTHEPAST. This will be the first volume of a double disc. album release, with the second disc. dropping later in the year. Volume one was produced by Christian Simeon of Outlaw Nation and his production camp, The Haterz. When asked about the project, Christian Simeon of Outlaw Nation, had this to say about the new album, “We are embarking on a new path and journey of the creative process with this new record, we are super excited about the possibilities and avenues that we get to travel down as this new album unfolds.” After recording a discography of records in their genre, Outlaw Nation has decided to cross genres to record a different album. The band has said that they “decided to go back to the place it felt most comfortable and that was in the bosom of HIP HOP… The record blends our love for all the classic sounds of golden age Hip Hop but maintain the vibrant glow of the current tones and topics of today’s society.” Read more about HISTORICALLYCURRENTBYTHEPAST HERE!

One Drop –Black Book Diaries
Release Date: June 26th
One Drop’s sophomoric album, Black Book Diaries, is set to drop on June 26th. Fans looking to preview the sound, can now listen to the first two released singles, “I’m Sorry (But Its Over)” and “Forward” here.“>here. With this album , One Drop incorporated a blend of raw and innovative digital production tools, some of which we have not seen since much of since the ‘70s! The band hopes the new 16 track album will reflect their recent growth and evolution as a group, saying “Every now and then an album will come around that pushes boundaries so far that you have to consider redefining the genre it’s in. We took allot of chances on this record but feel this can be one of them.”

Read more about One Drops new release by clicking HERE!

Pacific Dub –Tightrope
Release Date: June 26th
Almost two years after their last release, Pacific Dub is will release their second full-length album, Tightrope, June 26. With time spent at 17th Street Recording Studios and legendary Lewis Richards as their producer, the Huntington Beach locals have been working hard to share their new 12 track disc! Pacific Dub has told The Pier that “Tightrope represents the day-to-day process of balancing your priorities, and making decisions based on keeping your head up, and moving forward in a positive and healthy direction. We hope that message is received well, … In our opinion, this is without a doubt the best album we have ever put together, and we are beyond ecstatic to share it with you all!

Read more about Tightrope HERE!

VP Records –Reggae Gold 2012
Release Date: June 26th
On June 26, VP Records will release the 20th installment of their classic Reggae Gold compilation. The compilation is a sampling of the year’s best in reggae, roots and dancehall music which has consistently topped charts and acted as a valuable time capsule of each year’s reggae hits, styles and trends. This year’s compilation will feature two discs, each containing 16 tracks. The first will be the usual round-up of reggae and dancehall hits, including new tracks from Sean Paul, Busy Signal, Damian Marley, Etana, Gyptian and more, while the second disc will feature a commemorative collection of classic hits from the likes of Lady Saw, Buju Banton, Sizzla and many more great names from the series’ history.

Read more about Reggae Gold 2012 HERE!.

Misc. Noteworthy Releases

Sure, The Pier is dedicated & committed to the awareness & celebration of Reggae-Rock music, but we couldn’t ignore how big of a month June is this year for new album releases. So we thought we’d pick 2 albums outside the Reggae-Rock genre with The Beach Boys 50th anniversary comeback a long with a new release by The Smashing Pumpkins. Remember to appreciate all music in it’s art & contribution. Cheers!

Smashking Pumpkins –Oceania
Release Date: June 26th
The Smashing Pumpkins are scheduled to release their 9th album on June 19th, 2012 via EMI & Martha’s Music. The album, titled Oceania, was produced by frontman Billy Corgan & Bjorn Thorsrud. The album comes in at just over an hour long with 13 new tracks. Corgan has said described Oceania as their best album since Mellon Collie. The album is considered to be part of the band’s ongoing 44-song concept album, Teargarden by Kaleidyscope. Corgan plans to release Oceania as an album within an album, relating to Teargarden by Kaleidyscope which involved releasing songs one by one, for free on the internet from the late 2009, and then releasing them in EPs, after claiming that albums are a dead medium.

You can pre-order the album by clicking HERE!.

Beach Boys –That’s Why God Made The Radio
Release Date: June 24th
The Beach Boys reunited earlier this year for their 50th anniversary by releasing their first album since 1992’s “Summer in Paradise”. The album comes courtesy of Capitol Records with 12 new tracks & marks the band’s 29th studio album. All the surviving members appear on the album, including Wilson, Mike Love (who also writes on the album) and Al Jardine. Early members David Marks and Bruce Johnston, who replaced Wilson when he left the band in 1966, are back for the album and tour. Brian Wilson reunited with the band after his departure decades ago to help produce 11 of the 12 tracks. The album is due our April 24th 2012.