Every once in a while I share with you some new music that I have been enjoying. It felt like it was about time I did it again, so today I’m playing a selection of songs which have been released so far this year. In keeping with my new rule of giving you a maximum of five tracks in a post I’ve had to limit this quite a lot, and I have several others I could play for you. Maybe another time?

This first one is a bit of a cheat, as it is far from being a new song. But they are one of my favourite bands so I’m not passing up the chance to play something from their new album. The band is Def Leppard, and they have recently collaborated with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra to do one of those rock/classical mix ups. The album is called Drastic Symphonies, and this is the newly updated version of one of my all time favourites, by them or anyone else:

Def Leppard released the album in May and to date it has peaked at #4 in the UK and #54 in the US, whilst also making #1 in the UK’s Top Rock and Metal category, and #9 in the Top Rock listing in the US. It adds a dimension to a back catalogue of great songs, and is like a classical greatest hits compilation. If you enjoyed this one it’s a good bet you’ll like the rest of the album too.

I’ve featured Caroline Jones several times before, as I think she is a very talented singer-songwriter. She recently released a new EP, one of the tracks being a collaboration on a song she co-wrote with Alyssa Bonagura, who at that time was new to me. This is rather nice:

That was from an EP called Superpower, which was also released in May. There are five tracks, one of the others being a collaboration with Vince Gill. On top of that Caroline was made a full member of the Zac Brown Band last year, so I think her career is definitely on the up. And in addition to that she got married to America’s Cup sailor Nick Dana at the end of 2021 and is currently expecting her first baby, so I guess life feels good for her right now. I mentioned that I hadn’t come across Alyssa Bonagura before, but I followed her up on YouTube after this and liked what I saw. She is also a talented singer-songwriter, and has also recently released a five track EP, Fly With Me. It is lovely, and I think I’ll be playing something from it in the near future.

If you have a very good memory you may recall that I have posted Brynn Andre’s wonderful version of the Christmas classic Let It Snow several times as part of my Advent Calendar. For several years Brynn has largely been absent from the music scene, doing all sorts of other things, like running her own business and having a family, but it is great news for me that she has been making a new album, which is due out next month. I am on her email list and was reminded yesterday that the first song from that has already been released. It seemed an ideal time to play it, especially as it is such a happy, upbeat tune:

After watching that I commented on it, saying that I was looking forward to her album, as she had been away too long! Brynn replied, thanking me and saying that she was so excited to be back. She usually does reply to comments, and I really appreciate musicians who take the time and trouble to interact with those who enjoy their music. I hope the new album is good and does well for her.

This next one takes things up a gear. I have been a fan of Matchbox Twenty since their first album, and a new release from them is always welcome, though not exactly frequent! Their album Where The Light Goes came out at the end of May, and this is one of the tracks from it:

Matchbox Twenty could hardly be deemed prolific, but their albums are always great and are hotly anticipated by their loyal fan base. They have to date released just five, in 1996, 2000, 2002, 2012 and now this one. I think it says something for them that their fans stay with them. This new one hasn’t set the charts alight, though, only reaching #53 so far in the US, and not making the UK chart yet. They are hugely popular in Australia and the new one has peaked at #2 over there, after their previous four gave them three #1s and a #3. I’ll admit that the album took me a couple of listens, but I’m now really enjoying it. Again, if you liked them before, I think you’ll like this one too.

I kind of cheated a bit with today’s first video, and I’m doing it again with the last one. This one was actually released last September, outside my timeframe, but the album it is on came out in May this year, so that’s alright, isn’t it? I’ve played you one of its songs before – the achingly beautiful Wish You The Best – and this is another gem from Lewis Capaldi:

The album, Broken By Desire to Be Heavenly Sent, is Lewis’s second. It has reached #1 in the UK and #14 in the US, and I’ve no doubt that it will go on to sell many more copies, like his first record did. Forget Me was the lead single ahead of the album and was released, as I said, last September: it gave him the third of his five UK #1 singles to date, also reaching #58 in the US. Lewis has recently been diagnosed with Tourettes, and is clearly struggling at present: he had to cancel a series of gigs in the weeks leading up to his Glastonbury appearance. I watched that on tv and it was painful to see how much he was struggling, but also hugely uplifting to see the crowd sensing that and singing along with him, completing songs for him. He has since called off all his planned touring dates while he takes time out to recover, and I wish him the best: he has a great talent and deserves to be able to enjoy it.

That’s all for today. I hope you’ve enjoyed this look at some recent releases, and as I have a list of others I think I may well do this again. Enjoy your week, and I’ll see you again for Song Lyric Sunday 😊🎶