Long Time....No Hear

        Some popular artists like Nicki Minaj, Rihanna, and Ke$ha seem to churn out new albums every six months or so. Others follow a slightly slower creative schedule. Here are some great musicians who have been missing for a while, but have returned with new albums. Stop in and pick up their newest offerings at the Port Jefferson Free Library!

Fiona Apple. The Idler Wheel (2012) http://alpha2.suffolk.lib.ny.us/record=b4539913~S50
    Apple took a seven year hiatus between her last album Extraordinary Machine http://alpha2.suffolk.lib.ny.us/record=b3746615~S84 and The Idler Wheel. Rolling Stone made it #4 on their Albums of the Year 2012 list. Critics hail it as one of Apple’s best albums to date.

Green Day. Uno http://alpha2.suffolk.lib.ny.us/record=b4568402~S50, Dos http://alpha2.suffolk.lib.ny.us/record=b4578976~S84, Tre http://alpha2.suffolk.lib.ny.us/record=b4588971~S50
    Green Day came back with not one, but a grand total of three new albums. (Perhaps one for each year they were on hiatus?) Their last offering was 21st Century Breakdown http://alpha2.suffolk.lib.ny.us/record=b4151966~S50 in 2009. This series of albums marks their return to their punk rock roots.

Alicia Keys Girl on Fire https://alpha2.suffolk.lib.ny.us/search~S50/ 2012
    Alicia Keys first arrived on the music scene in 2001 with her hit single “Fallin’” which was from her debut album Songs in A Minor https://alpha2.suffolk.lib.ny.us/record=b3857580~S50. Her music combines her classically trained piano with a more hip hop sensibility. Keys created a unique sound. She’s one of my personal favorites, and I can’t wait to hear her newest album!

No Doubt. Push and Shove (2012) https://alpha2.suffolk.lib.ny.us/record=b4568401~S50
    No Doubt  came on the scene in 1995. Their catchy ska sound and a charismatic front woman, Gwen Stefani, brought them fame. The band released several albums. but their last one Rock Steady https://alpha2.suffolk.lib.ny.us/record=b3857660~S50 came out in 2001. While the band took a break Gwen Stefani made two successful solo albums. Love, Angel, Music Baby (2004) https://alpha2.suffolk.lib.ny.us/record=b3630001~S50 and then The Sweet Escape https://alpha2.suffolk.lib.ny.us/record=b3874986~S84. 11 Years later the group has returned with Push and Shove. Their first single “Settle Down” showed the band reuniting. Their new album was not without controversy. The band was forced to pull their second video “Looking Hot” due to its stereotypical depiction of Native Americans.

Soundgarden. King Animal (2012) https://alpha2.suffolk.lib.ny.us/record=b4583171~S50
    Soundgarden hasn’t released an album in 16 years (since 1996). Soundgarden came out of the same Seattle grunge scene that brought the world Pearl Jam and Nirvana. They have a similar sound. Even now they have remained true to their roots.

Stop in and pick up offerings from these artists and many more in the Port Jefferson Free Library. Need help finding a CD? Just ask a librarian at the Reference Desk. We’re glad to help!