The new ‘Wicked’ soundtrack and 11 more albums you need here this week

All, or at least many, ears are on Oz this week as “Wicked” moves from stage to screen with big name singing stars in the lead. It has this week’s new music release list with new titles from Ice Cube, Lil Durk, Marilyn Manson, Father John Misty, Ice-T’s Body Count, Chicago, Elvis Costello and many more…

“Wicked: The Soundtrack” (Republic): The “Wizard of Oz” prequel has defied gravity for more than 20 years; now we will see if the magic also works on the big screen, as the film adaptation – the first of two parts – rolls into cinemas. Would we like to hear new versions of “Defying Gravity”, “Popular”, “No Good Deed” and all the other Stephen Schwartz compositions? Quite likely; to star proven voices like Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande and just be, well, forever.

Body Count, “Merciless” (Century Media): Ice-T brings his rap-rock collective back to the disc for the eighth time with a stacked guest list that includes Killswitch Engage’s Howard Jones, Sepultura/Soulfly veteran Max Cavalera, members of Cannibal Corpse and Fit For An Autopsy and Pink Floyd’s David Gilmour on an interpolation of “Comfortable Numb.”

Chicago, “Chicago & Friends: Live at 55″ (Mercury Studios): An audio and video release of a bona fide thrilling Chicago concert from November 2023, where the band was joined and fueled by guests such as Chris Daughtry, Steve Vai, Robert Randolph, Robin Thicke, Judith Hill, Christone “Kingfish” Ingram and VoicePlay.

Elvis Costello and T Bone Burnett, “The Coward Brothers” (New West/Audbile): Costello and recurring collaborator Burnett are resuming a collaboration they began in the mid-’80s, creating new music for an Audible Original comedy podcast that also rolls out this week.

Crossbone Skully, “Evil World Machine” (Better Noise Music): Super producer Robert John “Mutt” Lange (AC/DC, Def Leppard, Shania Twain) came out of retirement to produce this debut release from the side project of Alice Cooper and Hollywood Vampires guitarist Tommy Henriksen.

Ice Cube, “Man Down” (Lench Mob/Hitmaker): The rap veteran and NWA co-founder’s first new album in six years features collaborations with Snoop Dogg, Busta Rhymes, Kurut, Too Short, Cypress Hill’s B-Real, Xzibit and more.

Kim Deal, “No One Loves You Anymore” (4AD): The first solo album from the Dayton native, a former part of the Pixies and co-leader of the Breeders, following a string of solo singles she began releasing 12 years ago.

Father John Misty, “Mahashmashana” (Sub Pop): The enigmatic Josh (or J.) Tillman is back with his sixth studio album as Father John Misty and a tongue-in-cheek (Sanskrit) title for an eight-track set that includes “I Guess Time Just Makes Fools of Us” from his “Greatish Hits ” “album earlier this year.”

Michael Kiwanuka, “Small Changes” (Geffen/Polydor): Danger Mouse co-produced the fourth album from this award-winning British singer-songwriter who hails from the Kinks’ London terra firma in Muswell Hill.

Lil Durk, “Deep Thoughts” (Alamo/SME): The Chicago rapper’s eight studio album has already released four singles and follows his Oct. 25 arrest in connection with a murder-for-hire case targeting a rival rapper.

Marilyn Manson, “One Assassination Under God — Chapter 1” (Atomic Blast): Disturbing accusations and lawsuits have not tamed this Canton-born shock rocker, as aka Brian Warner celebrates being “Sacrilegious” and being “As Sick as the Secrets Within.” Don’t expect Chapter 2 to be any gentler.

Various Artists, “Transa” (Red Hot): The adventurous Red Hot series’ latest collection is a star-studded celebration of trans life filled with contributors like Sade Adu, Sam Smith, Andrew 300, Allison Russell, Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy, Pharoah Sanders, Wendy & Lisa, Clairo, Blake Mills and many more.

Album title of the week: Joan Armatrading, “How It Happened and What It Means Now” (BMG)

More new releases for November 22nd…

Ant (aka Anthony Davis), “Collection of Sounds: Volume 2” (Rhymesayers Entertainment)

Aptorian Demon, “Live Ends” (Kyrck Productions & Armour)

Atreyu, “The Paranoia Sessions” (Spinefarm_)

Babyfxce E, “Real Striker Music” (Atlantic)

Sean Barna, “Internal Trembling” (Kill Rock Stars Nashville)

Camilla Battaglia, “Elektra” (Ropeadope)

Beatrix, “Vertigo: Spiraling” (self-published)

Birdtalker, “All Means, No End” (Tone Tree Music)

BlakeIANA, “Back in the Field” (300 Entertainment/Murda Beatz Music)

Bossa Nova Noites, “Bossa Nova Noites I: Bahia Nights” (self-released)

Candy Whips, “Artificial Melodies” (Kitten Robot)

Common Sae, “Closer” (Equal Vision)

Cyn, “Valley Girl: Side B — Los Angeles. No offense.” (Unsubscribe/Capital)

daydreamers, “daydreamers” (Robot Human/Epic)

Devil’s Cigarette, “I Wanna Be on TV” (Sound Pollution)

Micky Dolenz, “Live at the Troubadour” (self-released)

Tashi Dorji, “we’ll be wherever the fires are lit” (Drag City)

Flo, “Access to all areas: unlocked” (Uptown/Republic)

The Funeral Portrait, “Casanova (From Beyond the Abyss)” (Better Noise)

Hirsh Gardner, “Third Time’s a Charm” (Deko Entertainment)

Gordi, “Lunch at Dune” (self-released)

Niall Horan, “The Show: Live On Tour” (Capitol)

Natalie Imbruglia, “London — Live” (Edsel)

Alice Ivy, “Do What Makes You Happy” (Helix)

Boldy James & Harry Faud, “The Bricktionary” (SRFSCHL)

Natalie Jane, “Sick to My Stomach” (Capitol Music Group/10K Projects)

Daryl Johns, “Daryl Johns” (Mac’s record label)

Per Storby Jutbring, “Tenants of Misty Mansion (According to Landlord)” (HOOB)

Luna Honey, “Bound” (self-released)

Ron Houston, “ROAM” (self-released)

Knives, “One Cut Away From Love” (Punkerton)

Ben Kono Group, “Voyages” (self-released)

Koyo, “Mile a Minute” (pure noise)

Leya, “I Forget Everything” (NNA Tape)

Luckly Love, “I Don’t Care If It Burns” (self-released)

Papa M, “Ballads of Harry Houdini (Drag City)

Bella Mackenzie, “Wild Thing” (Island)

Jonathan Thomas Miller, “Environments For a Burning Planet, Volume 2” (self-published)

Mudshark, “Beware of the German Shepherd” (self-released)

Nightborn, “Arda” (self-released)

Ocean Grove, “Oddworld” (SharpTone)

1k Phew, “Let Go Let God: The EP” (Reach)

Opeth, “The Last Will & Testament” (Parent Company/Reigning Phoenix Music)

Lia Pappas-Kemps, “Gleam” (AWAL)

Polar, “Five Arrows” (Arising Empire)

Terry Presume, “Rage & Purity” (September)

Razorlight, “The Last WILL and TESTAMENT” (Reiging Phoenix Music)

Quando Rondo, “Here for a Reason” (Atlantic)

Jack Shane, “Therapuss” (10K Projects)

Smashing Pumpkins, “Aghori Mhori Mei” (Martha’s Music/Thirty Tigers)

Kevin Smiley, “Hurts Worse” (Rebel Music/gamma)

Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith and Joe Goddard, “Neptunes EP” (Smugglers Way)

Star Bandz, “Estrella” (Priority/Capitol)

Storace, “Crossfire” (Frontiers)

Stone Horses, “Redemption Chronicles” (self-released)

Sun Ra Arkestra, “Light on a Satellite” (In+Out)

Solstorm, “Restless Fight” (Borders)

37 houses, “37 houses” (self-published)

two blinks i love you “ep 2″ (Heist Or Hit)

Unlettered, “Five Mile Point” (self-released)

Van Zant, “Always Look Up” (Frontiers)

Vitamin String Quartet, “Otaku” (CMH)

Xandria, “Universal Tales” (Napalm)

Xeon & Oaklander, “Via Negative (In the Doorway Light)” (DAIS)

From The Vaults:

Allman Brothers Band, “Final Concert 10-28-14” (Peach/The Orchard)

The Beatles, “1964 US Albums in Mono” (Apple Corps Lt//Capitol/UMe)

Black Star, “No Fear of Time” (Rhymesayers Entertainment)

Bon Jovi, “Bon Jovi (Deluxe Edition)” (country/UMe)

Isobel Campbell & Mark Lanegan, “Ballad of the Broken Seas” (cooking vinyl)

Can, “Can Live in Keele 1977” (Mute)

Eva Cassidy, “Walkin’ After Midnight” (Blix Street)

Clannad, “Legend (40th Anniversary Edition)” (BMG)

Cracker, “Alternative History: A Cracker Retrospective” (Cooking Vinyl)

Miles Davis, “Miles ’54: The Prestige Recordings” (Craft/Concord)

Friko, “Where We’ve Been, Where We’re Going From Here (Extended Edition)” (ATO)

Don Henley, “Can’t Stand Still” and “Cass County Deluxe” (Rhino)

Jefferson Airplane, “Original Album Classics” (music on CD)

Judas Priest, “Rocka Rolla (50th Anniversary Edition)” (Exciter)

Marillion, “This Strange Engine (Deluxe Edition)” (earMUSIC)

Motley Crue, “Dr. Feelgood (35th Anniversary Edition)” (BMG)

My Morning Jacket, “MMJ Live Vol. 4: Terminal5-NYC-The Television Fire 10/18/10″ (ATO)

Needtobreathe, “Live From the Woods” (Omnivore)

New Order, “Brotherhood ‘Definitive'” (Rhino/Warner)

Olivia Newton-John, “Angels in the Snow” (Green Hill Production/Primary Wave)

Nothing More, “Nothing More (10th Anniversary)” (Better Noise Music)

Steve Perry, “Street Talk (Deluxe Edition)” (Rock Candy)

Pet Shop Boys, “Sparkle in the Rain (40th Anniversary)” (A&M/UMe) and “Nonetheless (Expanded Edition)” (Warner/Parlophone)

Simple Minds, “Sparkle in the Rain (40th Anniversary)” (A&M/UMe)

Six Going On Seven, “Heartbreak’s Got Backbeat” (Jod Recordings)

Space, “Space: The Anthology” (Edsel/Demon)

Thompson Twins, “Into the Gap: 40th Anniversary Edition” (BMG)

TV on the Radio, “Desperate Youth, Blood Thirsty Babes (20th Anniversary Edition)” (Touch and Go)

McCoy Tyner & Joe Henderson, “Forces of Nature: Live at Slugs” (Blue Note/UMe)

U2, “How to dismantle an atomic bomb (20th anniversary)” (island/UMe)

Various Artists, “NOW is what I call a massive ’70s party” (Sony/EMI)

Various Artists, “Puccini: The Warner Classics Edition” (Warner Classics)

The War on Drugs, “Live Drugs Again (Encore Edition)” (Transgressive/Canvasback)

Nancy Wilson, “You’re As Right As Rain: The Capitol Albums (1970-1980)” (SoulMusic/Cherry Red)

New holiday albums:

Clay Aiken, “The Christmas Bells Are Ringing” (Alvis)

Dean & Britta and Sonic Book, “A Peace of Us” (Parking Lot)

Ever More Nest, “Merry Little Thing” (self-released)

Lyn Lapid, “Winter Wishes” (Mercury)

Mormon Tabernacle Choir, “Sings Christmas Carols” (Real Gone Music)

Philly Specials, “A Philly Special Christmas Party” (Vera Y)

Laura Pursell, “Need a Little Christmas” (Netcom)

Christian Sands, “Christmas Stories (Deluxe Edition)” (Mack Avenue)

Soundtracks:

“Across the Universe (Music From the Motion Picture/Deluxe Edition)” (Interscope)

“Arcane: League of Legends: Season 2 (Soundtrack From the Animated Series)” (Riot Games/Virgin)

“I’ll Be There — Original Motion Picture Soundtrack” (Lakeshore)

“Moana 2 – Original Motion Picture Soundtrack” (Walt Disney)

“The Spellbound Soundtrack” (Island/Republic)

“Sunset Blvd: The Album” (The Other Songs)