Grammy Winners, Alt-Rockers Go Deluxe At Target

Having blanketed Sunday night’s Grammys telecast with ads and promotions (including heavily discounted prices on Grammy-nominated artists and exclusive promotions on recent and upcoming LPs by Taylor Swift and Justin Timberlake), American retailer Target has partnered with a recent Grammy winner and an upstart rock group to expand and reissue two albums.

Babel, the sophomore album by folk-rockers Mumford & Sons, and Night Visions, the studio debut by pop-rockers Imagine Dragons, have both been repackaged with retailer-exclusive content.

The British-born Mumford & Sons have eked out quite the niche performing dusty, banjo and acoustic guitar-laden folk rock that’s taken them from small clubs to arenas in only a few short years. They’ve established themselves as a Grammy favorite, earning a nomination for Best New Artist in 2011 and both Record of the Year and Song of the Year in 2012 for “The Cave.” In 2011, they also earned high marks for their performance on the award show broadcast, sharing the stage with fellow folk-rockers The Avett Brothers and a young upstart named Bob Dylan.

Second album Babel continues the long list of achievements for the group: it was the fastest-selling album in England in 2012, was the second-highest selling album in America the same year, and was nominated for four Grammys this week, taking home a trophy for Album of the Year. This new reissue includes three bonus tracks from a previous, non-exclusive deluxe reissue – including a cover of Simon & Garfunkel’s “The Boxer” with bluegrass musician Jerry Douglas and Paul Simon as featured guests – and adds three new live renditions of songs from both of their studio albums.

After the jump, “It’s Time” to check out a hefty deluxe edition by Imagine Dragons!

Grammy Time: Music’s Biggest Night Honored with Annual Compilation

We’re just a few weeks from the 55th Annual Grammy Awards – or as I like to call it, “how many times can my music geek friends and I make cutting jokes on the Internet?” – and, as is customary, next week will see the release of a compilation of Grammy-nominated songs for your perusal.

The 22-track compilation, distributed this year by EMI, has quite the cross-section of cuts from what is a rather diverse year for the awards ceremony. Altogether, six different artists – Dan Auerbach of the indie-blues group The Black Keys, power-pop upstarts Fun., folk phenom Mumford & Sons, rising rapper/R&B singer Frank Ocean and 21st century hip-hop statesmen Jay-Z and Kanye West – are all tied for most nominations this year, with six apiece. A host of current stars and future greats are up for the most prominent awards, including Kelly Clarkson, Taylor Swift, Jack White Australian singer/songwriter Gotye, R&B crooner Miguel and more.

2013 Grammy Nominees also includes a track by last year’s champion Adele (who took home six trophies for her 2011 smash 21 and is nominated for Best Pop Solo Performance for her Live At The Royal Albert Hall CD/DVD) and one from the one and only Boss, Bruce Springsteen, who is not only a three-time nominee this year but will receive the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences’ prestigious MusiCares Person of the Year Award at a ceremony held the night before the Grammys telecast.

Get your copy of the CD January 22 and watch the awards at 8 p.m. on Sunday, February 10 on CBS. Pre-order links and a detailed summary of each track’s Grammy nominations are after the jump.

And the Tracks Are…: “2012 Grammy Nominees” Disc Due

With the 54th Annual Grammy Awards mere weeks away on February 13, it’s getting close to one of music’s most vaunted pre-Grammy traditions: the release of the annual Grammy nominees compilation.

Due out January 24, 2012 Grammy Nominees compiles exactly the artists you’d expect, from multiple award nominees (British soul songstress Adele, pop acts Bruno Mars and Katy Perry, modern rock legends the Foo Fighters and country star Taylor Swift) to rising stars (rappers J. Cole and Nicki Minaj, alt-rockers Foster the People, dubstep artist/producer Skrillex). At 22 tracks from Maroon 5 and Christina Aguilera to Tony Bennett and Amy Winehouse, it’s every bit the who’s who of pop music in 2011 you’d expect.

But there’s a bit of an interesting twist this year: fans who buy the album, either physically or digitally, will be able to participate in a contest with a grand prize of tickets to next year’s Grammy Awards. Details on that event are here, and details of the album are after the jump.

Release Round-Up: Week of October 24/25

It’s Tuesday, but most of the new music this week has already been out for a day. But assuming you were too busy to get out to the shops, here’s a look at what’s new. And there’s quite a bit!

Various Artists, Phil Spector Presents The Philles Album Collection (Phil Spector Records/Legacy)

Six of the first seven Philles albums presented in mono, along with a bonus disc of those delightfully out-there instrumental B-sides. Seriously, have you heard any of them? They’re crazy. In a good way, that is.

Diana Ross & The Supremes, The 50th Anniversary Collection 1961-1969 / The Temptations, The 50th Anniversary Collection 1961-1971 (Hip-o Select/Motown)

Two new triple-disc sets capture two of Motown’s greatest groups at their peak, with every A- and B-side from the listed periods contained therein.

Paul Simon, One Trick Pony / Hearts and Bones / Graceland / The Rhythm of the Saints / Songwriter (Legacy)

The first four are the 2004 Rhino reissues in jewel cases instead of digipaks (although Graceland is re-remastered), the last is a two-disc compilation handpicked by Simon himself with a big thick booklet for your persual. (Have you read Joe’s great review? You really should.)

Pearl Jam, Pearl Jam 20 (Sony Music Video)

Cameron Crowe’s celebratory documentary, now available for home viewing.

Various Artists, The Bridge School Concerts: 25th Anniversary Edition (Reprise)

Two new sets – a 3-disc DVD box and a double-disc CD set – capture 25 years of one of the best known (and, let’s face it, best) benefit concert series of all time. Neil Young, Bruce Springsteen, Pearl Jam, Bob Dylan, The Who, Simon and Garfunkel, Paul McCartney, Sonic Youth and a host of other rock luminaries appear.

Howlin’ Wolf, Smokestack Lightnin’: The Complete Chess Masters 1951-1960 (Hip-o Select/Chess)

Four CDs of vintage blues goodness from The Wolf – including some tracks making their Stateside debut.

Mumford & Sons, Sigh No More: Deluxe Edition (Glassnote)

The great British roots-rockers’ major label debut, expanded with a bonus track, a live disc and a DVD documentary.

The Monkees, Head (Rhino)

A shiny new vinyl reissue of the cult classic album.

The Mamas and The Papas, If You Can Believe Your Eyes and Ears / Strawberry Alarm Clock, Incense and Peppermints (Sundazed)

The original, classic albums in mono, on CD! (There are a few other notables coming from Sundazed for you ’60s fans, too.)

Yes, 9012Live: The Solos – Expanded Edition (Friday Music)

The first-ever domestic CD release of Yes’ overlooked live album/side project, with two live bonus tracks for good measure.

Deftones, The Vinyl Collection 1995-2011 (Reprise)

A limited edition collection of the alternative band’s studio albums, plus an album of non-album covers, previously only available as a Record Store Day exclusive. (It’s sold out online, but I’m sure it’s still up for grabs here and there.)

Nirvana, Nevermind: Super Deluxe Edition (Geffen/UMe)

Previously a Best Buy exclusive, it’s worth noting that this title is now available everywhere. Hooray!

Mumford & Sons Go Back to “The Cave” for Expanded Album

In case you’ve been living under a rock for the past year or so, Mumford & Sons isn’t the name of a trendy country boutique. It’s a rather great, roots-oriented band turning out some of the best, harmonically dense Americana-tinged rock on the scene right now. (Naturally, they’re not from around these parts, calling West London their home.)

In the year since Mumford & Sons’ Sigh No More was released in the U.S., the quartet’s songs, namely “Little Lion Man” and “The Cave,” have become surprising crossover hits. Constant touring and promotion on television helped the album peak at No. 2; the band particularly enjoyed a 99% sales jump after performing on the Grammy Awards alongside The Avett Brothers and a surprising upstart named Bob Dylan. (The band received nominations for Best Rock Song and Best New Artist, too.)

On October 25, as the band reconvenes in the studio for their second album, their U.S. label Glassnote will release a three-disc expanded edition of the record, featuring a host of extras. (This package was released last year in their native U.K. by Island Records.) In addition to the album and one bonus track, “Hold On to What You Believe,” a bonus CD includes a live show on the band’s U.K. tour, and a DVD features a three-part documentary about the band. The set will also come in a faux-leather case with a 22-page booklet.

The deluxe Sigh No More – one of the first deluxe editions of recent records you’ll be spotting for the fourth quarter (but assuredly not the last) – can be pre-ordered here. The track list is after the jump.