British teen import Conor Maynard kicks off the pop album releases of a new year.
1. Conor Maynard - Contrast
Courtesy Capitol
20 year old Conor Maynard rose to the spotlight in his native UK last year while still a teenager. Contrast debuted at #1 on the UK album chart and it generated three top 10 pop hit singles. Both "Vegas Girl" and "Turn Around" have been top 40 hits at mainstream pop radio in the US.
2. Soundtrack - Girls Volume 1
Courtesy Fueled By Ramen
Girls is a hit comedy-drama series on the HBO network that debuted in April of 2012. This first soundtrack from the show includes songs by a range of alternative pop artists including Santigold, Icona Pop, fun, and Grouplove. The show has received strong critical acclaim.
3. Twenty One Pilots - Vessel
Courtesy Fueled By Ramen
MTV have named Twenty One Pilots as an artist to watch for 2013. The act consists of the duo Tyler Joseph and Josh Dun. Vessel is their first full-length album since signing to the Fueled By Ramen label. The sound of Twenty One Pilots is energetic electronic indie pop.
4. Dropkick Murphys - Signed and Sealed In Blood
Courtesy Dropkick Murphys
This is the eighth studio album from Massachusetts based indie punk band Dropkick Murphys. Their last collection, 2011's Going Out In Style, was the group's first album to reach the top 10 on the album chart. Signed and Sealed In Blood includes Dropkick Murphys' first top 30 alternative and rock single "The Season's Upon Us."
5. Hollywood Undead - Notes From the Underground
Courtesy A&M Octone
Rap rockers Hollywood Undead have experienced a meteoric commercial rise. Their first album, 2008's Swan Songs, cracked the top 25 on the album chart and has sold nearly a million copies. 2011's American Tragedy broke into the top 5 of the chart. Hollywood Undead say that Notes From the Underground returns to the style of their first release. It includes the top 40 rock radio hit "We Are."
6. Black Veil Brides - Wretched and Divine: The Story Of the Wild Ones
Courtesy Universal Republic
Glam metal throwback Black Veil Brides broke into the top 20 of the album chart with their most recent release, 2011's Set the World On Fire. The new album Wretched and Divine is an ambitious rock opera concept album. It includes the single "In the End."
7. Chris Tomlin - Burning Lights
Courtesy Sparrow
Chris Tomlin is one of the most commercially successful contemporary Christian artists. Three of his albums have hit #1 on the Christian album chart. Four have been certified gold or platinum and Hello Love reached the top 10 on the overall album chart. His most recent studio album, 2010's And If Our God Is For Us won a Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Christian Music album.
8. Pere Ubu - Lady From Shanghai
Courtesy Fire Records
Cleveland's Pere Ubu are avant garde rock legends. They first came together nearly 40 years ago in 1975. The Lady From Shanghai is the group's 15th studio album. The group's biggest hit single was the 1989 #6 modern rock hit "Waiting For Mary."
9. Guster - Live Acoustic
Courtesy Ocho Mule
Alternative rock band Guster have received strong critical acclaim. Their last three studio albums have all reached the top 40 on the album chart. Live Acoustic is the group's second live album.
10. Capital Kings - Capital Kings
Courtesy Gotee Records
Capital Kings are part of the contemporary Christian music camp, but their sound is very similar to the big tent club sound of David Guetta and other top dance music artists. Among the other top contemporary Christian artists included here on this album are TobyMac, Britt Nicole, Soul Glow Activator and Royal Tailor.
