Recs with Merritt flips through the finest vinyl releases of Sept. 2024, including PJ Morton, Floating Points, and more

Recs With Merritt. // Art by Cassondra Jones

Records with Merritt is Marion Merritt’s vinyl store in Westport [1614 Westport Rd] with partner Ann Stewart. As a staple in our community for nearly a decade, we’ve partnered with Merritt for a monthly column, where the tastemaker shares her picks for the best wax releases to look forward to grabbing, divided by release date.

Here’s Marion Merritt’s rundown of the most exciting offerings in Sept. 2024.

Sept. 6

Five-time Grammy Award winner PJ Morton’s new album, Cape Town To Cairo, is a collection of songs that he created in 30 days throughout his time spent in South Africa, Nigeria, Ghana, and Egypt. Describing it as the best trip of his life, this transformative journey began as just the seed of an idea last fall but instantly grew into his most sonically sprawling and immediately inspired record to date. None of the tracks were written before he arrived or after he left, and the arrangements showcase both the countries’ native genres combined with Morton’s own version of soul, R&B, and gospel, roots, or pop. Cape Town To Cairo is scheduled to be released on Sept. 6, 2024, via Morton Records.

Other albums of note for the week:
Rex Orange County The Alexander Technique
Molchat Doma Belaya Polosa
Deftones B-Sides & Rarities
Heavy Heavy One Of A Kind
Vince Guaraldi You’re Not Elected, Charlie Brown
David Gilmour Luck and Strange
Shovels & Rope Something Is Working Up Above My Head
El Michels Affair Glorious Game (Instrumentals)
LSD (Labrinth, Sia and Diplo) Presents
Tom Holkenborg Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga (Orignal Soundtrack)
Nikka Costa Pebble To A Pearl
Denitia Sunset Drive
Mj Lenderman Manning Fireworks
LL Cool J The Force
Toro Y Moi Hole Erth
The The Ensoulment
Max Richter In A Landscape
Deslondes Roll It Out
George Strait Cowboys And Dreamers
Big Something Headspace
The Stooges Keep Me Safe, Keep Me Sane: Rare Tracks 1972
Vincent Price Witchcraft-Magic Adventures In Demonology
Vance Joy Dream Your Life Away (10th Anniversary)
10,000 Maniacs MTV Unplugged

Notable Re-issues:
Joni Mitchell Shadows And Light (Live)
Mingus
Don Juan’s Reckless Daughter
Hejira

John Williams Raiders Of The Lost Ark (Original Soundtrack)
Indiana Jones And The Kingdom of The Crystal Skull
Indiana Jones And The Temple Of Doom
Indiana Jones And The Last Crusade

Phish Junta
A Picture Of Nectar
Rift

Sept. 13

British Electronic music producer and DJ Samuel Shepherd, known professionally as Floating Points, 2021 release, Promises, featuring Pharoah Sanders, was one of our favorite music releases of that year. Sheperd’s new album, Cascade, has his sound moving in a new direction, with longer tracks allowing for more exploration and experimentation. Cascade is scheduled to be released on Sept. 13, 2024, via Ninja Tunes.

Other albums of note for the week:

Suki Waterhouse Memoir Of A Sparklemuffin
Melvins Bad Mood Rising
Miranda Lambert Postcards From Texas
Mac DeMarco Salad Days (10th Anniversary Edition)
Jack White No Name
Black Veil Brides Bleeders
The Jesus Lizard Rack
Lily Kershaw Pain & More
Keshi Requiem
M. Ward For Beginners: The Best of M. Ward
Notorious B.I.G. Ready To Die (30th Anniversary)
Nada Surf Moon Mirror
Foxing Foxing
Cursive Devourer
Snow Patrol Forest Is The Path
Ginger Root Shinbangumi
Ghostface Killah Set The Tone (Guns & Roses)
Asha Puthli The Devil Is Loose
Dale Crover Glossolalia
Gurriers Come and See
Nick Lowe Indoor Safari
Josh Turner This Country Music Thing
Etran De L’Air 100% Sahara Guitar
London Grammar The Greatest Love
Nilufer Yanya My Method Actor
The Pretty Reckless Who You Selling For
Dayglow Dayglow
Friction Friction

Coldplay Reissues: A Rush Of Blood To The Head
Parachutes
X&Y
A Head Full Of Dreams

Sept. 20

Singer-songwriter, Joan Wesser, aka Joan as Police Woman, is releasing her 12 studio album, Lemons, Limes and Orchids. She called her new album a shining showcase of her voice saying, “I was ready to make an album that truly featured my voice. The basics were recorded like they used to be, with me singing live along with the band. My good friend told me this is the sexiest album I’ve ever made. Honestly, I think she’s right.”  Get ready for a nighttime journey filled with songs of love and loss. Lemons, Limes and Orchids is scheduled to be released on Sept. 20, 2024, via Pias America.

Other albums of note for the week:
Bright Eyes Five Dice, All Threes
Katy Pery 143
Nubya Garcia Odyssey
Dave Guy Ruby
My Brightest Diamond Fight The Real Terror
The Lijadu Sisters Horizon Unlimited
Manu Chao Viva Tu
Cher Forever
Chappell Roan The Rise And Fall Of A Midwest Princess (Anniversary Ed)
Kate Pierson Radios and Rainbows
Rain Parade Emergency Third Rail Power Trip
M03 Legend
Ashe Willson
Boldy James Across The Tracks
Hippo Campus Flood
The Airborne Toxic Event Glory
Katy J Pearson Someday, Now
The Circle Jerks Live At The House Of Blues
Various Artists Ghost World (Original Soundtrack)
JD Simo & Luther Dickinson Do The Rump
Salvia Palth Last Chance To See
Diamanda Galas Saint Of The Pit
Thurston Moore Flow Critical Lucidity
London Music Works The Story of Wick (Original Soundtrack)
Cody ChesnuTT Headphone Masterpiece
Black Artists Group For Peace And Liberty: In Paris, Dec 1972
Keanu Nelson Wilurarrakutu
Jamie xx In Waves

Sept. 27

For more than 30 years, Alan Sparhawk has shared his ever-changing sonic experiments, most notably as frontman for the group Low with his wife, Mimi Parker. Low’s 2021 release, Hey What, was one of our favorite releases of the year and served as a perfect example of the culmination of his music and religious journey, trying to make sense of the world. Parker died in 2022 after a long battle with cancer. Sparhawk’s new album, White Roses, My God is a record filled with grief and questions about heaven and the afterlife. As Sparhawk unburdens his soul and exorcises demons, he never gives up hope, he never gives up on life. White Roses, My God is scheduled to be released on Sept. 27, 2024, via Sub Pop Records.

Other albums of note for the week:
The Lumineers Live From Wrigley Field
Billy Strings Highway Prayers
William Basinski September 23rd
Roots Manuva Run Come Save Me
Common & Pete Rock The Auditorium, Vol. 1
Shaboozey Where I’ve Ben, Isn’t Where I’m Going
Christian Lee Hutson Paradise Pop.10
Horace Andy & Jah Wobble Timeless Roots
Tha Dogg Pound W.A.W.G. (We All We Got)
Xiu Xiu 13 Frank Beltrame Italian Stiletto with Bison Horn Grips
Lil Peep Come Over When You’re Sober, Pt. 1
Cornelius Dream In Dream
Slash Orgy Of The Damned
Dennis Coffey Finger Pickin’ Good
Black Sherif The Villain I Never Was
Steeleye Span Now We Are Six (50th Anniversary Edition)
The Black Dahlia Murder Servitude
Colin Stetson The Love It Took To Leave You
Mustafa Dunya
Juan Almeida Fantasia
Kate Bolliger Songs From A Thousand Frames Of Mind
John Davis Jinx
Jake Blount/Mali Obomsawin Symbiont
Devon Allman Miami Moon
Maximo Park Stream Of Life
Montell Fish Charlotte Purified Deluxe
Phantastic Ferniture Phantastic Ferniture
JD McPherson Nite Owls