Recs with Merritt turns through some of hottest vinyl releases of October 2024, including Leon Bridges, Samara Joy, 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 October 2024.

Oct. 4

In 2014, a young artist burst onto the music scene, reminding many of us of another great artist, the late great singer, songwriter, and producer Sam Cooke, with his moves, his voice, and his passion for soul music. That young man is Grammy Award-winner Leon Bridges. Not satisfied to be the voice of a Neo-Soul movement, Bridges continued to grow musically, collaborating with the group Khruangbin on two EPs—2020’s Texas Sun and 2022’s Texas Moon that showcased the music scene of their hometown of Fort Worth, Texas. Leon, Bridges’ new self-titled album, is being called his most personal album to date, and he is continuing his quest to show his love of the Fort Worth music scene. Leon is scheduled to be released on Oct. 4, 2024, via Columbia Records.

Other albums of note for the week:
The Smile Cutouts
Coldplay Moon Music
Caribou Honey
Aphex Twin Selected Ambient Works Volume ll
Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit Live From The Ryman 2
Seun Kuti Heavier Yet (Lays The Crownless Head)
Godspeed You Black Emperor No Title As Of 13 February 2024 28,340 Dead
Lady Gaga Joker: Folie a Deux (Music From The Motion Picture)
Blood Brothers Crimes (Collector’s Edition)
Ulver Silence Teaches You How To Sings
Balance & Composure With You In Spirit
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan Chain Of Light
Mindy Smith Quiet Town
Jenny Lewis Voyager (10th Anniversary)
Drake White Low Country High Road
Various Artists Disney’s A Whole New Sound
Hazlett Goodbye To The Valley Low
Thee Sacred Souls Got A Story To Tell
Dawn Richard Quiet In A World Full Of Noise
Nujabes Modal Soul
Alison Moyet Key
Yasmin Williams Acadia
Courettes The Soul Of…The Fabulous Courettes
Hiroyuki Sawano Solo Leaving (Original Series Soundtrack)
The Wild Feathers Sirens

Oct. 11

There is nothing like the deep, emotional feelings one can get when only hearing a few notes from a musical artist and being moved so much that you don’t have to hear another note to know you are listening to someone beyond special and talented. Grammy Award-winning jazz artist, 24-year-old Samara Joy, is that artist. With her third release, Portrait, Joy and her touring band found themselves in the legendary Van Gelder recording studio, recording a collection of jazz standards and originals. Portrait is scheduled to be released Oct. 11, 2024, via Verve.

Other albums of note for the week:
Last Dinner Party Prelude To Ecstasy: Acoustics And Covers
Dawes Oh Brother
La Femme Rock Machine
Jelly Roll Beautiful Broken
The Linda Lindas No Obligation
Peter Cat Recording Co. Beta
Brett Dennen If It Takes Forever
Kraut An Adjustment To Society
Phil Mogg Moggs Motel
Touche Amore Spiral In A Straight Line
Immanual Wilkins Blues Blood
Myles Kennedy The Art Of Letting Go
Darius Jones Legend of e’Boi (The Hypervigilant Eye)
Tank & the Bangas The Heart, The Mind, The Soul
Current Joys East My Love
Dua Saleh I Should Call Them
The Sword Live At Levitation
Dan + Claudia Zanes Pieces Of Homes
Love Of Lesbian Ejercito De Salvacion
Justin Moore This Is My Dirt
M.A.G.S. M.A.G.S.
Clint Mansell Doom (Original Soundtrack)
Nate Mercereau Excellent Traveler
Hermanos Gutierrez Back Catalog Releases:
Etrnamente
Hoy Como Ayer
8 Anos
El Camino De Mi Alma
Hijos Del Sol

Oct. 18

One of the best ways to find and explore new music is through highly curated, various artists’ music compilations. One of the best curators in the business is the British Independent label Mr. Bongo and their Record Club series. The latest release, Mr. Bongo’s Record Club, Vol. 7 offers selections from the Brazilian, Latin, soul, disco, gospel, cosmic, dancehall, and downtempo genres. Vol. 7 includes a diverse array of artists, including Os Panteras from Brazil, underground disco by Claude Jay, the Danish soul sounds of Gitte & Inger, and the gospel tunes of Truth & Devotion. Mr. Bongo’s Record Club, Vol. 7 is scheduled to be released on Oct. 18, 2024, via Mr. Bongo.

Other albums of note for the week:
Japandroids Fate & Alcohol
H.E.R. I Used To Know Her
Doja Cat Scarlet 2 Claude
Train Greatest Hits
Sixpence None The Richer Rosemary Hill
Daddy Yankee Barrio Fino
The Voidz Like All Before You
Soweto Gospel Choir History of House
Kylie Minogue Tension ll
Wild Rivers Better Now
Jerry Cantrell I Want Blood
Boobie Knight & The Universal Lady Earth Creatures
Phantogram Memory Of A Day
Kelly Finnigan A Lover Was Born
Will Butler Stereophonic (Original Broadway Cast Recording)
Sid Griffin The Journey From Grape To Raisin
Jeff Healey Band Road House: The Lost Soundtrack (Original Soundtrack)
Various Artists Why Don’t You Smile Now: Lou Reed At Pickwick Records 1964-1965
Karate Make It Fit
Dora Morelenbaum Pique
Belair Lip Bombs Lush Life
Gizelle Smith This Is Gizelle Smith & The Mighty Mocambos

Oct. 25

British Indie-Folk, singer/songwriter Laura Marling has always been one of our favorite recording artists, beginning with her 2008 release Alas, I Cannot Swim. With Patterns In Repeat—her eighth studio album in 15 years—Marling shares her experience of being a new mother and how family history and what we pass down reflects our current behavior. Patterns In Repeat is scheduled to be released on Oct. 25, 2024, via Chrysalis Records.

Other albums of note for the week:
Eminem The Death Of Slim Shady (Coup de Grace)
James Blake & Lil Yachty Bad Cameo
Amethyst Kiah Still + Bright
Halsey The Great Impersonator
Tess Parks Pomegranate
Songs: Ohia Protection Spells
Charlie Megira End Of Teenage
Amyl & the Sniffers Cartoon Darkness
Waxahatchee Cerulean Salt (Reissue)
Pixies The Night The Zombies Came
Tears for Fears Songs For a Nervous Planet
Charlie Parker Bird In Kansas City
Ed Sheehan  +-=÷x
Bluey Rug Island
Kelsea Ballerini Patterns
Beth Hart You Still Got Me
311 Full Bloom
Lovelytheband Lovelytheband
Katie Gavin What A Relief
Slint Tweez (35th Anniversary)
Soccer Mommy Evergreen
Adrian Younge/Ali Shaheed Muhammad EboTaylor Jid022
Jesse Malin Silver Patron Saints
Opolopo & Angela Johnson Best Of Both Worlds
Mouse On Mars Herzog Sessions
BadBadNotGood Mid Spiral