Synth-pop vets FREEZEPOP — probably best known outside Boston for their song “Less Talk More Rokk,” Guitar Hero II’s sleeper hit — make the jump to a major label, Warner imprint Cordless Recordings, for their third full-length, Future Future Future Perfect. It comes out September 25, and they celebrate its release downstairs at the Middle East September 27. Hip-hop supergroup SPECIAL TEAMZ — Edo G, Jaysaun, and Slaine — also have a new album coming out September 25. Stereotypez (Duck Down) features production from Pete Rock, Premo, and Marco Polo; they celebrate its release downstairs at the Middle East September 28. Producer/instrumentalist GNOTES (a/k/a Sean Dwyer), who plays guitar in Elemental Zazen’s live band, picks up the mic for Rhymes and Beats (Gnawledge; October 9), the follow-up to last year’s Inthrumental. He’s gathering a crew of collaborators for a CD-release party upstairs at the Middle East October 11.
Indie five-piece BAKER, who wowed at this year’s Rumble, celebrate the release of their debut full-length at T.T. the Bear’s Place October 5; meanwhile, ’70s-rock juggernaut TOWNSHIP, who edged out Baker in the Rumble final, are putting the finishing touches on their first full-length. Minneapolis-based Soft Abuse Records will release the new album from indie-pop Cantabrigians PANTS YELL! November 13.
Cave In frontman Stephen Brodsky’s new band PET GENIUS fête their debut full-length — Pet Genius (Hydra Head), which they recorded with Converge guitarist and in-demand producer Kurt Ballou at his GodCity studio in Salem — upstairs at the Middle East October 13. Says Brodsky via e-mail, “An inside source described the aural content of said record to sound much like a dumpster being dropped off the Empire State Building.”
Looking ahead: polyglot-pop faves APOLLO SUNSHINE recently signed a deal with World’s Fair imprint Headless Heroes, and they’ve been holed up in Old Soul Studios in Catskill, New York working on their third album. Collaborators include Mazarin’s Quentin Stoltzfus, White Flight, Edan, and the Drug Rug dudes. Drummer Jeremy Black says, “The material really runs the gamut” — surprise, surprise. They’re heading out on a tour with Dr. Dog that kicks off at the Paradise October 3.
