Black Lips
Arabia Mountain (Vice)
Release Date: June 7
Who: Sharp garage rockers from Georgia, home of the rebel yell.
What: Courtesy of producer Mark Ronson (Amy Winehouse, Adele), the sixth studio album from these Atlanta braves is more crafted than crafty, adding R&B horns and a pop curve.
Why buy: While it’s the band’s most accessible record, Arabia Mountain retains the Lips’ essential snot and spit.
Neil Young
International Harvester: A Treasure (Reprise Records)
Release Date: June 14
Who: The man who rivals Dylan for world’s biggest road hog title.
What: These live cuts date from a time when Young pissed off corporations (including his then label) and went rogue, touring in 1984 and 1985 with this stellar country combo.
Why buy: Completist alert: Whether on CD, limited edition vinyl or the deluxe CD/Blu-ray package, this includes five previously unreleased songs.
Pitbull
Planet Pit (J-Records )
Release Date: June 21
Who:
What: Pitbull’s team on his sixth album reads like a block party A-list: Ne-Yo, Afrojack and Nayer join in on first single, Give Me Everything. T-Pain and Sean Paul add their two cents worth later. Everyone hugs.
Queen
News of the World, Jazz, The Game, Flash Gordon, Hot Space (Hollywood Records)
Release Date: June 28
Who: The band that put the wham bam in glam celebrates its 40th anniversary.
What: Following the winter reissues of Queen’s early ’70s gems, round two re-ups records from 1977 to ’82.
Why buy: To top out the volume and crank We Are The Champions, We Will Rock You and Fat Bottomed Girls.
