Skip to main content

The Manual may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

New Music Preview: Mavis Staples, Morrissey, and Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings

Morrissey Getty Images
Xavi Torrent/Getty Images
Welcome to the Manual’s new monthly album preview column. Below you’ll find the three records releasing in November that we can’t wait to hear!

Mavis Staples – If All I Was Was Black

Mavis Staples - "If All I Was Was Black"

“We’re not loving one another the way we should,” notes Mavis Staples in a press release for the forthcoming If All I Was Was Black, written and produced by Jeff Tweedy of Wilco fame. She adds, “Some people are saying we need to make the world great again, but we never lost our greatness. We just strayed into division.”

Early single “Little Bit,” is a “a cautionary anthem of all the ways in which those regarded as suspicious have to weigh their actions just to survive day to day.” The song’s jaunty bassline contrasts with its chorus: “A little bit too high / a little bit too low / a little bit out of line / and my baby won’t make it home.” But the coda is optimistic: Staples sings, “You feel surrounded / Maybe you’re confused / Maybe you’re confounded / What is there to do? / A little bit from you / A little bit from me / Simple as it gets / We set each other free.” (Available November 17 via ANTI-)

Morrissey – Low in High School

Morrissey - Spent the Day in Bed (Official Video)

Fall 2017 has been a treat for fans of The Smiths. October saw the release of a highly acclaimed deluxe remaster of the band’s 1986 classic, The Queen is Dead, and Morrissey’s latest solo outing, titled Low in High School, arrives in mid-November.

Two early singles have come out since the album’s August announcement. “Spent the Day in Bed” is a synth-infused pop anthem that doubles as a protest against the evils of television news. The chorus repeats, “Stop watching the news! / Because the news contrives to frighten you / To make you feel small and alone /To make you feel that your mind isn’t your own.” (Available November 17 via BMG)

Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings – Soul of a Woman

Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings "Matter of Time" OFFICIAL VIDEO

Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings’ new album, Soul of a Woman, arrives a year — nearly to the day — after the beloved soul singer’s death from pancreatic cancer. Recorded throughout the year before Jones’ death, the record finds her voice at full power.

“Matter of Time,” an early single released in October, is an uplifting gem. The song captures the energy of the band’s on-stage energy, which makes sense given Dap-Kings bassist Bosco Mann’s comment in a press release: “The band was really cresting on stage in months before Sharon passed. As a show band, I don’t think any band out there could have competed with us at that level. We hit the studio hot off the road and you could feel it in there.” (Available November 17 via Daptone Records)

Feature image courtesy of Xavi Torrent/Getty Images.

Writer’s note: In addition to contributing to The Manual, I work at a music promotion company, Distiller Promo, that is currently promoting Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings’ Soul of a Woman.

Editors' Recommendations

New Music Preview: Calexico, Cadence Weapon, and First Aid Kit
Cadence Weapon new music monthly

Welcome to The Manual's music preview for January 2018. A wide of range of exciting artists have new album releases coming out this month, and below you'll find three that we can't wait to hear.
Cadence Weapon - Cadence Weapon
Cadence Weapon/Coey Kerr

When Rollie Pemberton, who performs as Cadence Weapon, dropped "My Crew (Woooo)," the Kaytranada-produced lead single picked up features in a variety of music blogs, including Consequence of Sound, Pitchfork, Stereogum. The song, his first release since the 2012 album Hope in Dirty City, came out alone; the announcement of the self-titled Cadence Weapon coincided with the premiere of another song, "Large," released in November 2017.

Read more
Loving March Madness? 10 basketball documentaries you need to stream
These documentaries about basketball tell the stories behind the world's greatest NBA stars
best basketball documentaries to stream bird and magic

Basketball is a worldwide phenomenon in 2023. The sport that started as a desperate idea from Canadian-American physical education teacher James Naismith has evolved into a cultural touchstone for kids and adults alike all over the planet as well as an excellent workout. Some of the most famous celebrities on Earth have played basketball, from Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant to LeBron James and Magic Johnson. The vibrant personalities and stories behind these prominent basketball figures have led to keen public curiosity about their upbringings, their struggles, and their internal triumphs.

This is where documentary filmmaking comes into the equation. With the influx of streaming on platforms such as Netflix and HBO Max, basketball fans have been able to binge their educational movies about the NBA and college basketball for many years now. The market for these documentaries continues to grow, and it seems more basketball players and coaches are getting their own films. It's time to look at 10 of the best documentaries about basketball you can get your hands on right now!

Read more
The 22 best Netflix movies to stream right now
These are the best movies to stream on Netflix
Netflix logo on tv with red back lighting

Although it's now only one big player in an even bigger streaming market, Netflix still manages to crank out plenty of stuff to keep its users subscribing. That glut of content is great if all you want is to never get bored, but it can make it difficult to figure out which things are actually worth your time, and which aren't. If that's your goal, we've got you covered. This list is a combination of great Netflix original movies, and great movies that Netflix is currently housing on its service. What unites these movies, though, is that they are the very best that Netflix currently has to offer.
If you're looking for films to watch on some of Netflix's competitors, we've also found the best Amazon Prime movies, the best Hulu movies, and the best Disney+ movies.

All Quiet on the Western Front (2022)

Read more