VoxTalk highlights three albums from a strong week of releases, recent tour developments and other music news.

New albums (released Oct. 2):

The Mountain Goats – Transcendental Youth

John Darnielle, the prolific driving force behind The Mountain Goats, moves away from the acoustic instrumentation that’s defined his music for so long. Darnielle’s hyper-literate wordplay is now anchored by blaring horns and brass sections, and Superchunk drummer Jon Wurster adds his spry percussion.

Courtesy of Amazon.com

Mark Eitzel – Don’t Be a Stranger

American Music Club frontman Mark Eitzel wrote these songs after recovering from a severe heart attack. They were meant to be American Music Club songs, but Eitzel recorded them solo instead.

Matt & Kim – Lightning

The indie-pop duo recorded this album in their New York apartment, but Lightning has the same glossy shine of their previous material. It’s feel good music, with handclaps, bouncy beats and sing-along choruses.

Tours:

Muse – The prog rockers announced a string of North American dates.

Titus Andronicus – These noisy wordsmiths will tour in support of their latest album, Local Business.

Other tidbits:

-Paul Westerberg and Tommy Stinson, founding members of The Replacements, reunited for a 4-song EP to benefit their former bandmate Slim Dunlap, who suffered from a stroke earlier this year. Westerberg and Stinson will auction off 250 copies of the EP, with all proceeds going toward Dunlap’s medical bills.

-After a 10-year hiatus, Godspeed You! Black Emperor randomly announced that it will be touring and releasing a new album. True to the band’s style, the record is comprised of four lengthy tracks.

-The Dismemberment Plan announced that it’s working on a new album, the band’s first since 2001’s Change.

Vox pick of the week:

Kendrick Lamar feat. Dr. Dre – “Compton”

Rapper Kendrick Lamar teamed with Dr. Dre for this tribute to West Coast hip-hop’s homebase. Just Blaze lays down a old-school beat, complete with whining, g-funk sirens and a thrashing drum track. Lamar’s upcoming album, good kid, m.A.A.d. city, comes out on October 22^nd.