Add Date: March 13
Artist: Andrew Bird
Album: Break It Yourself
Label: Mom + Pop
Genre: Rock, folk pop
Comments: What's there to say that hasn't already been said about Andrew Bird? With a career dating back a decade and a half, and at least six or seven years at the pinnacle of the avant-pop world, the Chicago native has garnered all kinds of well-deserved praise and critical acclaim for his one-of-a-kind blend of chamber pop and folk-inflected rock, dazzling fans of all ages with his outstanding songwriting, his unbelievable work on the violin and his unparalleled whistling prowess.
After a successful run on Fat Possum, Bird has moved over to Mom + Pop for Break It Yourself, his first proper studio LP since 2009's Noble Beast. It's another excellent collection of tunes, highlighted by superb cuts like "Eyeoneye", "Danse Caribe", "Give It Away", "Lusitania" (featuring St. Vincent's Annie Clark) and "Near Death Experience Experience". Those are the radio hits, but don't miss the late-album, 8-minute orchestral stunner "Hole in the Ocean Floor".
If you've somehow missed out on Bird's brilliance so far, here's your chance to dive in headfirst. Spin tracks 5, 3, 9, 7, 4 and 13.
Monday, March 19, 2012
Trust
Add Date: March 13
Artist: Trust
Album: TRST
Label: Arts & Crafts
Genre: Electronica
Comments: Known as Trust, the Toronto duo of Robert Alfons and Maya Postepski make dark, moody-yet-accessible electronic music that falls somewhere between Crystal Castles and the gothic electropop of acts like Zola Jesus and Austra. (Postepski is also a member of that latter band.) Though the project dates back to 2009, Trust are just now releasing a proper full-length; TRST collects some of the band's best work from numerous singles and EPs, including the excellent 2011 tracks "Bulbform" and "Candy Walls"--which are both good starting points for the album--and mixes in some new creations.
Electropop with an experimental flair; spin tracks 3, 5, 6, 8 and 2.
Artist: Trust
Album: TRST
Label: Arts & Crafts
Genre: Electronica
Comments: Known as Trust, the Toronto duo of Robert Alfons and Maya Postepski make dark, moody-yet-accessible electronic music that falls somewhere between Crystal Castles and the gothic electropop of acts like Zola Jesus and Austra. (Postepski is also a member of that latter band.) Though the project dates back to 2009, Trust are just now releasing a proper full-length; TRST collects some of the band's best work from numerous singles and EPs, including the excellent 2011 tracks "Bulbform" and "Candy Walls"--which are both good starting points for the album--and mixes in some new creations.
Electropop with an experimental flair; spin tracks 3, 5, 6, 8 and 2.
Mind Spiders
Add Date: March 13
Artist: Mind Spiders
Album: Meltdown
Label: Dirtnap
Genre: Rock
Comments: Mind Spiders make gritty, garage-rock songs that would fit well on a playlist alongside Black Lips and Ty Segall. Originally a side project for Mark Ryan of Texas punk-rock stalwarts The Marked Men, Mind Spiders have evolved into a full-fledged band, and Meltdown is their second full-length in as many years. Having six members in tow allows Mind Spiders to flesh out their songs, with synths and organ nicely complementing the guitar, bass and drums--and, at times, pushing the tunes away from the garage-rock niche and into the realm of post-punk.
Good stuff--spin tracks 1, 2, 3 and 10.
Artist: Mind Spiders
Album: Meltdown
Label: Dirtnap
Genre: Rock
Comments: Mind Spiders make gritty, garage-rock songs that would fit well on a playlist alongside Black Lips and Ty Segall. Originally a side project for Mark Ryan of Texas punk-rock stalwarts The Marked Men, Mind Spiders have evolved into a full-fledged band, and Meltdown is their second full-length in as many years. Having six members in tow allows Mind Spiders to flesh out their songs, with synths and organ nicely complementing the guitar, bass and drums--and, at times, pushing the tunes away from the garage-rock niche and into the realm of post-punk.
Good stuff--spin tracks 1, 2, 3 and 10.
Xerxes
Add Date: March 13
Artist: Xerxes
Album: Our Home Is a Deathbed
Label: No Sleep
Genre: Rock, punk
Comments: From the promoter: "Xerxes channels the energy and passion of mid-'90s originators You and I and Saetia, while adding the more upbeat and brutal thrash mentality of contemporaries such as Trash Talk and Ampere, making for a sound that runs the gamut of blast-beat aggression and emotional rumination."
If thrash and hardcore music is your thing, you'll appreciate the combination of melodic, upbeat rock songs and the lung-defiling screamed vocals on Our Home Is a Deathbed. The promoter recommends tracks 2, 3 and 8.
Artist: Xerxes
Album: Our Home Is a Deathbed
Label: No Sleep
Genre: Rock, punk
Comments: From the promoter: "Xerxes channels the energy and passion of mid-'90s originators You and I and Saetia, while adding the more upbeat and brutal thrash mentality of contemporaries such as Trash Talk and Ampere, making for a sound that runs the gamut of blast-beat aggression and emotional rumination."
If thrash and hardcore music is your thing, you'll appreciate the combination of melodic, upbeat rock songs and the lung-defiling screamed vocals on Our Home Is a Deathbed. The promoter recommends tracks 2, 3 and 8.
Sietta
Add Date: March 13
Artist: Sietta
Album: The Seventh Passenger
Label: Elefant Traks
Genre: Electronica, dubstep
Comments: Dubstep down under? On The Seventh Passenger, the Australian duo Sietta, featuring producer James Mangohig and vocalist Caiti Baker, mold influences that range from trip hop to pop, club music to soul, and hip hop to, yes, the modern dancefloor trend known as dubstep. Spin tracks 5 and 2.
Artist: Sietta
Album: The Seventh Passenger
Label: Elefant Traks
Genre: Electronica, dubstep
Comments: Dubstep down under? On The Seventh Passenger, the Australian duo Sietta, featuring producer James Mangohig and vocalist Caiti Baker, mold influences that range from trip hop to pop, club music to soul, and hip hop to, yes, the modern dancefloor trend known as dubstep. Spin tracks 5 and 2.
Arn Rhys
Add Date: March 13
Artist: Arn Rhys
Album: Chapel of the Fool
Label: Self-released
Genre: Folk
Comments: Simple arrangements of acoustic guitar and vocals from the folk singer Arn Rhys on the 8-song album Chapel of the Fool. The music here could easily get classified as "singer/songwriter"--and I suppose that, technically, that's what this is--but Rhys' songs seem more steeped in '60s folk than in modern coffeeshop fare.
Spin tracks 1, 5 and 2.
Artist: Arn Rhys
Album: Chapel of the Fool
Label: Self-released
Genre: Folk
Comments: Simple arrangements of acoustic guitar and vocals from the folk singer Arn Rhys on the 8-song album Chapel of the Fool. The music here could easily get classified as "singer/songwriter"--and I suppose that, technically, that's what this is--but Rhys' songs seem more steeped in '60s folk than in modern coffeeshop fare.
Spin tracks 1, 5 and 2.
WZRD
Add Date: March 13
Artist: WZRD
Album: WZRD
Label: Universal Republic
Genre: Rock, alternative
Comments: From the promoter: "Kid Cudi and Dot Da Genius have worked and vibed off one another since Cudi's demo tape days... Still feeling the guitar-based energy of Man on the Moon, Vol. II: The Legend of Mr. Rager, WZRD features Cudi and Genius once again collaborating with one another and crossing over to new territories themselves... The album features intricate guitar work by Cudi himself, while Dot mans the bass, spacey production, and experimental synths..."
A solid, if unspectacular effort--these are talented and versatile musicians seemingly getting pinned down into a relatively specific subgenre of alternative music: namely, the electrorock of bands like Ratatat (who have, of course, worked with Cudi). WZRD do make several conscious efforts to break out of this, and tracks like the R&B-channeling pop song "Teleport 2 Me, Jamie" and the guitar-driven noise-rock of "High Off Life" work pretty well; other attempts, like a curiously dry version of the traditional "Where Did You Sleep Last Night?" fall somewhat flat.
Stick with tracks 7, 2 and 5.
Artist: WZRD
Album: WZRD
Label: Universal Republic
Genre: Rock, alternative
Comments: From the promoter: "Kid Cudi and Dot Da Genius have worked and vibed off one another since Cudi's demo tape days... Still feeling the guitar-based energy of Man on the Moon, Vol. II: The Legend of Mr. Rager, WZRD features Cudi and Genius once again collaborating with one another and crossing over to new territories themselves... The album features intricate guitar work by Cudi himself, while Dot mans the bass, spacey production, and experimental synths..."
A solid, if unspectacular effort--these are talented and versatile musicians seemingly getting pinned down into a relatively specific subgenre of alternative music: namely, the electrorock of bands like Ratatat (who have, of course, worked with Cudi). WZRD do make several conscious efforts to break out of this, and tracks like the R&B-channeling pop song "Teleport 2 Me, Jamie" and the guitar-driven noise-rock of "High Off Life" work pretty well; other attempts, like a curiously dry version of the traditional "Where Did You Sleep Last Night?" fall somewhat flat.
Stick with tracks 7, 2 and 5.
Eliza Rickman
Add Date: March 13
Artist: Eliza Rickman
Album: O, You Sinners
Label: Self-released
Genre: Folk pop, avant pop
Comments: From the promoter: "Like Kate Bush's work, or like PJ Harvey's album White Chalk, the arrangements on O, You Sinners are edged with dissonance. Like Andrew Bird, she favors pizzicato strings over junkyard percussion and complex lyrical melodies... Religious themes pervade [Eliza] Rickman's work--her album is, after all, titled O, You Sinners... But like one of her great influences--Nick Cave--her writing belies ambivalence about religion."
Intriguing avant-garde folk pop that definitely pulls in all of the influences cited above. Spin "Pretty Little Head", "Black Rose" and Rickman's cover of the Cave tune "Into My Arms".
Artist: Eliza Rickman
Album: O, You Sinners
Label: Self-released
Genre: Folk pop, avant pop
Comments: From the promoter: "Like Kate Bush's work, or like PJ Harvey's album White Chalk, the arrangements on O, You Sinners are edged with dissonance. Like Andrew Bird, she favors pizzicato strings over junkyard percussion and complex lyrical melodies... Religious themes pervade [Eliza] Rickman's work--her album is, after all, titled O, You Sinners... But like one of her great influences--Nick Cave--her writing belies ambivalence about religion."
Intriguing avant-garde folk pop that definitely pulls in all of the influences cited above. Spin "Pretty Little Head", "Black Rose" and Rickman's cover of the Cave tune "Into My Arms".
Poor Moon
Add Date: March 13
Artist: Poor Moon
Album: Illusion (EP)
Label: Sub Pop
Genre: Folk, alternative
Comments: Fleet Foxes are, unfortunately, splitting left and right. Lead singer Robin Pecknold is engaged in his solo work under the moniker White Antelope; drummer J. Tillman officially left the band to pursue his own solo work. Amidst the chaos, Christian Wargo and Casey Wescott started recording together, calling their duo project Poor Moon.
Illusion, their debut EP, is not Fleet Foxes, and the loss of Pecknold's voice leaves an undeniable gap in the vocal category. The vocals come off as flat and devoid of the emotion that Pecknold lends to each Fleet Foxes track. The album overall contains some great guitar work and tracks like "People in Her Mind" transcend the standard acoustic sound by incorporating some psychedelic elements, helping to distance the work from that of Fleet Foxes. "Widow" proves to be the best piece of songwriting on the album, straddling a sound half Paul Simon and half Fleet Foxes.
Fleet Foxes fans be prepared for a not-spectacular work, but definitely worth a listen for those looking for solace from the band's current situation. Poor Moon might not go down as smooth, but their debut EP is sure to find some fans. Check out tracks 3 and 5.
Artist: Poor Moon
Album: Illusion (EP)
Label: Sub Pop
Genre: Folk, alternative
Comments: Fleet Foxes are, unfortunately, splitting left and right. Lead singer Robin Pecknold is engaged in his solo work under the moniker White Antelope; drummer J. Tillman officially left the band to pursue his own solo work. Amidst the chaos, Christian Wargo and Casey Wescott started recording together, calling their duo project Poor Moon.
Illusion, their debut EP, is not Fleet Foxes, and the loss of Pecknold's voice leaves an undeniable gap in the vocal category. The vocals come off as flat and devoid of the emotion that Pecknold lends to each Fleet Foxes track. The album overall contains some great guitar work and tracks like "People in Her Mind" transcend the standard acoustic sound by incorporating some psychedelic elements, helping to distance the work from that of Fleet Foxes. "Widow" proves to be the best piece of songwriting on the album, straddling a sound half Paul Simon and half Fleet Foxes.
Fleet Foxes fans be prepared for a not-spectacular work, but definitely worth a listen for those looking for solace from the band's current situation. Poor Moon might not go down as smooth, but their debut EP is sure to find some fans. Check out tracks 3 and 5.
The Decemberists
Add Date: March 13
Artist: The Decemberists
Album: We All Raise Our Voices to the Air
Label: Capitol
Genre: Folk, rock
Comments: We All Raise Our Voices to the Air pictures a band at a crossroads looking backwards at the road traveled, the progress made, and the paths forking off into the distance. The Decemberists are probably best known for Colin Meloy's obscure historical and literary allusions, and what could be conceived of as snooty, SAT-caliber diction. On this, their live album, the band chooses to highlight their early successes with 12 of the 20 tracks being released before 2009's Hazards of Love. The Decemberists' sound has evolved from a sound rooted in an earlier time--think '60s folk like Incredible String Band or Fairport Convention--to embracing elements of metal and roots rock on their latest studio LP, The King is Dead.
This live record spans the entire career of The Decemberists and presents a band still in search of a sound that will ground them and lend subsequent albums a sense of consistent evolution. Interestingly, the album as a whole feels cohesive within the realm of The Decemberists' sounds of the last decade. Perhaps We All Raise Our Voices to the Air stands as a testament to the open-ended range of the Decmeberists, signaling a continuation into the world of experimentation.
The record sort of plays like a greatest hits album; however, as always, "Leslie Anne Levine", "The Crane Wife" "1,2,3", "Oceanside", and "June Hymn" are all great.
Artist: The Decemberists
Album: We All Raise Our Voices to the Air
Label: Capitol
Genre: Folk, rock
Comments: We All Raise Our Voices to the Air pictures a band at a crossroads looking backwards at the road traveled, the progress made, and the paths forking off into the distance. The Decemberists are probably best known for Colin Meloy's obscure historical and literary allusions, and what could be conceived of as snooty, SAT-caliber diction. On this, their live album, the band chooses to highlight their early successes with 12 of the 20 tracks being released before 2009's Hazards of Love. The Decemberists' sound has evolved from a sound rooted in an earlier time--think '60s folk like Incredible String Band or Fairport Convention--to embracing elements of metal and roots rock on their latest studio LP, The King is Dead.
This live record spans the entire career of The Decemberists and presents a band still in search of a sound that will ground them and lend subsequent albums a sense of consistent evolution. Interestingly, the album as a whole feels cohesive within the realm of The Decemberists' sounds of the last decade. Perhaps We All Raise Our Voices to the Air stands as a testament to the open-ended range of the Decmeberists, signaling a continuation into the world of experimentation.
The record sort of plays like a greatest hits album; however, as always, "Leslie Anne Levine", "The Crane Wife" "1,2,3", "Oceanside", and "June Hymn" are all great.
John Wesley Coleman III
Add Date: March 13
Artist: John Wesley Coleman III
Album: The Last Donkey Show
Label: Goner
Genre: Alternative
Comments: The Last Donkey Show is one of those kooky records that grows on you the longer you listen. The first couple of tracks are unmemorable and do not showcase Coleman's voice correctly, and he just starts to sound bad. At track 4, "Don't Waste My Time", though, the album picks up as horns glide melodically over a chorus of ayeyai's. Coleman has one of those voices that people automatically dismiss as, to be blunt, grating; however, in this melting pot of an album, Coleman's vocals achieve and complement this overall rollicking weirdness.
Tracks 4, 5, 12 and 9 are recommended.
Artist: John Wesley Coleman III
Album: The Last Donkey Show
Label: Goner
Genre: Alternative
Comments: The Last Donkey Show is one of those kooky records that grows on you the longer you listen. The first couple of tracks are unmemorable and do not showcase Coleman's voice correctly, and he just starts to sound bad. At track 4, "Don't Waste My Time", though, the album picks up as horns glide melodically over a chorus of ayeyai's. Coleman has one of those voices that people automatically dismiss as, to be blunt, grating; however, in this melting pot of an album, Coleman's vocals achieve and complement this overall rollicking weirdness.
Tracks 4, 5, 12 and 9 are recommended.
My Body Sings Electric
Add Date: March 13
Artist: My Body Sings Electric
Album: Changing Color
Label: Self-released
Genre: Rock, pop punk, post-punk
Comments: From the promoter: "My Body Sings Electric created an accessible pop-punk record with a dash of complex instrumentation... Changing Color is a highly polished affair of airtight instrumentation and squeaky-clean vocals... These guys are as technically precise as you can be, and this thing sounds best when they're going for gymnastic guitar lines and disjointed construction."
This is a great math-rock/pop/punk record. Start with 2, 3 and 4.
Artist: My Body Sings Electric
Album: Changing Color
Label: Self-released
Genre: Rock, pop punk, post-punk
Comments: From the promoter: "My Body Sings Electric created an accessible pop-punk record with a dash of complex instrumentation... Changing Color is a highly polished affair of airtight instrumentation and squeaky-clean vocals... These guys are as technically precise as you can be, and this thing sounds best when they're going for gymnastic guitar lines and disjointed construction."
This is a great math-rock/pop/punk record. Start with 2, 3 and 4.
Lost in the Trees
Add Date: March 13
Artist: Lost in the Trees
Album: A Church That Fits Our Needs
Label: ANTI-
Genre: Folk, rock
Comments: From the promoter: "Dense clusters of piano sound, and A Church That Fits Our Needs, the second album by North Carolina group Lost in the Trees is underway, announcing itself as a work of vaulting ambition, a cathedral built on loss and transformation. In the summer of 2009 Ari Picker--writer, composer, and architect of the band--lost his mother, an artist in her own right, when she took her own life... Picker's astonishing voice--an instrument that veers from Carol Wilson's emotional purity to the otherworldly abstractions of Thom Yorke--opens our window into this intensely emotional record."
Lost in the Trees' first record was one of my favorites of 2010. That album was full of stripped-down folk pop that featured string arrangements here and there. A Church That Fits Our Needs is far more orchestral and full-bodied than the band's debut record. This album is seriously intense and would do well as a score for a suspense film.
Start with tracks 4, 9, 2 and 3.
Artist: Lost in the Trees
Album: A Church That Fits Our Needs
Label: ANTI-
Genre: Folk, rock
Comments: From the promoter: "Dense clusters of piano sound, and A Church That Fits Our Needs, the second album by North Carolina group Lost in the Trees is underway, announcing itself as a work of vaulting ambition, a cathedral built on loss and transformation. In the summer of 2009 Ari Picker--writer, composer, and architect of the band--lost his mother, an artist in her own right, when she took her own life... Picker's astonishing voice--an instrument that veers from Carol Wilson's emotional purity to the otherworldly abstractions of Thom Yorke--opens our window into this intensely emotional record."
Lost in the Trees' first record was one of my favorites of 2010. That album was full of stripped-down folk pop that featured string arrangements here and there. A Church That Fits Our Needs is far more orchestral and full-bodied than the band's debut record. This album is seriously intense and would do well as a score for a suspense film.
Start with tracks 4, 9, 2 and 3.
Tom Jones
Add Date: March 13
Artist: (The) Tom Jones
Album: "Evil" b/w "Jezebel" (single)
Label: Third Man
Genre: Rock, blues
Comments: From the label: "Third Man Records is very proud to announce a very special never thought it would happen in our wildest dreams 7" single with the one and only Tom Jones... [These two tracks are] full of dangerous swagger, blues, braggadocio and those heartfelt soulful coval stylings that have knocked 'em dead for generations."
I won't even try and describe the greatness of these two songs. IT'S TOM JONES, FOR GOODNESS SAKE.
Artist: (The) Tom Jones
Album: "Evil" b/w "Jezebel" (single)
Label: Third Man
Genre: Rock, blues
Comments: From the label: "Third Man Records is very proud to announce a very special never thought it would happen in our wildest dreams 7" single with the one and only Tom Jones... [These two tracks are] full of dangerous swagger, blues, braggadocio and those heartfelt soulful coval stylings that have knocked 'em dead for generations."
I won't even try and describe the greatness of these two songs. IT'S TOM JONES, FOR GOODNESS SAKE.
Fanfarlo
Add Date: March 13
Artist: Fanfarlo
Album: Rooms Filled with Light
Label: Atlantic
Genre: Indie rock
Comments: After their sparkling 2009 debut, Reservoir, Fanfarlo carved out a place in a fantastic year for indie rock as pop-folk darlings. Lucky for us, their yearning, raw-edged orchestral style still remains on their latest album, Rooms Filled with Light, with the band taking a different approach in deploying delight with some '80s-inspired rhythms and lush, charming compositions.
Fanfarlo's album: it's catchy, it's fun, and it's all on tracks 7, 10 and 2.
Artist: Fanfarlo
Album: Rooms Filled with Light
Label: Atlantic
Genre: Indie rock
Comments: After their sparkling 2009 debut, Reservoir, Fanfarlo carved out a place in a fantastic year for indie rock as pop-folk darlings. Lucky for us, their yearning, raw-edged orchestral style still remains on their latest album, Rooms Filled with Light, with the band taking a different approach in deploying delight with some '80s-inspired rhythms and lush, charming compositions.
Fanfarlo's album: it's catchy, it's fun, and it's all on tracks 7, 10 and 2.
Kaiser Chiefs
Add Date: March 13
Artist: Kaiser Chiefs
Album: Start the Revolution Without Me
Label: B-Unique/Polydor
Genre: Rock, alternative
Comments: The first time I heard of the Leeds indie rock band known as the Kaiser Chiefs was with their infectious hit "I Predict a Riot", which happened to come from the band's debut album Employment back in 2004. Eight years later, the Chiefs are releasing their fourth studio album, which doesn't feature as many indie anthems, let alone songs that are upbeat bounce-alongs like their upstart years. In fact, Start the Revolution Without Me almost comes across as a more measured and mature era for the band, and a heck of a lot gloomier. But at its best, there's enough variety and invention to recall The Beatles and those alt-rockers of days past, sometimes directly.
An album that deserves to be heard (well, at least once); check out tracks 9, 12, 3, 1 and 5.
Artist: Kaiser Chiefs
Album: Start the Revolution Without Me
Label: B-Unique/Polydor
Genre: Rock, alternative
Comments: The first time I heard of the Leeds indie rock band known as the Kaiser Chiefs was with their infectious hit "I Predict a Riot", which happened to come from the band's debut album Employment back in 2004. Eight years later, the Chiefs are releasing their fourth studio album, which doesn't feature as many indie anthems, let alone songs that are upbeat bounce-alongs like their upstart years. In fact, Start the Revolution Without Me almost comes across as a more measured and mature era for the band, and a heck of a lot gloomier. But at its best, there's enough variety and invention to recall The Beatles and those alt-rockers of days past, sometimes directly.
An album that deserves to be heard (well, at least once); check out tracks 9, 12, 3, 1 and 5.
Bear in Heaven
Add Date: March 13
Artist: Bear in Heaven
Album: I Love You, It's Cool
Label: Hometapes/Dead Oceans
Genre: Indie rock
Comments: From the promoter: "For years, Bear in Heaven existed as a nights-and-weekends band, the sort of project that was more of a casual hobby than a career path for a few Southern natives who'd been living in the city for years... But in 2010, Beast Rest Forth Mouth delighted listeners with the unexpected--futuristic rock music that didn't sound alien or bound to ostracize. Taking these songs from coast to coast and continent to continent, they learned that having fun with this music was copacetic, that they could delight a crowd while defying musical binaries. I Love You, It's Cool turns that realization into a peerless set of instant anthems...
"But the intricacy and edge of Bear in Heaven's music is not only here but sharper and more sophisticated than ever before... [Jon] Philpot's mix of nostalgia and need is immediately relatable, too, bringing the band's exploratory sounds a little closer back to home. But the [album] exits in a moment of space-rock ascendance, a readymade rock-club banger that erupts into a bold new direction."
The entire album is bliss and officially gains my WLUR seal of approval. That said, tracks 1, 2, 5 and 8 are divine.
Artist: Bear in Heaven
Album: I Love You, It's Cool
Label: Hometapes/Dead Oceans
Genre: Indie rock
Comments: From the promoter: "For years, Bear in Heaven existed as a nights-and-weekends band, the sort of project that was more of a casual hobby than a career path for a few Southern natives who'd been living in the city for years... But in 2010, Beast Rest Forth Mouth delighted listeners with the unexpected--futuristic rock music that didn't sound alien or bound to ostracize. Taking these songs from coast to coast and continent to continent, they learned that having fun with this music was copacetic, that they could delight a crowd while defying musical binaries. I Love You, It's Cool turns that realization into a peerless set of instant anthems...
"But the intricacy and edge of Bear in Heaven's music is not only here but sharper and more sophisticated than ever before... [Jon] Philpot's mix of nostalgia and need is immediately relatable, too, bringing the band's exploratory sounds a little closer back to home. But the [album] exits in a moment of space-rock ascendance, a readymade rock-club banger that erupts into a bold new direction."
The entire album is bliss and officially gains my WLUR seal of approval. That said, tracks 1, 2, 5 and 8 are divine.
Say Anything
Add Date: March 13
Artist: Say Anything
Album: Anarchy, My Dear
Label: Equal Vision
Genre: Rock, punk
Comments: The indie punk band known as Say Anything is releasing their fourth studio album, and although it is supposed to recapture all of the band's glory from Real Boy, Anarchy, My Dear just doesn't deliver. While it's not completely bad, the album is weak because it lacks the enthusiasm, energy and creativity of other punk rock albums.
Though it may not be Say Anything's shiniest moment, the album does have some fine tunes in tracks 2 and 1.
Artist: Say Anything
Album: Anarchy, My Dear
Label: Equal Vision
Genre: Rock, punk
Comments: The indie punk band known as Say Anything is releasing their fourth studio album, and although it is supposed to recapture all of the band's glory from Real Boy, Anarchy, My Dear just doesn't deliver. While it's not completely bad, the album is weak because it lacks the enthusiasm, energy and creativity of other punk rock albums.
Though it may not be Say Anything's shiniest moment, the album does have some fine tunes in tracks 2 and 1.
Friday, March 9, 2012
Best New Music - March 6
Best of the week:
Plus: Caravan of Thieves, Lee Fields, The Magnetic Fields, and EPs from The Concept and The Kills
The Men
Add Date: March 6
Artist: The Men
Album: Open Your Heart
Label: Sacred Bones
Genre: Rock
Comments: What are you looking for in a rock and roll record? Blazing guitars? Tons of energy? Great songwriting? Walls of psychedelic noise? It's hard to find something on that checklist that doesn't appear on Open Your Heart, the stunning new LP from Brooklyn quartet The Men. In the past, their music has been classified as psychedelic rock, punk, shoegaze, and even black metal, but the band's third LP hones and sharpens this sound into excellent alternative rock.
Call it what you will, but here's what happens, chronologically, on Open Your Heart: you get blown away by the crunching percussion, wicked guitar riffs and pop hooks of "Turn It Around"; your ears start bleeding (it's a good thing; trust me) on the Black Flag-channeling "Animal"; you get lost in the psychedelic haze of "Country Song"; your mind is blown by the 7-minute surf-rock jam "Oscillation"; you tap your foot along to the glorious shoegaze rock of "Please Don't Go Away"; you bask in the superb post-punk of the title track; you think a Paul Westerberg cover has inexplicably slipped in with "Candy"; your speakers are blown out (again) by the noisy punk gem "Cube"; you fall back into psych-rock bliss on "Presence"; and you finish out with 5-plus minutes of fuzzed-out guitar pop on "Ex-Dreams".
Then you listen to it all over again.
One of 2012's best. Spin tracks 1, 5, 6, 4, 7 and 2.
Artist: The Men
Album: Open Your Heart
Label: Sacred Bones
Genre: Rock
Comments: What are you looking for in a rock and roll record? Blazing guitars? Tons of energy? Great songwriting? Walls of psychedelic noise? It's hard to find something on that checklist that doesn't appear on Open Your Heart, the stunning new LP from Brooklyn quartet The Men. In the past, their music has been classified as psychedelic rock, punk, shoegaze, and even black metal, but the band's third LP hones and sharpens this sound into excellent alternative rock.
Call it what you will, but here's what happens, chronologically, on Open Your Heart: you get blown away by the crunching percussion, wicked guitar riffs and pop hooks of "Turn It Around"; your ears start bleeding (it's a good thing; trust me) on the Black Flag-channeling "Animal"; you get lost in the psychedelic haze of "Country Song"; your mind is blown by the 7-minute surf-rock jam "Oscillation"; you tap your foot along to the glorious shoegaze rock of "Please Don't Go Away"; you bask in the superb post-punk of the title track; you think a Paul Westerberg cover has inexplicably slipped in with "Candy"; your speakers are blown out (again) by the noisy punk gem "Cube"; you fall back into psych-rock bliss on "Presence"; and you finish out with 5-plus minutes of fuzzed-out guitar pop on "Ex-Dreams".
Then you listen to it all over again.
One of 2012's best. Spin tracks 1, 5, 6, 4, 7 and 2.
The Magnetic Fields
Add Date: March 6
Artist: The Magnetic Fields
Album: Love at the Bottom of the Sea
Label: Merge
Genre: Indie pop
Comments: After a string of releases on Nonesuch, Stephin Merritt and The Magnetic Fields are issuing their first record on Merge since 1999's landmark triple album 69 Love Songs. Love at the Bottom of the Sea is also the first Magnetic Fields LP since that seminal indie-pop release to employ synthesizers, as the three LPs in between were steeped in guitar sounds, both acoustic and electric. Technology has certainly changed in the last decade-plus; as Merritt has noted, "Most of the synthesizers on the record didn't exist when we were last using synthesizers."
So in short, Love at the Bottom of the Sea hearkens back to The Magnetic Fields' earlier work, while still sounding very fresh. As always, Merritt has penned a very strong set of tunes, mostly about love and its many pitfalls, with his twisted sense of humor in play on tracks like "All She Cares About Is Mariachi" and album standout "Andrew in Drag". Meanwhile, vocalist Shirley Simms provides a nice changeup from Merritt's gloomy baritone on several songs, including the excellent "Your Girlfriend's Face".
Spin tracks 2, 3, 10, 1 and 15.
Artist: The Magnetic Fields
Album: Love at the Bottom of the Sea
Label: Merge
Genre: Indie pop
Comments: After a string of releases on Nonesuch, Stephin Merritt and The Magnetic Fields are issuing their first record on Merge since 1999's landmark triple album 69 Love Songs. Love at the Bottom of the Sea is also the first Magnetic Fields LP since that seminal indie-pop release to employ synthesizers, as the three LPs in between were steeped in guitar sounds, both acoustic and electric. Technology has certainly changed in the last decade-plus; as Merritt has noted, "Most of the synthesizers on the record didn't exist when we were last using synthesizers."
So in short, Love at the Bottom of the Sea hearkens back to The Magnetic Fields' earlier work, while still sounding very fresh. As always, Merritt has penned a very strong set of tunes, mostly about love and its many pitfalls, with his twisted sense of humor in play on tracks like "All She Cares About Is Mariachi" and album standout "Andrew in Drag". Meanwhile, vocalist Shirley Simms provides a nice changeup from Merritt's gloomy baritone on several songs, including the excellent "Your Girlfriend's Face".
Spin tracks 2, 3, 10, 1 and 15.
Fenster
Add Date: March 6
Artist: Fenster
Album: Bones
Label: Morr Music
Genre: Rock, indie pop
Comments: From the promoter: "Fenster, a duo of New Yorker-turned-Berliner J.J. Weihl and Berlin-born Jonathan Jarzyna... plays deconstructed pop music, layering subtle distortions, melodic chords and city soundscapes under dream narratives. Their sound and recording style has analog warmth, exploring the relationship between machine errors in their circuit-bended beats and the tactile use of objects and instrumentation. Their influences range from The Velvet Underground to the sounds of broken records, the hum of a washing machine, or the faint melodies of oldies tunes through their kitchen radio."
Spin tracks 1, 3 and 7.
Artist: Fenster
Album: Bones
Label: Morr Music
Genre: Rock, indie pop
Comments: From the promoter: "Fenster, a duo of New Yorker-turned-Berliner J.J. Weihl and Berlin-born Jonathan Jarzyna... plays deconstructed pop music, layering subtle distortions, melodic chords and city soundscapes under dream narratives. Their sound and recording style has analog warmth, exploring the relationship between machine errors in their circuit-bended beats and the tactile use of objects and instrumentation. Their influences range from The Velvet Underground to the sounds of broken records, the hum of a washing machine, or the faint melodies of oldies tunes through their kitchen radio."
Spin tracks 1, 3 and 7.
Good Old War
Add Date: March 6
Artist: Good Old War
Album: Come Back As Rain
Label: Sargent House
Genre: Folk, folk pop
Comments: This is the third album from the folk trio Good Old War. From the promoter: "Come Back As Rain showcases the delicately textured melodies and multipart harmonies that have become the band's signature. Once again revealing their penchant for infectious folk-pop, Good Old War this time sharpens their sound by infusing Come Back As Rain with the same joyful passion they've ceaselessly brought to the stage...
"From the lead-off single 'Calling Me Names' (a lovesick kiss-off laced with intricate guitar hooks) to 'Better Weather' (a clap-along-worthy paean to embracing optimism against all odds) to 'It Hurts Every Time' (a steel-guitar-kissed footstomper about an endlessly disappearing lover), Good Old War seems sweetly devoted to keeping the faith in the face of heartache. One of the most heart-tuggingly hopeful songs on Come Back As Rain, the epic yet ethereal 'Amazing Eyes', blends soaring vocals with gracefully strummed guitars and warm piano chords to stunning effect."
This is what good country/folk music should sound like. Spin tracks 3, 5, 4 and 2.
Artist: Good Old War
Album: Come Back As Rain
Label: Sargent House
Genre: Folk, folk pop
Comments: This is the third album from the folk trio Good Old War. From the promoter: "Come Back As Rain showcases the delicately textured melodies and multipart harmonies that have become the band's signature. Once again revealing their penchant for infectious folk-pop, Good Old War this time sharpens their sound by infusing Come Back As Rain with the same joyful passion they've ceaselessly brought to the stage...
"From the lead-off single 'Calling Me Names' (a lovesick kiss-off laced with intricate guitar hooks) to 'Better Weather' (a clap-along-worthy paean to embracing optimism against all odds) to 'It Hurts Every Time' (a steel-guitar-kissed footstomper about an endlessly disappearing lover), Good Old War seems sweetly devoted to keeping the faith in the face of heartache. One of the most heart-tuggingly hopeful songs on Come Back As Rain, the epic yet ethereal 'Amazing Eyes', blends soaring vocals with gracefully strummed guitars and warm piano chords to stunning effect."
This is what good country/folk music should sound like. Spin tracks 3, 5, 4 and 2.
Now, Now
Add Date: March 6
Artist: Now, Now
Album: Threads
Label: Trans
Genre: Indie rock
Comments: Well-constructed rock songs from the Minneapolis band Now, Now on Threads, their second full-length release. There are enough angular beats, synth flourishes and noisy guitar riffs to keep things interesting throughout, but Now, Now seem to be at their best when playing straightforward, energetic rock, as on album highlight "Thread". Also spin the post-punk-leaning "Oh. Hi.", the short-but-sweet, acoustic guitar-driven pop song "Dead Oaks" and the slow-building rock number "Lucie, Too".
Recommended for fans of Land of Talk--especially for Cacie Dalager's vocals, which bear a welcome similarity to those of Elizabeth Powell--and Tegan and Sara.
Artist: Now, Now
Album: Threads
Label: Trans
Genre: Indie rock
Comments: Well-constructed rock songs from the Minneapolis band Now, Now on Threads, their second full-length release. There are enough angular beats, synth flourishes and noisy guitar riffs to keep things interesting throughout, but Now, Now seem to be at their best when playing straightforward, energetic rock, as on album highlight "Thread". Also spin the post-punk-leaning "Oh. Hi.", the short-but-sweet, acoustic guitar-driven pop song "Dead Oaks" and the slow-building rock number "Lucie, Too".
Recommended for fans of Land of Talk--especially for Cacie Dalager's vocals, which bear a welcome similarity to those of Elizabeth Powell--and Tegan and Sara.
Spoek Mathambo
Add Date: March 6
Artist: Spoek Mathambo
Album: Father Creeper
Label: Sub Pop
Genre: Defies classification
Comments: Uh, to try and classify this album would be a review unto itself. Elements of house music, techno, African beats, rock, and rap explode from speakers that must be so confused with the mess of electrical pulses that they are obligingly spilling from their mouths. Obviously, some of the tracks are inexplicably weird and hard to listen to, while others miraculously work. "Let Them Talk" is one that works incredibly well and is an experience to listen to; unfortunately, explicit words prevent daytime radio play. You will have to just listen to this album for yourself to see if its jumbledness strikes your fancy.
I rather enjoyed the sonic "Grave (Intro)" and following "Grave", tracks 10 and 11.
Artist: Spoek Mathambo
Album: Father Creeper
Label: Sub Pop
Genre: Defies classification
Comments: Uh, to try and classify this album would be a review unto itself. Elements of house music, techno, African beats, rock, and rap explode from speakers that must be so confused with the mess of electrical pulses that they are obligingly spilling from their mouths. Obviously, some of the tracks are inexplicably weird and hard to listen to, while others miraculously work. "Let Them Talk" is one that works incredibly well and is an experience to listen to; unfortunately, explicit words prevent daytime radio play. You will have to just listen to this album for yourself to see if its jumbledness strikes your fancy.
I rather enjoyed the sonic "Grave (Intro)" and following "Grave", tracks 10 and 11.
Lucero
Add Date: March 6
Artist: Lucero
Album: Women & Work
Label: ATO
Genre: Country, soul
Comments: Lucero blends the genres that have found a home in the band's great musical city of Memphis. Women & Work walks an interesting line between country and Motown that definitely works, at least for the first half of the album. The second half rejects the Motown style for more brawn, edging towards an alt-country feel. At moments Van Morrison-esque and at others Southwest barroom lamentations, Women & Work marks an attempt at a transition for Lucero; you can decide for yourself if it works.
Track 7 is the standout, while 2 and 3 exemplify the country-soul feel.
Artist: Lucero
Album: Women & Work
Label: ATO
Genre: Country, soul
Comments: Lucero blends the genres that have found a home in the band's great musical city of Memphis. Women & Work walks an interesting line between country and Motown that definitely works, at least for the first half of the album. The second half rejects the Motown style for more brawn, edging towards an alt-country feel. At moments Van Morrison-esque and at others Southwest barroom lamentations, Women & Work marks an attempt at a transition for Lucero; you can decide for yourself if it works.
Track 7 is the standout, while 2 and 3 exemplify the country-soul feel.
Paul Doffing
Add Date: March 6
Artist: Paul Doffing
Album: Blossom Is You
Label: Self-released
Genre: Folk
Comments: Paul Doffing is a fine singer/songwriter, as evidenced by cuts like "Blossom Is You"--the title track from the Minneapolis musician's new LP--but he's an even better guitarist, working with both 6 and 12-string acoustic guitars on the album. Five of the 11 tracks here are instrumentals, while Doffing's guitar work often steals the show from his own lyrics and vocals on the other songs; throughout the record, bass, violin and percussion accent the tunes nicely.
Spin tracks 3 and 6 (with vocals), and also check out instrumentals like "Automatic Smile".
Artist: Paul Doffing
Album: Blossom Is You
Label: Self-released
Genre: Folk
Comments: Paul Doffing is a fine singer/songwriter, as evidenced by cuts like "Blossom Is You"--the title track from the Minneapolis musician's new LP--but he's an even better guitarist, working with both 6 and 12-string acoustic guitars on the album. Five of the 11 tracks here are instrumentals, while Doffing's guitar work often steals the show from his own lyrics and vocals on the other songs; throughout the record, bass, violin and percussion accent the tunes nicely.
Spin tracks 3 and 6 (with vocals), and also check out instrumentals like "Automatic Smile".
Caravan of Thieves
Add Date: March 6
Artist: Caravan of Thieves
Album: The Funhouse
Label: United for Opportunity
Genre:Alternative, gypsy folk
Comments: In a witch's brew, toss in a name eerily similar to Company of Thieves, a tad influence of Eastern European gypsy music, a dash of folk, and a large splash of the voice of Jack White, and presto! your musical elixir is Caravan of Thieves. With musical elements ranging over much of the Western world, the instrumentation on Caravan of Thieves' newest, The Funhouse, runs quite a gambit, yet develops a certain listenability that is intoxicating.
The album opens with the "The Funhouse Entrance", a song straight from a haunting Dracula soundtrack. Tracks like "Live Forever" and "Raise the Dead" envelop you in a melodic, while intertwining female and male vocals--the male voice is quite reminiscent of White--complement the exotic rhythms.
For a taste of a gypsy camp, listen to 1, 4 and 11.
Artist: Caravan of Thieves
Album: The Funhouse
Label: United for Opportunity
Genre:Alternative, gypsy folk
Comments: In a witch's brew, toss in a name eerily similar to Company of Thieves, a tad influence of Eastern European gypsy music, a dash of folk, and a large splash of the voice of Jack White, and presto! your musical elixir is Caravan of Thieves. With musical elements ranging over much of the Western world, the instrumentation on Caravan of Thieves' newest, The Funhouse, runs quite a gambit, yet develops a certain listenability that is intoxicating.
The album opens with the "The Funhouse Entrance", a song straight from a haunting Dracula soundtrack. Tracks like "Live Forever" and "Raise the Dead" envelop you in a melodic, while intertwining female and male vocals--the male voice is quite reminiscent of White--complement the exotic rhythms.
For a taste of a gypsy camp, listen to 1, 4 and 11.
The Dead Ships
Add Date: March 6
Artist: The Dead Ships
Album: Electric Ahab
Label: Self-released
Genre: Rock, garage rock
Comments: The Southern California duo The Dead Ships, whom the local rag The Los Angeles Times has described as "a bluesy wrecking ball", alternates between raucous, lo-fi garage rock and softer-but-sturdier, '60s pop-inspired tunes on Electric Ahab. Devlin McCluskey and Christopher Spindelilus can pull off both styles well, as evidenced by the mid-album one-two punch of "Amaze" and "You Were Young".
Artist: The Dead Ships
Album: Electric Ahab
Label: Self-released
Genre: Rock, garage rock
Comments: The Southern California duo The Dead Ships, whom the local rag The Los Angeles Times has described as "a bluesy wrecking ball", alternates between raucous, lo-fi garage rock and softer-but-sturdier, '60s pop-inspired tunes on Electric Ahab. Devlin McCluskey and Christopher Spindelilus can pull off both styles well, as evidenced by the mid-album one-two punch of "Amaze" and "You Were Young".
The Funk Ark
Add Date: March 6
Artist: The Funk Ark
Album: High Noon
Label: ESL Music
Genre: Funk
Comments: From the promoter on The Funk Ark's latest LP: "[On] High Noon, [Will] Rast brings his retro sensibilities to the table, delving into the stylistic realms of Afrobeat, Latin funk and rare groove. Laced with infectious polyrhythms, energetic horn lines and virtuoso soloists, The Funk Ark's sophomore offering promises to take you on a musical journey through several genres of funk around the world."
A grand fusion of world and funk, The Funk Ark will be blasts of delight to the funkist's ears. Try out tracks 1, 2, 5 and 8.
Artist: The Funk Ark
Album: High Noon
Label: ESL Music
Genre: Funk
Comments: From the promoter on The Funk Ark's latest LP: "[On] High Noon, [Will] Rast brings his retro sensibilities to the table, delving into the stylistic realms of Afrobeat, Latin funk and rare groove. Laced with infectious polyrhythms, energetic horn lines and virtuoso soloists, The Funk Ark's sophomore offering promises to take you on a musical journey through several genres of funk around the world."
A grand fusion of world and funk, The Funk Ark will be blasts of delight to the funkist's ears. Try out tracks 1, 2, 5 and 8.
Lee Fields
Add Date: March 6
Artist: Lee Fields
Album: Faithful Man
Label: Truth and Soul
Genre: Soul, R&B
Comments: Lee Fields has been in the music business for 43 years, and over those years he's had time to polish his Motown/soul style. Faithful Man has all the characteristics of a classic soul album, resplendent in horns and falsetto backing vocals. The influence of producers Jeff Silverman and Leon Michels, of Adele and Jay-Z fame, modern trills can be heard sprinkled throughout. If soul/R&B is your thing, then this record is a definite add to your collection.
The album boasts track after track of pure soul, so you cannot really go wrong. Without a true starting point, I would say go for the natural start, track 1.
Artist: Lee Fields
Album: Faithful Man
Label: Truth and Soul
Genre: Soul, R&B
Comments: Lee Fields has been in the music business for 43 years, and over those years he's had time to polish his Motown/soul style. Faithful Man has all the characteristics of a classic soul album, resplendent in horns and falsetto backing vocals. The influence of producers Jeff Silverman and Leon Michels, of Adele and Jay-Z fame, modern trills can be heard sprinkled throughout. If soul/R&B is your thing, then this record is a definite add to your collection.
The album boasts track after track of pure soul, so you cannot really go wrong. Without a true starting point, I would say go for the natural start, track 1.
Guilt Ridden Pop singles
Add Date: March 6
Artist: Gospel Gossip, Is/Is, Chambermaids
Album: singles
Label: Guilt Ridden Pop
Genre: Rock
Comments: Rather than posting separately about each of these four singles from Guilt Ridden Pop, I'm writing one for them all.
The Gospel Gossip track is equal parts pop, psychedelia and post-punk. The Is/Is song is a dark, progressive, droning song with cymbals constantly crashing. The two Chambermaids tunes are similarly rooted in post-punk drones, but very good as well.
Check out all of them.
Artist: Gospel Gossip, Is/Is, Chambermaids
Album: singles
Label: Guilt Ridden Pop
Genre: Rock
Comments: Rather than posting separately about each of these four singles from Guilt Ridden Pop, I'm writing one for them all.
The Gospel Gossip track is equal parts pop, psychedelia and post-punk. The Is/Is song is a dark, progressive, droning song with cymbals constantly crashing. The two Chambermaids tunes are similarly rooted in post-punk drones, but very good as well.
Check out all of them.
Sonic Adventure Project
Add Date: March 6
Artist: Sonic Adventure Project
Album: Who Is In?
Label: Starmill
Genre: Electronica
Comments: From the promoter: "Downtempo and chill-out music aficionados probably know the work of Sonic Adventure Project with their emergence on the Cafe Del Mar series of compilations. If not, their compositions of... delightful melodies and pleasant atmospheric synthetic structures will reach out to you even when you least expect it."
Check out tracks 1, 3 and 4.
Artist: Sonic Adventure Project
Album: Who Is In?
Label: Starmill
Genre: Electronica
Comments: From the promoter: "Downtempo and chill-out music aficionados probably know the work of Sonic Adventure Project with their emergence on the Cafe Del Mar series of compilations. If not, their compositions of... delightful melodies and pleasant atmospheric synthetic structures will reach out to you even when you least expect it."
Check out tracks 1, 3 and 4.
Big History
Add Date: March 6
Artist: Big History
Album: All at Once (EP)
Label: Voiceless Artists
Genre: Electronica, dance
Comments: From the promoter: "New Orleans-based Big History have crafted a bedroom pop debut flashing with the pulse and shimmer of a 3 a.m. dance party, yet smooth and hazy enough to be revisited the morning after."
I think that analogy works perfectly here. These are definitely dance songs, but they're accessible and interesting and NOT overly repetitive--making the EP full of fine tunes for dancing, driving, and radio play. Start with 1 and 4.
Artist: Big History
Album: All at Once (EP)
Label: Voiceless Artists
Genre: Electronica, dance
Comments: From the promoter: "New Orleans-based Big History have crafted a bedroom pop debut flashing with the pulse and shimmer of a 3 a.m. dance party, yet smooth and hazy enough to be revisited the morning after."
I think that analogy works perfectly here. These are definitely dance songs, but they're accessible and interesting and NOT overly repetitive--making the EP full of fine tunes for dancing, driving, and radio play. Start with 1 and 4.
Kae Sun
Add Date: March 6
Artist: Kae Sun
Album: Outside the Barcode EP
Label: OTB
Genre: Folk, rock
Comments: From the promoter: "Written while traveling the African countryside and recorded on 2-inch tape on a farm in Ontario, these raw acoustic songs recall the sense of community and authenticity that inspired the tracks. Strongly influenced by his native Ghana, Kae Sun's love songs are both passionate and beautiful, delivered with the sincerity of an old soul."
These songs combine raw folksy sounds and African influence, the latter of which becomes more apparent as the EP progresses. Start with 1 and 3.
Artist: Kae Sun
Album: Outside the Barcode EP
Label: OTB
Genre: Folk, rock
Comments: From the promoter: "Written while traveling the African countryside and recorded on 2-inch tape on a farm in Ontario, these raw acoustic songs recall the sense of community and authenticity that inspired the tracks. Strongly influenced by his native Ghana, Kae Sun's love songs are both passionate and beautiful, delivered with the sincerity of an old soul."
These songs combine raw folksy sounds and African influence, the latter of which becomes more apparent as the EP progresses. Start with 1 and 3.
Walk the Moon
Add Date: March 6
Artist: Walk the Moon
Album: Anna Sun EP
Label: RCA
Genre: Indie pop, rock
Comments: This is a fantastic EP of catchy-as-anything indie-pop songs. While staying away from being over-polished, Walk the Moon's sound is perfectly tightened and honed. A delightful collection of three fun and catchy tunes.
Artist: Walk the Moon
Album: Anna Sun EP
Label: RCA
Genre: Indie pop, rock
Comments: This is a fantastic EP of catchy-as-anything indie-pop songs. While staying away from being over-polished, Walk the Moon's sound is perfectly tightened and honed. A delightful collection of three fun and catchy tunes.
Miniature Tigers
Add Date: March 6
Artist: Miniature Tigers
Album: Mia Pharaoh
Label: Modern Art
Genre: Indie pop, rock
Comments: Bubblegum pop, lustful lyrics and nostalgia circa the 1980s weave together to form Miniature Tigers' newest album, Mia Pharaoh. The Brooklyn-based indie-pop act's 10-track album drips with sprightly falsetto croons and soft, empathetic vocals, mixing ageless questions about love with sunny synthesizers. Hopefully Mia Pharaoh will pick-up enough buzz to put the band on the charts, as we've seen with Foster the People and (more recently) Gotye.
Miniature Tigers' album is indie pop/rock bliss, so make sure to check out tracks "Sex On The Regular", "Easy As All That" and "Angel Bath".
Artist: Miniature Tigers
Album: Mia Pharaoh
Label: Modern Art
Genre: Indie pop, rock
Comments: Bubblegum pop, lustful lyrics and nostalgia circa the 1980s weave together to form Miniature Tigers' newest album, Mia Pharaoh. The Brooklyn-based indie-pop act's 10-track album drips with sprightly falsetto croons and soft, empathetic vocals, mixing ageless questions about love with sunny synthesizers. Hopefully Mia Pharaoh will pick-up enough buzz to put the band on the charts, as we've seen with Foster the People and (more recently) Gotye.
Miniature Tigers' album is indie pop/rock bliss, so make sure to check out tracks "Sex On The Regular", "Easy As All That" and "Angel Bath".
The Shining Twins
Add Date: March 6
Artist: The Shining Twins
Album: Cum Play With Us (EP)
Label: Hall of Records
Genre: Pop, rock
Comments: This EP is actually really great; unfortunately, only two of the five songs are good for daytime airplay. The NYC duo The Shining Twins write soft-spoken, happy-sounding music that consists of ultra-violent lyrics. I like it. Start with 2 and 5 (the clean tracks).
Artist: The Shining Twins
Album: Cum Play With Us (EP)
Label: Hall of Records
Genre: Pop, rock
Comments: This EP is actually really great; unfortunately, only two of the five songs are good for daytime airplay. The NYC duo The Shining Twins write soft-spoken, happy-sounding music that consists of ultra-violent lyrics. I like it. Start with 2 and 5 (the clean tracks).
Admiral Fallow
Add Date: March 6
Artist: Admiral Fallow
Album: "Squealing Pigs" (single)
Label: Nettwerk
Genre: Folk, pop, rock
Comments: From the promoter: "Glasgow, Scotland act Admiral Fallow have been around since 2007, honing a sound that is equal parts rock, folk and pop. 'Squealing Pigs', the new track the group is releasing through Nettwerk, is amazing!"
The promoter's right; this single is really excellent. Admiral Fallow is the best Scottish folk band I've heard in the past few years.
Artist: Admiral Fallow
Album: "Squealing Pigs" (single)
Label: Nettwerk
Genre: Folk, pop, rock
Comments: From the promoter: "Glasgow, Scotland act Admiral Fallow have been around since 2007, honing a sound that is equal parts rock, folk and pop. 'Squealing Pigs', the new track the group is releasing through Nettwerk, is amazing!"
The promoter's right; this single is really excellent. Admiral Fallow is the best Scottish folk band I've heard in the past few years.
The Concept
Add Date: March 6
Artist: The Concept
Album: Gimme Twice EP
Label: Self-released
Genre: Rock, pop
Comments: WOW. This EP is some of the best Swedish pop I've heard in a while. Falling somewhere between Shout Out Louds (thanks to Jeremy for this comparison) and Phoenix, the energy in The Concept's songs is unrelenting.
These are some of the sweetest, catchiest, and fun songs that are out right now. Start with tracks 1 and 2.
Artist: The Concept
Album: Gimme Twice EP
Label: Self-released
Genre: Rock, pop
Comments: WOW. This EP is some of the best Swedish pop I've heard in a while. Falling somewhere between Shout Out Louds (thanks to Jeremy for this comparison) and Phoenix, the energy in The Concept's songs is unrelenting.
These are some of the sweetest, catchiest, and fun songs that are out right now. Start with tracks 1 and 2.
Jack Wilson
Add Date: March 6
Artist: Jack Wilson
Album: Jack Wilson
Label: Fluff & Gravy
Genre: Folk, folk rock
Comments: From the promoter: "Austin, Texas-based Jack Wilson's self-titled debut full-length bridges the gap between the folk-rock of Seattle (where he began his career as a full-time musician) and the acoustic music prevalent in Austin. Wilson, a songsmith able to pull off his live performances solo, or with a full-on rock band, says that is what he set out to do with this release."
The high points of this album are very high. Jack Wilson is a fantastic songwriter with an ear for creating complex melodies. He fully embraces the twang of folk pop, which is matched with slide guitars, fiddles and banjos. Start with tracks 5, 6 and 4.
Artist: Jack Wilson
Album: Jack Wilson
Label: Fluff & Gravy
Genre: Folk, folk rock
Comments: From the promoter: "Austin, Texas-based Jack Wilson's self-titled debut full-length bridges the gap between the folk-rock of Seattle (where he began his career as a full-time musician) and the acoustic music prevalent in Austin. Wilson, a songsmith able to pull off his live performances solo, or with a full-on rock band, says that is what he set out to do with this release."
The high points of this album are very high. Jack Wilson is a fantastic songwriter with an ear for creating complex melodies. He fully embraces the twang of folk pop, which is matched with slide guitars, fiddles and banjos. Start with tracks 5, 6 and 4.
Ceremony
Add Date: March 6
Artist: Ceremony
Album: Zoo
Label: Matador
Genre: Rock, punk
Comments: Disclaimer: Beyond classic punk songs (a la The Clash, The Sex Pistols, and The Ramones), I really have no idea what I'm talking about in this genre. That being said, Ceremony's Zoo, an album drifting between hardcore rock and punk, is actually pretty accessible, listenable, and (dare I say) enjoyable. I wouldn't recommend this album to someone not akin to punk but, if by happenstance you are, take a listen and see if it grows on you, as it did on me.
Artist: Ceremony
Album: Zoo
Label: Matador
Genre: Rock, punk
Comments: Disclaimer: Beyond classic punk songs (a la The Clash, The Sex Pistols, and The Ramones), I really have no idea what I'm talking about in this genre. That being said, Ceremony's Zoo, an album drifting between hardcore rock and punk, is actually pretty accessible, listenable, and (dare I say) enjoyable. I wouldn't recommend this album to someone not akin to punk but, if by happenstance you are, take a listen and see if it grows on you, as it did on me.
The Kills
Add Date: March 6
Artist: The Kills
Album: The Last Goodbye (EP)
Label: Domino
Genre: Rock
Comments: Seeing as their fourth album, Blood Pressures, came out last year, I was pleasantly surprised to see this EP from The Kills in this week's stack. Only four songs long, the EP features "The Last Goodbye" off of Blood Pressures, as well as three covers: The Velvet Underground's "Pale Blue Eyes", Marilyn Monroe's "One Silver Dollar", and Patsy Cline's "Crazy". Being a huge Lou Reed fan, I started with "Pale Blue Eyes". All the songs, however, highlight the fortes, namely toned-down bluesy rock, of this long-standing duo.
Artist: The Kills
Album: The Last Goodbye (EP)
Label: Domino
Genre: Rock
Comments: Seeing as their fourth album, Blood Pressures, came out last year, I was pleasantly surprised to see this EP from The Kills in this week's stack. Only four songs long, the EP features "The Last Goodbye" off of Blood Pressures, as well as three covers: The Velvet Underground's "Pale Blue Eyes", Marilyn Monroe's "One Silver Dollar", and Patsy Cline's "Crazy". Being a huge Lou Reed fan, I started with "Pale Blue Eyes". All the songs, however, highlight the fortes, namely toned-down bluesy rock, of this long-standing duo.
Nite Jewel
Add Date: March 6
Artist: Nite Jewel
Album: One Second of Love
Label: Secretly Canadian
Genre: Pop, R&B
Comments: One Second of Love, the sophomore album by L.A.-based Nite Jewel, will offer a great alternative to those worn and annoyed by the continual cycle of praise and backlash for Lana Del Rey. Next time someone tries to sound hipster and pretentious by name dropping, you should drop this name and come out superior in the battle of cultural relativity.
Not that Nite Jewel and Lana Del Ray fall into the exact same category. One Second of Love definitely departs from Ray's melancholic pop-rock and, instead, Ramona Gonzalez opts for slow-pop dance hits with a strong beat and strong influences from "Golden Era R&B pop." Start with "One Second of Love".
Artist: Nite Jewel
Album: One Second of Love
Label: Secretly Canadian
Genre: Pop, R&B
Comments: One Second of Love, the sophomore album by L.A.-based Nite Jewel, will offer a great alternative to those worn and annoyed by the continual cycle of praise and backlash for Lana Del Rey. Next time someone tries to sound hipster and pretentious by name dropping, you should drop this name and come out superior in the battle of cultural relativity.
Not that Nite Jewel and Lana Del Ray fall into the exact same category. One Second of Love definitely departs from Ray's melancholic pop-rock and, instead, Ramona Gonzalez opts for slow-pop dance hits with a strong beat and strong influences from "Golden Era R&B pop." Start with "One Second of Love".
Mona
Add Date: March 6
Artist: Mona
Album: Mona
Label: Mercury
Genre: Alternative
Comments: Taken from The Guardian's website: "The Tennessee-reared, preacher's-son-fronted Mona have attracted not-always-flattering comparisons with Kings of Leon. Their debut album finds them entering Bon Jovi and U2 territory, too. These swaggering, would-be huge, one-size-fits-all rock anthems are aimed so much at stadiums it's a wonder they don't arrive with a PA stack and a burger. Listening to them outside that ideal environment, they're decent enough songs, even if 'Shooting the Moon' was formerly U2's 'Bullet the Blue Sky'. But the gravel-voiced Nick Brown's quest to become 'bigger than Bono' has left him sounding overwrought and a dreadful ham. 'Tell me I'm the wild one,' he requests at one point; 'Say You Will' makes the eyebrow-elevating proposition that he has impregnated a local woman who's 'known for giving' into carrying the 'Devil's child'. Titters at the back will be a small price to pay if Mona progress to arenas, though it might all sound a bit embarrassing if they end up playing pubs."
Overall, Mona's debut is a commendable effort, but it's about as surprising as Neon Tree's alt-rock/Top 40 crossover tunes. Regardless, check out tracks 1, 10, 2 and 4.
Artist: Mona
Album: Mona
Label: Mercury
Genre: Alternative
Comments: Taken from The Guardian's website: "The Tennessee-reared, preacher's-son-fronted Mona have attracted not-always-flattering comparisons with Kings of Leon. Their debut album finds them entering Bon Jovi and U2 territory, too. These swaggering, would-be huge, one-size-fits-all rock anthems are aimed so much at stadiums it's a wonder they don't arrive with a PA stack and a burger. Listening to them outside that ideal environment, they're decent enough songs, even if 'Shooting the Moon' was formerly U2's 'Bullet the Blue Sky'. But the gravel-voiced Nick Brown's quest to become 'bigger than Bono' has left him sounding overwrought and a dreadful ham. 'Tell me I'm the wild one,' he requests at one point; 'Say You Will' makes the eyebrow-elevating proposition that he has impregnated a local woman who's 'known for giving' into carrying the 'Devil's child'. Titters at the back will be a small price to pay if Mona progress to arenas, though it might all sound a bit embarrassing if they end up playing pubs."
Overall, Mona's debut is a commendable effort, but it's about as surprising as Neon Tree's alt-rock/Top 40 crossover tunes. Regardless, check out tracks 1, 10, 2 and 4.
Radiation City
Add Date: March 6
Artist: Radiation City
Album: Cool Nightmare
Label: Tender Loving Empire
Genre: Rock
Comments: From the onesheet: "Cool Nightmare is the followup to the dream-pop quintet's [Radiation City] acclaimed debut, The Hands That Take You, released this past fall on Tender Loving Empire (Typhoon, Loch Lomond)... Radiation City is influenced by certain staple macro-genres such as '60s bossa nova and Chicago jazz, but their version of this classical sound is supported by irresistible pop vocal hooks and the employment of minimal electronics, which provide rhythm but leave plenty of space."
For some charmy, dream-state rock, check out tracks 7, 2 and 3.
Artist: Radiation City
Album: Cool Nightmare
Label: Tender Loving Empire
Genre: Rock
Comments: From the onesheet: "Cool Nightmare is the followup to the dream-pop quintet's [Radiation City] acclaimed debut, The Hands That Take You, released this past fall on Tender Loving Empire (Typhoon, Loch Lomond)... Radiation City is influenced by certain staple macro-genres such as '60s bossa nova and Chicago jazz, but their version of this classical sound is supported by irresistible pop vocal hooks and the employment of minimal electronics, which provide rhythm but leave plenty of space."
For some charmy, dream-state rock, check out tracks 7, 2 and 3.
Oberhofer
Add Date: March 6
Artist: Oberhofer
Album: Time Capsules II
Label: Glassnote
Genre: Alternative, indie rock
Comments: Indie-rock wunderkind Brad Oberhofer won notice over the last 18 months for a series of catchy, schizophrenic demos that appeared in countless advertisements and CW-like television shows. And now, his long-awaited debut LP is being released with Time Capsules II, full of timeless emotional pop and quirky lo-fi sounds. It has all the colorful essences of Surfer Blood and Wavves, but with even more ramshackle hits.
A standout debut; try out tracks 1, 2, 3, 6 and 9.
Artist: Oberhofer
Album: Time Capsules II
Label: Glassnote
Genre: Alternative, indie rock
Comments: Indie-rock wunderkind Brad Oberhofer won notice over the last 18 months for a series of catchy, schizophrenic demos that appeared in countless advertisements and CW-like television shows. And now, his long-awaited debut LP is being released with Time Capsules II, full of timeless emotional pop and quirky lo-fi sounds. It has all the colorful essences of Surfer Blood and Wavves, but with even more ramshackle hits.
A standout debut; try out tracks 1, 2, 3, 6 and 9.
White Rabbits
Add Date: March 6
Artist: White Rabbits
Album: Milk Famous
Label: TBD
Genre: Alternative, rock
Comments: Dance-rock hipsters. Rat-a-tat indie set. New York 6-piece rockers. White Rabbits has heard it all, and they're likely to hear these names again when their newest album, Milk Famous, hits the shelves. Moving away from the Poe-ish (albeit catchy) gloom and doom of their last record, It's Frightening, the indie rock band is bringing some lightheartedness to their synth loops and guitar blasts.
Sounding like the percussion-crazy lovechild of Cold War Kids and The Flaming Lips, White Rabbits have created another solid and accessible album with Milk Famous. So go ahead and listen to tracks 1, 4, 5, 7 and 11.
Artist: White Rabbits
Album: Milk Famous
Label: TBD
Genre: Alternative, rock
Comments: Dance-rock hipsters. Rat-a-tat indie set. New York 6-piece rockers. White Rabbits has heard it all, and they're likely to hear these names again when their newest album, Milk Famous, hits the shelves. Moving away from the Poe-ish (albeit catchy) gloom and doom of their last record, It's Frightening, the indie rock band is bringing some lightheartedness to their synth loops and guitar blasts.
Sounding like the percussion-crazy lovechild of Cold War Kids and The Flaming Lips, White Rabbits have created another solid and accessible album with Milk Famous. So go ahead and listen to tracks 1, 4, 5, 7 and 11.
Friday, March 2, 2012
Best New Music - February 28
Bells, birds, British Columbia:
Too good to miss: The 2 Bears, Delta Spirit, Pond, Prinzhorn Dance School
Bowerbirds
Add Date: February 28
Artist: Bowerbirds
Album: The Clearing
Label: Dead Oceans
Genre: Folk, rock
Comments: First things first: there are no better songwriters in modern music than Phil Moore--there are equals, to be sure, but no one can outdo Moore's gorgeous, thoughtful, poetic compositions about life, love and nature. The first two Bowerbirds LPs, Hymns for a Dark Horse (2007) and Upper Air (2009), were showcases for Moore's lyrical prowess, and--thanks to the work of Moore and bandmate Beth Tacular--the music was quite good, too, mostly a subtle backdrop of acoustic guitars, piano and percussion, complemented by strings, organ and autoharp. Tunes like "In Our Talons", "House of Diamonds" and "Northern Lights" are still in heavy rotation for me. Probably always will be.
The noticeable change on The Clearing, then, is the elaborate song structures, as Moore and Tacular swing for the fences with lusher instrumentation and a fuller sound. There were hints at that on Upper Air, to be sure, but the electric guitars that seep into the end of stellar opening track "Tuck the Darkness In", and which take over songs like "In the Yard" and "This Year", mark new sonic territory, pushing Bowerbirds past the limits of pastoral folk and into glorious psychedelic pop. There are still plenty of quieter, Americana-tinged moments, but as a whole, the LP has the feel of a band broadening its musical horizons.
And they pull it off with stunning success. Shortlist The Clearing for year-end best-of laurels and spin tracks 1, 2, 5, 7, 3 and 4.
Artist: Bowerbirds
Album: The Clearing
Label: Dead Oceans
Genre: Folk, rock
Comments: First things first: there are no better songwriters in modern music than Phil Moore--there are equals, to be sure, but no one can outdo Moore's gorgeous, thoughtful, poetic compositions about life, love and nature. The first two Bowerbirds LPs, Hymns for a Dark Horse (2007) and Upper Air (2009), were showcases for Moore's lyrical prowess, and--thanks to the work of Moore and bandmate Beth Tacular--the music was quite good, too, mostly a subtle backdrop of acoustic guitars, piano and percussion, complemented by strings, organ and autoharp. Tunes like "In Our Talons", "House of Diamonds" and "Northern Lights" are still in heavy rotation for me. Probably always will be.
The noticeable change on The Clearing, then, is the elaborate song structures, as Moore and Tacular swing for the fences with lusher instrumentation and a fuller sound. There were hints at that on Upper Air, to be sure, but the electric guitars that seep into the end of stellar opening track "Tuck the Darkness In", and which take over songs like "In the Yard" and "This Year", mark new sonic territory, pushing Bowerbirds past the limits of pastoral folk and into glorious psychedelic pop. There are still plenty of quieter, Americana-tinged moments, but as a whole, the LP has the feel of a band broadening its musical horizons.
And they pull it off with stunning success. Shortlist The Clearing for year-end best-of laurels and spin tracks 1, 2, 5, 7, 3 and 4.
School of Seven Bells
Add Date: February 28
Artist: School of Seven Bells
Album: Ghostory
Label: Vagrant
Genre: Rock, electropop, shoegaze
Comments: Personnel changes are obviously quite common in musical acts, as band members come and go for a wide variety of reasons. School of Seven Bells took off when Ben Curtis left Secret Machines several years ago to focus on his newer project; now, in another twist, Claudia Deheza has left the Bells, leaving Curtis alongside her twin sister, Alejandra Deheza. Even if the split was amicable, I can't help but think that the transition has been at least a bit awkward. Nevertheless, School of Seven Bells play on with Ghostory.
The band's first album as a duo seems a bit dreamier, a bit shoegazier, than their 2010 release Disconnect From Desire. (Perhaps that's the result of the lineup change; perhaps it's just following the musical path that the band has been on as of late.) Still, there are some fine synth-laced pop songs, most notably "Lafaye", "The Night" and "Love Play".
Artist: School of Seven Bells
Album: Ghostory
Label: Vagrant
Genre: Rock, electropop, shoegaze
Comments: Personnel changes are obviously quite common in musical acts, as band members come and go for a wide variety of reasons. School of Seven Bells took off when Ben Curtis left Secret Machines several years ago to focus on his newer project; now, in another twist, Claudia Deheza has left the Bells, leaving Curtis alongside her twin sister, Alejandra Deheza. Even if the split was amicable, I can't help but think that the transition has been at least a bit awkward. Nevertheless, School of Seven Bells play on with Ghostory.
The band's first album as a duo seems a bit dreamier, a bit shoegazier, than their 2010 release Disconnect From Desire. (Perhaps that's the result of the lineup change; perhaps it's just following the musical path that the band has been on as of late.) Still, there are some fine synth-laced pop songs, most notably "Lafaye", "The Night" and "Love Play".
Say Anything/The Mars Volta
Add Date: February 28
Artist: Say Anything; The Mars Volta
Song: "Say Anything"; "The Malkin Jewel"
Label: Equal Vision; Warner Bros.
Genre: Rock, punk; Rock, progressive, hard rock
Comments: No, Say Anything and The Mars Volta haven't collaborated on new music--but that idea has the potential to be so ludicrously fun that I'm fully in favor of the concept. (Be honest: that's why you clicked on this post.) Instead, this is a short post to let you know that both bands have new singles adding to our playlist this week.
Say Anything's eponymous song is a burst of pop-punk that sounds like, well, Say Anything; "The Malkin Jewel" is another weird slice of prog-leaning hard rock that could only come from The Mars Volta. In other words, if you like either of these bands, these tunes will get you excited for their forthcoming full-lengths.
Artist: Say Anything; The Mars Volta
Song: "Say Anything"; "The Malkin Jewel"
Label: Equal Vision; Warner Bros.
Genre: Rock, punk; Rock, progressive, hard rock
Comments: No, Say Anything and The Mars Volta haven't collaborated on new music--but that idea has the potential to be so ludicrously fun that I'm fully in favor of the concept. (Be honest: that's why you clicked on this post.) Instead, this is a short post to let you know that both bands have new singles adding to our playlist this week.
Say Anything's eponymous song is a burst of pop-punk that sounds like, well, Say Anything; "The Malkin Jewel" is another weird slice of prog-leaning hard rock that could only come from The Mars Volta. In other words, if you like either of these bands, these tunes will get you excited for their forthcoming full-lengths.
Morning Parade
Add Date: February 28
Artist: Morning Parade
Album: The Hated & the Loved (EP)
Label: Astralwerks
Genre: Rock
Comments: The Essex quintet Morning Parade are pretty obviously going for the stadium-rock demographic on their 4-track EP The Hated & the Loved. The tunes are serviceable, Coldplay and Doves-channeling anthemic Brit-pop numbers, even if the melodies and guitar riffs sound a little too familiar. Check out "Blue Winter" or "Us & Ourselves".
Artist: Morning Parade
Album: The Hated & the Loved (EP)
Label: Astralwerks
Genre: Rock
Comments: The Essex quintet Morning Parade are pretty obviously going for the stadium-rock demographic on their 4-track EP The Hated & the Loved. The tunes are serviceable, Coldplay and Doves-channeling anthemic Brit-pop numbers, even if the melodies and guitar riffs sound a little too familiar. Check out "Blue Winter" or "Us & Ourselves".
Ben Howard
Add Date: February 28
Artist: Ben Howard
Album: Old Pine (EP)
Label: Communion/Universal Republic
Genre: Folk
Comments: UK singer/songwriter Ben Howard is generating quite a bit of buzz, but the 4-song Old Pine EP doesn't really give you any indications as to why. Though the tunes are well-constructed, this is pretty standard, drab, strum-the-acoustic-guitar-and-coo folk that doesn't really set itself apart. Try the title track.
Artist: Ben Howard
Album: Old Pine (EP)
Label: Communion/Universal Republic
Genre: Folk
Comments: UK singer/songwriter Ben Howard is generating quite a bit of buzz, but the 4-song Old Pine EP doesn't really give you any indications as to why. Though the tunes are well-constructed, this is pretty standard, drab, strum-the-acoustic-guitar-and-coo folk that doesn't really set itself apart. Try the title track.
ZZ Ward
Add Date: February 28
Artist: ZZ Ward
Album: Eleven Roses
Label: Boardwalk
Genre: R&B, blues
Comments: This is a critically acclaimed collection of eight powerful and energetic blues songs. ZZ Ward has an amazingly powerful voice. She can sing. Start with 2, 4 and 1.
Artist: ZZ Ward
Album: Eleven Roses
Label: Boardwalk
Genre: R&B, blues
Comments: This is a critically acclaimed collection of eight powerful and energetic blues songs. ZZ Ward has an amazingly powerful voice. She can sing. Start with 2, 4 and 1.
TriBeCaStan
Add Date: February 28
Artist: TriBeCaStan
Album: New Deli
Label: Evergreene
Genre: Defies classification
Comments: This is an insanely diverse instrumental album. There is never a boring moment on the record, as there are often dozens of instruments being played at once. This is a wild composition that mashes all sorts of genres into one. I'm marking it with a white sticker for the playlist (i.e. unclassifiable).
Start with tracks 2, 3 and 5.
Artist: TriBeCaStan
Album: New Deli
Label: Evergreene
Genre: Defies classification
Comments: This is an insanely diverse instrumental album. There is never a boring moment on the record, as there are often dozens of instruments being played at once. This is a wild composition that mashes all sorts of genres into one. I'm marking it with a white sticker for the playlist (i.e. unclassifiable).
Start with tracks 2, 3 and 5.
Delta Spirit
Add Date: February 28
Artist: Delta Spirit
Album: Delta Spirit
Label: Rounder
Genre: Rock, folk
Comments: Delta Spirit's newest album is a wild blast of energy, experimentation, and fascinating melodies. The album verges on math-pop in its musical complexity. In a sentence, Delta Spirit's new album is a refreshing new take on indie pop and only raises the bar of quality expectations in a genre that can sometimes falter in definitions of "good."
For me, the album began to "stick" at track 3--not that 1 and 2 are bad, but rather that the record is definitely a steady progression. A great album, all around. Start with 1, 3, 2 and 6.
Artist: Delta Spirit
Album: Delta Spirit
Label: Rounder
Genre: Rock, folk
Comments: Delta Spirit's newest album is a wild blast of energy, experimentation, and fascinating melodies. The album verges on math-pop in its musical complexity. In a sentence, Delta Spirit's new album is a refreshing new take on indie pop and only raises the bar of quality expectations in a genre that can sometimes falter in definitions of "good."
For me, the album began to "stick" at track 3--not that 1 and 2 are bad, but rather that the record is definitely a steady progression. A great album, all around. Start with 1, 3, 2 and 6.
Amy Ray
Add Date: February 28
Artist: Amy Ray
Album: Lung of Love
Label: Daemon
Genre: Folk, rock
Comments: Amy Ray is one of the two members of Indigo Girls, an acclaimed folk-rock group that started playing in the late '80s. Ray's newest solo album, Lung of Love, is more pop than folk, but it still boasts plenty of twangy guitar riffs and stompin' rhythms. This album reminds me a lot of Kathleen Edwards' newest record, Voyageur. Ray has a similarly powerful voice to Edwards, often driving songs forward with just her vocal melodies.
Start with tracks 1, 5 and 3.
Artist: Amy Ray
Album: Lung of Love
Label: Daemon
Genre: Folk, rock
Comments: Amy Ray is one of the two members of Indigo Girls, an acclaimed folk-rock group that started playing in the late '80s. Ray's newest solo album, Lung of Love, is more pop than folk, but it still boasts plenty of twangy guitar riffs and stompin' rhythms. This album reminds me a lot of Kathleen Edwards' newest record, Voyageur. Ray has a similarly powerful voice to Edwards, often driving songs forward with just her vocal melodies.
Start with tracks 1, 5 and 3.
Cuff the Duke
Add Date: February 28
Artist: Cuff the Duke
Album: Morning Comes
Label: Paper Bag
Genre: Alt-country
Comments: A nasally voice cuts through the thick veil of country-folk inspired tracks on Cuff the Duke's Morning Comes. Songs subtly transition from country harmonies to folk-rock rhythms, giving Morning Comes an undeniable cohesiveness--albeit a cohesiveness that comes at the expense of originality, and perhaps a slight boredom. This is not to say the record is "bad," but rather that Cuff the Duke is not extending the alt-country sound to any new territories. Each chorus envelops the listener in country-tinged harmony, so each chorus sounds identical to the last. However, Morning Comes is a good alt-country record that fans of genre will be sure to appreciate.
Tracks 5, 7 and 1 shine amongst the rest.
Artist: Cuff the Duke
Album: Morning Comes
Label: Paper Bag
Genre: Alt-country
Comments: A nasally voice cuts through the thick veil of country-folk inspired tracks on Cuff the Duke's Morning Comes. Songs subtly transition from country harmonies to folk-rock rhythms, giving Morning Comes an undeniable cohesiveness--albeit a cohesiveness that comes at the expense of originality, and perhaps a slight boredom. This is not to say the record is "bad," but rather that Cuff the Duke is not extending the alt-country sound to any new territories. Each chorus envelops the listener in country-tinged harmony, so each chorus sounds identical to the last. However, Morning Comes is a good alt-country record that fans of genre will be sure to appreciate.
Tracks 5, 7 and 1 shine amongst the rest.
Said the Whale
Add Date: February 28
Artist: Said the Whale
Album: Little Mountain
Label: Hidden Pony
Genre: Rock, indie pop
Comments: Said the Whale's latest, Little Mountain, continues a trend towards indie pop capturing the bright sun and fresh breezes of the West Coast. From Tennis and Best Coast to Said the Whale, each band has their own spin on the essence of West Coast indie pop. Little Mountain presents an interesting contrast. The first half of the record does not stray too far from pop hooks leading to melodic choruses; however, the second half diverges from this close-to-overdone strain of indie pop. Tracks like "Heavy Ceiling" strut along with a driving bass line that lends the song a rougher and darker edge than standard indie pop. Perhaps the most original song is the album's shortest track. At just 50 seconds, "Guilty Hypocrites" plays across the eardrums for such a short time, but oh is short so sweet.
Try tracks 3, 9 and 12 on for size for a mix of the poppy, marvelous and dark.
Artist: Said the Whale
Album: Little Mountain
Label: Hidden Pony
Genre: Rock, indie pop
Comments: Said the Whale's latest, Little Mountain, continues a trend towards indie pop capturing the bright sun and fresh breezes of the West Coast. From Tennis and Best Coast to Said the Whale, each band has their own spin on the essence of West Coast indie pop. Little Mountain presents an interesting contrast. The first half of the record does not stray too far from pop hooks leading to melodic choruses; however, the second half diverges from this close-to-overdone strain of indie pop. Tracks like "Heavy Ceiling" strut along with a driving bass line that lends the song a rougher and darker edge than standard indie pop. Perhaps the most original song is the album's shortest track. At just 50 seconds, "Guilty Hypocrites" plays across the eardrums for such a short time, but oh is short so sweet.
Try tracks 3, 9 and 12 on for size for a mix of the poppy, marvelous and dark.
Pond
Add Date: February 28
Artist: Pond
Album: Beard, Wives, Denim
Label: Modular
Genre: Rock, psych pop
Comments: From the promoter: "Beard, Wives, Denim is an audio diary of 10 friends' strange, terrible, and blissful time in the country trying in vain to be a wholesome family band. It sounds just like it, distorted and woozy and fractured and ultimately nostalgic and loving." Pond, composed of multiple members of Tame Impala, exudes a sound that recalls the wailing guitars of Led Zeppelin, yet drenched in psychedelic sonics pulled together with vocals that capture some of David Bowie's melodic hooks.
From Perth, Australia, Pond birthed this melting-pot record while secluded for two weeks in the Australian countryside, instruments and recording equipment taking precedence over living quarters. Beard, Wives, Denim is an assault on the ears, if an assault were an enjoyable experience. Their sound stretches to the corners of the room and hopes to pitch a tent and stay a while. A grand effort from a sure-to-be up-and-coming band from Australia.
Try out tracks 1, 3, 7 and 13.
Artist: Pond
Album: Beard, Wives, Denim
Label: Modular
Genre: Rock, psych pop
Comments: From the promoter: "Beard, Wives, Denim is an audio diary of 10 friends' strange, terrible, and blissful time in the country trying in vain to be a wholesome family band. It sounds just like it, distorted and woozy and fractured and ultimately nostalgic and loving." Pond, composed of multiple members of Tame Impala, exudes a sound that recalls the wailing guitars of Led Zeppelin, yet drenched in psychedelic sonics pulled together with vocals that capture some of David Bowie's melodic hooks.
From Perth, Australia, Pond birthed this melting-pot record while secluded for two weeks in the Australian countryside, instruments and recording equipment taking precedence over living quarters. Beard, Wives, Denim is an assault on the ears, if an assault were an enjoyable experience. Their sound stretches to the corners of the room and hopes to pitch a tent and stay a while. A grand effort from a sure-to-be up-and-coming band from Australia.
Try out tracks 1, 3, 7 and 13.
Pink Floyd
Add Date: February 28
Artist: Pink Floyd
Album: The Wall: Immersion Edition (sampler)
Label: EMI
Genre: Classic rock
Comments: EMI has spent the past few months reissuing Pink Floyd's entire back catalog as part of a project called "Why Pink Floyd?", offering remastered and/or expanded versions of all 14 of the British rock powerhouse's studio albums. The band's three most successful records--Dark Side of the Moon, Wish You Were Here and The Wall--have received extra-special treatment, with "Experience" and "Immersion" editions. And evidently, the latter translates to "overkill," as the "Immersion" edition of the 1979 classic The Wall is a 7-disc box set. Yep.
This 14-track sampler from said edition includes six demos, four live cuts and four album tracks. There is one really cool moment on this disc, when an excerpt of Roger Waters' original demo for "Another Brick in the Wall, Pt. 2" leads right into a live version of that hit; kudos to whoever edited that together. Outside of that, the demos sound like demos--though the version of "Young Lust" on here is worth a listen--the live cuts are good selections from the band's 1980-81 tour, and the album tracks are, well, album tracks.
In short, these re-releases are designed for Pink Floyd completists. If this band isn't your thing, inundation isn't going to change your mind. And if you're a Floyd fan, chances are you probably already own The Wall, and you won't need five extra discs to reaffirm that you like Waters, Gilmour, et al. Spin tracks 1, 7, 10, 11 and 14.
Artist: Pink Floyd
Album: The Wall: Immersion Edition (sampler)
Label: EMI
Genre: Classic rock
Comments: EMI has spent the past few months reissuing Pink Floyd's entire back catalog as part of a project called "Why Pink Floyd?", offering remastered and/or expanded versions of all 14 of the British rock powerhouse's studio albums. The band's three most successful records--Dark Side of the Moon, Wish You Were Here and The Wall--have received extra-special treatment, with "Experience" and "Immersion" editions. And evidently, the latter translates to "overkill," as the "Immersion" edition of the 1979 classic The Wall is a 7-disc box set. Yep.
This 14-track sampler from said edition includes six demos, four live cuts and four album tracks. There is one really cool moment on this disc, when an excerpt of Roger Waters' original demo for "Another Brick in the Wall, Pt. 2" leads right into a live version of that hit; kudos to whoever edited that together. Outside of that, the demos sound like demos--though the version of "Young Lust" on here is worth a listen--the live cuts are good selections from the band's 1980-81 tour, and the album tracks are, well, album tracks.
In short, these re-releases are designed for Pink Floyd completists. If this band isn't your thing, inundation isn't going to change your mind. And if you're a Floyd fan, chances are you probably already own The Wall, and you won't need five extra discs to reaffirm that you like Waters, Gilmour, et al. Spin tracks 1, 7, 10, 11 and 14.
The 2 Bears
Add Date: February 28
Artist: The 2 Bears
Album: Be Strong
Label: Southern Fried/DFA
Genre: Electronica, dance
Comments: The 2 Bears are Joe Goddard of Hot Chip and veteran producer Raf Rundell; together, they make electronic tunes that are ready for the (dance)floor. Combining elements of house, club, pop and even dubstep--check out the late-album track "Heart of the Congos"--Be Strong is dance music at its finest.
Excellent stuff; start with tracks 4, 2, 6 and 10.
Artist: The 2 Bears
Album: Be Strong
Label: Southern Fried/DFA
Genre: Electronica, dance
Comments: The 2 Bears are Joe Goddard of Hot Chip and veteran producer Raf Rundell; together, they make electronic tunes that are ready for the (dance)floor. Combining elements of house, club, pop and even dubstep--check out the late-album track "Heart of the Congos"--Be Strong is dance music at its finest.
Excellent stuff; start with tracks 4, 2, 6 and 10.
Prinzhorn Dance School
Add Date: February 28
Artist: Prinzhorn Dance School
Album: Clay Class
Label: DFA
Genre: Rock, post-punk, New Wave
Comments: Prinzhorn Dance School's second album, Clay Class, marks the return of Tobin Prinz and Suzi Horn, nearly five years since their eponymous debut was released on DFA. It's another sturdy collection of minimalist dance-punk jams, landing somewhere between The Fall--Prinz often seems to be emulating Mark E. Smith's distinctive vocal style--and The xx. Pulsating bass lines and dance-worthy drumbeats guide the songs along, with the occasional understated guitar riff livening things up.
Critical praise poured in for Prinzhorn Dance School way back in 2007, and it's easy to imagine a similar response to Clay Class. Spin tracks 1, 4, 6 and 3.
Artist: Prinzhorn Dance School
Album: Clay Class
Label: DFA
Genre: Rock, post-punk, New Wave
Comments: Prinzhorn Dance School's second album, Clay Class, marks the return of Tobin Prinz and Suzi Horn, nearly five years since their eponymous debut was released on DFA. It's another sturdy collection of minimalist dance-punk jams, landing somewhere between The Fall--Prinz often seems to be emulating Mark E. Smith's distinctive vocal style--and The xx. Pulsating bass lines and dance-worthy drumbeats guide the songs along, with the occasional understated guitar riff livening things up.
Critical praise poured in for Prinzhorn Dance School way back in 2007, and it's easy to imagine a similar response to Clay Class. Spin tracks 1, 4, 6 and 3.
Hadwynn
Add Date: February 28
Artist: Hadwynn
Album: Monuments
Label: Lucas Gambit
Genre: Rock, alternative
Comments: From the promoter: "The rockers of Raleigh-based Hadwynn possess energy akin to Manchester Orchestra and a lyrical openness like that of folk singer/songwriters such as Kevin Devine. The band's fierce loyalty to their roots has made Monuments an album that engages listeners in a fashion reminiscent of the community of Southern-influenced rock music (especially apparent on 'Sing Softly' and 'Seed Song'), but pounding drums and frenetic guitar on 'Things I Already Know' push the band's sound into dark and intense territory."
Artist: Hadwynn
Album: Monuments
Label: Lucas Gambit
Genre: Rock, alternative
Comments: From the promoter: "The rockers of Raleigh-based Hadwynn possess energy akin to Manchester Orchestra and a lyrical openness like that of folk singer/songwriters such as Kevin Devine. The band's fierce loyalty to their roots has made Monuments an album that engages listeners in a fashion reminiscent of the community of Southern-influenced rock music (especially apparent on 'Sing Softly' and 'Seed Song'), but pounding drums and frenetic guitar on 'Things I Already Know' push the band's sound into dark and intense territory."
Ecid
Add Date: February 28
Artist: Ecid
Album: Werewolf Hologram
Label: Fill in the Breaks
Genre: Hip hop
Comments: From the promoter: "Ecid pushes the limits of sampling... Pitch shifting and chopping event sample to the point of no return, slapping together psych-rock vocal chops with 808 booms and hand claps, then adding more layers of drum breaks, and echo-heavy guitars... Werewolf Hologram tackles heavy, thought-provoking topics that really dig into your head."
Guests include underground hip-hop luminaries Awol One and Eyedea. Spin tracks 4, 5 and 14.
Artist: Ecid
Album: Werewolf Hologram
Label: Fill in the Breaks
Genre: Hip hop
Comments: From the promoter: "Ecid pushes the limits of sampling... Pitch shifting and chopping event sample to the point of no return, slapping together psych-rock vocal chops with 808 booms and hand claps, then adding more layers of drum breaks, and echo-heavy guitars... Werewolf Hologram tackles heavy, thought-provoking topics that really dig into your head."
Guests include underground hip-hop luminaries Awol One and Eyedea. Spin tracks 4, 5 and 14.
Slow Spokes
Add Date: February 28
Artist: Slow Spokes
Album: Slow Spokes
Label: Table Syrup
Genre: Hip hop
Comments: The Twin Cities troupe Slow Spokes makes rap informed by funk and pop. Their music has been labeled as "BMX sex mob party hip hop," which sounds like too much excitement for me. Check out tracks 4, 8 and 11.
Artist: Slow Spokes
Album: Slow Spokes
Label: Table Syrup
Genre: Hip hop
Comments: The Twin Cities troupe Slow Spokes makes rap informed by funk and pop. Their music has been labeled as "BMX sex mob party hip hop," which sounds like too much excitement for me. Check out tracks 4, 8 and 11.
Ramon and Jessica
Add Date: February 28
Artist: Ramon and Jessica
Album: Fly South
Label: Porto Franco
Genre: Indie pop, folk pop
Comments: The duo Ramon and Jessica make stripped-down, cutesy indie pop--the frequent use of toy piano and ukulele make it impossible to avoid that description--that will bring to mind The Moldy Peaches, The Boy Least Likely To or even Kings of Convenience. These are well-crafted tunes--Dina Maccabee (Jessica?) has studied classical viola and has contributed to recent works by Thao & Mirah and Feist--with strings and horns providing nice accents for the vocal-driven compositions on Fly South.
Spin tracks 1, 11, 6 and 8.
Artist: Ramon and Jessica
Album: Fly South
Label: Porto Franco
Genre: Indie pop, folk pop
Comments: The duo Ramon and Jessica make stripped-down, cutesy indie pop--the frequent use of toy piano and ukulele make it impossible to avoid that description--that will bring to mind The Moldy Peaches, The Boy Least Likely To or even Kings of Convenience. These are well-crafted tunes--Dina Maccabee (Jessica?) has studied classical viola and has contributed to recent works by Thao & Mirah and Feist--with strings and horns providing nice accents for the vocal-driven compositions on Fly South.
Spin tracks 1, 11, 6 and 8.
Panic Years
Add Date: February 28
Artist: Panic Years
Album: The Month's Mind
Label: Self-released
Genre: Rock
Comments: Melodic, guitar-based pop-rock on The Month's Mind, the full-length debut from the Philadelphia band Panic Years. Try "Qualia" or the horn-accented number "The Same Haunt".
Artist: Panic Years
Album: The Month's Mind
Label: Self-released
Genre: Rock
Comments: Melodic, guitar-based pop-rock on The Month's Mind, the full-length debut from the Philadelphia band Panic Years. Try "Qualia" or the horn-accented number "The Same Haunt".
Italian Japanese
Add Date: February 28
Artist: Italian Japanese
Album: Italian Japanese (EP)
Label: Self-released
Genre: Rock
Comments: The San Diego-area band Italian Japanese make shoegazey, upbeat rock songs that borrow heavily from '80s and '90s alternative and '00s indie rock. The six tracks on this eponymous EP won't blow you away, but you'll probably find yourself wanting to listen to tunes like "Two Islands", "Corner Light" and "No Sox" over and over again.
Artist: Italian Japanese
Album: Italian Japanese (EP)
Label: Self-released
Genre: Rock
Comments: The San Diego-area band Italian Japanese make shoegazey, upbeat rock songs that borrow heavily from '80s and '90s alternative and '00s indie rock. The six tracks on this eponymous EP won't blow you away, but you'll probably find yourself wanting to listen to tunes like "Two Islands", "Corner Light" and "No Sox" over and over again.
Gossling
Add Date: February 28
Artist: Gossling
Album: If You Can't Whistle (EP)
Label: Self-released
Genre: Folk pop
Comments: Folk pop from the Australian band Gossling on this 5-song EP. Helen Croome's vocals fall somewhere between Joanna Newsom and Regina Spektor; the tunes on If You Can't Whistle range from singer/songwriter folk to piano-driven pop. Spin tracks 4 and 1.
Artist: Gossling
Album: If You Can't Whistle (EP)
Label: Self-released
Genre: Folk pop
Comments: Folk pop from the Australian band Gossling on this 5-song EP. Helen Croome's vocals fall somewhere between Joanna Newsom and Regina Spektor; the tunes on If You Can't Whistle range from singer/songwriter folk to piano-driven pop. Spin tracks 4 and 1.
No Trigger
Add Date: February 28
Artist: No Trigger
Album: Tycoon
Label: No Sleep
Genre: Rock, punk
Comments: Melodic pop-punk with half-sung, half-screamed vocals from the band No Trigger on the full-length Tycoon. The band's imprint, No Sleep, is quickly become an indie punk powerhouse of a label. The promoter compares No Trigger to A Wilhelm Scream, Polar Bear Club and Strike Anywhere. Spin tracks 2, 10 and 5.
Artist: No Trigger
Album: Tycoon
Label: No Sleep
Genre: Rock, punk
Comments: Melodic pop-punk with half-sung, half-screamed vocals from the band No Trigger on the full-length Tycoon. The band's imprint, No Sleep, is quickly become an indie punk powerhouse of a label. The promoter compares No Trigger to A Wilhelm Scream, Polar Bear Club and Strike Anywhere. Spin tracks 2, 10 and 5.
Geographer
Add Date: February 28
Artist: Geographer
Album: MYTH
Label: Modern Art
Genre: Alternative, indie rock
Comments: Per the promoter: "2011 was quite a year for San Francisco-based ambient indie dream rock ensemble, Geographer. After stints opening for Stars and Ladytron, they hit the main stages at Noise Pop and Treasure Island Music festivals and were named one of SPIN's 'undiscovered bands you need to hear now!'
"The new album, MYTH, was crafted with the help of a dream team combination of producer Eli Crews (Deerhoof) and... engineer Chris Zane (Passion Pit, Walkmen, Holy Ghost!, Tokyo Police Club). The album itself is thick with a presence that is both massive yet ethereal, and swings from undeniable dance grooves to somber howling vocals."
It's a generally-decent indie rock effort, and tracks 10, 1 and 2 are waiting to be spun by viewers like you!
Artist: Geographer
Album: MYTH
Label: Modern Art
Genre: Alternative, indie rock
Comments: Per the promoter: "2011 was quite a year for San Francisco-based ambient indie dream rock ensemble, Geographer. After stints opening for Stars and Ladytron, they hit the main stages at Noise Pop and Treasure Island Music festivals and were named one of SPIN's 'undiscovered bands you need to hear now!'
"The new album, MYTH, was crafted with the help of a dream team combination of producer Eli Crews (Deerhoof) and... engineer Chris Zane (Passion Pit, Walkmen, Holy Ghost!, Tokyo Police Club). The album itself is thick with a presence that is both massive yet ethereal, and swings from undeniable dance grooves to somber howling vocals."
It's a generally-decent indie rock effort, and tracks 10, 1 and 2 are waiting to be spun by viewers like you!
Robert Glasper Experiment
Add Date: February 28
Artist: Robert Clasper Experiment
Album: Black Radio
Label: Blue Note
Genre: Jazz
Comments: Per the onesheet: "Robert Glasper Experiment's Black Radio boldly stakes out new musical territory and transcends any notion of genre, drawing from jazz, hip hop, R&B and rock. The first full-length album from the Grammy-nominated keyboardist’s electric Experiment band, Black Radio features many of Glasper’s famous friends, including Erykah Badu, yasiin bey, Bilal, Lupe Fiasco, Shafiq Husayn (Sa-Ra), KING, Ledisi, Meshell Ndegeocello, Chrisette Michele, Musiq Soulchild, and Stokley Williams (Mint Condition). Glasper has long kept one foot planted firmly in jazz and the other in hip hop. The Los Angeles Times once wrote, 'it’s a short list of jazz pianists who have the wherewithal to drop a J Dilla reference into a Thelonious Monk cover, but not many jazz pianists are Robert Glasper.'"
Since Kanye crashed one of his parties, you know that Robert Clasper must make some great music. Check out Black Radio, featuring Mos Def (track 10) and "Smells Like Teen Spirit" (track 12, and yes, it's a too-cool-for-school cover of Nirvana).
Artist: Robert Clasper Experiment
Album: Black Radio
Label: Blue Note
Genre: Jazz
Comments: Per the onesheet: "Robert Glasper Experiment's Black Radio boldly stakes out new musical territory and transcends any notion of genre, drawing from jazz, hip hop, R&B and rock. The first full-length album from the Grammy-nominated keyboardist’s electric Experiment band, Black Radio features many of Glasper’s famous friends, including Erykah Badu, yasiin bey, Bilal, Lupe Fiasco, Shafiq Husayn (Sa-Ra), KING, Ledisi, Meshell Ndegeocello, Chrisette Michele, Musiq Soulchild, and Stokley Williams (Mint Condition). Glasper has long kept one foot planted firmly in jazz and the other in hip hop. The Los Angeles Times once wrote, 'it’s a short list of jazz pianists who have the wherewithal to drop a J Dilla reference into a Thelonious Monk cover, but not many jazz pianists are Robert Glasper.'"
Since Kanye crashed one of his parties, you know that Robert Clasper must make some great music. Check out Black Radio, featuring Mos Def (track 10) and "Smells Like Teen Spirit" (track 12, and yes, it's a too-cool-for-school cover of Nirvana).
Hunx
Add Date: February 28
Artist: Hunx
Album: Hairdresser Blues
Label: Hardly Art
Genre: Indie rock
Comments: What sort of music should you expect from something called Hairdresser Blues? In my estimate of the Oakland singer-songwriter Seth Bogart's newest album, it's sorrow and pain smothered in catchy pop-rock tunes. It's memorable melancholy with some vintage flair, apropos for an indie flick about young life and love (think: Moldy Peaches in Juno).
For those who also like the retro-style similar to The Strokes, try-out tracks include 2, 3, 4 and 5.
Artist: Hunx
Album: Hairdresser Blues
Label: Hardly Art
Genre: Indie rock
Comments: What sort of music should you expect from something called Hairdresser Blues? In my estimate of the Oakland singer-songwriter Seth Bogart's newest album, it's sorrow and pain smothered in catchy pop-rock tunes. It's memorable melancholy with some vintage flair, apropos for an indie flick about young life and love (think: Moldy Peaches in Juno).
For those who also like the retro-style similar to The Strokes, try-out tracks include 2, 3, 4 and 5.
Voltaire Twins
Add Date: February 28
Artist: Voltaire Twins
Album: Romulus (EP)
Label: Self-released
Genre: Rock, power pop, synthpop
Comments: This is a fantastic batch of four songs from the Voltaire Twins. Something about their heavy, laden dark synthpop sound is enchanting and mesmerizing.
From the promoter: "The Voltaire Twins' bombastic onstage sound and energy has seen them support everyone from Maximo Park to Art vs. Science and has won them a devoted fan following all over the world... On Romulus, the band continues its catchy synth-drenched takeover, fusing 8-bit electro with nu-rave pop, resulting in an arpeggiated assault on the senses."
I love that last sentence, and this EP. Check out all four tracks, but 1 and 4 in particular.
Artist: Voltaire Twins
Album: Romulus (EP)
Label: Self-released
Genre: Rock, power pop, synthpop
Comments: This is a fantastic batch of four songs from the Voltaire Twins. Something about their heavy, laden dark synthpop sound is enchanting and mesmerizing.
From the promoter: "The Voltaire Twins' bombastic onstage sound and energy has seen them support everyone from Maximo Park to Art vs. Science and has won them a devoted fan following all over the world... On Romulus, the band continues its catchy synth-drenched takeover, fusing 8-bit electro with nu-rave pop, resulting in an arpeggiated assault on the senses."
I love that last sentence, and this EP. Check out all four tracks, but 1 and 4 in particular.
Sleigh Bells
Add Date: February 28
Artist: Sleigh Bells
Album: Reign of Terror
Label: Mom + Pop
Genre: Indie rock, noise pop
Comments: From what we've seen with "Infinity Guitars" and "Tell 'Em", the indie rock band known as Sleigh Bells avoids the "delicate music" scene. The Brooklyn-based duo would rather bash and blast and red-line everything until the sound turns scabby and scuzzy. Just look at their 2010 album, Treats, an amazing and momentous full-length indie rock album that came howling and screaming out of nowhere to top the indie, alt, rock, and even Top 40 charts of the year. So yes, while Reign of Terror has been seriously anticipated, not only by supporters, but also by those who saw the twosome as a bit of a noise-pop gimmick, the band is answering any doubters by offering up some awesome, convulsing, and powerful attacks that straddle the line of '80s hair metal and '90s shoegazers' synth.
Do yourself a favor: check out tracks 1, 3, 6 and 10, if not the entire album.
Artist: Sleigh Bells
Album: Reign of Terror
Label: Mom + Pop
Genre: Indie rock, noise pop
Comments: From what we've seen with "Infinity Guitars" and "Tell 'Em", the indie rock band known as Sleigh Bells avoids the "delicate music" scene. The Brooklyn-based duo would rather bash and blast and red-line everything until the sound turns scabby and scuzzy. Just look at their 2010 album, Treats, an amazing and momentous full-length indie rock album that came howling and screaming out of nowhere to top the indie, alt, rock, and even Top 40 charts of the year. So yes, while Reign of Terror has been seriously anticipated, not only by supporters, but also by those who saw the twosome as a bit of a noise-pop gimmick, the band is answering any doubters by offering up some awesome, convulsing, and powerful attacks that straddle the line of '80s hair metal and '90s shoegazers' synth.
Do yourself a favor: check out tracks 1, 3, 6 and 10, if not the entire album.
Sweet Jane
Add Date: February 28
Artist: Sweet Jane
Album: Sugar for My Soul
Label: Reekus
Genre: Rock, punk, garage
Comments: This is a fine garage/punk album from Sweet Jane. Lots of heavy, driven guitars, and monotone/punkish sung vocal melodies. Start with tracks 1, 2 and 3.
Artist: Sweet Jane
Album: Sugar for My Soul
Label: Reekus
Genre: Rock, punk, garage
Comments: This is a fine garage/punk album from Sweet Jane. Lots of heavy, driven guitars, and monotone/punkish sung vocal melodies. Start with tracks 1, 2 and 3.
Ocean Versus Daughter
Add Date: February 28
Artist: Ocean Versus Daughter
Album: Slightly Parted
Label: Self-released
Genre: Rock, folk pop
Comments: Though formed in Prague, the quintet Ocean Versus Daughter is comprised of three Americans, one Briton and one native Czech. Their avant folk-pop tunes, built around piano and cello, sound like a toned-down version of Rasputina or The Dresden Dolls. Try "Forest" or "Apollina".
Artist: Ocean Versus Daughter
Album: Slightly Parted
Label: Self-released
Genre: Rock, folk pop
Comments: Though formed in Prague, the quintet Ocean Versus Daughter is comprised of three Americans, one Briton and one native Czech. Their avant folk-pop tunes, built around piano and cello, sound like a toned-down version of Rasputina or The Dresden Dolls. Try "Forest" or "Apollina".
Vigri
Add Date: February 28
Artist: Vigri
Album: Pink Boats
Label: Self-released
Genre: Rock, chamber pop, folk
Comments: An impressive mix of alternative rock and orchestral pop on Pink Boats, the debut LP from the Reykjavik band Vigri. As seems common for Icelandic music, horns and strings find their way into almost every tune on the album, sometimes providing the buildup for a crescendoing rock song ("Sleep", "Awakening"), and at others adding a nice layer to a peaceful, folk-leaning number (late-album tracks "Í Augsýn" and "Fume").
Spin tracks 6, 1, 8 and 2.
Artist: Vigri
Album: Pink Boats
Label: Self-released
Genre: Rock, chamber pop, folk
Comments: An impressive mix of alternative rock and orchestral pop on Pink Boats, the debut LP from the Reykjavik band Vigri. As seems common for Icelandic music, horns and strings find their way into almost every tune on the album, sometimes providing the buildup for a crescendoing rock song ("Sleep", "Awakening"), and at others adding a nice layer to a peaceful, folk-leaning number (late-album tracks "Í Augsýn" and "Fume").
Spin tracks 6, 1, 8 and 2.
Daniel Rossen
Add Date: February 28
Artist: Daniel Rossen
Album: "Silent Song" (single)
Label: Warp
Genre: Rock
Comments: As a preview of his upcoming album Silent Hour/Golden Mile, due out on March 20, Daniel Rossen of Grizzly Bear and Department of Eagles has released this single, which has parallels to his other works, but with a more personal touch. Melancholic and full of minor chords but with a good tempo, this single does its job--getting me to listen to the entire album.
Artist: Daniel Rossen
Album: "Silent Song" (single)
Label: Warp
Genre: Rock
Comments: As a preview of his upcoming album Silent Hour/Golden Mile, due out on March 20, Daniel Rossen of Grizzly Bear and Department of Eagles has released this single, which has parallels to his other works, but with a more personal touch. Melancholic and full of minor chords but with a good tempo, this single does its job--getting me to listen to the entire album.
TOPS
Add Date: February 28
Artist: TOPS
Album: Tender Opposites
Label: Arbutus
Genre: Pop
Comments: Tender Opposites, the first full-length album from TOPS, brings back visions of the Miami Vice '80s with prolific use of a keyboard and nostalgic lyrics sung in falsetto. The album manages to focus on understated, subtle pop jams instead of the in-your-face annoying sounds associated with the seemingly-depraved '80s (to be fair, I wasn't alive then, thank goodness).
As a bonus, and an incentive for listening to the whole album, the group really finds their strength in the last couple of tracks, which keep in line with the group's sound but do not get washed out in an overbearing homage to their predecessors. I like "Turn Your Love Around" and "Rings of Saturn".
Artist: TOPS
Album: Tender Opposites
Label: Arbutus
Genre: Pop
Comments: Tender Opposites, the first full-length album from TOPS, brings back visions of the Miami Vice '80s with prolific use of a keyboard and nostalgic lyrics sung in falsetto. The album manages to focus on understated, subtle pop jams instead of the in-your-face annoying sounds associated with the seemingly-depraved '80s (to be fair, I wasn't alive then, thank goodness).
As a bonus, and an incentive for listening to the whole album, the group really finds their strength in the last couple of tracks, which keep in line with the group's sound but do not get washed out in an overbearing homage to their predecessors. I like "Turn Your Love Around" and "Rings of Saturn".
New Cassettes
Add Date: February 28
Artist: New Cassettes
Album: Winterhead
Label: N13 Music
Genre: Rock, Brit pop
Comments: Straightforward, poppy British rock from the Northampton quintet New Cassettes on their album Winterhead. Fans of The Futureheads and The Vaccines will enjoy hook-laden, guitar-driven tracks like "Silent Guns" and "Left/Right".
Artist: New Cassettes
Album: Winterhead
Label: N13 Music
Genre: Rock, Brit pop
Comments: Straightforward, poppy British rock from the Northampton quintet New Cassettes on their album Winterhead. Fans of The Futureheads and The Vaccines will enjoy hook-laden, guitar-driven tracks like "Silent Guns" and "Left/Right".
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Best New Music - February 21
Top adds for the week:
Also worth a listen: The D.A., Lambchop, Erin Passmore and Perfume Genius
And don't miss these fine folk collaborations: The Chieftains (with lots of guests), plus Jay Farrar, Will Johnson, Anders Parker & Yim Yames go for the Guthrie
Yellow Ostrich
Add Date: February 21
Artist: Yellow Ostrich
Album: Strange Land
Label: Barsuk
Genre: Rock
Comments: While Strange Land is the second LP from Yellow Ostrich, in at least one sense it's a debut for the band. The Mistress, Alex Schaaf's terrific bedroom pop record that Barsuk reissued last summer, was pretty much a one-man deal. But in re-releasing that album and spending months on the road, opening for the likes of The Antlers and Ra Ra Riot, Schaaf's solo project morphed into a full-fledged trio, with drummer Michael Tapper and multi-instrumentalist Jon Natchez joining the mix. Thus, Strange Land is the first record for Yellow Ostrich, the band.
And it's absolutely brilliant. Opening up with the stunning number "Elephant King"--a crescendoing rock song with strumming guitars, crashing percussion, triumphant horns and an ear-splitting bass line--Strange Land keeps going for 43 minutes without a letdown. Channeling the post-punk of Wire, the psychedelic bliss of The Velvet Underground and the songcraft of Neil Young & Crazy Horse--all of which Natchez cites as influences for this LP--Yellow Ostrich has churned out one of the best rock records that you'll hear in 2012.
Start with tracks 1, 5, 3, 2 and 9.
Artist: Yellow Ostrich
Album: Strange Land
Label: Barsuk
Genre: Rock
Comments: While Strange Land is the second LP from Yellow Ostrich, in at least one sense it's a debut for the band. The Mistress, Alex Schaaf's terrific bedroom pop record that Barsuk reissued last summer, was pretty much a one-man deal. But in re-releasing that album and spending months on the road, opening for the likes of The Antlers and Ra Ra Riot, Schaaf's solo project morphed into a full-fledged trio, with drummer Michael Tapper and multi-instrumentalist Jon Natchez joining the mix. Thus, Strange Land is the first record for Yellow Ostrich, the band.
And it's absolutely brilliant. Opening up with the stunning number "Elephant King"--a crescendoing rock song with strumming guitars, crashing percussion, triumphant horns and an ear-splitting bass line--Strange Land keeps going for 43 minutes without a letdown. Channeling the post-punk of Wire, the psychedelic bliss of The Velvet Underground and the songcraft of Neil Young & Crazy Horse--all of which Natchez cites as influences for this LP--Yellow Ostrich has churned out one of the best rock records that you'll hear in 2012.
Start with tracks 1, 5, 3, 2 and 9.
Grimes
Add Date: February 21
Artist: Grimes
Album: Visions
Label: 4AD
Genre: Electronica, experimental
Comments: From the onesheet: "Grimes is the inventive work of Claire Boucher, a project that has gained notoriety since its inception back in early 2010... Also a prolific force, Visions will be her fourth release in less than two years... With her creative bent being both musical and visual, her second self embodies the arts of 2D, performance, dance, video and sound, weaving them all together to strong rhythmic effect. Subsequent records have sharpened her production skills, and each one has tackled different influences and styles. This new set incorporates influences as wide as Enya, TLC and Aphex Twin, whilst drawing from genres like new jack swing, IDM, new age, K-pop, industrial and glitch, resulting in a record that is both otherworldly and futuristic."
Wonderfully creative and captivatingly original, Boucher's music has been compared to both Lady Gaga and Zola Jesus. In reality, Grimes sounds like nothing else out there right now, and that's always a good thing in my book. Visions is excellent from start to finish, but highlights include tracks 2, 3, 8, 10 and 6.
Artist: Grimes
Album: Visions
Label: 4AD
Genre: Electronica, experimental
Comments: From the onesheet: "Grimes is the inventive work of Claire Boucher, a project that has gained notoriety since its inception back in early 2010... Also a prolific force, Visions will be her fourth release in less than two years... With her creative bent being both musical and visual, her second self embodies the arts of 2D, performance, dance, video and sound, weaving them all together to strong rhythmic effect. Subsequent records have sharpened her production skills, and each one has tackled different influences and styles. This new set incorporates influences as wide as Enya, TLC and Aphex Twin, whilst drawing from genres like new jack swing, IDM, new age, K-pop, industrial and glitch, resulting in a record that is both otherworldly and futuristic."
Wonderfully creative and captivatingly original, Boucher's music has been compared to both Lady Gaga and Zola Jesus. In reality, Grimes sounds like nothing else out there right now, and that's always a good thing in my book. Visions is excellent from start to finish, but highlights include tracks 2, 3, 8, 10 and 6.
Tim Fite
Add Date: February 21
Artist: Tim Fite
Album: Ain't Ain't Ain't
Label: ANTI-
Genre: Rock, folk rock
Comments: From the promoter: "Tim Fite's third album for ANTI-, Ain't Ain't Ain't, completes the 'Ain't' trilogy he began with 2005's acclaimed Gone Ain't Gone and continued in 2008 with Fair Ain't Fair... Unlike those albums, which were created using a collage of samples and [which] addressed adult issues with a youthful exuberance, on Ain't Ain't Ain't Fite played and recorded instruments in the studio. The leaner sound reveals Fite to be a classic songwriter of startling ability, who turns his eye to the trials and triumphs of youth and high school... RIYL: Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson, Tim Kasher, Ween, Mountain Goats..."
Spin tracks 6, 5, 4 and 1.
Artist: Tim Fite
Album: Ain't Ain't Ain't
Label: ANTI-
Genre: Rock, folk rock
Comments: From the promoter: "Tim Fite's third album for ANTI-, Ain't Ain't Ain't, completes the 'Ain't' trilogy he began with 2005's acclaimed Gone Ain't Gone and continued in 2008 with Fair Ain't Fair... Unlike those albums, which were created using a collage of samples and [which] addressed adult issues with a youthful exuberance, on Ain't Ain't Ain't Fite played and recorded instruments in the studio. The leaner sound reveals Fite to be a classic songwriter of startling ability, who turns his eye to the trials and triumphs of youth and high school... RIYL: Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson, Tim Kasher, Ween, Mountain Goats..."
Spin tracks 6, 5, 4 and 1.
Memoryhouse
Add Date: February 21
Artist: Memoryhouse
Album: The Slideshow Effect
Label: Sub Pop
Genre: Rock, dream pop
Comments: The Canadian duo Memoryhouse have been using singles and EPs full of woozy, hazy dream pop to carve out their niche in the music scene over the last couple of years. But with their first full-length, The Slideshow Effect, Evan Abeele and Denise Nouvion prove their mastery of atmospheric rock, mixing uptempo pop with some downcast tunes on a very complete and engaging record.
The band has long cited influences like Galaxie 500 and Cocteau Twins, and album highlights like "The Kids Were Wrong" and "Heirloom" brilliantly pay homage to '80s shoegaze pop. Meanwhile, "Walk With Me" is a gorgeous ambient pop song, and "Punctum" allows a quiet folk melody to seep in. Nouvion's wistfully spellbinding vocals and Abeele's splendid musical backdrops will keep the comparisons to labelmates Beach House coming, and that's certainly not a bad thing.
Get lost in The Slideshow Effect, and spin tracks 2, 8, 5, 4 and 1.
Artist: Memoryhouse
Album: The Slideshow Effect
Label: Sub Pop
Genre: Rock, dream pop
Comments: The Canadian duo Memoryhouse have been using singles and EPs full of woozy, hazy dream pop to carve out their niche in the music scene over the last couple of years. But with their first full-length, The Slideshow Effect, Evan Abeele and Denise Nouvion prove their mastery of atmospheric rock, mixing uptempo pop with some downcast tunes on a very complete and engaging record.
The band has long cited influences like Galaxie 500 and Cocteau Twins, and album highlights like "The Kids Were Wrong" and "Heirloom" brilliantly pay homage to '80s shoegaze pop. Meanwhile, "Walk With Me" is a gorgeous ambient pop song, and "Punctum" allows a quiet folk melody to seep in. Nouvion's wistfully spellbinding vocals and Abeele's splendid musical backdrops will keep the comparisons to labelmates Beach House coming, and that's certainly not a bad thing.
Get lost in The Slideshow Effect, and spin tracks 2, 8, 5, 4 and 1.
Jay Farrar, Will Johnson, Anders Parker & Yim Yames
Add Date: February 21
Artist: Jay Farrar, Will Johnson, Anders Parker & Yim Yames
Album: New Multitudes
Label: Rounder
Genre: Folk, folk rock
Comments: Musical veterans Jay Farrar (Son Volt, Uncle Tupelo), Will Johnson (Centro-Matic), Anders Parker (Gob Iron) and Yim Yames (My Morning Jacket) have joined forces to release New Multitudes, a collection of tunes created out of previously unreleased Woody Guthrie lyrics. The project was established upon the invitation of Guthrie's daughter, Nora, to comb through the folk legend's archives, all the way down to notebooks and even napkins that might have contained potential song ideas.
Needless to say, Guthrie is one of the most significant and influential figures in the history of American music--without him, you may never have heard of Dylan or Springsteen--and it's neat to see modern troubadours honoring his legacy with such a hands-on experiment. The songs on New Multitudes are pretty much exactly what you'd expect, with each of these four distinctive voices providing its own stamp on the music.
Start with tracks 5, 8, 4, 12 and 1.
Artist: Jay Farrar, Will Johnson, Anders Parker & Yim Yames
Album: New Multitudes
Label: Rounder
Genre: Folk, folk rock
Comments: Musical veterans Jay Farrar (Son Volt, Uncle Tupelo), Will Johnson (Centro-Matic), Anders Parker (Gob Iron) and Yim Yames (My Morning Jacket) have joined forces to release New Multitudes, a collection of tunes created out of previously unreleased Woody Guthrie lyrics. The project was established upon the invitation of Guthrie's daughter, Nora, to comb through the folk legend's archives, all the way down to notebooks and even napkins that might have contained potential song ideas.
Needless to say, Guthrie is one of the most significant and influential figures in the history of American music--without him, you may never have heard of Dylan or Springsteen--and it's neat to see modern troubadours honoring his legacy with such a hands-on experiment. The songs on New Multitudes are pretty much exactly what you'd expect, with each of these four distinctive voices providing its own stamp on the music.
Start with tracks 5, 8, 4, 12 and 1.
Bonobo
Add Date: February 21
Artist: Bonobo
Album: Black Sands Remixed
Label: Ninja Tune
Genre: Electronica, etc.
Comments: From the promoter: "Black Sands came out in 2010 to almost universal critical acclaim and worldwide commercial success. Si Green, aka Bonobo, moved from being an underground producer of impeccable credentials to a poster boy for a new take on electronic music--contemporary and edgy, but also soulful, song-based, sometimes lush, but always emotional... Black Sands Remixed gathers together a group of like-minded musicians and producers to interpret this classic album. Most of the material here has never been heard before... and has been gathered with assistance from renowned DJ and [Ninja Tune] label head Alexander Nut."
Remix and redux work from the likes of Mark Pritchard, Andreya Triana & and DELS, Lapalux and many others turns a downtempo, chill electronic record into a mix of house, dubstep and much, much more. The promoter recommends tracks 2, 4, 7, 10 and 11.
Artist: Bonobo
Album: Black Sands Remixed
Label: Ninja Tune
Genre: Electronica, etc.
Comments: From the promoter: "Black Sands came out in 2010 to almost universal critical acclaim and worldwide commercial success. Si Green, aka Bonobo, moved from being an underground producer of impeccable credentials to a poster boy for a new take on electronic music--contemporary and edgy, but also soulful, song-based, sometimes lush, but always emotional... Black Sands Remixed gathers together a group of like-minded musicians and producers to interpret this classic album. Most of the material here has never been heard before... and has been gathered with assistance from renowned DJ and [Ninja Tune] label head Alexander Nut."
Remix and redux work from the likes of Mark Pritchard, Andreya Triana & and DELS, Lapalux and many others turns a downtempo, chill electronic record into a mix of house, dubstep and much, much more. The promoter recommends tracks 2, 4, 7, 10 and 11.
Terry Malts
Add Date: February 21
Artist: Terry Malts
Album: Killing Time
Label: Slumberland
Genre: Rock
Comments: From the promoter: "The mysterious San Francisco trio Terry Malts are here to bring you some great punk-flavored power-pop on their debut full-length album Killing Time. Not much is known about this band, but we do know one thing for sure: this noisy but melodic foot-stomper will grab you from the first track 'Something About You' and will keep your head bopping throughout the album."
Uptempo indie rock with reverb-drenched vocals and noisy, garage rock-channeling guitars. Spin tracks 4, 8, 10 and 6.
Artist: Terry Malts
Album: Killing Time
Label: Slumberland
Genre: Rock
Comments: From the promoter: "The mysterious San Francisco trio Terry Malts are here to bring you some great punk-flavored power-pop on their debut full-length album Killing Time. Not much is known about this band, but we do know one thing for sure: this noisy but melodic foot-stomper will grab you from the first track 'Something About You' and will keep your head bopping throughout the album."
Uptempo indie rock with reverb-drenched vocals and noisy, garage rock-channeling guitars. Spin tracks 4, 8, 10 and 6.
Jonquil
Add Date: February 21
Artist: Jonquil
Album: Point of Go
Label: Dovecote
Genre: Rock, indie pop
Comments: A wonderful collection of buoyant pop tunes on Point of Go, the third LP from the Oxford quartet Jonquil. The band started out as a freak folk-style act, but more recently they've veered into the pop spectrum inhabited by the likes of Phoenix, Shout Out Louds and Vampire Weekend. (It's worth noting that frontman Hugo Manuel makes excellent, half-Nordic, half-chillwave synthpop with his side project Chad Valley--perhaps this influenced Jonquil's sonic shift, or perhaps that worked in reverse.)
Point of Go sounds very European, if not British--there's a noticeable influence from Scandinavian and French pop-rock, in particular. Keyboards and synths guide the melodies, which strike a perfect balance between sunniness and darkness, and Manuel's thoughtful lyrics complete the mix.
An excellent album; start with tracks 1, 3, 2, 6 and 9.
Artist: Jonquil
Album: Point of Go
Label: Dovecote
Genre: Rock, indie pop
Comments: A wonderful collection of buoyant pop tunes on Point of Go, the third LP from the Oxford quartet Jonquil. The band started out as a freak folk-style act, but more recently they've veered into the pop spectrum inhabited by the likes of Phoenix, Shout Out Louds and Vampire Weekend. (It's worth noting that frontman Hugo Manuel makes excellent, half-Nordic, half-chillwave synthpop with his side project Chad Valley--perhaps this influenced Jonquil's sonic shift, or perhaps that worked in reverse.)
Point of Go sounds very European, if not British--there's a noticeable influence from Scandinavian and French pop-rock, in particular. Keyboards and synths guide the melodies, which strike a perfect balance between sunniness and darkness, and Manuel's thoughtful lyrics complete the mix.
An excellent album; start with tracks 1, 3, 2, 6 and 9.
Mati Zundel
Add Date: February 21
Artist: Mati Zundel
Album: Amazonico Gravitante
Label: ZZK/Waxploitation
Genre: International, electronica, folk
Comments: Amazonico Gravitante is the first full-length release from Buenos Aires' Mati Zundel. From the promoter: "Raised on rural rhythms, Mati's debut album Amazonico Gravitante... blends dance music and South American country folk, fusing chacareras, huaynos, and vidalas two-step with electronic textures. Shaman chants and charango guitar loops form the backbone of Mati's songs, and native voices create the backbeat to percussion and bass, while melodies combine Argentine cumbia with psychedelic tones. The result is a furiously original style that takes indigenous roots, and layers it with a contemporary sensibility, maintaining respect for ritual and tradition while pushing classic Latin influences into a cosmic future."
Fascinating stuff from one of NPR Music's favorite artists of 2011--"El Alto de La Paz" was one of their top 100 songs of last year. Spin tracks 3, 7, 2, 5 and 8.
Artist: Mati Zundel
Album: Amazonico Gravitante
Label: ZZK/Waxploitation
Genre: International, electronica, folk
Comments: Amazonico Gravitante is the first full-length release from Buenos Aires' Mati Zundel. From the promoter: "Raised on rural rhythms, Mati's debut album Amazonico Gravitante... blends dance music and South American country folk, fusing chacareras, huaynos, and vidalas two-step with electronic textures. Shaman chants and charango guitar loops form the backbone of Mati's songs, and native voices create the backbeat to percussion and bass, while melodies combine Argentine cumbia with psychedelic tones. The result is a furiously original style that takes indigenous roots, and layers it with a contemporary sensibility, maintaining respect for ritual and tradition while pushing classic Latin influences into a cosmic future."
Fascinating stuff from one of NPR Music's favorite artists of 2011--"El Alto de La Paz" was one of their top 100 songs of last year. Spin tracks 3, 7, 2, 5 and 8.
Gold Fields
Add Date: February 21
Artist: Gold Fields
Album: Gold Fields (EP)
Label: Astralwerks
Genre: Rock, electropop
Comments: From the onesheet: "Originally writing dark, country-tinged songs, [Gold Fields] were becoming depressed by their own music, so they changed direction and wrote their single 'Treehouse'--a glossy slice of pop etched with tribal drums. Creating a hypnotic blend of enigmatic, brooding undercurrents borrowed from rock, the band's songs began to lean towards experimental, spooky and dramatic pop with ominous bass lines and punchy drums."
RIYL: The Rapture and !!!. Spin tracks 1 and 2.
Artist: Gold Fields
Album: Gold Fields (EP)
Label: Astralwerks
Genre: Rock, electropop
Comments: From the onesheet: "Originally writing dark, country-tinged songs, [Gold Fields] were becoming depressed by their own music, so they changed direction and wrote their single 'Treehouse'--a glossy slice of pop etched with tribal drums. Creating a hypnotic blend of enigmatic, brooding undercurrents borrowed from rock, the band's songs began to lean towards experimental, spooky and dramatic pop with ominous bass lines and punchy drums."
RIYL: The Rapture and !!!. Spin tracks 1 and 2.
Chiddy Bang
Add Date: February 21
Artist: Chiddy Bang
Album: Breakfast
Label: Virgin
Genre: Hip hop
Comments: From the promoter: "After several mixtapes and two EPs, Chiddy Bang has come out with their first 'proper' full album debut with Breakfast. The 12-song LP features a fresh set of tracks from the Philadelphia-based hip-hop duo, including their first single, 'Mind Your Manners', the Train-assisted track 'Baby Roulette', and their new single, 'Ray Charles'. With Noah 'Xaphoon Jones' [Bersin] behind the beats and Chidera 'Chiddy' Anamege spitting his witty flows, you can expect a powerful party album featuring samples from your favorite songs of today."
To top it off, the label was kind enough to send us an edited version, so the good beats, cutting rhymes and pop flair of Breakfast aren't confined to late at night. Spin tracks 4, 5, 11 and 3.
Artist: Chiddy Bang
Album: Breakfast
Label: Virgin
Genre: Hip hop
Comments: From the promoter: "After several mixtapes and two EPs, Chiddy Bang has come out with their first 'proper' full album debut with Breakfast. The 12-song LP features a fresh set of tracks from the Philadelphia-based hip-hop duo, including their first single, 'Mind Your Manners', the Train-assisted track 'Baby Roulette', and their new single, 'Ray Charles'. With Noah 'Xaphoon Jones' [Bersin] behind the beats and Chidera 'Chiddy' Anamege spitting his witty flows, you can expect a powerful party album featuring samples from your favorite songs of today."
To top it off, the label was kind enough to send us an edited version, so the good beats, cutting rhymes and pop flair of Breakfast aren't confined to late at night. Spin tracks 4, 5, 11 and 3.
The Chieftains
Add Date: February 21
Artist: The Chieftains
Album: Voice of Ages
Label: Hear Music/Concord Music Group
Genre: Folk
Comments: From the onesheet: "The Chieftains, the world's most celebrated traditional Irish band, will mark their 50th anniversary with the release of Voices of Ages... An imaginative collaboration featuring a dazzling collection of like-minded musical visionaries and kindred spirits, Voice of Ages... features The Chieftains teaming with stars from the worlds of indie rock (Bon Iver, The Decemberists, The Low Anthem), country and Americana (The Civil Wars, Pistol Annies, Carolina Chocolate Drops, Punch Brothers), Irish and Scottish folk (Imelda May, Lisa Hannigan, Paolo Nutini) and more."
A pretty fascinating collection, and there aren't really any misses here. While several of these bands are steeped in traditional folk, and are thus a perfect fit to work with The Chieftains, it's also neat to see artists of other stripes collaborating with this Irish folk powerhouse. Highlights include "When the Ship Comes In" (a Dylan cover, done with the help of The Decemberists), "Pretty Little Girl" (Carolina Chocolate Drops), "The Frost Is All Over" (Punch Brothers), "Lily Love" (The Civil Wars) and "School Days Over" (The Low Anthem).
Artist: The Chieftains
Album: Voice of Ages
Label: Hear Music/Concord Music Group
Genre: Folk
Comments: From the onesheet: "The Chieftains, the world's most celebrated traditional Irish band, will mark their 50th anniversary with the release of Voices of Ages... An imaginative collaboration featuring a dazzling collection of like-minded musical visionaries and kindred spirits, Voice of Ages... features The Chieftains teaming with stars from the worlds of indie rock (Bon Iver, The Decemberists, The Low Anthem), country and Americana (The Civil Wars, Pistol Annies, Carolina Chocolate Drops, Punch Brothers), Irish and Scottish folk (Imelda May, Lisa Hannigan, Paolo Nutini) and more."
A pretty fascinating collection, and there aren't really any misses here. While several of these bands are steeped in traditional folk, and are thus a perfect fit to work with The Chieftains, it's also neat to see artists of other stripes collaborating with this Irish folk powerhouse. Highlights include "When the Ship Comes In" (a Dylan cover, done with the help of The Decemberists), "Pretty Little Girl" (Carolina Chocolate Drops), "The Frost Is All Over" (Punch Brothers), "Lily Love" (The Civil Wars) and "School Days Over" (The Low Anthem).
Lambchop
Add Date: February 21
Artist: Lambchop
Album: Mr. M
Label: Merge
Genre: Folk, rock
Comments: Another superb collection of avant-folk-pop tunes from Kurt Wagner and Lambchop on Mr. M, the band's 11th studio LP. As always, elements of jazz, chamber pop, soul, country and rock all seep into the songs--if you ever held the belief that Lambchop was a one-man, singer/songwriter-style project, the gorgeous mid-album instrumental "Gar" will dispel that notion--with Wagner's heartrending baritone vocal set to a brilliant musical backdrop on song after song.
And though "singer/songwriter" isn't a fair description, Wagner is certainly one of the most literate and literary songwriters in modern music. These songs would be pretty darn good without the wonderful work of the rest of the band; with it, they're superb.
As a side note, Wagner's artistry extends beyond the realm of music--we've been sent a promotional copy, but the physical Merge release features no fewer than 11 of his black-and-white oil paintings. Awesome.
Start with tracks 3, 8, 7 and 4.
Artist: Lambchop
Album: Mr. M
Label: Merge
Genre: Folk, rock
Comments: Another superb collection of avant-folk-pop tunes from Kurt Wagner and Lambchop on Mr. M, the band's 11th studio LP. As always, elements of jazz, chamber pop, soul, country and rock all seep into the songs--if you ever held the belief that Lambchop was a one-man, singer/songwriter-style project, the gorgeous mid-album instrumental "Gar" will dispel that notion--with Wagner's heartrending baritone vocal set to a brilliant musical backdrop on song after song.
And though "singer/songwriter" isn't a fair description, Wagner is certainly one of the most literate and literary songwriters in modern music. These songs would be pretty darn good without the wonderful work of the rest of the band; with it, they're superb.
As a side note, Wagner's artistry extends beyond the realm of music--we've been sent a promotional copy, but the physical Merge release features no fewer than 11 of his black-and-white oil paintings. Awesome.
Start with tracks 3, 8, 7 and 4.
Bahamas
Add Date: February 21
Artist: Bahamas
Album: Barchords
Label: Brushfire
Genre: Folk rock
Comments: Bahamas is Toronto-based musician Afie Jurvanen, whose M. Ward-channeling voice is at the forefront of the 12 folk-rock tracks on Barchords, his Brushfire Records debut. Many of the tunes here are straightforward singer/songwriter cuts, but Jurvanen livens things up on tracks like the tropical-sounding "Caught Me Thinking" and the '50s pop-inspired "Your Sweet Touch". Plus, someone named "Leslie Feist" provides backing vocals on "Snowplow". Seems like I've heard of her before...
Check out tracks 2, 10, 9 and 8.
Artist: Bahamas
Album: Barchords
Label: Brushfire
Genre: Folk rock
Comments: Bahamas is Toronto-based musician Afie Jurvanen, whose M. Ward-channeling voice is at the forefront of the 12 folk-rock tracks on Barchords, his Brushfire Records debut. Many of the tunes here are straightforward singer/songwriter cuts, but Jurvanen livens things up on tracks like the tropical-sounding "Caught Me Thinking" and the '50s pop-inspired "Your Sweet Touch". Plus, someone named "Leslie Feist" provides backing vocals on "Snowplow". Seems like I've heard of her before...
Check out tracks 2, 10, 9 and 8.
Beth Jeans Houghton
Add Date: February 21
Artist: Beth Jeans Houghton & The Hooves of Destiny
Album: Yours Truly, Cellophane Nose
Label: Mute
Genre: Rock, folk, experimental pop
Comments: Yours Truly, Cellophane Nose is the explosive debut album from Newcastle artist Beth Jeans Houghton, with a superb backing band dubbed The Hooves of Destiny. The promoter describes Houghton as "one of the most self-assured new artists of the year, a pop polymath whose blend of psychedelia, glam rock and chain gang folk is quite unlike anything else you're likely to hear in 2012", while The Guardian has described her voice as "Vashti Bunyan crossed with Nico and Laura Marling."
Indeed, Yours Truly, Cellophane Nose adroitly hops from '60s-inspired psych folk to percussion-driven post-punk sprawl--sometimes within the same song, as on the excellent "Atlas"--or from traditional-sounding balladry to ornate chamber pop. Houghton's captivating vocals, rich instrumentation, and the top-class musicianship of the band tie everything together into an excellent LP.
All tracks recommended, but start with 1, 4, 7, 2 and 8.
Artist: Beth Jeans Houghton & The Hooves of Destiny
Album: Yours Truly, Cellophane Nose
Label: Mute
Genre: Rock, folk, experimental pop
Comments: Yours Truly, Cellophane Nose is the explosive debut album from Newcastle artist Beth Jeans Houghton, with a superb backing band dubbed The Hooves of Destiny. The promoter describes Houghton as "one of the most self-assured new artists of the year, a pop polymath whose blend of psychedelia, glam rock and chain gang folk is quite unlike anything else you're likely to hear in 2012", while The Guardian has described her voice as "Vashti Bunyan crossed with Nico and Laura Marling."
Indeed, Yours Truly, Cellophane Nose adroitly hops from '60s-inspired psych folk to percussion-driven post-punk sprawl--sometimes within the same song, as on the excellent "Atlas"--or from traditional-sounding balladry to ornate chamber pop. Houghton's captivating vocals, rich instrumentation, and the top-class musicianship of the band tie everything together into an excellent LP.
All tracks recommended, but start with 1, 4, 7, 2 and 8.
Perfume Genius
Add Date: February 21
Artist: Perfume Genius
Album: Put Your Back N 2 It
Label: Matador
Genre: Rock, folk
Comments: From Matador Records (Belle & Sebastian, Sonic Youth, Kurt Vile): "Perfume Genius is Mike Hadreas, a Seattle songwriter whose 2010 debut album, Learning, was called 'an album of rare, redemptive beauty... one of the most uniquely endearing and quietly forceful debut albums of recent years' by Drowned In Sound, and established him as one of the most singular songwriters today...
"Though Learning's voyeuristic window into Hadreas's experiences resonated intensely with many people, his new album Put Your Back N 2 It is much more universal, addressing intimacy, power, family, secrecy, and hope not just through his impressionistic lyrics, but the music itself, which is as lush as Learning was stark... The hypnotic songs on Put Your Back N 2 It are tender and moving, but they are also surreal and grand, recalling at times the universality of lullabies and hymns, faraway folk songs, the dramatic arc of a film score, and the almost spiritual quality suggests a kind of opiated gospel."
Quiet, pensive tunes that will appeal to fans of Xiu Xiu, Youth Lagoon and Antony & the Johnsons. Spin "Dark Parts", "Hood", "Normal Song" and "Take Me Home".
Artist: Perfume Genius
Album: Put Your Back N 2 It
Label: Matador
Genre: Rock, folk
Comments: From Matador Records (Belle & Sebastian, Sonic Youth, Kurt Vile): "Perfume Genius is Mike Hadreas, a Seattle songwriter whose 2010 debut album, Learning, was called 'an album of rare, redemptive beauty... one of the most uniquely endearing and quietly forceful debut albums of recent years' by Drowned In Sound, and established him as one of the most singular songwriters today...
"Though Learning's voyeuristic window into Hadreas's experiences resonated intensely with many people, his new album Put Your Back N 2 It is much more universal, addressing intimacy, power, family, secrecy, and hope not just through his impressionistic lyrics, but the music itself, which is as lush as Learning was stark... The hypnotic songs on Put Your Back N 2 It are tender and moving, but they are also surreal and grand, recalling at times the universality of lullabies and hymns, faraway folk songs, the dramatic arc of a film score, and the almost spiritual quality suggests a kind of opiated gospel."
Quiet, pensive tunes that will appeal to fans of Xiu Xiu, Youth Lagoon and Antony & the Johnsons. Spin "Dark Parts", "Hood", "Normal Song" and "Take Me Home".
We Were Pirates
Add Date: February 21
Artist: We Were Pirates
Album: Change
Label: Self-released
Genre: Indie rock
Comments: We Were Pirates, the nom de tune of Mike Boggs, are back with a new LP. The promoter says: "Change strays from the traditional straight-ahead indie-pop of 2009's Cutting Ties with a slightly more mature and aggressive sound. Fear not, though; Boggs' carefully crafted songs continue to unfold with charming melodies and his signature soft vocals that are, above all, undeniably catchy."
A nice pop-rock record with some traces of '90s indie rock. Start with tracks 3, 1 and 5.
Artist: We Were Pirates
Album: Change
Label: Self-released
Genre: Indie rock
Comments: We Were Pirates, the nom de tune of Mike Boggs, are back with a new LP. The promoter says: "Change strays from the traditional straight-ahead indie-pop of 2009's Cutting Ties with a slightly more mature and aggressive sound. Fear not, though; Boggs' carefully crafted songs continue to unfold with charming melodies and his signature soft vocals that are, above all, undeniably catchy."
A nice pop-rock record with some traces of '90s indie rock. Start with tracks 3, 1 and 5.
Noam Weinstein
Add Date: February 21
Artist: Noam Weinstein
Album: Clocked
Label: Self-released
Genre: Rock, folk, pop
Comments: From the promoter: "Noam Weinstein has been around the block, quietly spreading his songs to key stations around the country in the past, until a chance encounter with a record producer resulted in new full-length Clocked... which alternates between hushed folk moments and rockin' uptempo tracks... If you enjoy Elvis Costello, Elliott Smith and Tom Petty, prepare to get Clocked!"
Bad puns aside, check out tracks 2, 4 and 12.
Artist: Noam Weinstein
Album: Clocked
Label: Self-released
Genre: Rock, folk, pop
Comments: From the promoter: "Noam Weinstein has been around the block, quietly spreading his songs to key stations around the country in the past, until a chance encounter with a record producer resulted in new full-length Clocked... which alternates between hushed folk moments and rockin' uptempo tracks... If you enjoy Elvis Costello, Elliott Smith and Tom Petty, prepare to get Clocked!"
Bad puns aside, check out tracks 2, 4 and 12.
Wild Belle
Add Date: February 21
Artist: Wild Belle
Album: Keep You (EP)
Label: Sandhill Sound
Genre: Pop, electropop
Comments: The 2-track single/EP Keep You is the debut release from Wild Belle, the Brooklyn-based duo composed of siblings Natalie and Elliot Bergman. From the promoter: "'Keep You' has dubbed-out reggae beats and bass beneath Natalie's velvety vocals... Elements of soul seep into poppy cut 'Take Me Away'... [with] [h]orns, pounding pianos and autoharp..."
For fans of The Asteroids Galaxy Tour. Both tracks recommended.
Artist: Wild Belle
Album: Keep You (EP)
Label: Sandhill Sound
Genre: Pop, electropop
Comments: The 2-track single/EP Keep You is the debut release from Wild Belle, the Brooklyn-based duo composed of siblings Natalie and Elliot Bergman. From the promoter: "'Keep You' has dubbed-out reggae beats and bass beneath Natalie's velvety vocals... Elements of soul seep into poppy cut 'Take Me Away'... [with] [h]orns, pounding pianos and autoharp..."
For fans of The Asteroids Galaxy Tour. Both tracks recommended.
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