Best of the week:
And more good stuff: Iceage, J. Viewz, Stephin Merritt, Tasseomancy
Friday, August 19, 2011
Cymbals Eat Guitars
Add Date: August 23
Artist: Cymbals Eat Guitars
Album: Lenses Alien
Label: Barsuk
Genre: Rock
Comments: From the onesheet: "At its core, Lenses Alien is a marriage of classic pop forms and ambient haze that makes for a stark, dusky psychedelia. [Joseph] D'Agostino's vocals... sit daringly at the forefront, and his lyrics are dark, strange, and affecting as ever. [Drummer Matt] Miller and [bassist Matthew] Whipple move the songs as a singular, powerful unit, while ornate guitars and [Brian] Hamilton's celestial organ and chiming pianos whirl across the sonic landscape."
An excellent second album for this New York band, which made a splash with its self-released debut Why There Are Mountains two summers ago. Now on stalwart indie label Barsuk, which calls them "psych-pop wunderkinds"--a fitting tag, I must say--Cymbals Eat Guitars are set to dazzle once again with Lenses Alien. Spin tracks 5, 2, 8, 6 and 9.
Artist: Cymbals Eat Guitars
Album: Lenses Alien
Label: Barsuk
Genre: Rock
Comments: From the onesheet: "At its core, Lenses Alien is a marriage of classic pop forms and ambient haze that makes for a stark, dusky psychedelia. [Joseph] D'Agostino's vocals... sit daringly at the forefront, and his lyrics are dark, strange, and affecting as ever. [Drummer Matt] Miller and [bassist Matthew] Whipple move the songs as a singular, powerful unit, while ornate guitars and [Brian] Hamilton's celestial organ and chiming pianos whirl across the sonic landscape."
An excellent second album for this New York band, which made a splash with its self-released debut Why There Are Mountains two summers ago. Now on stalwart indie label Barsuk, which calls them "psych-pop wunderkinds"--a fitting tag, I must say--Cymbals Eat Guitars are set to dazzle once again with Lenses Alien. Spin tracks 5, 2, 8, 6 and 9.
Male Bonding
Add Date: August 23
Artist: Male Bonding
Album: Endless Now
Label: Sub Pop
Genre: Rock
Comments: A spectacular sophomore release from the London band Male Bonding. The Standard Examiner had this to say about their 2010 debut Nothing Hurts: "... the hyper-kinetic trio packs loads of melody and muscle into a hook-laden blend of surging power chords and sugary harmonies. Noisy and chaotic, but always holding tight to its classic power-pop center, Male Bonding has been gaining comparisons to a certain trio of hard-rockers who busted out of Seattle more than 20 years ago."
Not much has changed since the first record, except that Male Bonding seems to be honing and perfecting its sound. The likening to Nirvana might be a stretch--not because of quality; it's just that I don't see that much similarity between the two bands' style--but the Sub Pop correlation is certainly worth noting. For fans of Wavves, No Age and Vivian Girls; try tracks 1, 4, 5, 3 and 6.
Artist: Male Bonding
Album: Endless Now
Label: Sub Pop
Genre: Rock
Comments: A spectacular sophomore release from the London band Male Bonding. The Standard Examiner had this to say about their 2010 debut Nothing Hurts: "... the hyper-kinetic trio packs loads of melody and muscle into a hook-laden blend of surging power chords and sugary harmonies. Noisy and chaotic, but always holding tight to its classic power-pop center, Male Bonding has been gaining comparisons to a certain trio of hard-rockers who busted out of Seattle more than 20 years ago."
Not much has changed since the first record, except that Male Bonding seems to be honing and perfecting its sound. The likening to Nirvana might be a stretch--not because of quality; it's just that I don't see that much similarity between the two bands' style--but the Sub Pop correlation is certainly worth noting. For fans of Wavves, No Age and Vivian Girls; try tracks 1, 4, 5, 3 and 6.
Tom Vek
Add Date: August 23
Artist: Tom Vek
Album: Leisure Seizure
Label: Co-op/Island
Genre: Rock, electronic rock
Comments: From the promoter: "Tom Vek is a British-born, self-taught musician whose references are rooted in American culture--ranging anywhere from mid-'90s alt-rock, TV shows such as The O.C., and post-war fiction... Now, after a five-year disconnection [since 2005 debut We Have Sound], he returns with Leisure Seizure--a record full of scrappy, chopped-up, beat rock sounds... RIYL: Aqueduct, Local Natives, Wild Beasts."
Try "Aroused", "A.P.O.L.O.G.Y." or "A Chore".
Artist: Tom Vek
Album: Leisure Seizure
Label: Co-op/Island
Genre: Rock, electronic rock
Comments: From the promoter: "Tom Vek is a British-born, self-taught musician whose references are rooted in American culture--ranging anywhere from mid-'90s alt-rock, TV shows such as The O.C., and post-war fiction... Now, after a five-year disconnection [since 2005 debut We Have Sound], he returns with Leisure Seizure--a record full of scrappy, chopped-up, beat rock sounds... RIYL: Aqueduct, Local Natives, Wild Beasts."
Try "Aroused", "A.P.O.L.O.G.Y." or "A Chore".
I Break Horses
Add Date: August 23
Artist: I Break Horses
Album: Hearts
Label: Co-op/Downtown
Genre: Rock, electronica, shoegaze
Comments: The Stockholm duo I Break Horses is presumably named after a Smog song, but their music channels shoegaze titans like Slowdive and My Bloody Valentine, and it will immediately put them on par with contemporary acts like Memoryhouse or Zola Jesus. Maria Linden's dreamy vocals sound as if, untouched, they'd be quite ethereal, meaning that the reverb and tremelo effects--and the expert songwriting of Fredrik Balck--merely enhance this quality. Linden's voice is surrounded by the lush waves of sound that she composed, which veer from gorgeous, swirling electropop to dense shoegaze rock.
Hearts is a stunning debut--a great record throughout, but key in on tracks 1, 3, 8, 5 and 7.
Artist: I Break Horses
Album: Hearts
Label: Co-op/Downtown
Genre: Rock, electronica, shoegaze
Comments: The Stockholm duo I Break Horses is presumably named after a Smog song, but their music channels shoegaze titans like Slowdive and My Bloody Valentine, and it will immediately put them on par with contemporary acts like Memoryhouse or Zola Jesus. Maria Linden's dreamy vocals sound as if, untouched, they'd be quite ethereal, meaning that the reverb and tremelo effects--and the expert songwriting of Fredrik Balck--merely enhance this quality. Linden's voice is surrounded by the lush waves of sound that she composed, which veer from gorgeous, swirling electropop to dense shoegaze rock.
Hearts is a stunning debut--a great record throughout, but key in on tracks 1, 3, 8, 5 and 7.
The Gift
Add Date: August 23
Artist: The Gift
Album: Explode
Label: La Folie
Genre: Rock
Comments: Seventeen years and five full-length albums in, Portugal's The Gift is looking to make a splash stateside with its newest LP, Explode. This is well-constructed, yet easily accessible psychedelic pop-rock in a style that's drawn the band comparisons to The Flaming Lips and Portishead, among others. One listen to the synthesizer-laced, guitar and drums-driven bombast of tracks like "My Sun" and "RGB", and you'll be hooked; also try "The Singles" or "Race Is Long".
Artist: The Gift
Album: Explode
Label: La Folie
Genre: Rock
Comments: Seventeen years and five full-length albums in, Portugal's The Gift is looking to make a splash stateside with its newest LP, Explode. This is well-constructed, yet easily accessible psychedelic pop-rock in a style that's drawn the band comparisons to The Flaming Lips and Portishead, among others. One listen to the synthesizer-laced, guitar and drums-driven bombast of tracks like "My Sun" and "RGB", and you'll be hooked; also try "The Singles" or "Race Is Long".
Pepper Rabbit
Add Date: August 23
Artist: Pepper Rabbit
Album: Red Velvet Snow Ball
Label: Kanine
Genre: Rock, psych pop
Comments: From the promoter: "Inspired by their time in [New Orleans] and their time touring the country with the likes of Passion Pit, Freelance Whales, and GIVERS, Pepper Rabbit have crafted an album of haunting melodies, a psychedelic pop album perfect for the end of the summer in Red Velvet Snow Ball. Members Xander Singh and Luc Laurent incorporate 11 instruments on the record, everything from ukuleles, clarinet, horns, and a striking array of dusty analog synths. 'The Annexation of Puerto Rico' has an epic swirl, all pounding drums and acoustic guitar, and 'Murder Room' is a gloriously demented pop song about a man just trying to be alone with his thoughts."
Pepper Rabbit's music falls somewhere between the folk-infused psych pop of WLUR favorites Cotton Jones (with whom they've also toured) and the synth-laced psych rock of MGMT or Portugal. The Man. Spin tracks 6, 4, 10 and 1.
Artist: Pepper Rabbit
Album: Red Velvet Snow Ball
Label: Kanine
Genre: Rock, psych pop
Comments: From the promoter: "Inspired by their time in [New Orleans] and their time touring the country with the likes of Passion Pit, Freelance Whales, and GIVERS, Pepper Rabbit have crafted an album of haunting melodies, a psychedelic pop album perfect for the end of the summer in Red Velvet Snow Ball. Members Xander Singh and Luc Laurent incorporate 11 instruments on the record, everything from ukuleles, clarinet, horns, and a striking array of dusty analog synths. 'The Annexation of Puerto Rico' has an epic swirl, all pounding drums and acoustic guitar, and 'Murder Room' is a gloriously demented pop song about a man just trying to be alone with his thoughts."
Pepper Rabbit's music falls somewhere between the folk-infused psych pop of WLUR favorites Cotton Jones (with whom they've also toured) and the synth-laced psych rock of MGMT or Portugal. The Man. Spin tracks 6, 4, 10 and 1.
Peter Wolf Crier
Add Date: August 23
Artist: Peter Wolf Crier
Album: Garden of Arms
Label: Jagjaguwar
Genre: Rock
Comments: The duo Peter Wolf Crier makes indie rock with some slight folk undertones, a style that will bring to mind Other Lives, Dawes or, on occasion, The National. Garden of Arms is their second record, both of which have been released on Jagjaguwar (Bon Iver, Okkervil River). From the label: "Adapting the tenets of [their] grinding live show, the duo of Peter Pisano and Brian Moen transformed the fuzzy distortion, rolling and crashing drums, and laser-focused purposefulness into an intensely dynamic yet supremely polished album."
Check out "Settling It Off", "Right Away" and "Cut a Hand".
Artist: Peter Wolf Crier
Album: Garden of Arms
Label: Jagjaguwar
Genre: Rock
Comments: The duo Peter Wolf Crier makes indie rock with some slight folk undertones, a style that will bring to mind Other Lives, Dawes or, on occasion, The National. Garden of Arms is their second record, both of which have been released on Jagjaguwar (Bon Iver, Okkervil River). From the label: "Adapting the tenets of [their] grinding live show, the duo of Peter Pisano and Brian Moen transformed the fuzzy distortion, rolling and crashing drums, and laser-focused purposefulness into an intensely dynamic yet supremely polished album."
Check out "Settling It Off", "Right Away" and "Cut a Hand".
Tinariwen
Add Date: August 23
Artist: Tinariwen
Album: Tassili
Label: ANTI-
Genre: International
Comments: A fascinating record from the North African act Tinariwen. This long-running Tuareg band was founded in 1979, and throughout the years they've garnered praise and attention from musicians and critics around the world and across many genres. Says Pitchfork: "The music of Tinariwen is at once exotic and familiar--the scales and arrangements are as strange to our ears as the language they sing in, but there's a force operating on a more subliminal level that unites it to something rattling around inside anyone who was brought up on blues or rock and roll. It's music of longing and rebellion, weary wisdom and restless energy, and it sounds so, so good."
I certainly wouldn't argue with that description. On Tassili, recorded in the southeastern Algerian region of the Sahara, the band works primarily with acoustic guitars and traditional percussion--and, for the first time, they welcome in guest musicians: TV on the Radio's Tunde Adebimpe and Kyp Malone joined Tinariwen for the recording session, while Wilco's Nels Cline and members of the Dirty Dozen Brass Band added in guitar and horns, respectively, in post-production.
One of the best and most intriguing records you'll hear in 2011. Start with tracks 3, 1, 2 and 7.
Artist: Tinariwen
Album: Tassili
Label: ANTI-
Genre: International
Comments: A fascinating record from the North African act Tinariwen. This long-running Tuareg band was founded in 1979, and throughout the years they've garnered praise and attention from musicians and critics around the world and across many genres. Says Pitchfork: "The music of Tinariwen is at once exotic and familiar--the scales and arrangements are as strange to our ears as the language they sing in, but there's a force operating on a more subliminal level that unites it to something rattling around inside anyone who was brought up on blues or rock and roll. It's music of longing and rebellion, weary wisdom and restless energy, and it sounds so, so good."
I certainly wouldn't argue with that description. On Tassili, recorded in the southeastern Algerian region of the Sahara, the band works primarily with acoustic guitars and traditional percussion--and, for the first time, they welcome in guest musicians: TV on the Radio's Tunde Adebimpe and Kyp Malone joined Tinariwen for the recording session, while Wilco's Nels Cline and members of the Dirty Dozen Brass Band added in guitar and horns, respectively, in post-production.
One of the best and most intriguing records you'll hear in 2011. Start with tracks 3, 1, 2 and 7.
Dead Ellington
Add Date: August 23
Artist: Dead Ellington
Album: Refuse Rethink Rebuild
Label: Self-released
Genre: Rock, punk
Comments: Refuse Rethink Rebuild is the debut full-length from the 5-piece Boston punk band Dead Ellington, whom the promoter compares to Bouncing Souls, Descendents, Dag Nasty and Lifetime. If you like energetic, melodic punk rock, then there's probably a song or two here for you--just beware of the five profane tracks, and stick to 2, 3 and 6.
Artist: Dead Ellington
Album: Refuse Rethink Rebuild
Label: Self-released
Genre: Rock, punk
Comments: Refuse Rethink Rebuild is the debut full-length from the 5-piece Boston punk band Dead Ellington, whom the promoter compares to Bouncing Souls, Descendents, Dag Nasty and Lifetime. If you like energetic, melodic punk rock, then there's probably a song or two here for you--just beware of the five profane tracks, and stick to 2, 3 and 6.
400 Blows
Add Date: August 23
Artist: 400 Blows
Album: Sickness & Health
Label: ORG Music
Genre: Rock, punk
Comments: Hardcore-leaning punk from the L.A. band 400 Blows, whose music has been compared to Big Business, Helmet and The Circle Jerks. The promoter recommends "Let the Lightning Strike" and "The Rescue Party".
Artist: 400 Blows
Album: Sickness & Health
Label: ORG Music
Genre: Rock, punk
Comments: Hardcore-leaning punk from the L.A. band 400 Blows, whose music has been compared to Big Business, Helmet and The Circle Jerks. The promoter recommends "Let the Lightning Strike" and "The Rescue Party".
Iceage
Add Date: August 23
Artist: Iceage
Album: New Brigade
Label: What's Your Rupture?
Genre: Rock, punk, experimental
Comments: From the onesheet: "New Brigade is Iceage's debut album, 26 minutes of anthemic stress, of tension undiluted by worldly wisdom or amassed experience... Iceage mixes '77 punk, '79 post-punk, Goth and hardcore as if they invented [those genres], and does such an excellent job of blending these tropes with the pent-up energy and frustration of the just-post-pubescent years of young men's lives, that they might as well have."
As hinted at in the promo, these four Danes are teenagers--all between 16 and 18 years old. That makes New Brigade scary good; there's nothing unpolished about this post-punk, post-hardcore sprawl that will appeal to fans of Black Flag, No Age and F***ed Up. Spin tracks 2, 3, 12 and 7.
Artist: Iceage
Album: New Brigade
Label: What's Your Rupture?
Genre: Rock, punk, experimental
Comments: From the onesheet: "New Brigade is Iceage's debut album, 26 minutes of anthemic stress, of tension undiluted by worldly wisdom or amassed experience... Iceage mixes '77 punk, '79 post-punk, Goth and hardcore as if they invented [those genres], and does such an excellent job of blending these tropes with the pent-up energy and frustration of the just-post-pubescent years of young men's lives, that they might as well have."
As hinted at in the promo, these four Danes are teenagers--all between 16 and 18 years old. That makes New Brigade scary good; there's nothing unpolished about this post-punk, post-hardcore sprawl that will appeal to fans of Black Flag, No Age and F***ed Up. Spin tracks 2, 3, 12 and 7.
Tasseomancy
Add Date: August 23
Artist: Tasseomancy
Album: Ulalume
Label: Out of This Spark
Genre: Folk
Comments: Dark, haunting psychedelic folk from Tasseomancy, the duo of twin sisters and Austra members Sari and Romy Lightman. Produced by Taylor Kirk--who sings on "The Darkness of Things"--and Simon Trottier of Timber Timbre, Ulalume is every bit as eerily beautiful as the music of that band, with sparse-yet-intricate instrumentation that features harpsichord, autoharp, the occasional flute and some light synths on top of acoustic and electric guitars. Meanwhile, with the dual vocals of Sari and Romy, you'll hear similarities to Marissa Nadler, Hope Sandoval or even Joanna Newsom--but just imagine that there were two Marissas, Hopes or Joannas. A pleasant thought, right?
Ulalume is a splendid record, which Nylon Magazine calls "a spooky Halloween soundtrack that you'll want to listen to all year long." Start with tracks 2, 8, 5 and 4.
Artist: Tasseomancy
Album: Ulalume
Label: Out of This Spark
Genre: Folk
Comments: Dark, haunting psychedelic folk from Tasseomancy, the duo of twin sisters and Austra members Sari and Romy Lightman. Produced by Taylor Kirk--who sings on "The Darkness of Things"--and Simon Trottier of Timber Timbre, Ulalume is every bit as eerily beautiful as the music of that band, with sparse-yet-intricate instrumentation that features harpsichord, autoharp, the occasional flute and some light synths on top of acoustic and electric guitars. Meanwhile, with the dual vocals of Sari and Romy, you'll hear similarities to Marissa Nadler, Hope Sandoval or even Joanna Newsom--but just imagine that there were two Marissas, Hopes or Joannas. A pleasant thought, right?
Ulalume is a splendid record, which Nylon Magazine calls "a spooky Halloween soundtrack that you'll want to listen to all year long." Start with tracks 2, 8, 5 and 4.
We Were Promised Jetpacks
Add Date: August 23
Artist: We Were Promised Jetpacks
Album: "Medicine" b/w "Buildings Buildings"
Label: FatCat
Genre: Rock
Comments: "Medicine" is the first single from We Were Promised Jetpacks' forthcoming sophomore record, In the Pit of the Stomach, due out this October on FatCat. According to the promoter, it "is a dark, driving anthem, bringing together the engaging hooks and frenetic pacing of their beloved debut [2009's These Four Walls], along with the newly muscular ambition that characterizes In the Pit of the Stomach... B-side 'Buildings Buildings' is an affecting piano-driven ballad, showcasing singer Adam Thompson's melancholy tenor."
Artist: We Were Promised Jetpacks
Album: "Medicine" b/w "Buildings Buildings"
Label: FatCat
Genre: Rock
Comments: "Medicine" is the first single from We Were Promised Jetpacks' forthcoming sophomore record, In the Pit of the Stomach, due out this October on FatCat. According to the promoter, it "is a dark, driving anthem, bringing together the engaging hooks and frenetic pacing of their beloved debut [2009's These Four Walls], along with the newly muscular ambition that characterizes In the Pit of the Stomach... B-side 'Buildings Buildings' is an affecting piano-driven ballad, showcasing singer Adam Thompson's melancholy tenor."
J. Viewz
Add Date: August 23
Artist: J. Viewz
Album: rivers and homes.
Label: Jorjia Music
Genre: Electronica, ambient pop, experimental
Comments: From the promoter: "rivers and homes. ... [is] the new album from J. Viewz, a multi-genre electronic project brought together under the direction of Brooklyn-based producer and songwriter Jonathan Dagan... J. Viewz sound alternately combines elements of soft breakbeat, hazy nostalgia, glitchy chillout, and strong vocal performances. The album vacillates between the high-energy pop of 'far too close' to calming expansive dreamscapes like 'building a home', but is pulled together cohesively by Dagan's deft aesthetic vision."
A pretty intriguing and certainly eclectic ambient electropop record. In addition to the two tracks (9 and 8) recommended above, check out 2, 5 and 3.
Artist: J. Viewz
Album: rivers and homes.
Label: Jorjia Music
Genre: Electronica, ambient pop, experimental
Comments: From the promoter: "rivers and homes. ... [is] the new album from J. Viewz, a multi-genre electronic project brought together under the direction of Brooklyn-based producer and songwriter Jonathan Dagan... J. Viewz sound alternately combines elements of soft breakbeat, hazy nostalgia, glitchy chillout, and strong vocal performances. The album vacillates between the high-energy pop of 'far too close' to calming expansive dreamscapes like 'building a home', but is pulled together cohesively by Dagan's deft aesthetic vision."
A pretty intriguing and certainly eclectic ambient electropop record. In addition to the two tracks (9 and 8) recommended above, check out 2, 5 and 3.
Stephin Merritt
Add Date: August 23
Artist: Stephin Merritt
Album: Obscurities
Label: Merge
Genre: Indie pop
Comments: This aptly-named compilation of rare and previously unreleased songs from Stephin Merritt covers a great deal of territory from the early part of his career--his time on Merge from 1994-99, and even a few years before then. Beyond tunes from The Magnetic Fields, there are selections from The 6ths and The Gothic Archies, solo singles, and even tracks from "an unfinished science fiction musical" called The Song from Venus.
If you're versed in The Magnetic Fields, you won't be surprised to hear Merritt's baritone joined by a wide range of guest vocalists, and you also won't be taken aback by the quality and diversity of the tunes. Though the songs may cover a wider range of sonic territory than any particular Merritt-curated studio record, Obscurities doesn't sound drastically different from what you've come to expect from one of the finest indie pop artists around. Spin tracks 1, 3, 6 and 8.
Artist: Stephin Merritt
Album: Obscurities
Label: Merge
Genre: Indie pop
Comments: This aptly-named compilation of rare and previously unreleased songs from Stephin Merritt covers a great deal of territory from the early part of his career--his time on Merge from 1994-99, and even a few years before then. Beyond tunes from The Magnetic Fields, there are selections from The 6ths and The Gothic Archies, solo singles, and even tracks from "an unfinished science fiction musical" called The Song from Venus.
If you're versed in The Magnetic Fields, you won't be surprised to hear Merritt's baritone joined by a wide range of guest vocalists, and you also won't be taken aback by the quality and diversity of the tunes. Though the songs may cover a wider range of sonic territory than any particular Merritt-curated studio record, Obscurities doesn't sound drastically different from what you've come to expect from one of the finest indie pop artists around. Spin tracks 1, 3, 6 and 8.
The Small Hours
Add Date: August 23
Artist: The Small Hours
Album: The Battle of Airstrip One
Label: Self-released
Genre: Rock
Comments: The four members of The Small Hours were born in northern England but currently live in southern California, and those two regions' influence can be heard in nearly equal measure on The Battle of Airstrip One. Part British rock and part lightly psychedelic pop, the record provides some radio-ready numbers--most notably "Thought Crime" and "The Party".
Artist: The Small Hours
Album: The Battle of Airstrip One
Label: Self-released
Genre: Rock
Comments: The four members of The Small Hours were born in northern England but currently live in southern California, and those two regions' influence can be heard in nearly equal measure on The Battle of Airstrip One. Part British rock and part lightly psychedelic pop, the record provides some radio-ready numbers--most notably "Thought Crime" and "The Party".
Revolution, I Love You
Add Date: August 23
Artist: Revolution, I Love You
Album: We Choose to Go to the Moon
Label: Monster Entertainment
Genre: Rock, electronic rock
Comments: From the promoter: "We Choose to Go to the Moon, the debut full-length album from electronic indie-rockers Revolution, I Love You, is an experiment in pop music. Revolution, I Love You culls elements from across the pop spectrum, including gritty indie rock guitars, dance and hip-hop beats, dramatic choruses, loops, and synthesizers, and uses them to strange and sometimes psychedelic effect."
Start with "All Your Love", "Graceful Steps" and "Not So Sure".
Artist: Revolution, I Love You
Album: We Choose to Go to the Moon
Label: Monster Entertainment
Genre: Rock, electronic rock
Comments: From the promoter: "We Choose to Go to the Moon, the debut full-length album from electronic indie-rockers Revolution, I Love You, is an experiment in pop music. Revolution, I Love You culls elements from across the pop spectrum, including gritty indie rock guitars, dance and hip-hop beats, dramatic choruses, loops, and synthesizers, and uses them to strange and sometimes psychedelic effect."
Start with "All Your Love", "Graceful Steps" and "Not So Sure".
Smiletron
Add Date: August 23
Artist: Smiletron
Album: Intrinsic
Label: Self-released
Genre: Electronica
Comments: Smiletron is the project of a producer named David, who's been releasing various electronica singles and EPs for the last couple of years, with the style ranging from trance to dubstep to experimental stuff. Intrinsic is 11 tracks and nearly 77 minutes of instrumental electronic music; if that's your thing, try "Oracle" or "Cerulean (Astro Mix)".
Artist: Smiletron
Album: Intrinsic
Label: Self-released
Genre: Electronica
Comments: Smiletron is the project of a producer named David, who's been releasing various electronica singles and EPs for the last couple of years, with the style ranging from trance to dubstep to experimental stuff. Intrinsic is 11 tracks and nearly 77 minutes of instrumental electronic music; if that's your thing, try "Oracle" or "Cerulean (Astro Mix)".
The Express & Co.
Add Date: August 23
Artist: The Express & Co.
Album: The Express & Co. (EP)
Label: Pirate Radio
Genre: Folk, alt-country
Comments: The Canadian alt-country act The Express & Co. moves along on the guitar and lead vocals of Dylan Ireland and the fiddle and backing voice of Melissa Payne. That's a pretty good formula for modern folk tunes, and indeed it works quite well on this eponymous 6-track EP. Try "Out By the Trees" or "Gold in Your Pockets".
Artist: The Express & Co.
Album: The Express & Co. (EP)
Label: Pirate Radio
Genre: Folk, alt-country
Comments: The Canadian alt-country act The Express & Co. moves along on the guitar and lead vocals of Dylan Ireland and the fiddle and backing voice of Melissa Payne. That's a pretty good formula for modern folk tunes, and indeed it works quite well on this eponymous 6-track EP. Try "Out By the Trees" or "Gold in Your Pockets".
Magnolia Sons
Add Date: August 23
Artist: Magnolia Sons
Album: Free (EP)
Label: Amaranth Music
Genre: Rock
Comments: Rooted in Louisiana and now based in Nashville, Magnolia Sons make '60s-inspired pop that will bring to mind The Beach Boys or The Mama and the Papas. Try "Believe in Me (You and Me)" or "The Magic Man" from this new 5-song EP.
Artist: Magnolia Sons
Album: Free (EP)
Label: Amaranth Music
Genre: Rock
Comments: Rooted in Louisiana and now based in Nashville, Magnolia Sons make '60s-inspired pop that will bring to mind The Beach Boys or The Mama and the Papas. Try "Believe in Me (You and Me)" or "The Magic Man" from this new 5-song EP.
Laneous & the Family Yah
Add Date: August 23
Artist: Laneous & the Family Yah
Album: Scissors (EP)
Label: Creative Vibes
Genre: Rock, soul
Comments: From the promoter: "Laneous & the Family Yah make mutant soul and croon punk for your earholes. Alternatively cheerful, smooth and demented, Laneous navigates his band through fiercely syncopated, occasionally bombast[ic] and otherwise wobbly grooves with his trademark falsetto croon and charming hip-hop murmurs."
I'm not sure exactly what "mutant soul" and "croon punk" are, but I doubt that I could do a better job of describing this Australian band. Try tracks 5 and 1.
Artist: Laneous & the Family Yah
Album: Scissors (EP)
Label: Creative Vibes
Genre: Rock, soul
Comments: From the promoter: "Laneous & the Family Yah make mutant soul and croon punk for your earholes. Alternatively cheerful, smooth and demented, Laneous navigates his band through fiercely syncopated, occasionally bombast[ic] and otherwise wobbly grooves with his trademark falsetto croon and charming hip-hop murmurs."
I'm not sure exactly what "mutant soul" and "croon punk" are, but I doubt that I could do a better job of describing this Australian band. Try tracks 5 and 1.
Gabriel Kahane
Add Date: August 23
Artist: Gabriel Kahane
Album: Where Are the Arms
Label: 2nd Story
Genre: Folk pop
Comments: The son of conductor and pianist Jeffrey Kahane, Gabriel Kahane writes folk and pop songs that incorporate his classical training. The tunes on Where Are the Arms start with piano or acoustic guitar, and then build into full orchestral flourishes, with horns, woodwinds and strings fleshing out the melodies. The end result is a very interesting mix of traditional song composition and modern pop songcraft; check out "LA", "Charming Disease" and "Icebox".
Artist: Gabriel Kahane
Album: Where Are the Arms
Label: 2nd Story
Genre: Folk pop
Comments: The son of conductor and pianist Jeffrey Kahane, Gabriel Kahane writes folk and pop songs that incorporate his classical training. The tunes on Where Are the Arms start with piano or acoustic guitar, and then build into full orchestral flourishes, with horns, woodwinds and strings fleshing out the melodies. The end result is a very interesting mix of traditional song composition and modern pop songcraft; check out "LA", "Charming Disease" and "Icebox".
Jonny Corndawg
Add Date: August 23
Artist: Jonny Corndawg
Album: Down on the Bikini Line
Label: Thirty Tigers
Genre: Country
Comments: From the promoter: "Jonny Corndawg is an infectious songwriter and burgeoning country star [who] worships [at] the altar of Waylon Jennings, Billy Joe Shaver, and Michael Hurley. Born in Montana, raised in rural Virginia and now residing in Brooklyn... [h]e's the bona fide marathon-running, Chevy-loving, motorcycle-touring, America-loving real deal, and Down on the Bikini Line is [the] hootinest hoedown this side of the Grand Ol' Opry... This cowboy troubadour combines his musical influence with the lyrical whimsy of Shel Silverstein to create songs that are nearly impossible to resist."
This is indeed classic-sounding country; start with tracks 1, 5, 4 and 7.
Artist: Jonny Corndawg
Album: Down on the Bikini Line
Label: Thirty Tigers
Genre: Country
Comments: From the promoter: "Jonny Corndawg is an infectious songwriter and burgeoning country star [who] worships [at] the altar of Waylon Jennings, Billy Joe Shaver, and Michael Hurley. Born in Montana, raised in rural Virginia and now residing in Brooklyn... [h]e's the bona fide marathon-running, Chevy-loving, motorcycle-touring, America-loving real deal, and Down on the Bikini Line is [the] hootinest hoedown this side of the Grand Ol' Opry... This cowboy troubadour combines his musical influence with the lyrical whimsy of Shel Silverstein to create songs that are nearly impossible to resist."
This is indeed classic-sounding country; start with tracks 1, 5, 4 and 7.
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Canon Blue
Add Date: August 16
Artist: Canon Blue
Album: Rumspringa
Label: Temporary Residence Limited
Genre: Rock, folk pop, etc.
Comments: Rumspringa isn't a debut LP--Canon Blue's Daniel James released Colonies, a record produced by Chris Taylor, back in 2007--but it may very well serve as your introduction to the band. And boy, is this ever explosive stuff. Swirling, orchestral arrangements surround James' well-constructed melodies, which borrow from folk, pop, rock and even electronica--he claims Autechre and Boards of Canada as major influences, though on the new album that's most evident through the song structures.
James has been a touring member of the influential Danish outfit Efterklang, which sent his demo on to Temporary Residence Limited (Explosions in the Sky, The Books, Pinback) and helped him produce and record the album. The Icelandic band Amiina, which works with Sigur Rós and has released some fine music on its own, plays strings. Everything on Rumspringa seems meticulously crafted, simultaneously intricate and expansive.
The LP is reminiscent of the full-band chamber pop that you'll hear from the likes of Sufjan Stevens, while some late-album tracks veer into Arcade Fire territory. An amazing effort; begin with tracks 1, 3, 9, 8 and 5.
Artist: Canon Blue
Album: Rumspringa
Label: Temporary Residence Limited
Genre: Rock, folk pop, etc.
Comments: Rumspringa isn't a debut LP--Canon Blue's Daniel James released Colonies, a record produced by Chris Taylor, back in 2007--but it may very well serve as your introduction to the band. And boy, is this ever explosive stuff. Swirling, orchestral arrangements surround James' well-constructed melodies, which borrow from folk, pop, rock and even electronica--he claims Autechre and Boards of Canada as major influences, though on the new album that's most evident through the song structures.
James has been a touring member of the influential Danish outfit Efterklang, which sent his demo on to Temporary Residence Limited (Explosions in the Sky, The Books, Pinback) and helped him produce and record the album. The Icelandic band Amiina, which works with Sigur Rós and has released some fine music on its own, plays strings. Everything on Rumspringa seems meticulously crafted, simultaneously intricate and expansive.
The LP is reminiscent of the full-band chamber pop that you'll hear from the likes of Sufjan Stevens, while some late-album tracks veer into Arcade Fire territory. An amazing effort; begin with tracks 1, 3, 9, 8 and 5.
Princess Chelsea
Add Date: August 16
Artist: Princess Chelsea
Album: Lil' Golden Book
Label: Lil' Chief
Genre: Folk, pop, princesses
Comments: It would be pretty easy to get stuck on the gimmicks surrounding this project of the Kiwi musician Chelsea Nikkel. Her fascination with princesses and fairy tales, highlighted by her chosen nom de tune and accented by the album title and cover--a play on the children's series Little Golden Books, which I certainly remember well, which extends into fully illustrated liner notes--even spills over into the lyrics of songs like "Ice Reign".
But if you play close attention, all of this becomes endearing, rather than distracting. Indeed, Nikkel's princess fixation shouldn't obscure what's really going on with Lil' Golden Book, which is an excellent avant-pop record that should appeal to fans of CocoRosie, Joanna Newsom, and New Zealand's finest indie poppers, The Brunettes. (That band's Jonathan Bree produced the LP, which is being released on his Lil' Chief imprint, and he sings on "The Cigarette Duet".)
A quite impressive debut--spin tracks 3, 6, 4 and 8 (featuring Lawrence Arabia).
Artist: Princess Chelsea
Album: Lil' Golden Book
Label: Lil' Chief
Genre: Folk, pop, princesses
Comments: It would be pretty easy to get stuck on the gimmicks surrounding this project of the Kiwi musician Chelsea Nikkel. Her fascination with princesses and fairy tales, highlighted by her chosen nom de tune and accented by the album title and cover--a play on the children's series Little Golden Books, which I certainly remember well, which extends into fully illustrated liner notes--even spills over into the lyrics of songs like "Ice Reign".
But if you play close attention, all of this becomes endearing, rather than distracting. Indeed, Nikkel's princess fixation shouldn't obscure what's really going on with Lil' Golden Book, which is an excellent avant-pop record that should appeal to fans of CocoRosie, Joanna Newsom, and New Zealand's finest indie poppers, The Brunettes. (That band's Jonathan Bree produced the LP, which is being released on his Lil' Chief imprint, and he sings on "The Cigarette Duet".)
A quite impressive debut--spin tracks 3, 6, 4 and 8 (featuring Lawrence Arabia).
Pikachunes
Add Date: August 16
Artist: Pikachunes
Album: Pikachunes
Label: Lil' Chief
Genre: Electronica, electropop
Comments: From the promoter: "Fusing electropop with lush production work, New Zealand's Pikachunes comes to you armed with a laptop and a drum machine, and is ready to twirl you around with his deeply sweet vocals and perfectly crafted dance tunes. With Miles McDougal, a.k.a. Pikachunes, being a former jazz student, he's made a record that encompasses beautiful melodic tones and gives you the sense that you could dance to it [anywhere]... RIYL: Kids of 88, Tom Vek, Craft Spells."
Check out "Nervous" and "Tonight".
Artist: Pikachunes
Album: Pikachunes
Label: Lil' Chief
Genre: Electronica, electropop
Comments: From the promoter: "Fusing electropop with lush production work, New Zealand's Pikachunes comes to you armed with a laptop and a drum machine, and is ready to twirl you around with his deeply sweet vocals and perfectly crafted dance tunes. With Miles McDougal, a.k.a. Pikachunes, being a former jazz student, he's made a record that encompasses beautiful melodic tones and gives you the sense that you could dance to it [anywhere]... RIYL: Kids of 88, Tom Vek, Craft Spells."
Check out "Nervous" and "Tonight".
Fool's Gold
Add Date: August 16
Artist: Fool's Gold
Album: Leave No Trace
Label: IAMSOUND
Genre: Rock, pop
Comments: When we first met Fool's Gold, upon the release of their self-titled debut roughly two years ago, the band was a sprawling collective, encompassing some 12-15 members. Now, for sophomore release Leave No Trace, the L.A. act has been condensed into a tight 5-piece, and Israeli-born frontman Luke Top has switched from Hebrew lyrics to English. Yet the globe-spanning influences that we heard on Fool's Gold--African guitar, Caribbean and Middle Eastern rhythms, '80s New Wave, classic soul--are still as prevalent as before.
Leave No Trace will bring to mind many bands--certainly Yeasayer and Vampire Weekend, while Dirty Projectors and Merriweather Post Pavilion-style Animal Collective are only slight stretches--but without sounding exactly like anything you've heard recently. It's a very good album throughout, but focus on "The Dive", "Street Clothes" and "Wild Window".
Artist: Fool's Gold
Album: Leave No Trace
Label: IAMSOUND
Genre: Rock, pop
Comments: When we first met Fool's Gold, upon the release of their self-titled debut roughly two years ago, the band was a sprawling collective, encompassing some 12-15 members. Now, for sophomore release Leave No Trace, the L.A. act has been condensed into a tight 5-piece, and Israeli-born frontman Luke Top has switched from Hebrew lyrics to English. Yet the globe-spanning influences that we heard on Fool's Gold--African guitar, Caribbean and Middle Eastern rhythms, '80s New Wave, classic soul--are still as prevalent as before.
Leave No Trace will bring to mind many bands--certainly Yeasayer and Vampire Weekend, while Dirty Projectors and Merriweather Post Pavilion-style Animal Collective are only slight stretches--but without sounding exactly like anything you've heard recently. It's a very good album throughout, but focus on "The Dive", "Street Clothes" and "Wild Window".
Wiretree
Add Date: August 16
Artist: Wiretree
Album: Make Up
Label: Cobaltworks
Genre: Rock
Comments: Wiretree's guitar-driven pop-rock tunes fall somewhere between the '70s-vintage style of Brendan Benson and the guitar-strumming power pop of early Fountains of Wayne--and you'll hear some '60s pop undertones as well. Make Up is the third LP from this Austin quartet, and it's full of radio-friendly gems; start with the title track, "The Shore" and "Broken Foot".
Artist: Wiretree
Album: Make Up
Label: Cobaltworks
Genre: Rock
Comments: Wiretree's guitar-driven pop-rock tunes fall somewhere between the '70s-vintage style of Brendan Benson and the guitar-strumming power pop of early Fountains of Wayne--and you'll hear some '60s pop undertones as well. Make Up is the third LP from this Austin quartet, and it's full of radio-friendly gems; start with the title track, "The Shore" and "Broken Foot".
Her Space Holiday
Add Date: August 16
Artist: Her Space Holiday
Album: Her Space Holiday
Label: No More Good Ideas
Genre: Indie pop, folk pop
Comments: The album title Her Space Holiday is eponymous, but this isn't a debut--in fact, it's quite the opposite: this is, if you will, a denouement for the 15-year project of Marc Bianchi. The promoter says: "From the early droney days of Audio Astronomy and The Astronauts Are Sleeping Volumes 1-2, to the acclaimed orchestral pop electronics of The Young Machines and The Past Presents the Future, to the stripped-down organic clap-along jangle of XOXO, Panda and the New Kid Revival, the aural and thematic aspects were constantly evolving, but the heart of the songwriting remained the constant."
Although I've only been on board since 2005's The Past Presents the Future, I'm certainly sorry to see this musical venture come to an end. And while Her Space Holiday isn't a career-encompassing narrative--if anything, it falls somewhere between the electronica-infused pop of Bianchi's mid-'00s work and the recent turn toward indie folk--it's a fitting departure. Check out tracks 2, 5, 9 and 1.
Artist: Her Space Holiday
Album: Her Space Holiday
Label: No More Good Ideas
Genre: Indie pop, folk pop
Comments: The album title Her Space Holiday is eponymous, but this isn't a debut--in fact, it's quite the opposite: this is, if you will, a denouement for the 15-year project of Marc Bianchi. The promoter says: "From the early droney days of Audio Astronomy and The Astronauts Are Sleeping Volumes 1-2, to the acclaimed orchestral pop electronics of The Young Machines and The Past Presents the Future, to the stripped-down organic clap-along jangle of XOXO, Panda and the New Kid Revival, the aural and thematic aspects were constantly evolving, but the heart of the songwriting remained the constant."
Although I've only been on board since 2005's The Past Presents the Future, I'm certainly sorry to see this musical venture come to an end. And while Her Space Holiday isn't a career-encompassing narrative--if anything, it falls somewhere between the electronica-infused pop of Bianchi's mid-'00s work and the recent turn toward indie folk--it's a fitting departure. Check out tracks 2, 5, 9 and 1.
Gold Leaves
Add Date: August 16
Artist: Gold Leaves
Album: The Ornament
Label: Hardly Art
Genre: Rock, folk rock, psych pop
Comments: The first full-length release from Hardly Art, a sister label of Sub Pop, back in the summer of 2007 was Arthur & Yu's excellent In Camera. Now, some four years later--and after a slew of fine albums from the likes of Le Loup, The Dutchess & the Duke and, most recently, Seapony--comes Gold Leaves, the new project of Arthur & Yu's Grant Olsen.
If you remember In Camera, you'll find lots to like on The Ornament. If not, here's a primer: this is top-notch, folk-leaning psych pop, with Olsen's fine songwriting and vocals fused into the finished project by the work of guest musicians like Papercuts' Jason Quever, who co-produced the LP and played multiple instruments, as well as Thao Nguyen, members of labelmates The Moondoggies, et al.
A wonderful record throughout, but start with tracks 1, 2, 7 and 5.
Artist: Gold Leaves
Album: The Ornament
Label: Hardly Art
Genre: Rock, folk rock, psych pop
Comments: The first full-length release from Hardly Art, a sister label of Sub Pop, back in the summer of 2007 was Arthur & Yu's excellent In Camera. Now, some four years later--and after a slew of fine albums from the likes of Le Loup, The Dutchess & the Duke and, most recently, Seapony--comes Gold Leaves, the new project of Arthur & Yu's Grant Olsen.
If you remember In Camera, you'll find lots to like on The Ornament. If not, here's a primer: this is top-notch, folk-leaning psych pop, with Olsen's fine songwriting and vocals fused into the finished project by the work of guest musicians like Papercuts' Jason Quever, who co-produced the LP and played multiple instruments, as well as Thao Nguyen, members of labelmates The Moondoggies, et al.
A wonderful record throughout, but start with tracks 1, 2, 7 and 5.
Asa
Add Date: August 16
Artist: Asa
Album: Beautiful Imperfection
Label: Naïve
Genre: International, pop, soul
Comments: From the onesheet: "Nigerian songstress Asa will release her soulful and uplifting sophomore album, Beautiful Imperfection, in the US [in] September... Building upon the tremendous international success of her 2007 self-titled debut... [o]n Beautiful Imperfection she has shifted her goal towards creating more joyous, uplifting music, while weaving together '60s soul, pop, reggae, rock, and more."
Start with "Be My Man", "Maybe", "Why Can't We" and "OK OK".
Artist: Asa
Album: Beautiful Imperfection
Label: Naïve
Genre: International, pop, soul
Comments: From the onesheet: "Nigerian songstress Asa will release her soulful and uplifting sophomore album, Beautiful Imperfection, in the US [in] September... Building upon the tremendous international success of her 2007 self-titled debut... [o]n Beautiful Imperfection she has shifted her goal towards creating more joyous, uplifting music, while weaving together '60s soul, pop, reggae, rock, and more."
Start with "Be My Man", "Maybe", "Why Can't We" and "OK OK".
Grey Reverend
Add Date: August 16
Artist: Grey Reverend
Album: Of the Days
Label: Motion Audio
Genre: Folk
Comments: From the promoter: "New York-based songsmith L.D. Brown returns with his self-produced new album, Of the Days... The internationally acclaimed Grey Reverend once again soothes the soul with his somber-yet-powerful croon and cascading folky acoustic guitar overtones... While the record is the sole effort of Brown and his guitar, all nine tracks are immensely engaging and soulful tunes that will have listeners coming back for more."
For fans of José González and early Iron & Wine. Check out "One By One", "Altruistic Holiday" and "Box".
Artist: Grey Reverend
Album: Of the Days
Label: Motion Audio
Genre: Folk
Comments: From the promoter: "New York-based songsmith L.D. Brown returns with his self-produced new album, Of the Days... The internationally acclaimed Grey Reverend once again soothes the soul with his somber-yet-powerful croon and cascading folky acoustic guitar overtones... While the record is the sole effort of Brown and his guitar, all nine tracks are immensely engaging and soulful tunes that will have listeners coming back for more."
For fans of José González and early Iron & Wine. Check out "One By One", "Altruistic Holiday" and "Box".
Cut Off Your Hands
Add Date: August 16
Artist: Cut Off Your Hands
Album: Hollow
Label: Frenchkiss
Genre: Rock, pop
Comments: Cut Off Your Hands has honed and tweaked its sound quite a bit for the sophomore LP Hollow. While the influence of The Smiths and Orange Juice could certainly be heard on 2008 debut You and I, that record veered more toward the post-punk end of the spectrum; at times, it would have been easy to confuse these Kiwis with your standard British rock band.
Thus, the poppier change--as in, more stylistically indebted to The Bats (Cut Off Your Hands' New Zealand forebears), Echo & the Bunnymen or even The Byrds--is a good one for the band. Start with "All It Takes", "You Should Do Better" and "Down & Out".
Artist: Cut Off Your Hands
Album: Hollow
Label: Frenchkiss
Genre: Rock, pop
Comments: Cut Off Your Hands has honed and tweaked its sound quite a bit for the sophomore LP Hollow. While the influence of The Smiths and Orange Juice could certainly be heard on 2008 debut You and I, that record veered more toward the post-punk end of the spectrum; at times, it would have been easy to confuse these Kiwis with your standard British rock band.
Thus, the poppier change--as in, more stylistically indebted to The Bats (Cut Off Your Hands' New Zealand forebears), Echo & the Bunnymen or even The Byrds--is a good one for the band. Start with "All It Takes", "You Should Do Better" and "Down & Out".
Blasted Canyons
Add Date: August 16
Artist: Blasted Canyons
Album: Blasted Canyons
Label: Castleface
Genre: Rock, garage rock
Comments: The San Francisco trio Blasted Canyons makes noisy, punchy lo-fi garage rock that sounds a bit like a muddier version of Black Lips or Thee Oh Sees, whose John Dwyer is releasing the band's debut on his Castleface imprint. But listen closer, and you'll hear a sprawling mix of post-punk and psychedelic rock that comprises tracks like "Ice Cream Man" and "Fries Yr Eyes"--and thus you'll find that there's as much substance as there is brashness in Blasted Canyons' tunes. Spin tracks 6, 2, 3 and 8.
Artist: Blasted Canyons
Album: Blasted Canyons
Label: Castleface
Genre: Rock, garage rock
Comments: The San Francisco trio Blasted Canyons makes noisy, punchy lo-fi garage rock that sounds a bit like a muddier version of Black Lips or Thee Oh Sees, whose John Dwyer is releasing the band's debut on his Castleface imprint. But listen closer, and you'll hear a sprawling mix of post-punk and psychedelic rock that comprises tracks like "Ice Cream Man" and "Fries Yr Eyes"--and thus you'll find that there's as much substance as there is brashness in Blasted Canyons' tunes. Spin tracks 6, 2, 3 and 8.
Braid
Add Date: August 16
Artist: Braid
Album: Closer to Closed (EP)
Label: Polyvinyl
Genre: Rock
Comments: The seminal '90s Illinois band Braid returns with the Closer to Closed EP, the band's first release since its 1999 breakup. Often grouped with the likes of Sunny Day Real Estate and The Get Up Kids as progenitors of emo--a genre that was later warped and given a bad rep by pop-oriented followers--Braid takes a turn toward indie rock on this 4-song set, which sends them more in the direction of bands like Pinback and Joan of Arc. Try tracks 1 and 3.
Artist: Braid
Album: Closer to Closed (EP)
Label: Polyvinyl
Genre: Rock
Comments: The seminal '90s Illinois band Braid returns with the Closer to Closed EP, the band's first release since its 1999 breakup. Often grouped with the likes of Sunny Day Real Estate and The Get Up Kids as progenitors of emo--a genre that was later warped and given a bad rep by pop-oriented followers--Braid takes a turn toward indie rock on this 4-song set, which sends them more in the direction of bands like Pinback and Joan of Arc. Try tracks 1 and 3.
The Jim Jones Revue
Add Date: August 16
Artist: The Jim Jones Revue
Album: Burning Your House Down
Label: Punk Rock Blues
Genre: Rock, blues rock
Comments: From the promoter: "UK blues rock outfit The Jim Jones Revue have been hammering on pianos and belting out ditties from the gut for years... From its outset, [Burning Your House Down] fires on all cylinders: drum rolls, loud guitars and Jones' brazen voice. Imagine Tom Waits, Screamin' Jay Hawkins and Little Richard jamming, and you're halfway there... [RIYL] Grinderman, The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion and Black Joe Lewis & the Honeybears."
Energetic and loud--try tracks 2, 6, 5 and 8.
Artist: The Jim Jones Revue
Album: Burning Your House Down
Label: Punk Rock Blues
Genre: Rock, blues rock
Comments: From the promoter: "UK blues rock outfit The Jim Jones Revue have been hammering on pianos and belting out ditties from the gut for years... From its outset, [Burning Your House Down] fires on all cylinders: drum rolls, loud guitars and Jones' brazen voice. Imagine Tom Waits, Screamin' Jay Hawkins and Little Richard jamming, and you're halfway there... [RIYL] Grinderman, The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion and Black Joe Lewis & the Honeybears."
Energetic and loud--try tracks 2, 6, 5 and 8.
We Are Augustines
Add Date: August 16
Artist: We Are Augustines
Album: Rise Ye Sunken Ships
Label: Turnout/Oxcart
Genre: Rock
Comments: Featuring two members, including frontman Billy McCarthy, from the now-defunct Brooklyn post-punk/indie rock band Pela, We Are Augustines make their full-length debut with Rise Ye Sunken Ships. The band's well-constructed, often orchestral rock songs draw them comparisons to The National, Arcade Fire and Frightened Rabbit; while I wouldn't put them in the company of those heavyweights quite yet, the LP shows that they're headed in the right direction.
Start with "Chapel Song", "Philadelphia (The City of Brotherly Love)", "Headlong into the Abyss" and "Strange Days".
Artist: We Are Augustines
Album: Rise Ye Sunken Ships
Label: Turnout/Oxcart
Genre: Rock
Comments: Featuring two members, including frontman Billy McCarthy, from the now-defunct Brooklyn post-punk/indie rock band Pela, We Are Augustines make their full-length debut with Rise Ye Sunken Ships. The band's well-constructed, often orchestral rock songs draw them comparisons to The National, Arcade Fire and Frightened Rabbit; while I wouldn't put them in the company of those heavyweights quite yet, the LP shows that they're headed in the right direction.
Start with "Chapel Song", "Philadelphia (The City of Brotherly Love)", "Headlong into the Abyss" and "Strange Days".
Tommy Keene
Add Date: August 16
Artist: Tommy Keene
Album: Behind the Parade
Label: Second Motion
Genre: Rock, power pop
Comments: Three decades into his career, Maryland native Tommy Keene is still going strong. He's long complemented his distinguished solo career and his work in Blue Steel and The Rage by featuring as a touring guitarist for Paul Westerberg and Velvet Crush, and his 2006 collaboration with Guided By Voices frontman Robert Pollard--as a band called "Keene Brothers"--generated the LP Blues and Boogie Shoes.
Keene is clearly a disciple of Alex Chilton, and Behind the Parade brings to mind Big Star descendants like Matthew Sweet and Buffalo Tom. Check out tracks 1, 2 and 6.
Artist: Tommy Keene
Album: Behind the Parade
Label: Second Motion
Genre: Rock, power pop
Comments: Three decades into his career, Maryland native Tommy Keene is still going strong. He's long complemented his distinguished solo career and his work in Blue Steel and The Rage by featuring as a touring guitarist for Paul Westerberg and Velvet Crush, and his 2006 collaboration with Guided By Voices frontman Robert Pollard--as a band called "Keene Brothers"--generated the LP Blues and Boogie Shoes.
Keene is clearly a disciple of Alex Chilton, and Behind the Parade brings to mind Big Star descendants like Matthew Sweet and Buffalo Tom. Check out tracks 1, 2 and 6.
The Latebirds
Add Date: August 16
Artist: The Latebirds
Album: Last of the Good Ol' Days
Label: Second Motion
Genre: Rock, folk rock
Comments: Last of the Good Ol' Days has all the trappings of a fine roots-rock record: production by Jim Scott (Wilco, Lavender Diamond, Kathleen Edwards), guest appearances by the likes of Benmont Tench and Nels Cline, and of course the requisite instrumentation: guitars and percussion accented by organs, lap steel and the occasional piano. The unexpected twist: The Latebirds hail from Helsinki. Perhaps they're Finland's version of Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers--beyond Tench's appearance on six tracks, Petty's band's influence can be heard in the style of songs like "Summer Becomes Fall"--or The Jayhawks.
Overall, a very nice mix of folk rock and power pop; start with 2, 13, 4 and 11. And as if the LP weren't enough, there's a bonus 5-song disc, "Woodstock Sessions", laid down at Levon Helm's upstate New York studios. Helm plays the drums on a cover of Steve Goodman's "City of New Orleans", while Kris Kristofferson sings on the band's version of his tune "In the News". The set also features two originals (with the help of David Rawlings--these guys must have connections) and a Townes Van Zandt song ("To Live Is to Fly").
Artist: The Latebirds
Album: Last of the Good Ol' Days
Label: Second Motion
Genre: Rock, folk rock
Comments: Last of the Good Ol' Days has all the trappings of a fine roots-rock record: production by Jim Scott (Wilco, Lavender Diamond, Kathleen Edwards), guest appearances by the likes of Benmont Tench and Nels Cline, and of course the requisite instrumentation: guitars and percussion accented by organs, lap steel and the occasional piano. The unexpected twist: The Latebirds hail from Helsinki. Perhaps they're Finland's version of Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers--beyond Tench's appearance on six tracks, Petty's band's influence can be heard in the style of songs like "Summer Becomes Fall"--or The Jayhawks.
Overall, a very nice mix of folk rock and power pop; start with 2, 13, 4 and 11. And as if the LP weren't enough, there's a bonus 5-song disc, "Woodstock Sessions", laid down at Levon Helm's upstate New York studios. Helm plays the drums on a cover of Steve Goodman's "City of New Orleans", while Kris Kristofferson sings on the band's version of his tune "In the News". The set also features two originals (with the help of David Rawlings--these guys must have connections) and a Townes Van Zandt song ("To Live Is to Fly").
Drive A
Add Date: August 16
Artist: Drive A
Album: The World in Shambles
Label: Dead Conflict
Genre: Rock, punk
Comments: From the promoter: "The new album by Drive A contains songs about rebellion, crunchy guitars and killer hooks. Its foundation lies in old school rock 'n roll and punk, but their approach remains current... [w]ith hungry guitar snarls, power chords, and a surprisingly mature style of songwriting... Recommended if you like Anti-Flag, The Black Pacific, Strike Anywhere."
Half of the tracks on The World in Shambles are radio-unfriendly--imagine that, on a punk record--so stick with 6, 10 and 4.
Artist: Drive A
Album: The World in Shambles
Label: Dead Conflict
Genre: Rock, punk
Comments: From the promoter: "The new album by Drive A contains songs about rebellion, crunchy guitars and killer hooks. Its foundation lies in old school rock 'n roll and punk, but their approach remains current... [w]ith hungry guitar snarls, power chords, and a surprisingly mature style of songwriting... Recommended if you like Anti-Flag, The Black Pacific, Strike Anywhere."
Half of the tracks on The World in Shambles are radio-unfriendly--imagine that, on a punk record--so stick with 6, 10 and 4.
Joey Ryan & the Inks
Add Date: August 16
Artist: Joey Ryan & the Inks
Album: Dennis Lane
Label: Self-released
Genre: Rock
Comments: The Twin Cities band Joey Ryan & the Inks churn out toe-tapping pop-rock that will, at different times, bring to mind the '60s (Gram Parsons/The Byrds in particular), '70s West Coast music or even some '50s radio pop. Dennis Lane is a solid second album from the band; start with "Tell Him Soon", "Jester in the Wind" and "Fare Thee Well, Poor Ghost".
Artist: Joey Ryan & the Inks
Album: Dennis Lane
Label: Self-released
Genre: Rock
Comments: The Twin Cities band Joey Ryan & the Inks churn out toe-tapping pop-rock that will, at different times, bring to mind the '60s (Gram Parsons/The Byrds in particular), '70s West Coast music or even some '50s radio pop. Dennis Lane is a solid second album from the band; start with "Tell Him Soon", "Jester in the Wind" and "Fare Thee Well, Poor Ghost".
Jonathan Senna
Add Date: August 16
Artist: Jonathan Senna
Album: A Perfect Fish
Label: Self-released
Genre: Folk, folk pop
Comments: A mix of quiet folk ballads and upbeat folk rock and pop on A Perfect Fish, the second LP from poet/musician Jonathan Senna, who claims inspiration from the likes of Kerouac and Salinger more so than any particular songwriter. Check out tracks 1, 9 and 3.
Artist: Jonathan Senna
Album: A Perfect Fish
Label: Self-released
Genre: Folk, folk pop
Comments: A mix of quiet folk ballads and upbeat folk rock and pop on A Perfect Fish, the second LP from poet/musician Jonathan Senna, who claims inspiration from the likes of Kerouac and Salinger more so than any particular songwriter. Check out tracks 1, 9 and 3.
AM & Shawn Lee
Add Date: August 16
Artist: AM & Shawn Lee
Album: Celestial Electric
Label: ESL Music
Genre: Rock, electropop, soul
Comments: From the promoter: "Celestial Electric finds L.A.-based indie-pop auteur AM and London-based groovemaster/experimentalist Shawn Lee pooling their talents to create a unique brand of 'electro-soul' that achieves seamless pop perfection, while mining a startlingly broad array of stylistic influences. It's a resulting blend of heartfelt, warmly melodic songcraft and vivid, inventive soundscapes underlying the artists' abiding love for all manner of vintage genres, encompassing pop, soul, funk, jazz, Brazilian tropicalia, Turkish psychedelia, and soundtracks and library music from the '60s, '70s and '80s."
This record is niiiiiiiiiice. (Professional critical opinion.) Spin tracks 4, 1, 6 and 2.
Artist: AM & Shawn Lee
Album: Celestial Electric
Label: ESL Music
Genre: Rock, electropop, soul
Comments: From the promoter: "Celestial Electric finds L.A.-based indie-pop auteur AM and London-based groovemaster/experimentalist Shawn Lee pooling their talents to create a unique brand of 'electro-soul' that achieves seamless pop perfection, while mining a startlingly broad array of stylistic influences. It's a resulting blend of heartfelt, warmly melodic songcraft and vivid, inventive soundscapes underlying the artists' abiding love for all manner of vintage genres, encompassing pop, soul, funk, jazz, Brazilian tropicalia, Turkish psychedelia, and soundtracks and library music from the '60s, '70s and '80s."
This record is niiiiiiiiiice. (Professional critical opinion.) Spin tracks 4, 1, 6 and 2.
Pet Lions
Add Date: August 16
Artist: Pet Lions
Album: Houses
Label: Self-released
Genre: Rock, pop
Comments: The Chicago band Pet Lions takes some keystone UK influences--The Smiths and The Stone Roses come to mind--and runs with them on its debut LP Houses, a fine collection of pop-rock. That's not to say that they're Brit-pop emulators; this is a versatile record, which will occasionally bring to mind Scandinavian pop (see the Kings of Convenience-leaning "Sleeping") or light electropop (the second half of the record may bring to mind Throw Me the Statue, or perhaps recent playlist faves Metronomy).
Overall, a solid effort. Spin "When I Grow Old", "To the Coast" and "The English Room".
Artist: Pet Lions
Album: Houses
Label: Self-released
Genre: Rock, pop
Comments: The Chicago band Pet Lions takes some keystone UK influences--The Smiths and The Stone Roses come to mind--and runs with them on its debut LP Houses, a fine collection of pop-rock. That's not to say that they're Brit-pop emulators; this is a versatile record, which will occasionally bring to mind Scandinavian pop (see the Kings of Convenience-leaning "Sleeping") or light electropop (the second half of the record may bring to mind Throw Me the Statue, or perhaps recent playlist faves Metronomy).
Overall, a solid effort. Spin "When I Grow Old", "To the Coast" and "The English Room".
Forty Winks
Add Date: August 16
Artist: Forty Winks
Album: Bow Wow
Label: End Sounds
Genre: Rock
Comments: From the promoter: "After many sleepless nights, live shows and three albums under their belt, Bologna's (Italy) prodigal sons, Forty Winks, return with Bow Wow on End Sounds... a record that fuses together Elvis Costello-like rock, Helmet's heavier edge, Bowie's primordial irony and a variety of influences from noise rock and hip hop to electronic music... RIYL: Black Angels, Franz Ferdinand, Rifles, (International) Noise Conspiracy."
Artist: Forty Winks
Album: Bow Wow
Label: End Sounds
Genre: Rock
Comments: From the promoter: "After many sleepless nights, live shows and three albums under their belt, Bologna's (Italy) prodigal sons, Forty Winks, return with Bow Wow on End Sounds... a record that fuses together Elvis Costello-like rock, Helmet's heavier edge, Bowie's primordial irony and a variety of influences from noise rock and hip hop to electronic music... RIYL: Black Angels, Franz Ferdinand, Rifles, (International) Noise Conspiracy."
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Best New Music - August 9
Best of the best:
Best of the rest: Mister Heavenly's debut, plus EPs from Dom and Robbers on High Street
Emmy the Great
Add Date: August 9
Artist: Emmy the Great
Album: Virtue
Label: Close Harbour
Genre: Pop, folk pop
Comments: The terms "inventive" and "singer/songwriter" don't really belong in the same sentence. So I'll go ahead and say that Emma Lee-Moss, the Hong Kong-born musician who records as Emmy the Great, isn't a singer/songwriter. Sure, her music is steeped in great songwriting, and she's a fine vocalist, too, but one listen to Virtue will be enough to make one discard such restrictive labels.
This is just the second LP for Emmy the Great, but she's already approaching the level of folk-pop superstars like Joan Wasser (Joan As Police Woman), Andrew Bird and Rufus Wainwright. Virtue is extremely well-constructed, with Moss' vocals and guitar complemented by everything from piano and organ to harp, mandolin and violin to choral backing vocals--all tied together by veteran producer Gareth Jones. Furthermore, the album remains both accessible and interesting throughout, and to me that's a winning combination.
Highlights include tracks 1, 2, 6, 4, 3 and 9.
Artist: Emmy the Great
Album: Virtue
Label: Close Harbour
Genre: Pop, folk pop
Comments: The terms "inventive" and "singer/songwriter" don't really belong in the same sentence. So I'll go ahead and say that Emma Lee-Moss, the Hong Kong-born musician who records as Emmy the Great, isn't a singer/songwriter. Sure, her music is steeped in great songwriting, and she's a fine vocalist, too, but one listen to Virtue will be enough to make one discard such restrictive labels.
This is just the second LP for Emmy the Great, but she's already approaching the level of folk-pop superstars like Joan Wasser (Joan As Police Woman), Andrew Bird and Rufus Wainwright. Virtue is extremely well-constructed, with Moss' vocals and guitar complemented by everything from piano and organ to harp, mandolin and violin to choral backing vocals--all tied together by veteran producer Gareth Jones. Furthermore, the album remains both accessible and interesting throughout, and to me that's a winning combination.
Highlights include tracks 1, 2, 6, 4, 3 and 9.
Maria Taylor
Add Date: August 9
Artist: Maria Taylor
Album: Overlook
Label: Saddle Creek
Genre: Folk pop, rock
Comments: If there was any concern when Azure Ray got back together for last year's Drawing Down the Moon, it was that the solo careers of Maria Taylor and Orenda Fink might be put on indefinite hiatus. Fortunately, that hasn't been the case, as evidenced by Overlook, Taylor's magnificent fourth LP.
Taylor's beautiful voice and overall penchant for fine songwriting would seemingly mean that a new album would be an effortless endeavor. But she also has a keen attention to detail, and this time it's focused on a more intimate, personal sound. With her musical background and connections, Taylor could undoubtedly call on the help of anyone in the Saddle Creek family and beyond; instead, she self-produced the LP, and enlisted the help of family members (brother Macey, father Macey Sr. and sister Kate), as well as close friends like Browan Lollar (Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit). To boot, the record was written in Taylor's hometown of Birmingham.
A wonderful album from start to finish, with several notable highlights: Lead single "Matador" is a country-laced rock song; "Masterplan" and "In a Bad Way" are folk-pop numbers that land pretty close to Azure Ray territory; "Happenstance" is a quiet, ruminative folk ballad; and "Bad Ideas?" ventures into classic country. All in all, Overlook is of 2011's best.
Artist: Maria Taylor
Album: Overlook
Label: Saddle Creek
Genre: Folk pop, rock
Comments: If there was any concern when Azure Ray got back together for last year's Drawing Down the Moon, it was that the solo careers of Maria Taylor and Orenda Fink might be put on indefinite hiatus. Fortunately, that hasn't been the case, as evidenced by Overlook, Taylor's magnificent fourth LP.
Taylor's beautiful voice and overall penchant for fine songwriting would seemingly mean that a new album would be an effortless endeavor. But she also has a keen attention to detail, and this time it's focused on a more intimate, personal sound. With her musical background and connections, Taylor could undoubtedly call on the help of anyone in the Saddle Creek family and beyond; instead, she self-produced the LP, and enlisted the help of family members (brother Macey, father Macey Sr. and sister Kate), as well as close friends like Browan Lollar (Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit). To boot, the record was written in Taylor's hometown of Birmingham.
A wonderful album from start to finish, with several notable highlights: Lead single "Matador" is a country-laced rock song; "Masterplan" and "In a Bad Way" are folk-pop numbers that land pretty close to Azure Ray territory; "Happenstance" is a quiet, ruminative folk ballad; and "Bad Ideas?" ventures into classic country. All in all, Overlook is of 2011's best.
Mister Heavenly
Add Date: August 9
Artist: Mister Heavenly
Album: Out of Love
Label: Sub Pop
Genre: Rock, pop
Comments: Sub Pop proudly presents to you the latest indie rock supergroup, Mister Heavenly. Comprised of Nick Thorburn (Islands), Ryan Kattner (Man Man), and Joe Plummer (the drummer for Modest Mouse and now The Shins)--and, occasionally, Michael Cera (of Michael Cera fame) on bass--this newish project reaches back into '50s doowop and '60s girl-group styles for its revised take on classic pop. And, well, it sounds exactly like Thorburn and Honus Honus co-fronting a retro-pop band. Out of Love doesn't dazzle, but it's a very solid effort from three musicians who have more talent than they know what to do with.
Spin "Bronx Sniper", "Pineapple Girl", "I Am a Hologram" and "Charlyne".
Artist: Mister Heavenly
Album: Out of Love
Label: Sub Pop
Genre: Rock, pop
Comments: Sub Pop proudly presents to you the latest indie rock supergroup, Mister Heavenly. Comprised of Nick Thorburn (Islands), Ryan Kattner (Man Man), and Joe Plummer (the drummer for Modest Mouse and now The Shins)--and, occasionally, Michael Cera (of Michael Cera fame) on bass--this newish project reaches back into '50s doowop and '60s girl-group styles for its revised take on classic pop. And, well, it sounds exactly like Thorburn and Honus Honus co-fronting a retro-pop band. Out of Love doesn't dazzle, but it's a very solid effort from three musicians who have more talent than they know what to do with.
Spin "Bronx Sniper", "Pineapple Girl", "I Am a Hologram" and "Charlyne".
Robbers on High Street
Add Date: August 9
Artist: Robbers on High Street
Album: Anything Could Happen (EP)
Label: Blaster Music
Genre: Rock
Comments: This September, Robbers on High Street will return with Hey There Golden Hair, their third studio album--and first since 2007's Grand Animals. We'll save the full review for the LP, but suffice it to say that if this 4-song EP is any indication, the new record could be their best yet. This quartet of well-constructed pop-rock tunes shows off the band's '60s British pop influences (The Beatles and The Kinks in particular), as well as their connection to modern bands like Spoon and The Strokes.
All four songs are recommended, but in particular try the title track and "Didn't Wanna Know".
Artist: Robbers on High Street
Album: Anything Could Happen (EP)
Label: Blaster Music
Genre: Rock
Comments: This September, Robbers on High Street will return with Hey There Golden Hair, their third studio album--and first since 2007's Grand Animals. We'll save the full review for the LP, but suffice it to say that if this 4-song EP is any indication, the new record could be their best yet. This quartet of well-constructed pop-rock tunes shows off the band's '60s British pop influences (The Beatles and The Kinks in particular), as well as their connection to modern bands like Spoon and The Strokes.
All four songs are recommended, but in particular try the title track and "Didn't Wanna Know".
Yellow Ostrich
Add Date: August 9
Artist: Yellow Ostrich
Album: The Mistress
Label: Barsuk
Genre: Rock, pop, experimental
Comments: Yellow Ostrich is the brainchild of Wisconsin native Alex Schaaf, whose debut LP generated plenty of buzz upon its initial release as a free download last year. Now The Mistress has been partially re-recorded and fully remastered, with the addition of three bonus tracks, for a proper issue on Barsuk; Yellow Ostrich will also be heading out on tour with new labelmates Ra Ra Riot.
When listening to the record, I'm reminded more of another fine Barsuk band in Menomena--or, perhaps more appropriately, Menomena side projects like Danny Seim's Lackthereof or Brent Knopf's Ramona Falls. The Mistress is full of sparse pop-rock, with lots of space for Schaaf's voice to emerge and take center stage. Not to say that it's empty-sounding; the music is fleshed out by bandmates Jon Natchez (bass and horns) and Michael Tapper (percussion), both of whom also provide backing vocals.
This is certainly one of the most intriguing records that I've heard in a while. Check out tracks 2, 4, 8, 3 and 6.
Artist: Yellow Ostrich
Album: The Mistress
Label: Barsuk
Genre: Rock, pop, experimental
Comments: Yellow Ostrich is the brainchild of Wisconsin native Alex Schaaf, whose debut LP generated plenty of buzz upon its initial release as a free download last year. Now The Mistress has been partially re-recorded and fully remastered, with the addition of three bonus tracks, for a proper issue on Barsuk; Yellow Ostrich will also be heading out on tour with new labelmates Ra Ra Riot.
When listening to the record, I'm reminded more of another fine Barsuk band in Menomena--or, perhaps more appropriately, Menomena side projects like Danny Seim's Lackthereof or Brent Knopf's Ramona Falls. The Mistress is full of sparse pop-rock, with lots of space for Schaaf's voice to emerge and take center stage. Not to say that it's empty-sounding; the music is fleshed out by bandmates Jon Natchez (bass and horns) and Michael Tapper (percussion), both of whom also provide backing vocals.
This is certainly one of the most intriguing records that I've heard in a while. Check out tracks 2, 4, 8, 3 and 6.
Little Gold
Add Date: August 9
Artist: Little Gold
Album: Weird Freedom
Label: Loud Baby
Genre: Rock, power pop
Comments: Little Gold's first proper full-length--and the inaugural release for the band's own Loud Baby label--Weird Freedom will certainly appeal to fans of frontman Christian DeRoeck's former act, Woods. But whereas that New York outfit takes fuzzy guitars and lo-fi techniques and turns them into strummy folk-rock, Little Gold are a power-pop band through and through; the promoter likens them to the pre-Woods act Meneguar.
A very enjoyable debut; start with "Mike Swan", "Sisters & Friends" and "Half the Time".
Artist: Little Gold
Album: Weird Freedom
Label: Loud Baby
Genre: Rock, power pop
Comments: Little Gold's first proper full-length--and the inaugural release for the band's own Loud Baby label--Weird Freedom will certainly appeal to fans of frontman Christian DeRoeck's former act, Woods. But whereas that New York outfit takes fuzzy guitars and lo-fi techniques and turns them into strummy folk-rock, Little Gold are a power-pop band through and through; the promoter likens them to the pre-Woods act Meneguar.
A very enjoyable debut; start with "Mike Swan", "Sisters & Friends" and "Half the Time".
Dom
Add Date: August 9
Artist: Dom
Album: Family of Love (EP)
Label: Astralwerks
Genre: Rock, indie pop
Comments: Many, many, many bands are doing sun-drenched, C86-meets-surf rock indie pop these days, but few pull it off quite as well as Massachusetts' Dom. Following up on 2010's Sun Bronzed Greek Gods (which was reissued by Astralwerks this winter), here's the 5-song Family of Love EP. Not much has changed here--this is still chill pop music, much in the vein of Smith Westerns, Surfer Blood, Wild Nothing or Best Coast.
You can't go wrong with any of the first four tracks--avoid track 5, though, simply because it's radio-unfriendly.
Artist: Dom
Album: Family of Love (EP)
Label: Astralwerks
Genre: Rock, indie pop
Comments: Many, many, many bands are doing sun-drenched, C86-meets-surf rock indie pop these days, but few pull it off quite as well as Massachusetts' Dom. Following up on 2010's Sun Bronzed Greek Gods (which was reissued by Astralwerks this winter), here's the 5-song Family of Love EP. Not much has changed here--this is still chill pop music, much in the vein of Smith Westerns, Surfer Blood, Wild Nothing or Best Coast.
You can't go wrong with any of the first four tracks--avoid track 5, though, simply because it's radio-unfriendly.
The Steel Wheels
Add Date: August 9
Artist: The Steel Wheels
Album: Live at Goose Creek
Label: Goose Creek Music
Genre: Folk, bluegrass, blues
Comments: Based in Harrisonburg, The Steel Wheels will bring their mix of bluegrass, folk and blues to Lexington with a performance at the Theater at Lime Kiln on August 28. For a taste of what the show might sound like, check out this 17-track collection, recorded at Goose Creek studios in Northern Virginia. From Martin Anderson of North Carolina station WNCW: "There is purity and power in the sound of this band that few come close to tapping. Tight pickin', passionate energy, and [Trent] Wagler's voice soars like an eagle..."
Artist: The Steel Wheels
Album: Live at Goose Creek
Label: Goose Creek Music
Genre: Folk, bluegrass, blues
Comments: Based in Harrisonburg, The Steel Wheels will bring their mix of bluegrass, folk and blues to Lexington with a performance at the Theater at Lime Kiln on August 28. For a taste of what the show might sound like, check out this 17-track collection, recorded at Goose Creek studios in Northern Virginia. From Martin Anderson of North Carolina station WNCW: "There is purity and power in the sound of this band that few come close to tapping. Tight pickin', passionate energy, and [Trent] Wagler's voice soars like an eagle..."
Black Milk
Add Date: August 9
Artist: Black Milk
Album: "Brain" (single)
Label: Third Man
Genre: Hip hop
Comments: Jack White's Third Man imprint branches into hip hop for its latest 7" release, the tracks "Brain" and "Royal Mega" from Detroit MC Black Milk. This is rap with a full band--there's your basic guitar and percussion, of course, while the horns, keys and even fiddle give the tracks a rich soul and funk-infused flare. Track 2 is unfortunately DNP, so stick with the A-side.
Artist: Black Milk
Album: "Brain" (single)
Label: Third Man
Genre: Hip hop
Comments: Jack White's Third Man imprint branches into hip hop for its latest 7" release, the tracks "Brain" and "Royal Mega" from Detroit MC Black Milk. This is rap with a full band--there's your basic guitar and percussion, of course, while the horns, keys and even fiddle give the tracks a rich soul and funk-infused flare. Track 2 is unfortunately DNP, so stick with the A-side.
Kyle Andrews
Add Date: August 9
Artist: Kyle Andrews
Album: Robot Learn Love
Label: Elephant Lady
Genre: Indie pop, synth pop
Comments: The promoter says: "Nashville's Kyle Andrews' latest offering, Robot Learn Love, is once again full of memorable melodies and stellar production. Shifting seamlessly between dance, pop, rock and electro, Kyle has finally managed to capture his full-band energy on record... [D]espite its walls of electric guitars, raw synths and blasting drums, RLL was conceived and recorded almost exclusively by Kyle himself."
For fans of Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. and The Russian Futurists. Spin tracks 1, 2 and 9.
Artist: Kyle Andrews
Album: Robot Learn Love
Label: Elephant Lady
Genre: Indie pop, synth pop
Comments: The promoter says: "Nashville's Kyle Andrews' latest offering, Robot Learn Love, is once again full of memorable melodies and stellar production. Shifting seamlessly between dance, pop, rock and electro, Kyle has finally managed to capture his full-band energy on record... [D]espite its walls of electric guitars, raw synths and blasting drums, RLL was conceived and recorded almost exclusively by Kyle himself."
For fans of Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. and The Russian Futurists. Spin tracks 1, 2 and 9.
Brian Olive
Add Date: August 9
Artist: Brian Olive
Album: Two of Everything
Label: Alive
Genre: Rock, psych pop
Comments: From the promoter: "Following his 2009 self-titled debut, which was praised for skillfully blending soulful R&B with raunchy garage and psychedelia, Brian Olive... takes us further on his latest full-length Two of Everything. Listeners will recognize a number of musical touchstones here (Night Tripper-era Dr. John, Exuma, early Funkadelic, Canned Heat, West Coast psych, etc.), but the end result is completely Olive's own, an insanely dynamic, soulful, psychedelically-rich summer album..."
This is definitely a nice combination of psych rock, funk, blues and more. For fans of Olive's former band, The Greenhornes, as well as The Coral and The Black Keys--indeed, Dan Auerbach co-produced Two of Everything. The album is solid throughout, but start with tracks 1, 3 and 2.
Artist: Brian Olive
Album: Two of Everything
Label: Alive
Genre: Rock, psych pop
Comments: From the promoter: "Following his 2009 self-titled debut, which was praised for skillfully blending soulful R&B with raunchy garage and psychedelia, Brian Olive... takes us further on his latest full-length Two of Everything. Listeners will recognize a number of musical touchstones here (Night Tripper-era Dr. John, Exuma, early Funkadelic, Canned Heat, West Coast psych, etc.), but the end result is completely Olive's own, an insanely dynamic, soulful, psychedelically-rich summer album..."
This is definitely a nice combination of psych rock, funk, blues and more. For fans of Olive's former band, The Greenhornes, as well as The Coral and The Black Keys--indeed, Dan Auerbach co-produced Two of Everything. The album is solid throughout, but start with tracks 1, 3 and 2.
The Blue News
Add Date: August 9
Artist: The Blue News
Album: Wartime Songs (EP)
Label: Self-released
Genre: Rock, blues rock
Comments: The Indiana duo The Blue News' muddy blues rock makes them sound like a rawer version of The Black Keys. The band claims a wide range of influences, including the Keys, Robert Johnson, Led Zeppelin, The Allman Brothers, and even R&B legends like Marvin Gaye and Al Green. "Hypnotized" is a good, poppy song, while I'd also recommend "Two Lovers" for a stronger dose of the blues.
Artist: The Blue News
Album: Wartime Songs (EP)
Label: Self-released
Genre: Rock, blues rock
Comments: The Indiana duo The Blue News' muddy blues rock makes them sound like a rawer version of The Black Keys. The band claims a wide range of influences, including the Keys, Robert Johnson, Led Zeppelin, The Allman Brothers, and even R&B legends like Marvin Gaye and Al Green. "Hypnotized" is a good, poppy song, while I'd also recommend "Two Lovers" for a stronger dose of the blues.
You Me & Us
Add Date: August 9
Artist: You Me & Us
Album: Paperweights (EP)
Label: Fun Mountain
Genre: Indie pop
Comments: Masters of the 100-second pop song? That's roughly the average length of the six tracks on Paperweights, the new EP from the Riverside trio You Me & Us. This is lo-fi indie pop at its sunny best--I think the band is going for a Best Coast vibe, but the music ends up more along the lines of something you might find in a bin of Slumberland and K Records releases. No complaints there.
Start with track 2--and not just because it's called "Steve Holt!" and also spin 1 and 3.
Artist: You Me & Us
Album: Paperweights (EP)
Label: Fun Mountain
Genre: Indie pop
Comments: Masters of the 100-second pop song? That's roughly the average length of the six tracks on Paperweights, the new EP from the Riverside trio You Me & Us. This is lo-fi indie pop at its sunny best--I think the band is going for a Best Coast vibe, but the music ends up more along the lines of something you might find in a bin of Slumberland and K Records releases. No complaints there.
Start with track 2--and not just because it's called "Steve Holt!" and also spin 1 and 3.
Prophets & Kings
Add Date: August 9
Artist: Prophets & Kings
Album: Prophets & Kings
Label: Self-released
Genre: Electronica, electropop
Comments: From the promoter: "The four Chattanooga hellions of Prophets & Kings have garnered comparisons to Dan Deacon, Yeasayer, Cut Copy, and Junior Boys. PK's balancing act between danceable pop and experimental electro, grounded in a commanding stage presence and ATL-crunk rhythms, keeps the toes tapping and mind guessing."
Start with "Die to Rest" and "Bear Milk".
Artist: Prophets & Kings
Album: Prophets & Kings
Label: Self-released
Genre: Electronica, electropop
Comments: From the promoter: "The four Chattanooga hellions of Prophets & Kings have garnered comparisons to Dan Deacon, Yeasayer, Cut Copy, and Junior Boys. PK's balancing act between danceable pop and experimental electro, grounded in a commanding stage presence and ATL-crunk rhythms, keeps the toes tapping and mind guessing."
Start with "Die to Rest" and "Bear Milk".
Prof
Add Date: August 9
Artist: Prof
Album: King Gampo
Label: Stophouse
Genre: Hip hop
Comments: Seattle's The Stranger on the Minneapolis native Prof: "It's almost not fair to other MCs how he can switch from a languid, dallying cadence to a precise, diamond-tipped double-time vocal wobble with such ease." The promoter compares Prof to Brother Ali (who guests on "Daughter"), Atmosphere and Yelawolf, and recommends tracks 6, 13, 4, 5, 10 and 1.
Artist: Prof
Album: King Gampo
Label: Stophouse
Genre: Hip hop
Comments: Seattle's The Stranger on the Minneapolis native Prof: "It's almost not fair to other MCs how he can switch from a languid, dallying cadence to a precise, diamond-tipped double-time vocal wobble with such ease." The promoter compares Prof to Brother Ali (who guests on "Daughter"), Atmosphere and Yelawolf, and recommends tracks 6, 13, 4, 5, 10 and 1.
Shenandoah Davis
Add Date: August 9
Artist: Shenandoah Davis
Album: The Company We Keep
Label: Self-released
Genre: Folk, avant pop
Comments: Here's what the promoter has to say about the second full-length from Seattle-based musician Shenandoah Davis: "The Company We Keep is fiercely poetic and [an] emotionally artful assertion of her craft. Musically, it's a natural progression from [2008 debut] We; Camera--pulling from her intuitive sonic landscape, with elements of indie pop, classical, ragtime, and American roots music. Her piano continues to leap between rhythms and time signatures, as if it's following the lyrics down a winding forest trail. At the helm of it all is her classically trained voice--equal parts warbly and powerfully direct..."
For fans of Lia Ices, Regina Spektor and Joanna Newsom; spin tracks 5, 2, 8 and 10.
Artist: Shenandoah Davis
Album: The Company We Keep
Label: Self-released
Genre: Folk, avant pop
Comments: Here's what the promoter has to say about the second full-length from Seattle-based musician Shenandoah Davis: "The Company We Keep is fiercely poetic and [an] emotionally artful assertion of her craft. Musically, it's a natural progression from [2008 debut] We; Camera--pulling from her intuitive sonic landscape, with elements of indie pop, classical, ragtime, and American roots music. Her piano continues to leap between rhythms and time signatures, as if it's following the lyrics down a winding forest trail. At the helm of it all is her classically trained voice--equal parts warbly and powerfully direct..."
For fans of Lia Ices, Regina Spektor and Joanna Newsom; spin tracks 5, 2, 8 and 10.
ME & LP
Add Date: August 9
Artist: ME & LP
Album: Chez Raymond (EP)
Label: Sargent House
Genre: Folk rock, pop
Comments: ME & LP is a collaboration between Matthew Embree of Rx Bandits and Lisa Papineau, who's worked with acts like M83 and Air. Their 6-track Chez Raymond EP bounces between quiet folk--the standout album opener, "Quatro", floats along on flamenco guitar--and upbeat, funk-infused pop. The former style works better for the pair, though, so stick with tracks 1 and 3.
Artist: ME & LP
Album: Chez Raymond (EP)
Label: Sargent House
Genre: Folk rock, pop
Comments: ME & LP is a collaboration between Matthew Embree of Rx Bandits and Lisa Papineau, who's worked with acts like M83 and Air. Their 6-track Chez Raymond EP bounces between quiet folk--the standout album opener, "Quatro", floats along on flamenco guitar--and upbeat, funk-infused pop. The former style works better for the pair, though, so stick with tracks 1 and 3.
Spirit Kid
Add Date: August 9
Artist: Spirit Kid
Album: Happiness (EP)
Label: RPL Audio
Genre: Rock, pop
Comments: Short and sweet: the new 5-song EP from Spirit Kid hits you with a wave of toe-tapping, Elephant 6-channeling indie pop, and then in 11 minutes it's all over. I'm certainly not the first to liken this Boston band to The Apples in stereo, but it's a spot-on comparison--both for the musical style and for Emeen Zarookian's vocals, which might be favorably mistaken for those of Robert Schneider.
Check out the title track, "That Kind of Man" or "Down a River".
Artist: Spirit Kid
Album: Happiness (EP)
Label: RPL Audio
Genre: Rock, pop
Comments: Short and sweet: the new 5-song EP from Spirit Kid hits you with a wave of toe-tapping, Elephant 6-channeling indie pop, and then in 11 minutes it's all over. I'm certainly not the first to liken this Boston band to The Apples in stereo, but it's a spot-on comparison--both for the musical style and for Emeen Zarookian's vocals, which might be favorably mistaken for those of Robert Schneider.
Check out the title track, "That Kind of Man" or "Down a River".
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
The War on Drugs
Add Date: August 2
Artist: The War on Drugs
Album: Slave Ambient
Label: Secretly Canadian
Genre: Rock
Comments: From the onesheet: "Slave Ambient, [The War on Drugs'] proper second album, is a brilliant 47-minute sprawl of rock 'n' roll, conceptualized with a sense of adventure and captured with seasons of bravado... [T]he album puts the weirdest influences in just the right places. Synthesizers fall where you might expect more electric guitars (and vice versa); country-rock sidles up to the warped extravagance of '80s pop."
With Adam Granduciel at the helm and some of Philly's finest musicians along for the ride, The War on Drugs molds myriad influences--Springsteen and The Velvet Underground, Bob Dylan and Sonic Youth, Alex Chilton and Kevin Shields--into an enjoyable, intriguing style. Slave Ambient will appeal to fans of Kurt Vile (a former band member) and Destroyer. Spin tracks 10, 1, 6 and 4.
Artist: The War on Drugs
Album: Slave Ambient
Label: Secretly Canadian
Genre: Rock
Comments: From the onesheet: "Slave Ambient, [The War on Drugs'] proper second album, is a brilliant 47-minute sprawl of rock 'n' roll, conceptualized with a sense of adventure and captured with seasons of bravado... [T]he album puts the weirdest influences in just the right places. Synthesizers fall where you might expect more electric guitars (and vice versa); country-rock sidles up to the warped extravagance of '80s pop."
With Adam Granduciel at the helm and some of Philly's finest musicians along for the ride, The War on Drugs molds myriad influences--Springsteen and The Velvet Underground, Bob Dylan and Sonic Youth, Alex Chilton and Kevin Shields--into an enjoyable, intriguing style. Slave Ambient will appeal to fans of Kurt Vile (a former band member) and Destroyer. Spin tracks 10, 1, 6 and 4.
Aficionado
Add Date: August 2
Artist: Aficionado
Album: Aficionado
Label: No Sleep
Genre: Rock, punk
Comments: Aficionado's debut full-length is punk-leaning rock in the grand tradition of Sunny Day Real Estate and Cursive, two of the many influences claimed by the band's seven members. Produced by A.J. Mogis, who's worked with Bright Eyes--a band that features his brother Mike--and many other Saddle Creek acts, Aficionado is a well-crafted record that's punk in all the right ways: lots of energy, great guitar work, thoughtful and emotive (but not emo) lyrics.
If you like energetic, melodic punk, then you'll enjoy (become an?) Aficionado. Start with "Stir Like Hell", "Honesty" and "The Things You Like".
Artist: Aficionado
Album: Aficionado
Label: No Sleep
Genre: Rock, punk
Comments: Aficionado's debut full-length is punk-leaning rock in the grand tradition of Sunny Day Real Estate and Cursive, two of the many influences claimed by the band's seven members. Produced by A.J. Mogis, who's worked with Bright Eyes--a band that features his brother Mike--and many other Saddle Creek acts, Aficionado is a well-crafted record that's punk in all the right ways: lots of energy, great guitar work, thoughtful and emotive (but not emo) lyrics.
If you like energetic, melodic punk, then you'll enjoy (become an?) Aficionado. Start with "Stir Like Hell", "Honesty" and "The Things You Like".
Gary Lucas
Add Date: August 2
Artist: Gary Lucas & Gods and Monsters
Album: The Ordeal of Civility
Label: Knitting Factory
Genre: Rock, folk rock, experimental
Comments: The Ordeal of Civility is the latest work from avant-rock heavyweight Gary Lucas, whom The New Yorker has dubbed "the thinking man's guitar hero". Because of his guitar-playing prowess, Lucas has collaborated with many kingpins in the rock world--perhaps most famously Jeff Buckley, as the two released a joint album called Songs to No One in 1992.
The new LP includes his band Gods and Monsters, featuring the Hungry March Band's Jason Candler on saxophone and Faddy Acids' Joe Hendel on trombone and keyboards. This art-rock outfit bounces through psych-rock jams and acoustic-based folk-rock numbers, but always with Lucas' guitar work at the forefront. Start with "Hot and Cold Everything", "Whirlygig" and "Lady of Shalott".
Artist: Gary Lucas & Gods and Monsters
Album: The Ordeal of Civility
Label: Knitting Factory
Genre: Rock, folk rock, experimental
Comments: The Ordeal of Civility is the latest work from avant-rock heavyweight Gary Lucas, whom The New Yorker has dubbed "the thinking man's guitar hero". Because of his guitar-playing prowess, Lucas has collaborated with many kingpins in the rock world--perhaps most famously Jeff Buckley, as the two released a joint album called Songs to No One in 1992.
The new LP includes his band Gods and Monsters, featuring the Hungry March Band's Jason Candler on saxophone and Faddy Acids' Joe Hendel on trombone and keyboards. This art-rock outfit bounces through psych-rock jams and acoustic-based folk-rock numbers, but always with Lucas' guitar work at the forefront. Start with "Hot and Cold Everything", "Whirlygig" and "Lady of Shalott".
Steve Nerney
Add Date: August 2
Artist: Steve Nerney
Album: Nature's Dominion
Label: Self-released
Genre: Folk
Comments: Very pleasant tunes from Steve Nerney, whose music is steeped in traditional American folk and '60s folk and pop. Most of Nature's Dominion is very stripped-down, with Nerney's guitar and voice occasionally complemented by a guest musician's banjo, fiddle, mandolin or backing vocals, though the last several tracks are lo-fi folk-pop numbers that sound like they might have been recorded decades ago--including Nerney's take on "Dink's Song", one of many traditionals collected by Alan Lomax.
Check out tracks 15, 1, 16 and 12.
Artist: Steve Nerney
Album: Nature's Dominion
Label: Self-released
Genre: Folk
Comments: Very pleasant tunes from Steve Nerney, whose music is steeped in traditional American folk and '60s folk and pop. Most of Nature's Dominion is very stripped-down, with Nerney's guitar and voice occasionally complemented by a guest musician's banjo, fiddle, mandolin or backing vocals, though the last several tracks are lo-fi folk-pop numbers that sound like they might have been recorded decades ago--including Nerney's take on "Dink's Song", one of many traditionals collected by Alan Lomax.
Check out tracks 15, 1, 16 and 12.
Richard Buckner
Add Date: August 2
Artist: Richard Buckner
Album: Our Blood
Label: Merge
Genre: Folk
Comments: Though a native of California and a current resident of New York, Richard Buckner seems to have strong ties to the Texas folk of artists like Townes Van Zandt and Jimmie Dale Gilmore. (His first record, 1994's Bloomed, was indeed recorded in Lubbock.) At the same time, though, Buckner's approach to songwriting isn't exactly traditional; whether it's through unorthodox song structures, or perhaps some synths and keys creeping into a country ballad, his music is always fresh and interesting.
Our Blood is Buckner's third record for Merge--and his first proper studio LP since 2006's Meadow--and it's another fine collection of tunes. Start with "Escape", "Gang", "Traitor" and "Witness".
Artist: Richard Buckner
Album: Our Blood
Label: Merge
Genre: Folk
Comments: Though a native of California and a current resident of New York, Richard Buckner seems to have strong ties to the Texas folk of artists like Townes Van Zandt and Jimmie Dale Gilmore. (His first record, 1994's Bloomed, was indeed recorded in Lubbock.) At the same time, though, Buckner's approach to songwriting isn't exactly traditional; whether it's through unorthodox song structures, or perhaps some synths and keys creeping into a country ballad, his music is always fresh and interesting.
Our Blood is Buckner's third record for Merge--and his first proper studio LP since 2006's Meadow--and it's another fine collection of tunes. Start with "Escape", "Gang", "Traitor" and "Witness".
Boston Spaceships
Add Date: August 2
Artist: Boston Spaceships
Album: Let It Beard
Label: GBV, Inc.
Genre: Rock
Comments: "Prolific" isn't the right word to describe Robert Pollard; it's simply too much of an understatement. Consider this: Guided By Voices released an impressive 16 records in just over 17 years before breaking up in 2004; since then (and not even counting solo records and side projects during the GBV era), Pollard has issued a dozen solo LPs, and here we have the fifth studio full-length from Boston Spaceships. And while some wonderful tunes have appeared on these releases, there's also been some truly forgettable material. I know this is going to get me in trouble with the Guided By Voices people, but not even a songwriting genius like Pollard can produce that many good songs.
So perhaps the highest compliment that I can pay to Let It Beard is that, well, it sounds like a Guided By Voices record. This LP would fit right in with later GBV releases like Earthquake Glue or Half Smiles of the Decomposed, when Pollard and his bandmates started to increase the production values a bit, allowing some of their '60s pop and psychedelic rock influences to emerge through the lo-fi garage sound that made them semi-famous. Boston Spaceships features another GBV alum, Chris Slusarenko, along with John Moen of The Decemberists, but with Pollard as the driving force, the style is much the same.
For you young'uns out there, Let It Beard would also serve as a fitting introduction to Pollard, as he is indeed one of the seminal figures of the last quarter-century of indie rock. Start with tracks 3, 5, 11, 1, 19 and 26.
Artist: Boston Spaceships
Album: Let It Beard
Label: GBV, Inc.
Genre: Rock
Comments: "Prolific" isn't the right word to describe Robert Pollard; it's simply too much of an understatement. Consider this: Guided By Voices released an impressive 16 records in just over 17 years before breaking up in 2004; since then (and not even counting solo records and side projects during the GBV era), Pollard has issued a dozen solo LPs, and here we have the fifth studio full-length from Boston Spaceships. And while some wonderful tunes have appeared on these releases, there's also been some truly forgettable material. I know this is going to get me in trouble with the Guided By Voices people, but not even a songwriting genius like Pollard can produce that many good songs.
So perhaps the highest compliment that I can pay to Let It Beard is that, well, it sounds like a Guided By Voices record. This LP would fit right in with later GBV releases like Earthquake Glue or Half Smiles of the Decomposed, when Pollard and his bandmates started to increase the production values a bit, allowing some of their '60s pop and psychedelic rock influences to emerge through the lo-fi garage sound that made them semi-famous. Boston Spaceships features another GBV alum, Chris Slusarenko, along with John Moen of The Decemberists, but with Pollard as the driving force, the style is much the same.
For you young'uns out there, Let It Beard would also serve as a fitting introduction to Pollard, as he is indeed one of the seminal figures of the last quarter-century of indie rock. Start with tracks 3, 5, 11, 1, 19 and 26.
Brian Keenan
Add Date: August 2
Artist: Brian Keenan
Album: Today This Year
Label: Self-released
Genre: Folk, alt-country
Comments: Singer/songwriter Brian Keenan is bringing some new tempotastic country to the world of music with his debut solo album, Today This Year. The album is rife with that country/folk feeling that we've grown used to since Edward Sharpe and Mumford invaded the airwaves this year, but Keenan gives it a sparkle that makes it stand apart from the others. With the electronic pulses and glittering synths, Today This Year is sonically sound while still paying homage to the great singer/songwriters before him.
If you're in the mood for some genre-bending music, spin tracks 2, 5, 7 and 4.
Artist: Brian Keenan
Album: Today This Year
Label: Self-released
Genre: Folk, alt-country
Comments: Singer/songwriter Brian Keenan is bringing some new tempotastic country to the world of music with his debut solo album, Today This Year. The album is rife with that country/folk feeling that we've grown used to since Edward Sharpe and Mumford invaded the airwaves this year, but Keenan gives it a sparkle that makes it stand apart from the others. With the electronic pulses and glittering synths, Today This Year is sonically sound while still paying homage to the great singer/songwriters before him.
If you're in the mood for some genre-bending music, spin tracks 2, 5, 7 and 4.
The Decemberists
Add Date: August 2
Artist: The Decemberists
Album: An iTunes Session
Label: Capitol
Genre: Folk rock
Comments: Along with a long line of tour dates for this summer, The Decemberists have released their exclusive An iTunes Session, an 8-song live set that spans from their very first EP through their new chart-topping album, The King Is Dead. The eclectic band also takes the time to cover songs by Leonard Cohen and Fruit Bats, which work rather nicely with their other acoustic pieces. A folksy, countryesque, booming album of amazing melodies, the album is definitely a nice addition to your iTunes collection.
Keep to tracks 1, 2, 5 and 8 if you need a Decemberists fix.
Artist: The Decemberists
Album: An iTunes Session
Label: Capitol
Genre: Folk rock
Comments: Along with a long line of tour dates for this summer, The Decemberists have released their exclusive An iTunes Session, an 8-song live set that spans from their very first EP through their new chart-topping album, The King Is Dead. The eclectic band also takes the time to cover songs by Leonard Cohen and Fruit Bats, which work rather nicely with their other acoustic pieces. A folksy, countryesque, booming album of amazing melodies, the album is definitely a nice addition to your iTunes collection.
Keep to tracks 1, 2, 5 and 8 if you need a Decemberists fix.
The Violet Lights
Add Date: August 2
Artist: The Violet Lights
Album: Sex & Sound
Label: Self-released
Genre: Alternative, rock
Comments: Los Angeles-based The Violet Lights are one of the refreshing breaths of alternative rock air during this summer of continuous indie rock/pop releases. Their debut EP shows the band's potential, what with the catchy rock numbers and powerful percussion kits. It's a 5-song collection full of pounding guitars and near-catchy hooks, culminating to create a sound that could be compared to an American interpretation of The Joy Formidable or The Libertines.
A good garage rock band; try out tracks 1, 2, 3 and 4.
Artist: The Violet Lights
Album: Sex & Sound
Label: Self-released
Genre: Alternative, rock
Comments: Los Angeles-based The Violet Lights are one of the refreshing breaths of alternative rock air during this summer of continuous indie rock/pop releases. Their debut EP shows the band's potential, what with the catchy rock numbers and powerful percussion kits. It's a 5-song collection full of pounding guitars and near-catchy hooks, culminating to create a sound that could be compared to an American interpretation of The Joy Formidable or The Libertines.
A good garage rock band; try out tracks 1, 2, 3 and 4.
An Isotope
Add Date: August 2
Artist: An Isotope
Album: Glass Bridges
Label: Self-released
Genre: Indie pop, rock
Comments: From the promoter: "Their debut, Glass Bridges, finds An Isotope refining an art pop sound that is as immersive and seemingly fraught over as it is downright enjoyable to listen to. Inventive guitar hooks, glacially huge synth, stately piano, and a propulsive rhythm section form the pieces of a dazzling new sonic mosaic, a sound indebted to indie rock, shoegaze, and surf rock with touches of IDM electronics."
Overall an ambient-ly good album; try out tracks 1, 2, 4 and 7 if you're looking for some particularly good jams.
Artist: An Isotope
Album: Glass Bridges
Label: Self-released
Genre: Indie pop, rock
Comments: From the promoter: "Their debut, Glass Bridges, finds An Isotope refining an art pop sound that is as immersive and seemingly fraught over as it is downright enjoyable to listen to. Inventive guitar hooks, glacially huge synth, stately piano, and a propulsive rhythm section form the pieces of a dazzling new sonic mosaic, a sound indebted to indie rock, shoegaze, and surf rock with touches of IDM electronics."
Overall an ambient-ly good album; try out tracks 1, 2, 4 and 7 if you're looking for some particularly good jams.
All the Apparatus
Add Date: August 2
Artist: All the Apparatus
Album: All the Apparatus
Label: Faulty
Genre: Indie rock, folk
Comments: Portland's very own indie-folk 11-piece outfit has a brand new sophomore full-length that is hoping to bring back the "avant-garde dirty gypsy klezmer jazz indie anti-folk rock". So do they succeed in their wordy endeavor? While it's easy to see why they're compared to The Decemberists or Murder By Death, the heavy vocals give the songs a sort of folk-core music that fills the room with multiple vocalists, multiple instruments, and plenty of great songwriting and melodies. Sometimes disorienting and often entertaining, All the Apparatus' newest album is a crafty one.
Keep to tracks 2, 3, 5 and 6.
Artist: All the Apparatus
Album: All the Apparatus
Label: Faulty
Genre: Indie rock, folk
Comments: Portland's very own indie-folk 11-piece outfit has a brand new sophomore full-length that is hoping to bring back the "avant-garde dirty gypsy klezmer jazz indie anti-folk rock". So do they succeed in their wordy endeavor? While it's easy to see why they're compared to The Decemberists or Murder By Death, the heavy vocals give the songs a sort of folk-core music that fills the room with multiple vocalists, multiple instruments, and plenty of great songwriting and melodies. Sometimes disorienting and often entertaining, All the Apparatus' newest album is a crafty one.
Keep to tracks 2, 3, 5 and 6.
Army Navy
Add Date: August 2
Artist: Army Navy
Album: The Last Place
Label: Self-released
Genre: Indie pop
Comments: From SPIN: "The second album from this jangle-drunk Los Angeles quartet is pure pop for now people: Underneath Last Place's aerial guitar riffs and chipper choruses lies an astutely observed, acutely wrenching breakup narrative. Frontman Justin Kennedy cycles through the stages of grief, from bitterness (the deceptively upbeat piano plink of 'Ode to Janice Melt') to shrugging acceptance (the aptly titled 'Pastoral'), emphasizing sharp hooks and partisan reportage over woe-is-me solipsism. A feel-bad record you can actually feel good about."
If you want some jangly chords and insistent rhythms, try out tracks 2, 3, 1 and 8.
Artist: Army Navy
Album: The Last Place
Label: Self-released
Genre: Indie pop
Comments: From SPIN: "The second album from this jangle-drunk Los Angeles quartet is pure pop for now people: Underneath Last Place's aerial guitar riffs and chipper choruses lies an astutely observed, acutely wrenching breakup narrative. Frontman Justin Kennedy cycles through the stages of grief, from bitterness (the deceptively upbeat piano plink of 'Ode to Janice Melt') to shrugging acceptance (the aptly titled 'Pastoral'), emphasizing sharp hooks and partisan reportage over woe-is-me solipsism. A feel-bad record you can actually feel good about."
If you want some jangly chords and insistent rhythms, try out tracks 2, 3, 1 and 8.
The Calm Blue Sea
Add Date: August 2
Artist: The Calm Blue Sea
Album: The Calm Blue Sea
Label: Modern Outsider
Genre: Rock, post-rock
Comments: From the promoter: "The Calm Blue Sea began creating their thundering instrumental epics in 2007 and now, following a brief hiatus, are back with more vigor than ever before. The band self-released their six-song self-titled full-length (it clocks in at 46 minutes) in 2008 to strong reviews and, coupled with their ferocious live show, earned a passionate local following.
"Modern Outsider's reissue of the album celebrates the group's return to the post-rock landscape and should easily appeal to fans of Explosions in the Sky, Mogwai and Godspeed You! Black Emperor. With song structures measured in minutes rather than measures, their lushly textured sound is a study in contrast; at once beautiful and violent, transcendent and triumphant."
Tracks 1, 2 and 5 may seem a bit long, but they're worth your time.
Artist: The Calm Blue Sea
Album: The Calm Blue Sea
Label: Modern Outsider
Genre: Rock, post-rock
Comments: From the promoter: "The Calm Blue Sea began creating their thundering instrumental epics in 2007 and now, following a brief hiatus, are back with more vigor than ever before. The band self-released their six-song self-titled full-length (it clocks in at 46 minutes) in 2008 to strong reviews and, coupled with their ferocious live show, earned a passionate local following.
"Modern Outsider's reissue of the album celebrates the group's return to the post-rock landscape and should easily appeal to fans of Explosions in the Sky, Mogwai and Godspeed You! Black Emperor. With song structures measured in minutes rather than measures, their lushly textured sound is a study in contrast; at once beautiful and violent, transcendent and triumphant."
Tracks 1, 2 and 5 may seem a bit long, but they're worth your time.
Viva Brother
Add Date: August 2
Artist: Viva Brother
Album: Famous First Words
Label: Polydor
Genre: Rock
Comments: A gritrock band from the UK, Viva Brother has landed swift success across the pond for their sold-out, rowdy, uber-energetic performances. With many people referring to them as the "Slough Boys" or Brother Slough, the band has toured extensively through Great Britain, and has even been named by influential British magazine NME as "a band to watch in 2011". And with their debut album, Viva Brother is hoping to bring a Britpop sound with a rock edge, creating songs that have "all the swagger of Liam Gallagher at his best, all the hype of Pete Doherty at his worst, and all the gritpop guitar you’ll ever need."
Keep these kids in mind next time you're wanting some brashly British rock. Tracks 2, 3, 6 and 8 are good ones.
Artist: Viva Brother
Album: Famous First Words
Label: Polydor
Genre: Rock
Comments: A gritrock band from the UK, Viva Brother has landed swift success across the pond for their sold-out, rowdy, uber-energetic performances. With many people referring to them as the "Slough Boys" or Brother Slough, the band has toured extensively through Great Britain, and has even been named by influential British magazine NME as "a band to watch in 2011". And with their debut album, Viva Brother is hoping to bring a Britpop sound with a rock edge, creating songs that have "all the swagger of Liam Gallagher at his best, all the hype of Pete Doherty at his worst, and all the gritpop guitar you’ll ever need."
Keep these kids in mind next time you're wanting some brashly British rock. Tracks 2, 3, 6 and 8 are good ones.
Grace Jones
Add Date: August 2
Artist: Grace Jones
Album: Hurricane
Label: PIAS
Genre: R&B, pop, electronica
Comments: Widely acclaimed singer, songwriter and sometimes actress Grace Jones is finally releasing her newest album stateside. Having received all-around praise in the UK for the LP, Hurricane lets Jones display an uplifting sound that ranges from the Jamaican dancehall-influenced "This Is" to the contemplative electronic hit "Devil in My Life". Her voice is lithe, fierce, and solid, and the album makes for some enticing house dance music.
Hurricane also features a second album of dubs; I'd suggest checking out tracks 2, 1 and 8 on disc one and tracks 9, 4 and 3 on disc two.
Artist: Grace Jones
Album: Hurricane
Label: PIAS
Genre: R&B, pop, electronica
Comments: Widely acclaimed singer, songwriter and sometimes actress Grace Jones is finally releasing her newest album stateside. Having received all-around praise in the UK for the LP, Hurricane lets Jones display an uplifting sound that ranges from the Jamaican dancehall-influenced "This Is" to the contemplative electronic hit "Devil in My Life". Her voice is lithe, fierce, and solid, and the album makes for some enticing house dance music.
Hurricane also features a second album of dubs; I'd suggest checking out tracks 2, 1 and 8 on disc one and tracks 9, 4 and 3 on disc two.
Jenna Nicholls
Add Date: August 2
Artist: Jenna Nicholls
Album: The Blooming Hour
Label: Self-released
Genre: Indie pop
Comments: Born and raised in Pittsburgh, singer/songwriter Jenna Nicholls grew up singing jazz and a bit of folk in front of audiences all around town. Her sophomore album, The Blooming Hour, continues to utilize her beautifully hushed voice, along with some delicate guitar work and occasional choral washes. Some toned-down Feist here, a sprinkle of croonings about deceit there, and BAM: an album that is appealing despite its melancholic qualities.
Tracks 1, 9, 3 and 6 are good for those moody days.
Artist: Jenna Nicholls
Album: The Blooming Hour
Label: Self-released
Genre: Indie pop
Comments: Born and raised in Pittsburgh, singer/songwriter Jenna Nicholls grew up singing jazz and a bit of folk in front of audiences all around town. Her sophomore album, The Blooming Hour, continues to utilize her beautifully hushed voice, along with some delicate guitar work and occasional choral washes. Some toned-down Feist here, a sprinkle of croonings about deceit there, and BAM: an album that is appealing despite its melancholic qualities.
Tracks 1, 9, 3 and 6 are good for those moody days.
Fall On Your Sword
Add Date: August 2
Artist: Fall On Your Sword
Album: Music From the Motion Picture Another Earth
Label: Milan
Genre: Compilations/soundtracks, electronica, experimental
Comments: Fall On Your Sword includes British composers Will Bates and Phil Mossman, with Mossman reaching a sense of notoriety from his being a founding member of LCD Soundsystem. Teaming up for the soundtrack to Another Earth, an upcoming fantasy/sci-fi indie drama based around the idea of a second Earth, Fall On Your Sword tries to embody the mood of the film with some aggressive, forward-moving techno with the organic warmth of an orchestral set. It's hard to tell how the movie will fare once it's released nationwide, but at least the soundtrack is strangely beautiful.
Tracks 3, 5, 10 and 15 are nice pieces.
Artist: Fall On Your Sword
Album: Music From the Motion Picture Another Earth
Label: Milan
Genre: Compilations/soundtracks, electronica, experimental
Comments: Fall On Your Sword includes British composers Will Bates and Phil Mossman, with Mossman reaching a sense of notoriety from his being a founding member of LCD Soundsystem. Teaming up for the soundtrack to Another Earth, an upcoming fantasy/sci-fi indie drama based around the idea of a second Earth, Fall On Your Sword tries to embody the mood of the film with some aggressive, forward-moving techno with the organic warmth of an orchestral set. It's hard to tell how the movie will fare once it's released nationwide, but at least the soundtrack is strangely beautiful.
Tracks 3, 5, 10 and 15 are nice pieces.
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