Five Most Interesting New Releases on 7/10/07

Good news - I'm now pretty much caught up with these weekly updates. Lots of good stuff this past week....

Five Most Interesting New Releases:

Nick Drake: Family Tree (Tsunami) - I'm a huge fan of his three proper solo records. If you like melancholy singer-songwriters, I'm sure you are too. This collection includes 28 tracks that pre-date his first album. Recommended for hardcore fans/completists. Download a "Family Tree" podcast.

Interpol: Our Love to Admire (Capitol) - See them at the Forum on 10/23. As often happens with major label debuts, the mainstream press seems to like it more than the indie press. I was a fan of the first album, but never really got into their second one.

Jason Isbell: Sirens of the Ditch (New West) - Former Drive-By Truckers guitarist. Critics are digging it, comparing him to artists as diverse as Ryan Adams, Bruce Springsteen, Neil Young, John Hiatt, and Richard Buckner. See him at the Troubadour on 8/6. Recommended for fans of the genre. Letter Grade: B-

Patton Oswalt: Werewolves and Lollipops (Sub Pop) - Those of us who have seen him countless times at Largo, are already fans of his nerdy comedy. He's making some serious coin right now with his voicework in Ratatouille. With DVD. Download "Dukes of Hazzard"

Spoon: Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga (Merge) - This isn't my favorite Spoon album (in fact it might be my fourth favorite) but that still makes it better than most stuff that will come out this year. Critics are mostly loving it. I don't like the Jon Brion produced track at all, but there are three or four classics. See them at Little Radio on Monday 7/16 and the Fonda on 9/10 and 9/11. Recommended. Letter Grade: B

Other Noteworthy New Releases:

Bad Religion: New Maps of Hell (Epitaph) - Veteran local punks. I was a fan back in high school/early college. See them at the Home Depot center on 8/25.

Boat: Let's Drag Our Feet (Magic Marker) - Seattle indie rockers.

Crowded House: Time on Earth (ATO Records) - The Aussies first record since 1993. It's getting some pretty good reviews. See them at the Greek on 8/28.

Roky Erickson: You're Gonna Miss Me soundtrack (Palm) - The soundtrack to the documentary about the 13 Floor Elevators frontman who had major mental health issues. He's recently hit the road again. The documentary's supposed to be quite good too. It came out on DVD this week as well. See him at the El Rey on 10/28.

Gogol Bordello: Super Taranta (Side One Dummy) - See them at the Fonda on 8/28. Gypsy punks.

The Gourds: Noble Creatures (Yep Roc) - People in Austin are mad for these alt-country guys.

The Icarus Line: Black Line at the Golden Coast (Dim Mak) - See them at the El Rey on 8/3.

Justice: "Cross" [the symbol] (Vice) - French duo for the indie dance fans. It's getting very positive reviews.

Christian Kiefer: Dogs & Donkeys (Undertow) - Mellow folk singer. Alan Sparhawk and Mimi Parker of Low make guest appearances as do Nels Cline and Garth Hudson.

Fionn Regan: The End of History (Lost Highway) - See him at the Hotel Cafe on 8/7. Singer-songwriter gets compared to Nick Drake and Damien Rice.

Kim Richey: Chinese Boxes (Vanguard) - Successful Nashville based country songwriter.

Chris & Rich Robinson: Brothers of a Feather - Live at the Roxy (Eagle) - For the Black Crowes fans.

Smashing Pumpkins: Zeitgeist (Reprise) - Billy and Jimmy. No James or Darcy. It's not getting very good reviews. I liked their first two albums at the time, but the tracks I've heard off this one are just way too much.

Stephen Stills: Just Roll Tape - 4/26/68 (Rhino) - Just him in a studio back in 1968. Includes stripped down early versions of "Suite: Judy Blue Eyes" and "Wooden Ships"

St. Vincent: Marry Me (Beggars Banquet) - Annie Clark has gotten a lot of blogger love. She's toured as part of Sufjan Stevens band and the Polyphonic Spree. See her at the Echo on 8/4. Recommended for fans of female singer-songwriters like Mia Doi Todd. It's very produced with layers of hand claps, electro glitches, dramatic strings and overdubbed, self harmonizing.

They Might Be Giants: The Else (Idlewild/Zoe) - OG nerd rockers team up with the Dust Brothers. See them at the Avalon on 10/3. This one's getting mixed reviews.

Reissues:
M. Ward: Duet for Guitars 2 (Merge) - His first album remastered with bonus tracks.

The Monkees: Headquarters (Rhino) - Deluxe 2 CD edition. These two reissues are from the period when they started to be a real band and before they started to get really weird. I recommend checking them out.

The Monkees: Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones (Rhino) - Deluxe 2 CD edition. They were the first to record a Harry Nilsson song ("Cuddly Toy"). Also has some songs with early use of the Moog and some classic Mike Nesmith tunes.