Not as good as last week, but a number of promising releases. Unfortunately I haven't sampled too many of these yet. A few good Christmas box sets too....
Most Interesting New Releases:
Akron/Family: Love Is Simple (Young God) – This was the leadoff review in the Other Music mailer this week, so you know they’ve got music snob cred. You know you’ve been blogging for too long when you realize you’ve recommended seeing them twice, yet have no recollection of it. Damn. Anyway, they’re in the freak-folk family. See them at the Troubadour on 10/12.
Download “Ed Is a Portal” and “Phenomena”
Broken Social Scene Presents Kevin Drew: Spirit If (Arts & Crafts) – Haven’t heard it. Not sure why this one’s considered a solo album? I do like Broken Social Scene, so I’ll pick it up. See him at the Orpheum on 10/30. Feist, Emily Haines, Amy Milan, J. Mascis, Spiral Stairs and Jason Collett all make appearances.
Emmylou Harris: Songbird Box Set (Rhino Records) – She’s got one of my favorite voices. Four CDs and one DVD. Instead of focusing on greatest hits, the first two discs have her favorite songs while the next two discs have obscure or unreleased tracks. This might make a nice Christmas gift for me (unless one of the fine people at Rhino unexpectedly sends me a copy in the mail). Read the press release HERE.
Les Savy Fav: Let’s Stay Friends (Frenchkiss) – These veteran heavyish indie rockers seem like a band I should have paid more attention to in college. Pitchfork gave this an 8.3 and put it in their best new music column.
Download “What Would Wolves Do” and “The Equestrian”
[LOCAL] HEALTH: HEALTH (Lovepump United) – Local band that’s part of the all ages, Smell crowd. Their press release compares them to Liars, Black Dice and Animal Collective which gives you an idea of their experimental nature. See them at the Smell on 11/3.
Download “Triceratops” and “Crimewave” and “Perfect Skin”
Percee P: Perseverance (Stones Throw) – The underground hip-hop fans have been looking forward to this one for a while. Madlib helps out. Aesop Rock makes an appearance. Other Music gives it high praise.
Thurston: Trees Outside the Academy (Ecstatic Peace) – Thurston Moore, the Sonic Youth frontman does the (mostly) acoustic singer-songwriter thing. J. Mascis shows up on some of the tracks. Pitchfork gave this one a 7.9. At the Echoplex on 10/30.
Other Releases:
Acid Mothers Guru Guru: Psychedelic Navigator (Important)
Baron Zen: At the Mall Remixes (Stones Throw) – Baron Zen included Peanut Butter Wolf (Chris Manak) before he started the Stones Throw label. This has remixes from the Stones Throw stable. Check out the record release party on 9/19 at the Roxy.
Bella: No One Will Know (Mint) – West Coast indie pop.
Chamillionaire: Ultimate Victory (Motown)
Crescent: Little Waves (Fat Cat)
Download “Little Waves”
The Donnas: Bitchin’ (Feather Records) – Melodic punk-pop. At the Roxy on 10/27.
Fog: Ditherer (Lex Records) – Alan Sparkhaw, Andrew Bird and Why? Make guest appearances. At Spaceland on 11/9.
Mary Gauthier: Between Daylight and Dark (Lost Highway)
Gravenhurst: The Western Lands (Warp) – AMG says they’re equally inspired by Bert Jansch and My Bloody Valentine.
Green Pajamas: Box of Secrets – Northern Gothic 2 (Hidden Agenda) – Retrospective of the Seattle neo-psych band inspired by LA’s Paisley Underground scene.
His Name Is Alive: Xmmer (Reincarnate) – Ethereal
Jesca Hoop: Kismet (Columbia) – KCRW darling at the Wiltern on 9/21.
Jana Hunter: Carrion (Gnomonsong)
Ben Lee: Ripe (New West) – I’ve been watching his career for over a decade (since the Noise Addict days). This new one is studio polished singer-songwriter material. He’s got sex on the mind and even does a duet with Mandy Moore.
Magnet: The Simple Life (Filter US Recordings) – At the Roxy on 11/14
Download “Lonely No More”
Ministry: The Last Sucker (13th Planet Recordings) – Their last studio album.
Download “Die In a Crash” and “Let’s Go”
Motion City Soundtrack: Even If It Kills Me (Epitaph) – At the Wiltern on 12/4. For the Hot Topic crowd.
Myracle Brah: Can You Hear Myracle Brah (Rainbow Quartz) – Power pop.
Download “This Is Where We Belong”
Plasticines: LP1 (Virigin) – Four French girls play peppy punk.
Polyphonic Spree: Live from Austin, TX (New West) – From their August 2004 appearance on Austin City Limits.
Rogue Wave: Asleep at Heaven’s Gate (Brushfire) – Leaving behind Sub Pop for Jack Johnson’s Brushfire, the Oakland band releases their third album. They seem to be chasing commercialism and putting out more watered down releases each time. See them at Fingerprints in Long Beach on 9/21 or El Rey on 10/11. Also, there’s just something about straight guys and thumb rings…..
Sleeping States: There the Open Spaces (Misra) – At Bordello on 9/27.
Download “Rivers”
Various Artists: Love Is the Song We Sing – San Francisco Nuggets 1965-1970 (Rhino) – Another four disc, 77-track collection that explores the San Francisco scene in great detail. The first two Nuggets box sets are essential. Not sure about this one? I am curious though. While I’m familiar with Country Joe, the Warlocks, Beau Brummels, Grateful Dead, Big Brother and the Holding Company, Jefferson Airplane, Steve Miller Band, Moby Grape, there are lots of obscurities.
Various Artists: You Got Yours – East Bay Garage 1965-1967 (Big Beat) – Maybe an interesting companion piece to the hippie set above.
Eddie Vedder: Into the Wild soundtrack (J Records) – The Pearl Jam frontman does the soundtrack for the new Sean Penn film. It’s mostly mellow, acoustic type songs befitting the subject of the film (a young guy who loses himself in the Alaskan wilderness).
Vells: Integreton (Imputor? Records) – Seattle
Wooden Shjips: Wooden Shjips (Holy Mountain) – Garage drone from San Francisco.
Download “We Ask You to Ride”
DVD:
The Best of the Johnny Cash TV Show (Columbia Legacy) – 66 performance clips on two discs. Includes performances by Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan, Stevie Wonder, Kris Kristofferson, George Jones, Waylon Jennings, Neil Young, Bill Monroe, Loretta Lynn, the Everly Brothers, Conway Twitty, Glen Campbell, Merle Haggard, Carl Perkins and lots more.
Digital:
Division Day: Beartrap Island (Eenie Meenie) - This is available on iTunes. I'll write more about it when the physical version comes out on 10/2.
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