New Record Releases: 9/23/08

I'm a week late with this post. I get so absorbed with trying to listen to everything that's sent my way.....

Noteworthy Albums Released on 9/23/08:

Records I’ve Heard:

Brightblack Morning Light: Motion to Rejoin (Matador) – They don’t seem to play LA ever since his meltdown at the Troubadour a couple of years ago. No loss, the music’s average, neo-hippie stuff that we have our fair share of.
MP3: Oppressions Each

Friendly Fires: Friendly Fires (Beggars/XL) – This is a pretty decent indie, dance rock record but not something that I’m capable of fully supporting. At El Rey on 11/3/08

High Places: High Places (Thrill Jockey) – Above average indie, electro, noise stuff. This is another genre that I’m not really passionate about. At the Smell on 10/10/08
MP3: From Stardust to Sentience

Monkey: Journey to the West (Beggars/XL) – Collaboration between Damon Albarn (Blur/Gorillaz), visual designer Jamie Hewlett and Chinese opera specialist Chen Shi-Zheng. The BBC used some of the music for their spots leading up to the Olympics. It’s another above average listen, but I’ll stop short of fully endorsing it.

These United States: Crimes (United Interests) – Another above average record that should appeal to fans of its genre (slightly Americana, somewhere on the more coffee shop side of blues). At Silverlake Lounge on 10/14/08
MP3: Get Yourself Home

TV On the Radio: Dear Science (Interscope) – The only record of the week (that I’ve heard) that really transcends genre and constitutes a must buy. The band incorporates so many disparate elements into a cohesive sound. It might be their most commercial record but still manages to be political, soulful and experimental at the same time. Recommended. Live at the Wiltern on 11/6/08

Local Releases:
Cold War Kids: Loyalty to Loyalty (Downtown) – I heard the single on Entourage last week, but I still haven’t heard the full album.

Jenny Lewis: Acid Tongue (WB/Reprise) – I’m definitely in the Jenny Lewis solo camp (especially when you talk about that last Rilo Kiley record). It’s not as immediate and fun as Rabbit Fur Coat, but her fans should be pleased with it. At the Orpheum on 10/30/08
MP3: Acid Tongue

Other Noteworthy New Releases:
The Action Design
Adventure
All Girl Summer Band
Karl Blau – MP3: Mockingbird Diet
Blitzen Trapper – At the Echo on 11/30/08 MP3: Furr
Peter Broderick
Jackson Browne – At Royce Hall on 10/2/08 & Orpheum on 10/5/08
Casiotone for the Painfully Alone
Conifer
Dr. Dooom
Marc Ford & the Neptune Blues Club
Golden Smog – best of collection
David Grubbs – MP3: An Optimist Declines (edit)
Charlie Haden
Lily Holbrook
Holy Sons
The Howling Hex – MP3: No Good Reason
I Heart Lung
Kings of Leon – At the Nokia on 10/15/08
Koufax
Lenka – At the Fonda on 11/18/08
Lights – EP – at El Rey on 11/11/08
Mamiffer
Mason Proper
McCarthy Trenching – At the Silverlake Lounge on 10/1/08; MP3: Cassette Tape Massacre
Mogwai
Nagisa Ni Te – MP3: Premonition
Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist soundtrack
Old Crow Medicine Show – At the Fonda on 11/6/08
Peter, Bjorn and John – vinyl only release
The Pica Beats
The Pink Spiders – At the Troubadour on 10/8/08
Plain White T’s – At the Staples Center on 10/10/08
The Pretenders – vinyl only, CD to follow
Max Richter
Tracy Shedd – MP3: Whatever It Takes
Sing it Loud – House of Blues on 10/30/08
The Standard
Starfucker
Tecumseh
Ten Kens
Thievery Corporation
The Tough Alliance
Various Artists – Like Black Holes in the Sky – A Tribute to Syd Barrett