New Releases 2/7/06

Finally a few things I can get excited about.....that's the Ladies up above.

Recommended:
Belle & Sebastian The Life Pursuit (Matador) - Check the archives for last week's review. Pitchfork gave it an 8.5. There's also a deluxe edition with a DVD with six songs recorded at the BBC. Catch them live at the Wiltern on 3/18 or 3/19.
Download "Another Sunny Day"
The Ladies They Mean Us (Temporary Residence Ltd.) - The Ladies are Rob Crow (lead singer/guitarist of Pinback) and Zach Hill (drummer of Hella). Some have said it's the best of both worlds (indie rock colliding with noise-rock). I'm a big Pinback fan and I like it, but you have to be open to noise rock or you probably won't like it. Limited edition colored vinyl edition available only from the label website. Live at Spaceland on 3/8/06.
Download "Empathy On a Stick"
Kelley Stoltz Below the Branches (Sub Pop) - Check the archives for my review two weeks ago. Nice melancholy pop. Catch him live at the Echo on 2/18/06.
Download "The Sun Comes Through"

Things I Haven't Heard:
Jason Collett Idols of Exile (Arts & Crafts) - He's part of the Broken Social Scene/Arts & Crafts family and most of them guest on this record. His first album was pleasant but I never get the urge to listen to it so I'm apprehensive. You can stream it from his website. He really rips off the Stones' "Wild Horses" on "We All Lose One Another." Did he give them credit?
Mastodon Call of the Mastodon(Relapse) - For metal fans only. This is an issue of the first time they ever went into the studio.
Beth Orton Comfort of Strangers (Astralwerks) - I've got a lot of respect for her, but I've never really listened to her. She's playing live at the Avalon on 3/24.
VA To: Elliott From: Portland (Expunged) - A few big names covering Elliott Smith (Decembrists, Helio Sequence, Eric Matthews, Thermals). Also features Sean Croghan doing an unreleased track, "High Times."

Other Noteworthy Releases:
Aceyalone Magnificent City (produced by RJD2) (Project Blowed/Decon) - LA rapper teams up with producer RJD2.
Magnet The Tourniquet (Filter) - Domestic release of Norwegian singer Even Johansen's second album. It's anthemic, atmospheric pop music produced by Jason Faulkner that would fit well on KCRW. He's appearing live at the Troubadour on 3/7/06 and 3/14/06 at Hotel Cafe.
Minus 5 Minus 5 (w/members of R.E.M., Wilco, the Decemberists, John Wesley Harding and more) (Yep Roc) - Seventh album from Young Fresh Fellow Scott McCaughey. Playing live at the Key Club on 2/25/06.
Download "Twilight Distillery"
Oceansize Everyone Into Position (Beggars Banquet) - Domestic release of British band.
Prefuse 73 Security Screenings (guests Four Tet and members of TV on the Radio) (Warp) - Pitchfork gave it a 6.9 and liked the guest tracks the best.
Swearing at Motorists Last Night Becomes This Morning (Secretly Canadian) - Playing live at the Avalon on 2/21/06. I honestly just don't know anything about them.
Telepathe Farewell Forest EP (The Social Registry) - ?
KT Tunstall Eye to Telescope (Virgin) - KCRW music

Reissues:
Caribou (formerly Manitoba) Start Breaking My Heart and Up in Flames (Domino) - I'm guessing they just reissued these as Caribou instead of Manitoba.
Ray Davies The Storyteller (ICE #227) (EMI/Koch) - Apparently this went out of print. I have the original release and I saw him twice on the tour. He's my favorite songwriter of all time, so of course I think it's worth picking up if you have the relevant Kinks albums (Village Green, Arthur, Muswell Hillbillies, Face to Face, etc.)...
Gastr del Sol Harp Factory on Lake Street (Table of the Elements) - Reissue of 1994 album featuring members of Tortoise, Sea And Cake, Shellac, Dazzling Killmen, Brise Glace, and The Vandermark 5.