New Release Tuesday 4/18/06

Finding an accurate list of the week's releases is more difficult than you'd think. With the help of Ice Magazine, Amazon and Insound I try, but errors (and omissions) can happen.

Recommended
Languis Other Desert Cities EP (Pehr) – I guess today’s the official release date. I’ve written about them in the past. Download “In the Fields of (Lonely Fences)” Appearing live at the Hotel Café on 4/22.

The Little Ones Sing Song EP (Branches Recording Collective) – Today’s the official release date for LA’s best new indie pop band. Download “Cha Cha Cha” and see them live tonight at El Cid.

Things I Need To Hear
Spank Rock YoYoYoYoYo (Big Dada) – Dirty rap from Baltimore. Appearing live at Spaceland on 6/11. Download “Put That Pussy On Me”

Matthew Sweet and Susanna Hoffs Under the Covers Vol. 1 (Shout! Factory) – They perform songs by Bob Dylan, the Beatles, the Beach Boys, Neil Young, The Left Banke, Love, The Zombies and more. What I've listened to so far is really mixed (I love most of these originals so much it mostly makes me want to listen to the original). Appearing live at the Roxy on 4/22. Listen to the entire album HERE.

Other Noteworthy Releases
Cities Cities (Yep Roc) – Does the world need another post-punk band? They’re from North Carolina. You can listen to the whole album HERE.

The Dresden Dolls Yes Virginia (Roadrunner) – Brechtian punk cabaret. Jaunty. Download “Dirty Business” or you can sample the whole album HERE

Drive-By Truckers A Blessing and a Curse (New West) – Southern roots rockers. Appearing at the House of Blues on 5/3 & 5/4. You can listen to the whole album HERE.

Elefant The Black Magic Show (enhanced CD) (Hollywood) – Slick, retro new wavers that I haven't heard yet. Appearing live at the Wiltern on 5/26 with Voxtrot. Download “Lolita” or listen to the whole album HERE.

The Fiery Furnaces Bitter Tea (Fat Possum) – Suburban Chicago brother-sister band releases another album just to annoy the hell out of me.

Frog Eyes The Golden River (Absolutely Kosher) – Manic, dramatic, headache-inducing Canadian band. They re-released their album The Bloody Hand today too.

Gram Rabbit Cultivation (Stinky) – They’re from Joshua Tree and this is their second record. Appearing live at Tower Sunset on 4/20 at 6:00 PM and at the Echo on 4/21. Listen to some tracks on MYSPACE.

The Lovely Feathers Hind Hind Legs (Equator) – They’re a Canadian band and they’ve toured with Metric. I got their CD and couldn’t dig it. You can listen to tracks on their Myspace page.

Maritime We, the Vehicles (Flameshovel) - I was a little bit of a Promise Ring fan. This band has the lead singer/guitarist of that band and the bass player from the Dismemberment Plan. Download "Parade of Punk Rock T-Shirts"

Mugison Little Trip (Ipecac) – Icelandic singer-songwriter releases a part score/part soundtrack to an Icelandic director’s film.

People Under the Stairs Stepfather (Basement) – Local underground hip-hop band appears at Amoeba on 4/18 at 7:00 PM and the Troubadour on 6/2.

The Red Krayola Introduction (Drag City) – Mayo Thompson has been making music since 1966. Apparently this is his most accessible recording ever. Appearing at the Getty on 4/29 and Spaceland on 4/30.

Roommate Songs that Animals Taught Us (Plug Research) – They’re indie electronic music. The Allmusic Guide says it’s more Flaming Lips than Postal Service. Apparently they cover Big Head Todd & the Monsters (that’s a little scary). Appearing live at Tangier on 7/23. Download “Tuesday”

Rye Coalition Curses (produced by Dave Grohl) (Gern Blandsten) – Jersey City hard rockers with a lead singer who sounds like Paul Stanley. Listen on their Myspace page.

Stereophonics Live from Dakota (two CDs; songs from 2005 world tour) (Vox Populi)

Various Artists Exit Music: Songs with Radio Heads (Rapster) - Radiohead songs as re-worked by a bunch of people. Pitchfork gave it a 0.6 today (but it's probably not that bad). Listen to the entire album HERE.

DVD VA Coachella DVD (1999-2005 performances from the annual Southern California festival; w/Iggy and the Stooges, Radiohead, the White Stripes and more (COAC/Epitaph)