New Releases 5/9/06

I definitely recommend the new Grandaddy. I need to spend some more time with the rest of this stuff.....

Ane Brun A Temporary Dive (V2) – Scandinavian singer-songwriter. Appearing at the Hotel Café on 5/13. Listen HERE.

Art Brut Bang Bang Rock’n’Roll (Downtown) – The hipsters probably already bought the import, but it’s finally available domestically. They’re smart aleck Brits with thick accents and cocky, tongue-in-cheek lyrics. They’ve already played Coachella and Spaceland. Listen HERE.

Beirut Gulag Orkestar (Bada Bing) – Beirut is a 19 year-old kid from Albuquerque who has the blogosphere and other tastemakers eating out of his hand. He worked with Jeremy Barnes from Neutral Milk Hotel so the comparisons to that band are everywhere. There aren’t any guitars on the record but there are instruments like glockenspiels, ukuleles and clarinets. Download “from Italy”

Black Heart Procession The Spell (Touch & Go) – San Diego indie rockers make soundtrack music. See them live at the Fonda on 6/13. Download “Not Just Words” Stream it HERE.

Daedelus Daedelus Denies the Day’s Demise (Mush) – Local indie electronica guy. Appearing live at the Little Temple on 5/26.

Danielson Ships (Secretly Canadian) – Daniel Smith shortened the name from Danielson Famile to Danielson. There are 34 contributors including Sufjan Stevens, Deerhoof and Serena-Maneesh. You’ll either love or hate the manic energy of it. Yes they’re Christian, but not preachy. Appearing live at Spaceland on 6/3. Download “Did I Step on Your Trumpet”

Kimya Dawson Remember That I Love You (K Records) – She was in the Moldy Peaches. Download “Underground”

The Eighteenth Day of May s/t (Hannibal) – London-based folk band. Listen HERE

Electric Soft Parade The Human Body EP (Better Looking) – British band that’s half of the band the Brakes. Download “Cold World”

The Everyothers Pink Sticky Lies EP (Kill Rock Stars) – New York band that claims to be one of the greatest rock bands on earth. I respectfully disagree. Download “Dive with Me”

Gnarls Barkley St. Elsewhere (Downtown/Atlantic) – By now you’ve heard about their “Myspace secret show,” downloaded bootlegs from their Coachella appearance and even seen Cee-Lo’s spoiled daughter on My Super Sweet 16. But is the record any good? While some critics think it’s too inconsistent, most think there’s enough there to recommend it. The Violent Femmes have to be happy about that cover.

Grandaddy Just Like the Fambly Cat (V2) – Critics generally agree that this is Grandaddy’s return to form after the disappointing Sumday. Jason shaved his beard, moved away from Modesto and is letting everybody know that he recorded all the instruments (except drums). The record is really good. Buy it. Watch the video for “Where I’m Anymore” Stream it HERE.

Zach Hill and Mick Barr Shred Earthship (5RC) – Members of Hella and Octis make an album that will “make Mike Patton” jealous. I guess that means it’s weird. Appearing live at the Echo on 6/22. Download “Note Swarm Hive Builders”

Jolie Holland Springtime Can Kill You (Anti) – Roots-y singer-songwriter who was in the Be Good Tanyas. Appearing live at Amoeba on 5/9 @ 7:00 PM.

Lansing-Dreiden Dividing Island (Kemado) – A “multi-media company” that makes music. That description sounds so cold but I guess that’s the point? I haven’t heard it.

The Like Young Last Secrets (Polyvinyl) – A married couple from Chicago. They play punk-pop and this download is pretty catchy. Download “For Money or Love”

Matmos The Rose Has Teeth in the Mouth of the Beast (Matador) – New album from the San Francisco soundscape creating duo. They’ve been in BUTT Magazine and worked with Bjork. Download “Roses and Teeth for Ludwig Wittgenstein” Stream it HERE.

Eugene Mirman En Garde, Society! (Sub Pop) – His second comedy album. I saw him perform once and really laugh much (but I’m a tough audience). I do however like David Cross, Patton Oswalt and George Carlin.

Model/Actress s/t EP (Thick) – Ex-bass player of Brainiac with a guest spot from David Yow.

The Old Haunts Fuel on Fire (Kill Rock Stars) – Indie garage punk from Olympia, WA. Appearing live at the Smell on 6/1. Download “Wasted Day”

Pony Up Make Love to the Judges with Your Eyes (Dim Mak) – All girl band from Montreal. Appearing at Cinespace on 5/9. Download “The Truth About Cats and Dogs (Is that They Die)”

Red Hot Chili Peppers Stadium Arcadium (Warner Bros.) – Big music critics (Billboard, LA Times, NY Times, Rolling Stone, EW) seem to like it. It’s a double album and Rick Rubin was involved. Even though many of us haven’t listened to them since high school, their last album sold nearly two million copies in the U.S. They’re appearing live at Verizon Wireless on 5/13. Stream it HERE.

Serena-Maneesh s/t (Play Louder) – The Norwegian band is popular with Pitchfork. Their CD is finally available at a more affordable domestic price. It’s dreamy My Bloody Valentine style rock (I know that’s a really lazy comparison). Did anybody see them at Spaceland or the Echo in March? Listen HERE.

Shearwater Palo Santo (Misra) – The main guy in Okkervil River stepped aside. The Allmusic Guide thinks that Jonathan Meiburg is a dead ringer for Jeff Buckley, but I’m sure my girlfriend will disagree. Download “Seventy-four, Seventy-five”

Paul Simon Surprise (Warner Bros.) – He did this one with Brian Eno. Stream it HERE.

Snow Patrol Eyes Open (A&M) – Remember in 2001 when they sounded a lot like Sebadoh? Now they sell almost 500k records in the U.S. and are one of the biggest bands in the UK. Billboard says the new album sounds like a mix between Train and Goo Goo Dolls. Ouch. That sounds a little harsh. They namedrop Sufjan Stevens on the record. See them live at the Wiltern on 6/19 & 6/20. Stream it HERE.

The Stills Without Feathers (Vice) – They’re from Montreal and supposedly don’t sound like Joy Division anymore. I haven’t heard it yet. Download “In the Beginning” Stream it HERE.

Thee More Shallows Money vs. Shark (Turn) – Download “I Can’t Get Next to You” (Yes it’s a guy that talk/sings covering a song made famous by the Temptations and Al Green.)

Wooden Wand Harem of the Sundrum & the Witness Figg (5RC) – Influenced by Fleetwood Mac and Judee Sill? You be the judge. Download “Eagle Claw”

Neil Young Living with War (Reprise) – Neil’s pissed off at the administration and current events and wants you to know about it. The album was released to coincide with the 36 year anniversary of his protest song, “Ohio” (about the Kent State shootings, d’uh). Most critics appreciate the sentiment and his passion and recommend picking it up. Stream the album HERE.