The Five Most Interesting New Releases:
Dungen: Tio Bitar (Kemado) – Dungen’s definitely not for everybody, but they’ve got a hardcore set of fans who don't understand why they're not huge. This album is even more drugged out and psychedelic than their last. Once again, the lyrics are all in Swedish and the jams are acid rock. There aren't melodic riffs and melodies like Sabbath (or Wolfmother) but there is some great musicianship. It’s not the kind of thing I wake up and want to listen to every day, but there's definitely a time and place for it. I'm sure a lot of dudes in Echo Park wish they could figure out how he gets those amazing retro sounds. The vinyl was delayed two weeks. For a longer review, check out Jeff Weiss’ Stylus review HERE. Letter Grade: B+
Great Northern: Trading Twilight for Daylight (Eenie Meenie) - They're a local band, on a local label. They've been playing their asses off for the past couple of years. I heard their record release party at the Echo last night was packed. They sound a little bit like a dreamier version of Earlimart. Scott at Little Radio wrote a much better review. Read it HERE. See them on May 30th at the Troubadour. Eenie Meenie released this one on vinyl, which is very cool. Download "The Middle"
Guided By Voices: Live From Austin, Texas (New West) – New West does a great job with these Austin City Limits releases. You never knew what material you were going to get when you saw GBV live (usually a lot of shit you’d never even heard, unless you were a Pollard completist), but you already know the track list for this show. It was always a lot of fun to watch Pollard do his leg kicks and drink his beer. These 30 tracks are a pretty good overview of his career. There's also a 97 minute DVD version. I have a bunch of the other ACL discs and DVDs, and the quality is always great.
Wilco: Sky Blue Sky (Nonesuch) - The music snobs want you to hate it. They're throwing around terms like "dad rock." Guess what? It sounds like Wilco. If you like Wilco, and you're open to the idea of them making a mellow, confessional, rocky relationship record then you'll like it. Since they leaked it, I've been listening to it a lot and I still haven't gotten sick of it. The vinyl version came out yesterday and it's a double LP, gatefold. If AM was their Gram Parsons record, Being There was their Rolling Stones record, Summerteeth was their Beach Boys record, Yankee Hotel Foxtrot was their transition record and A Ghost Is Boring was their krautrock record, I guess this is their Neil Young record. And I'm very cool with that. My only complaint (and it's minor) is that some of the Nels Cline solos seem like a little too much for such understated songs. Letter Grade: A-
Yacht: I Believe In You. Your Magic Is Real (Marriage Records) - Long time readers probably know that with my traditional taste, this isn't my thing. This is eccentric, laptop pop for the hipster-types. The perfect soundtrack for your big shopping outting at American Apparel. Disposable music that isn't timeless in any sort of way. He's also one half of the Blow. See him at the Echo on 5/27. Download "See a Penny (Pick It Up)"
Other Noteworthy Releases:
The Exies: A Modern Way of Dealing with the Truth (Eleven Seven Music) - Local heavy band. See them at the Roxy on 6/3.
The High Strung: Get the Guests (Park the Van) - Detroit indie rockers. See them at Spaceland on 6/2.
Jeff London: The Bane of Progress (Hush) - Sad singer-songwriter.
Plants: Photosynthesis (Strange Attractors) - Portland band that lists "Colin Blundstone" as one of their influences. I'm sure it's just a typo, but you know I'll pick that shit apart. By the way, it's Elliott Smith, not Elliot Smith.
Rufus Wainwright: Release the Stars (Geffen) - His talent is pretty much undeniable, but he's just a little too melodramatic for me. I don't like showtunes either. See him at the Hollywood Bowl on 9/23. It's got a high score (78) on Metacritic.
Velella Velella: The Bay of Biscay (Hush) - Seattle band that lists Stereolab, Beck, David Axelrod and Gary Wilson as influences. Based on these Myspace songs, they don't sound too bad.
Dungen: Tio Bitar (Kemado) – Dungen’s definitely not for everybody, but they’ve got a hardcore set of fans who don't understand why they're not huge. This album is even more drugged out and psychedelic than their last. Once again, the lyrics are all in Swedish and the jams are acid rock. There aren't melodic riffs and melodies like Sabbath (or Wolfmother) but there is some great musicianship. It’s not the kind of thing I wake up and want to listen to every day, but there's definitely a time and place for it. I'm sure a lot of dudes in Echo Park wish they could figure out how he gets those amazing retro sounds. The vinyl was delayed two weeks. For a longer review, check out Jeff Weiss’ Stylus review HERE. Letter Grade: B+
Great Northern: Trading Twilight for Daylight (Eenie Meenie) - They're a local band, on a local label. They've been playing their asses off for the past couple of years. I heard their record release party at the Echo last night was packed. They sound a little bit like a dreamier version of Earlimart. Scott at Little Radio wrote a much better review. Read it HERE. See them on May 30th at the Troubadour. Eenie Meenie released this one on vinyl, which is very cool. Download "The Middle"
Guided By Voices: Live From Austin, Texas (New West) – New West does a great job with these Austin City Limits releases. You never knew what material you were going to get when you saw GBV live (usually a lot of shit you’d never even heard, unless you were a Pollard completist), but you already know the track list for this show. It was always a lot of fun to watch Pollard do his leg kicks and drink his beer. These 30 tracks are a pretty good overview of his career. There's also a 97 minute DVD version. I have a bunch of the other ACL discs and DVDs, and the quality is always great.
Wilco: Sky Blue Sky (Nonesuch) - The music snobs want you to hate it. They're throwing around terms like "dad rock." Guess what? It sounds like Wilco. If you like Wilco, and you're open to the idea of them making a mellow, confessional, rocky relationship record then you'll like it. Since they leaked it, I've been listening to it a lot and I still haven't gotten sick of it. The vinyl version came out yesterday and it's a double LP, gatefold. If AM was their Gram Parsons record, Being There was their Rolling Stones record, Summerteeth was their Beach Boys record, Yankee Hotel Foxtrot was their transition record and A Ghost Is Boring was their krautrock record, I guess this is their Neil Young record. And I'm very cool with that. My only complaint (and it's minor) is that some of the Nels Cline solos seem like a little too much for such understated songs. Letter Grade: A-
Yacht: I Believe In You. Your Magic Is Real (Marriage Records) - Long time readers probably know that with my traditional taste, this isn't my thing. This is eccentric, laptop pop for the hipster-types. The perfect soundtrack for your big shopping outting at American Apparel. Disposable music that isn't timeless in any sort of way. He's also one half of the Blow. See him at the Echo on 5/27. Download "See a Penny (Pick It Up)"
Other Noteworthy Releases:
The Exies: A Modern Way of Dealing with the Truth (Eleven Seven Music) - Local heavy band. See them at the Roxy on 6/3.
The High Strung: Get the Guests (Park the Van) - Detroit indie rockers. See them at Spaceland on 6/2.
Jeff London: The Bane of Progress (Hush) - Sad singer-songwriter.
Plants: Photosynthesis (Strange Attractors) - Portland band that lists "Colin Blundstone" as one of their influences. I'm sure it's just a typo, but you know I'll pick that shit apart. By the way, it's Elliott Smith, not Elliot Smith.
Rufus Wainwright: Release the Stars (Geffen) - His talent is pretty much undeniable, but he's just a little too melodramatic for me. I don't like showtunes either. See him at the Hollywood Bowl on 9/23. It's got a high score (78) on Metacritic.
Velella Velella: The Bay of Biscay (Hush) - Seattle band that lists Stereolab, Beck, David Axelrod and Gary Wilson as influences. Based on these Myspace songs, they don't sound too bad.
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