There are lots of interesting releases this week. It makes me sad that Sea Level's not around anymore. The idea of popping in on the way to the Earlimart record release show at the Echoplex sounds very appealing right now....
Top Five New Releases:
[LOCAL] Earlimart: Mentor Tormentor (Majordomo) – Earlimart's back with their best album yet. The new album is a lush continuation of 2004's Treble & Tremble, so expect more comparisons to Grandaddy and Elliott Smith. After shopping the album to multiple labels, Espinoza settled on releasing it himself through Shout Factory. See them at the Echoplex tonight, 8/21 or the Troubadour on 10/24. Aaron was on Morning Becomes Eclectic this morning (you should be able to downlod the pocast soon). He'll be on Sinking with Sylvia on Little Radio on September 6th. Recommended.
Download "Everybody Knows Everybody" (via Pitchfork)
Download "Nevermind the Phonecalls" (via Pitchfork)
Download "Don't Think About Me" (via Pitchfork)
M.I.A.: Kala (Interscope) - I'm not really an M.I.A. guy, but critics and indie kids both love her. Switch produced most of the new record. Vibe panned it, but it's got an 87/100 on Metacritic. I'm sure I'll end up picking it up.
The New Pornographers: Challengers (Matador) – This one's even more "introspective" than the last (and I wished the last was more like Electric Version). Pitchfork gave it a mediocre review, which I'm inclined to agree with at this point. At the Fonda on 9/19 and 9/20.
[LOCAL] Patrick Park: Everyone’s In Everyone (Curb Appeal) - Like Earlimart, the local singer-songwriter is on a new label. I haven't heard much of it, but my impression is that it's thankfully more stripped down than Loneliness Knows My Name. I plan on picking this one up.
[LOCAL] Rilo Kiley: Under the Blacklight (Warner Bros.) - Their major label debut is definitely a departure from their old sound. (I recommend you stream the full album on their Myspace page before purchasing). Jason Lader (Gwen Stefani, Maroon 5) and Mike Elizondo (Dr. Dre) produced the bulk of it. Lyrically, there's a whore/stripper motif throughout. Many of the songs have a weak disco beat, which is on par with what you hear in bad porn films. Jenny Lewis' voice sounds great, even when she's singing about smoking pole. Longtime Rilo Kiley fans are split. "Silver Lining" and "The Angels Hung Around" are my favorite tracks, while "Dejalo" and "Smoke Detector" are the worst. At the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium on 10/15.
Other Noteworthy New Releases:
Lindsay Anderson: If (Minty Fresh)
Architecture in Helsinki: Places Like This (Polyvinyl) – If Sea Level were still around, Todd would probably be pushing this record on you. At the Troubadour from 11/5-11/7.
Download "Heart it Races"
Caribou: Andorra (Merge) – I liked the last two albums. At the Troubadour on 10/26. I need to pick this one up.
David Dondero: Simple Love (Team Love) - He's going on tour with AgainstMe.
Download "When the Heart Breaks Deep"
Jeremy Enigk: The Missing Link (567 Records) - Emo pioneer as lead singer of Sunny Day Real Estate.
Ryan Ferguson: Only Trying to Help (Better Looking Records) - From San Diego, fomerly in No Knife.
Download "Remission"
Download "Kill My Confidence"
The Flaming Lips: UFOs at the Zoo Audio DVD (WEA/Reprise)
[LOCAL] Foreign Born: On the Wing Now (Dim Mak) – See them at the Echo tonight (8/21) or the Echoplex on Sunday. Pitchfork gave them a good review today, throwing around "anthem" and "U2" in the review.
Download "In the Shape"
Download "Union Hall"
Galactic: From the Corner to the Block (Anti) - At the House of Blues on 10/12
Imperial Teen: The Hair, The TV, The Baby & the Band (Merge) – At Spaceland on 9/28
Kinksi: Down Below It’s Chaos (Sub Pop) – At the Echo on 9/12
Download "Punching Goodbye Out Front"
Talib Kweli: Ear Drum (Warner Bros.)
The Mekons: Natural (Quarter Stick)
Download "Dickie, Chalkie and Nobby"
The Mendoza Line: 30 Year Low (Glurp)
Minus the Bear: Planet of Ice (Suicide Squeeze) – At the Avalon on 11/3.
Download "Throwin' Shapes"
Download "Dr L'Ling"
Numbers: Now You Are This (Kill Rock Stars) – At the Smell on 10/12.
Download "Mind Hole"
Over the Rhine: The Trumpet Child (Great Speckled Dog) – At the Knitting Factory on 9/21
Josh Ritter: The Historical Conquests of Josh Ritter (Sony) - At El Rey on 10/25.
[LOCAL] The Section Quartet: Fuzzbox (Decca) – Doing their string thing on songs by the Strokes, the Postal Service, Muse, Radiohead and others. At the Troubdour on 8/27.
Mike Seeger: Tipple, Loom & Rail – Songs of the Industrialization of the South (Smithsonian Folkways)
Stereo Total: Paris-Berlin (Kill Rock Stars) - Fun, party music. At El Rey on 9/7.
Sun Ra: The Night of the Purple Moon (Atavistic) - Reissue.
Luke Temple: Snowbeast (Millpond) - He's got a unique voice that Sufjan Stevens and Ben Gibbard (Death Cab) love. I'm still on the fence. You should go stream some songs on his Myspace page.
Travis Morrison Hellfighters: All Y’all (Barsuk) - Former singer in the Dismemberment Plan.
Download "As We Proceed"
Various Artists: This Is Next (Vice) - Vice puts out an indie rock compilation for beginners.
Various Artists: Total 8 (Kompakt)
Top Five New Releases:
[LOCAL] Earlimart: Mentor Tormentor (Majordomo) – Earlimart's back with their best album yet. The new album is a lush continuation of 2004's Treble & Tremble, so expect more comparisons to Grandaddy and Elliott Smith. After shopping the album to multiple labels, Espinoza settled on releasing it himself through Shout Factory. See them at the Echoplex tonight, 8/21 or the Troubadour on 10/24. Aaron was on Morning Becomes Eclectic this morning (you should be able to downlod the pocast soon). He'll be on Sinking with Sylvia on Little Radio on September 6th. Recommended.
Download "Everybody Knows Everybody" (via Pitchfork)
Download "Nevermind the Phonecalls" (via Pitchfork)
Download "Don't Think About Me" (via Pitchfork)
M.I.A.: Kala (Interscope) - I'm not really an M.I.A. guy, but critics and indie kids both love her. Switch produced most of the new record. Vibe panned it, but it's got an 87/100 on Metacritic. I'm sure I'll end up picking it up.
The New Pornographers: Challengers (Matador) – This one's even more "introspective" than the last (and I wished the last was more like Electric Version). Pitchfork gave it a mediocre review, which I'm inclined to agree with at this point. At the Fonda on 9/19 and 9/20.
[LOCAL] Patrick Park: Everyone’s In Everyone (Curb Appeal) - Like Earlimart, the local singer-songwriter is on a new label. I haven't heard much of it, but my impression is that it's thankfully more stripped down than Loneliness Knows My Name. I plan on picking this one up.
[LOCAL] Rilo Kiley: Under the Blacklight (Warner Bros.) - Their major label debut is definitely a departure from their old sound. (I recommend you stream the full album on their Myspace page before purchasing). Jason Lader (Gwen Stefani, Maroon 5) and Mike Elizondo (Dr. Dre) produced the bulk of it. Lyrically, there's a whore/stripper motif throughout. Many of the songs have a weak disco beat, which is on par with what you hear in bad porn films. Jenny Lewis' voice sounds great, even when she's singing about smoking pole. Longtime Rilo Kiley fans are split. "Silver Lining" and "The Angels Hung Around" are my favorite tracks, while "Dejalo" and "Smoke Detector" are the worst. At the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium on 10/15.
Other Noteworthy New Releases:
Lindsay Anderson: If (Minty Fresh)
Architecture in Helsinki: Places Like This (Polyvinyl) – If Sea Level were still around, Todd would probably be pushing this record on you. At the Troubadour from 11/5-11/7.
Download "Heart it Races"
Caribou: Andorra (Merge) – I liked the last two albums. At the Troubadour on 10/26. I need to pick this one up.
David Dondero: Simple Love (Team Love) - He's going on tour with AgainstMe.
Download "When the Heart Breaks Deep"
Jeremy Enigk: The Missing Link (567 Records) - Emo pioneer as lead singer of Sunny Day Real Estate.
Ryan Ferguson: Only Trying to Help (Better Looking Records) - From San Diego, fomerly in No Knife.
Download "Remission"
Download "Kill My Confidence"
The Flaming Lips: UFOs at the Zoo Audio DVD (WEA/Reprise)
[LOCAL] Foreign Born: On the Wing Now (Dim Mak) – See them at the Echo tonight (8/21) or the Echoplex on Sunday. Pitchfork gave them a good review today, throwing around "anthem" and "U2" in the review.
Download "In the Shape"
Download "Union Hall"
Galactic: From the Corner to the Block (Anti) - At the House of Blues on 10/12
Imperial Teen: The Hair, The TV, The Baby & the Band (Merge) – At Spaceland on 9/28
Kinksi: Down Below It’s Chaos (Sub Pop) – At the Echo on 9/12
Download "Punching Goodbye Out Front"
Talib Kweli: Ear Drum (Warner Bros.)
The Mekons: Natural (Quarter Stick)
Download "Dickie, Chalkie and Nobby"
The Mendoza Line: 30 Year Low (Glurp)
Minus the Bear: Planet of Ice (Suicide Squeeze) – At the Avalon on 11/3.
Download "Throwin' Shapes"
Download "Dr L'Ling"
Numbers: Now You Are This (Kill Rock Stars) – At the Smell on 10/12.
Download "Mind Hole"
Over the Rhine: The Trumpet Child (Great Speckled Dog) – At the Knitting Factory on 9/21
Josh Ritter: The Historical Conquests of Josh Ritter (Sony) - At El Rey on 10/25.
[LOCAL] The Section Quartet: Fuzzbox (Decca) – Doing their string thing on songs by the Strokes, the Postal Service, Muse, Radiohead and others. At the Troubdour on 8/27.
Mike Seeger: Tipple, Loom & Rail – Songs of the Industrialization of the South (Smithsonian Folkways)
Stereo Total: Paris-Berlin (Kill Rock Stars) - Fun, party music. At El Rey on 9/7.
Sun Ra: The Night of the Purple Moon (Atavistic) - Reissue.
Luke Temple: Snowbeast (Millpond) - He's got a unique voice that Sufjan Stevens and Ben Gibbard (Death Cab) love. I'm still on the fence. You should go stream some songs on his Myspace page.
Travis Morrison Hellfighters: All Y’all (Barsuk) - Former singer in the Dismemberment Plan.
Download "As We Proceed"
Various Artists: This Is Next (Vice) - Vice puts out an indie rock compilation for beginners.
Various Artists: Total 8 (Kompakt)
SINGLES:
[LOCAL] Nico Vega: Cocaine Cooked the Brain 7" and iTunes (Iamsound) - Co-written by Squeak E. Clean who produced the last Yeah Yeah Yeahs. Nico Vega's heading out with the Shout Out Louds soon.
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