New Music Tuesday - 10/30/2012

New Full-Length Albums

Andrew Bird - Hands of Glory

Bird released his most recent album, Break It Yourself in March of this year. Hands of Glory is meant to serve as a companion to that release, featuring re-recordings of songs from that album, as well as covers of classic country and bluegrass tunes.
"Three White Horses"

Matthew Friedberger - Matricidal Sons of Bitches

Friedberger is mainly known for his work with sister Eleanor as The Fiery Furnaces. It's been some time since the most recent release from that project and, in the meantime, Eleanor has released her first solo album, Last Summer, last summer (literally). Matthew has been considerably more prolific as a solo artist, having released twelve albums (including this one), with ten in just the past two years!
"Expectant Fathers - In for a Surprise VII. As If in the Car with the Kids"

RNDM - Acts

This new rock collaboration features Akron's Joseph Arthur, bassist for Pearl Jam Jeff Ament and Richard Stuverud. The three met 13 years ago when Arthur opened for a project featuring Ament and Stuverud. It took all this time, though, for that friendship to yield a musical result.
"Modern Times"

Other Releases

Cee-Lo Green - Magic Moment

Cee-Lo gets into the holiday spirit, featuring Christina Aguilera, Rod Stewart and The Muppets.
"This Christmas"

Holy Ghost - "It Gets Dark" single

New single from the LCD Soundsystem torch-bearers, released on James Murphy's label, DFA Records.
"It Gets Dark"

Rush Midnight - +1 EP

Debut EP from Twin Shadow off-shoot.
"The Night Was Young Enough"

From Gainsbourg to Lulu

Tribute to the late great Serge Gainsbourg, fronted by his son, Lulu.
Lulu Gainsbourg featuring Scarlett Johansson - "Bonnie and Clyde"

Holidays Rule

Starbucks Christmas compilation featuring The Shins, Sharon van Etten, Rufus Wainwright, Paul McCartney and Andrew Bird (among many many others).
Sharon van Etten and Rufus Wainwright - "Baby It's Cold Outside"

The Man with the Iron Fists soundtrack

Soundtrack from RZA's directorial debut.
Kanye West - "White Dress"

On Repeat - "Shivers"

I saw the Divine Fits live just the other night (stay alert for an upcoming post on that). Before the show, I was introducing a good friend to the band's music and was trying to determine what my favorite song on their album, A Thing Called Divine Fits, was. While I do love all of the tracks on the release, "Shivers" easily stands out. Beautiful and haunting, it's the best use of Britt Daniel's voice (well, besides everything Spoon).



The song is a cover of a song by The Boys Next Door (aka, The Birthday Party), legendary rocker Nick Cave's first band.

The Black Keys & RZA - "The Baddest Man Alive"

While the rumored follow-up to 2009's Blakroc turned out to be little more than a hoax, that doesn't mean that The Black Keys have stopped teaming up with hip-hop artists. Here, they collaborate with The Wu-Tang Clan's RZA for a song to promote his upcoming directorial debut, The Man with the Iron Fists. In true Black Keys style, there is an awesome video to go with it.



I'm pretty excited for both the movie, to be released November 2; and the soundtrack, also featuring Kanye West, Idle Warship and Corinne Bailey Rae, released this coming Tuesday!

New Music Tuesday - October 23, 2012

Bat for Lashes - The Haunted Man

This third album from Natasha Khan was inspired, partially, by Khan learning more about her Pakistani heritage and family. Whatever her inspiration, Khan has always made great music and I expect no different here. I am wondering, though, if her family heritage involved a lot of dancing. Both videos released in support of the album have featured her getting her groove on.
Watch: "All Your Gold"

Paul Banks - Banks

This is the second full-length album from Interpol's front man, though the first under his own name. His first full-length, as well as an EP released earlier this year, were released under the name Julian Plenti, which he seems to have retired. It's been more than two years since the last album Interpol, but Banks seems intent on making sure fans aren't left hanging!
Listen: "The Base"

of Montreal - Daughters of Cloud

This is not an album of newly-written and -recorded songs (of Montreal released one of those earlier this year), but a compilation of b-sides and rarities from the band. The album comprises both unreleased recordings as well as songs that originally appeared on now-out-of-print releases.
Watch: "Sails, Hermaphroditic"

Sinkane - Mars

Ahmad Gallab is a multi-instrumentalist who has played with the band just above, as well as Yeasayer and Caribou (whose leader released an album himself just last week). While he's broken away from these well-respected bands, he's had a pretty stand out year himself. His singles have been garnering decent praise all year, he signed to James Murphy's DFA Records and has been getting great positive reviews so far for this album.
Listen: "Jeeper Creeper"

Titus Andronicus - Local Business

We have suffered many years with "punk" acts whose only sing about teenage "angst." Titus Andronicus seem to be in a wave of bands bringing meaning back to punk music. Their second album, The Monitor, was heavily inspired by the American Civil War. While I'm not sure if this release has one specific inspiration, the style seems to be no less epic and gloomy than their last.
Listen: "Still Life with Hot Deuce on Silver Platter"

Two Door Cinema Club - "Sun"

In the second video from their most recent album, Beacon, Two Door Cinema sing outside some beach-side cabanas while crowds appear and disappear around them. A quartet of dancers present some simple, but beautifully enigmatic moves to the music. Great use of (what I assume is) green screen!



Beacon was released on September 4 of this year!

New Music Tuesday - 10/16/2012

Benjamin Gibbard - Former Lives

About a year after releasing his most recent album with Death Cab for Cutie, Codes and Keys, frontman Ben Gibbard is putting out his first proper solo release. At first listen, Gibbard's distinct voice almost makes this feel like another Death Cab album, but he has changed up enough of the sound for this to stand out on its own.
"Teardrop Windows"

Daphni - JIAOLONG

Daphni is a performing name for musician Daniel Victor Snaith, who has also performed under the names Caribou and Manitoba. He released the album Swim under that first name about two years ago. In his first full-length under this new name, Snaith is continuing the electronic sounds that his music has become known for.
"Pairs"

io echo - io echo EP

Now, I had read that this band released their first full length a few weeks ago (which is why I wrote about it). I have, however, been unable to find any evidence of its existence, not even as a forth-coming release. I'll keep looking, but it's looking like this EP will be the first fuller-length release from this band.
"Ministry of Love"

Martha Wainwright - Come Home to Mama

Martha comes from a very musical family, her mother and father were and are accomplished musicians; she also has three musician siblings. Her brother, Rufus, released an excellent album earlier this year. Talent doesn't seem to have skipped any member of this family, so I hope that I enjoy this album as much as I did her sibling's!

"Proserpina"

Tamaryn - Tender New Signs

While I wasn't impressed seeing this band live, opening for The Raveonettes, last year, I do still love their dreamy, fuzzy pop sound. I also loved the frontwoman's single that was released with Dee Dee of the Dum Dum Girls. There was a fair amount of hype for this band going into their debut album. While that hype has died down a bit now, I hope that this album can validate why they got it in the first place!
"I'm Gone"

Times New Viking - Over and Over EP

This band is fairly young, but has been very prolific, with six albums and three EPs (including this one) already to their name since 2005. The have a great lo-fi sound, but I also have to show this Columbus band some Ohio love!
"No Room to Live" (from Dancer Equired!)

Hi Custodian

Video albums have become really popular over the past couple of years. I profiled a few them (from Bon Iver, PJ Harvey and TV on the Radio) and a few months back. Currently, Sigur Rós, is mounting a similar project, though some songs from their recent Valtari release are getting multiple videos.

Dirty Projectors are taking a slightly different approach to the video album. For their Hi Custodian mini-movie, they are not making distinct videos for each song on the Swing Lo Magellan album. Rather, they are incorporating the songs, broken into clips and pieces into a larger storyline. The movie was directed by Dirty Projectors frontman, David Longstreth.

I'm not 100% what the storyline is meant to be exactly. There's a man on his deathbed, hot girls in bikinis, and a group of religious leaders. It's about as weird as your average music video these days, but is still pretty interesting.

The film debuted in NYC on September 6, and was released online the next day.



Although the film itself doesn't play any songs from the album in full, a couple of the songs have gotten their own videos, including parts of the visuals used in the film. Watch them both below!

"Gun Has No Trigger"

"About to Die"

On Repeat: "Tessellate"

I wish I had known about Alt-J (∆) earlier this year, when they officially released their debut album. Though I seen the name floating around the blogosphere, it wasn't until I heard a cover of this song by Mumford & Sons that I really became familiar with them. Instant love; even better, the video for the track is one of the best of the year!

Cloud Nothings - "Fall In"

Inspired by Busby Berkeley, this new video from Cloud Nothings is not at all what I would have expected for the song, or from the band. That, of course, doesn't make it any less awesome; it was about time for grand choreographed numbers to be paired with punk music (Green Day's "punk" "musical" doesn't count).

New Music Tuesday - 10/09/2012

Bad Books - Bad Books II

Like the Divine Fits proved a few weeks ago, Bad Books show that, at least in the world of indie rock, supergroups aren't such a bad thing. This band is made up of solo artist Kevin Devine and Andy Hull of Manchester Orchestra. They started working together after becoming signed to the same label and touring together. This will be the second album from the collaboration.
"Forest Whitaker"

John Cale - Shifty Adventures in Nookie Wood

John Cale became known as a founding member of The Velvet Underground, but quickly moved on to a solo career. He had contributed many of the more experimental, adventurous sounds to the group's work and took that with him as he transitioned into life as a solo artist. Even as he gets older, he maintains that experimental sound.
"Face to the Sky"

Tame Impala - Lonerism

With their first album, Innerspeaker, released just over two years ago, these boys earned many a comparison to '60s and '70s era psychedelic rock. Deservedly so, it was always presented with an air of praise rather than as a point of criticism. They don't shy away from the trippy, in both their artwork and music videos. You'll hear tinges of later-era Beatles and The Doors in their music, but they have definitely developed their own unique sound.
"Elephant"

Wanda Jackson - Unfinished Business

This legend's last album was the Jack White-produced The Party Ain't Over. With this album, she's proving that it certainly isn't; having seen her live, I can attest that she is full of enough energy to take her career forward many more years. Where even relative youngsters like Fiona Apple take copious amounts of time between releases, this woman has packed a busy touring schedule in between two incredible albums!
"Tore Down"

MidPoint Music Festival 2012

Last weekend, Cincinnati sought again to remind me that it's a pretty awesome place to be. The MidPoint Music Festival was back in town. I had such an amazing time at last year's festival, I knew I had to do it again.



Like last year, there were a plethora of amazing musical acts. At times, it was hard to choose between acts, but I was ultimately happy with who I decided to catch. Throughout the weekend, I saw Here We Go Magic, Andrew Bird, Lower Dens, Dirty Projectors, Grizzly Bear, Dinosaur Jr., Frankie Rose, The Antlers, Woods, The Walkmen and Julia Holter. There were many other that I wanted to see, like Cloud Nothings and Tennis, but wasn't able to catch.

As expected, it was an amazing experience and a lot of fun. No doubt that it would be worth attending again.

Marina & The Diamonds - "How to Be a Heartbreaker"

Here's a little bit of eye candy for you ladies out there (and some men). Marina's video for the Electra Heart US-edition album cut "How to Be a Heartbreaker" features scores of men in various states of undress. I'm feeling major jealously towards her for that shower scene!



Marina released her most recent album back in April of this year.

New Music Tuesday - 10/01/2012

Carice van Houten - See You on the Ice

If you watch Game of Thrones, then you already know who this young lady is (full disclosure: I do not yet watch Game of Thrones). She plays Melisandre on the series, I had to look that one up, but is also a budding singer. She recently appeared in the music video for Antony's "Cut the World" and he returned the favor, appearing on the track "Particle of Light."
"Particle of Light"

Flying Lotus - Until the Quiet Comes

Flying Lotus is the moniker of Steve Ellison, who is the great-nephew of John Coltrane and a cousin of Ravi Coltrane. The jazz connections are fitting for the electronic musician. Although he creates his work primarily using computers, his style makes one wonder if this is the type of music many jazz greats would be making if they had a computer rather than a saxophone or trumpet.
"Putty Boy Strut"

Matt & Kim - Lightning

I saw Matt & Kim live at Bonnaroo last year and they appeared every bit as happy and exuberant as their music sounds. They've maintained a fairly consistent sound throughout their careers, this being their fourth album. They haven't lost the happy and it still brings a smile to my face to listen to their songs.
"Let's Go"

The Mountain Goats - Transcendental Youth

In the past, this folk-tinged band has been described as extremely lo-fi, some even going as far as saying their music sounded like it was recorded on a boombox. On this 14th album from the band, they're continuing a shift towards a higher fidelity sound. Regardless of the recording quality, the band has always told great stories with their music and this looks like it will be no different from the past, focusing on outcasts.
"Cry for Judas"

Taken By Trees - Other Worlds

This is the third solo album from Victoria Bergsman, the former Concrete. You may (and I will stress "may") recognize her voice from the Peter Bjorn and John song "Young Folks"...I just got that stuck in your head! On her third outing, Bergsman was inspired by Hawaii. While I'm sure it will be apparent throughout the album, it's already fairly apparent in the artwork and videos that have been released for this album!
"Dreams"

Tori Amos - Gold Dust

Like Patrick Wolf did last week, this release from Tori Amos consists of rerecordings of past songs from her entire career in a new consistent style. In Tori's case, the songs have been been given the orchestra treatment and was recorded with an actual orchestra, specifically the Orchestre Metropole.
"Flavor"

Ultraista - Ultraista

I guess this is the year for solo work from members of Radiohead. Thom Yorke has released a series of singles from his side band Atoms for Peace and just a few weeks ago, Jonny Greenwood put out a soundtrack for the film The Master. Nigel Godrich isn't technically a member of the band, but he has produced every Radiohead album since OK Computer. Here, he's teamed up with Joey Waronker and Laura Bettinson to create some mighty infectious pop sounds.
"Bad Insect"

The Vaccines - The Vaccines Come of Age

The Vaccines seemed to appear out of nowhere, releasing their debut album, What Did You Expect from The Vaccines?, with somewhat little fanfare. Fairly quickly, however, it seemed like they were everywhere. The album was a short and simple one, with a straight-forward post-punk sound. The title of the sophomore release seems to promise a bit of a progression for the band, as they seek to develop their sound.
"No Hope"

Van Morrison - Born to Sing: No Plan B

Everyone should know who this guy is. He penned and sang the iconic "Brown-Eyed Girl" and released some of the best blue-eyed soul of the '60s and '70s. More than 50 years into his career, he's still going strong at 67. He doesn't show any signs of slowing down, and that's just fine by me!
"Open the Door (To Your Heart)"