New Tunes Reviews, September 24: The Horrible Crowes, Deer Tick, CHVRCHES, and Tim Kasher

The Horrible Crowes (Brian Fallon of Gaslight Anthem and Ian Perkins) released Live at the Troubadour this week. The album has songs from 2011's excellent Elsie and full covers and singular verses. There is some light banter about the band's formation, tramps, relationships, and being fancy sprinkled throughout the recording.

Fallon received some flack recently after his Tumblr post entitled "Tonight You Have Broken My Heart." In the post, he addressed the direction of Gaslight Anthem and the "play all the hits"/"BRUUUUCE" attitude of many fans after some specific incidents in July 2013. After reading the blog post (and the oddly awkward out-of-context pull-quotes used in some cases), my respect for Fallon grew. Yes, nothing can live up to The 59 Sound.  But, artists need to grow. They cannot be expected to play every song you want to hear and every cover they performed once.  Each release by any of his main-projects or side-projects is testimony to his growth and "don't take people's crap" attitude.  

And the cover of "Teenage Dream" is ridiculously fun.

(Ed. Note: This blurb was written without a single reference to Bruce Springsteen and for that, I am proud.) 

Deer Tick's quiet moments are often the most enjoyable, as seen in the song "Big House" from their latest release Negativity. The songs are all over the place.  They go from raucous and drunk to easy-going and romantic.  Another great release from this band that puts on one of the most fun (and destructive) live songs I've seen to date.

CHVRCHES released their anticipated debut album called The Bones of What You Believe. Another one of those electronic-pop"buzz-bands," this release is just as expected. The songs are catchy and darkly danceable. For fans of that type of music, this will likely be a BNM (best new music).   

Tim Kasher (of Cursive and Good Life) released a 2-song EP called Truly Freaking Out. It has the usual themes of drunkenness, anxiety, and aging. It never gets old (even when we do). 

Follow my Best Songs of 2013 playlist on Spotify. Updated weekly, this playlist features some of the best tracks from new releases.  Check out the playlist below! 

 

Happy Fall! Here is a playlist!

Hello faithful readers, I am currently on vacation but below is a playlist for the start of fall. Its only a few songs right now. I will be adding to it over the course of this most favorite season. 

Enjoy!

New Tunes Reviews, September 10: The Pixies, Arctic Monkeys, Arcade Fire, and more

If you were not lucky enough to secure a copy of Pixies EP1 last Tuesday when ordering was announced, you can listen to it now on Spotify. These 4 songs are the first in a series of EPs to be released in the next 15 months (via article in NYTimes).  "Andro Queen" sounds like a dreamy Flaming Lips-inspired song, while the other three tracks follow the typical Pixies' quiet-loud-quiet formula. "Another Toe in the Ocean" does seem like a refined version of that equation. "Indie Cindy" and "What Goes Boom" are a great throwbacks, complete with Black Francis's talk-singing. 

For fans of Sonic Youth and noise-rock, Body/Head's Coming Apart came out this week. The new project of Kim Gordon and Bill Nace is definitely for those like guitar noise albums.

UK garage-rock band Arctic Monkeys released a new album called AM this week.   With more harmonies and a crisper sound, this album does have some good songs. "Why'd You Only Call Me When You're High" seems like the next logical step after 2007's "I Bet You Look Good On the Dancefloor." But again, it sounds mature and toned down.  The club/barroom sentiment is still there.  As Franz Ferdinand's latest album went more 80s-new-wave, this album continues with a more refined garage sound.  If you are a fan of bands like The Strokes, this album may be up your alley. 

Baltimore-based indie rock band Arboretum released Coming Out of the Fog. I saw them open for Band of Horses at Carnegie Hall in 2009 and was very impressed. Their new album feels very much like roots rock. It is worth a listen if you enjoy that genre and are looking for modern bands that do retro things.   

Another album for those who are in the mood for a more retro release, listen to Trombone Shorty's Say That To Say This.  Brass instruments are front and center on this great new album from New Orleans-based musician Troy Andrews and his band, Orleans Avenue.

Arcade Fire posted a song called "Reflektor," from their forthcoming album. Based on this song it seems like the album, produced by James Murphy, will be more electronica-dancey than previous releases. Thoughts?  I like it especially the mix of French and English lyrics.WNYC posted a round-up of bloggers' "knee-jerk" thoughts of the song, as well as links to the interactive and music video. 

New Tunes Reviews, September 3: Neko Case, Okkervil River, Glasvegas, Nine Inch Nails

Neko Case's The Worse Things Get, The Harder I Fight, The Harder I Fight, The More I Love You is another departure from her alt-country roots records. It is more of a rock album but there are quiet moments. The intro to "Calling Cards" is a soft-track reminiscent of Gaslight Anthem's acoustic gem "Blue Jeans and White T-Shirts." "Bracing for Sunday" is an example of Case's story-telling.  "Man," is a hard/fast song representative of Case's energetic and fierce songwriting and vocal style. "Madonna of the WASPs" features guest vocals from M. Ward. "Nearly Midnight, Honolulu" was the weakest track. Overall, great album, Neko! 

Is there a more Scottish band than Glasvegas? Their new album Later...When the TV Turns to Static is nothing short of a deep bunch of moody, rainy-day, emotional, bitter lyrics with dark, wintery, moody melodies. C'mon, the album includes a song called "I'd Rather Be Dead (Than Be With You)."  Depressing as always but intricately melodic, if you are in the mood for that type of sound, check this album out.  Or their excellent self-titled album from 2008.  

Okkervil River's The Silver Gymnasium is another one of their concept albums.  This time the album centers on characters living in Meriden, New Hampshire in the mid-1980s (according to this NPR post from All Songs Considered)). The album is conceptual but real. It doesn't have any interludes like The Stand-Ins. "Pink Slips" and "Down Down the Deep River" are very good.  It is a more straight-forward pop-record.

Nine Inch Nails released their first album in almost over 4 years. Entitled Hesitation Marks, it is a great example of how to do industrial, goth dance pop successfully.  I was enchanted from the moment "Copy of a" began and never bored as the record moved along. 

As I mentioned last week, I also recommend Julie Ruin's Run Fast, which was released yesterday.  

Happy Friday! Listen to demo version of "Serpents" by Sharon Van Etten

Spotify posted the deluxe edition of Sharon Van Etten's excellent album Tramp from last year. The album has both remastered original versions and demo versions of all 12 songs (with one bonus demo).  Demos are demos for a reason, but "Serpents" was always my favorite track from the original album and the demo is heartbreaking and raw.  Check it out below. 

 

New Tunes Reviews, August 27: Belle & Sebastian, The Dodos, Dent May, & Franz Ferdinand

Belle & Sebastian, The Third Eye Centre, presents whimsy, front and center. This album of B-Sides and rarities from Dear Catastrophe Waitress to Write About Love does contain a few memorable tracks, like "Suicide Girl." Other songs are b-sides for a reason.  There are even some electronic remixes, which is not something I expect from B&S. "Your Secret" calls out being "introspective to a fault." I suspect every B&S fan experienced that once or twice in their life.  Lyrics like that are what is most enjoyable about this band.

The Dodos released their latest album, Carrier, the follow-up to No Color, an excellent album from 2011. The album starts off slow. Vocally and musically, the opening track "Transformer" reminded me of a Minus the Bear song. This track flows right into "Substance." That track features their signature drum beats once the chorus hits. Overall, I find this band very interesting and this album is definitely an enjoyable release.  

Dent May's Warm Blanket was released this week. The opening track "Turn Up the Speakers" orders you to pay attention and I kindly obliged. The musicality is complicated but the lyrics are very accessible.  Like in "Born too Late," Dent May sings "Am I lonely just because?/ Now I'm learning that I was."  I think the days of weirdly absurd lyrics are over.  This is practical but never boring.  Every title conveys the song's subject matter clearly and succinctly. 

Overall, its like a mix of surf-folk, New-Wave, and dance-pop. But the execution is more modern. But I'd recommend this one. It definitely stirred my interest in Dent May's other releases. 

Remember Franz Ferdinand and that song "Take Me Out" was everywhere 10 years ago (holy crap!).  Well, they released a new album this week entitled Right Thoughts, Right Words, Right Actions.  The special edition (the only one available on Spotify) clocks in at 23 tracks, 13 of which are live recordings.  This threw me off immediately. Why release an album 10 years after your last successful album with 13 live tracks to songs that no one knows (yet)? 

Anyway, this album is pretty catchy.  It was in the background and definitely caught my ear.  It is the kind of thing where you start subconsciously foot-tapping along. "Evil Eye" is basically INXS's "Need You Tonight."  Based on a limited knowledge of this band (beyond the 2003 single), I found this to be a solid nod to 80s new-wave. The album as a whole does not necessarily introduce anything new but it was enjoyable.  

Also, NPR spotlights new albums from The Julie Ruin, Okkervil River, and Neko Case this week on First Listen.  I listened to all three and The Julie Ruin's Run Fast stuck out.  A band fronted by Kathleen Hanna of Le Tigre and Bikini Kill, this is a 90s riot grrrrl album for the 2000s. 

New Tunes Reviews, August 20: Laura Veirs, Crocodiles, Kurt Braunohler, Superchunk, and more

Laura Veirs released an album called Warp & Weft this week.  As a fellow glasses-wearing-girl, I always appreciate her smart lyrics and old-worldy style.  There is something very retro about the way she sings and constructs songs.  This is another strong album from her. It has a lot of heart and takes her normal sound a step further with more complicated instruments.  It is a great follow-up to 2011's Tumble Bee, an album full of originals and a bunch of folk song covers many of us (or just me) grew up with.  

Crocodiles are a San Diego-based band, often mentioned in the same breath as Dum Dum Girls and Wavves.  On their latest album, Crimes and Passions, the melodies are catchy and there are elements of both rocking distortion and breezy harmonies.  I especially enjoyed the two opening tracks, "Marquis De Sade" and "I Like It In the Dark," as well. The last track, "Un Chant D'amour," is definitely a stand-out.  It takes the listener out of the noise-pop aesthetic into a new tone of quiet guitars and muted vocals.  It is one of the strongest outro sounds I've heard in recent memory. 

On the comedy front, Kurt Braunohler called How Do I Land? Having seen Braunohler perform two New Years in a row (and being a fan of Bunk), I was looking forward to this release.  Spotify only previewed 6 tracks. Out of that small sample (& my previous experience with his stand-up), I believe he is a comedian to watch. I recommend "Three Fun Things" and "Chat Pack." 

The new Braids album, Flourish // Perish, is no doubt a buzzy release, but the psychedelic electro-indie scene is over-saturated with similar releases that I think I'll just stick to last year's Grimes' release. 

No Age is an experimental-punk band on Sub Pop. Their new release, An Object, is gritty. It reminds me of earlier releases by Japandriods, but a little less accessible.  The grit-punk genre never appealed to me much, but its an album worth a listen if you are into that. 

I Hate Music, the new album from Superchunk, is very good.  It is an impressive release from this consistently great band and features some of the catchiest songs of the year. "Overflows" and "What Can We Do" are reminiscent of Portastaic songs.  Other songs "Me and You and Jackie Mittoo," "Trees of Barcelona," "Your Theme," and "FOH" are upbeat songs. Overall, I highly recommend it. It will be stuck in your head for days.

(Editor's Note: We are planning a post that will highlight bands who started in the same era as Superchunk - like Guided By Voices and Yo La Tengo - and are currently releasing some of noteworthy material).