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.  

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.