Sorry to disappoint everyone. I know you thought because I didn't write last week that I might be gone for good, but I'm back. Here are last week's and this week's Cool Cuts merged together. Click the Amazon links to support the column, and also check out the bands' Myspace page. Some of them even post their whole albums on there in hopes that you'll buy the cd and come toshows. Speaking of shows, the SXSW band list and schedule are up now, and I've been slowly and methodically going through and creating my itinerary for that glorious weekend. Hopefully, I will have that up before the SXSW film portion begins, so that you may properly stalk me. Anyway, here you go!
Years of Refusal
Morrissey
If you're already a fan of Morrissey, you'll like this album. There isn't anything particularly groundbreaking about YEARS OF REFUSAL. If anything, it lacks a certain urgency. However, the same basic formula is in place, and Morrissey's voice is as smooth and swoon-worthy as ever.
Dark Was The Night
Various Artists
A charity album produced by members of the National, Aaron and Bryce Dessnor, with 31 tracks by some heavy hitters such as Sufjan Steves, Cat Power, My Morning Jacket, The New Pornographers, and Ben Gibbard to name a few. All tracks are exclusive to this album. All proceeds benefit Red Hot, an organization that helps promote HIV and AIDS awareness through pop culture. Morrissey Myspace
Hold Time
M. Ward
Ward's first solo album in a good two years or so. Perhaps you recognize the name from She & Him, a side project with Zooey Deschanel (who also pops up in a couple songs for HOLD TIME.) I love how the Buddy Holly cover, "Rave On", sounds like you're playing a record on the wrong speed, but not in the sense of it being a carbon copy, but just slowed down version of the song. Great fusion of lo-fi, but never quite fuzzy folk vocals with throw backs to classic rock and roll alumni like Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash, and Buddy Holly. M. Ward Myspace
March of the Zapotec/Holland
Beirut
Zach Condor has the uncanny ability to take the music he loves from traditional backgrounds, and mold it into something fresh, and unheard. Although, he's usually cited for his interests in French culture and film, for the first part of this album (let's just go ahead and call this a double EP release) he explores a different variety of traditional music. Condor went down to Oaxaca, Mexico, found a nineteen piece band, and recorded six songs with them. He also filmed all this to be released in a series of short films. Holland, the second half, or the second EP is technically a release of an earlier solo project of his called Realpeople. As a teenager, Condor focused most of his energies into electronic music. Honestly, the sound of the Mexican funeral oompa is far more interesting than the played out 80's synth pop that makes up HOLLAND. Beirut Myspace
Spirit of Apollo
N.A.S.A.
This isn't really my kinda thing. There are a lot of interesting names involved (George Carlin!), but a majority are of the guest artists are hidden underneath or between vocals of other guest artists. But can Tom Waits, David Byrne, and Ghostface Killah all be wrong to support this act? Eh, probably. N.A.S.A. Myspace
The Century of Self
And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead
After receiving some backlash from the previous two albums, Trail of Dead are back to their SOURCE TAGS & CODES sensibilities. Epic, yet artist, and yes, a little indulgent, but never forgetting their prog aspirations. This album definitely feels organic, and I think it might have a lot to do with the recording process. The two studio produced albums were recorded to click-tracks, and heavily over dubbed. Here, they knew the songs and recorded them all live. Not always an easy feat, especially considering how slick these guys sound. Trail Of Dead Myspace
Come Back to the Five & Dime, Bobby Dee Bobby Dee
Benjy Ferree
A tribute album of sorts to the late child star, Bobby Driscoll who was the voice of Disney's Peter Pan in 1953. Ferree makes references throughout the album to Peter Pan and other Disney movies Driscoll took part in. For some reason I keep thinking of Antony and the Johnsons when I listen to these songs even though they are sonically unsimilar. I think it may be the love and sorrow they each feel for their sources of their work. Ferree doesn't pigeonhole his music with Disney whimsy or the dark subject matter (Driscoll ended up addicted to heroin after getting kicked out the mouse club for hitting puberty. He died alone and homeless because of his addiction). Benjy Ferree Myspace
Mr. Lucky
Chris Isaak
A little bit Johnny Cash, a lot Elvis. He even has a show airing on the Biography Channel that reminiscent of The Johnny Cash show. His music is probably most recognized from his two tracks in Blue Velvet. Here he takes a more things in a more modern direction instead of his usual '50/'60s feel which I'm a little disappointed by. I feel a little dirty for liking the Trish Yearwood duet as much as I do. Yikes. Chris Isaak Myspace
War Child presents Heroes
(Various Artists)
This is one of my favorite concepts for a cover album. Getting the creators of the standards to pick artists from big names in a new generation of music. You have to wonder how many time these legends of music have heard their songs (the same two or three songs probably) drug through the dirt by mediocre bands. It must be refreshing to actually get to chose the band you feel has a lot of promise, and get them to cover a song you love, but is usually looked over. The only track I've hear so far is Hot Chip's cover of Joy Division's "Transmission." They stayed true to the spirit of the song, but made it dance-y with steel drums and glittering synth. War Child Heroes Myspace
Insurgentes
Steven Wilson
If Thom Yorke pixieish voice was super recognizable, I would've sworn this was another solo release of his. Very much the same floaty, dark, and melancholy style Yorke possesses. Steven Wilson Myspace
200 Million Thousand
Black Lips
The Black Lips deliver another great garage rock album. It gets a leans a bit more melodic and psychedelic than they have been in the past, and they even threw in an early '90s sounding rap song with "The Drop I Hold." Untidy and never overproduced, these critics' darling seem to really live up to the hype built up around them. Black Lips Myspace
Hungry Bird
Clem Snide
In 2006, HUNGRY BIRD was recorded, but was left to remain unheard after tension grew in the band as it so often happens. It was announced that frontman, Eef Barzelay would continue to pursue outside projects, and Clem Snide would come to an unceremonious end. Well, now it's 2009, and HUNGRY BIRD has finally been released with the news that the band had come back together to give things another go. When you listen to this album, you can sense how it reflects the time it was written. Broken and heavy without much promise of getting better, but definitely becoming bitter. Clem Snide Myspace
Here We Go Magic
Here We Go Magic
There's a lot of warmth to Here We Go Magic's self titled debut album. Recorded with a cassette 4-track and analog synths, the droning folk pop number definitely benefit from the lo-fi production. "Fangela" opens with a distant guitar playing, and and even farther away hand claps, but then like putting on polarized glasses at a 3D movie after watching the 3D trailers without them, the synths pulls everything into focus. Though the songs tend to linger on a little bit longer than I would like, they are entrancing enough to keep me interested for some more dreamy ambient sounds in the future. Here We Go Magic Myspace
The Mayfly Dance
Stuart & Caan
About four or five years ago I went to a Devendra Banhart show where the outrageous Bunnybrains opened for that hot night at Emo's. I can't really say that was the best pairing of live acts I've ever seen. Stuart & Caan fit the bill so much more neatly, and I think Banhart probably thought so too when he had them play over in the States. They liked it so much, the stayed until their welcome was thoroughly worn out, and they were deported back to their Mother England. Another great psy-folk band with otherworldly falsetto vocals. Stuart & Caan Myspace
I've been listening to a lot of Hipster Runoff radio on SiriusXMU, and the guys bumps are down right infectious. Forgive me if my writing is a little disjointed as a result. Well, I plan to have this thing up on time next week, but if I don't it will probably because I have died of a sinus infection that has been threatening me for the past week. If you have any NEW music coming out soon, feel free to drop me a line , and I'll see if it's something I can throw in here.
Peace Out
