There were considerably less releases to go through this week, but I still put together a good sized list of things to check out. If you like any of the stuff, click the links to support the column. Don't forget to click over to the artists' Myspace pages, and listen to the music provided. I might not be posting a Cool Cuts next week. That SXSW schedule is... panic enducing.
No Line On The Horizon
U2
Here's U2's most recent attempt to stay relevant. I find it alarming that the track "Get On Your Boots" rivals Jessica's Simpson's cover of "These Boots..." as the worst song about sexy footwear. Despite that, be prepared to hear the track at specialty shoe stores across the across the country come Fall 2009. It makes me ache for better days. U2 Myspace
Here are some additional thoughts: I didn't grow up listening to U2. When I was old enough to start really paying attention to music, they had not really produced anything to blow me away. Their music hasn't impressed me much, until a friend brought over Under a Blood Red Sky. Watching that I can totally see why they became one of the best bands for the scale of production at which they performed.
"Moment of Surrender" is a boring half-assed attempt at a gospely sounding spiritual that lacks soul. Hillsong has done "worship" music better than that, and I am definitely familiar, but not a fan of that world of music. "I'll Go Crazy..." sounds like it was awkwardly written by a 14 year old boy, and even more awkwardly sung by one. One thing everyone seems to recognize as the stand out song on the album is "Magnificent". It's because they don't try to be intimate. This is a big sweeping song that plays to a huge arena. That is U2. Grandiose, majestic, and dynamic, not disjointed and trite, which is what, I feel most of the album is.
Planets Are Blasted
Boston Spaceships
I can't believe I missed the actual release date for this last month. Well, better now than never. I am a HUGE Guided By Voices fan, and this is basically the latest reincarnation of GBV. Robert Pollard's music has a way having the atmosphere a punk band being recorded in a 1950's sci-fi universe. Sort of spacey, yet urgent. Lyrically, there also the obligatory references to UFOs, and and song titles with girls' names in them. What more could a GVB fan want? I will try to not make the same mistake and overlook Boston Spaceship's next album coming out only later this year in October, so watch out for that. Boston Spaceship Myspace
Middle Cyclone
Neko Case
I tried to pick this up today at my favorite record store, but it couldn't be found among the other new releases. Neko Case is such a strong vocalist, and has proved to be an equally strong songwriter. "People Got A Lotta Nerve" serves up one of the best single sentence chorus/hooks since Radiohead's "High and Dry" Neko pleading her former lover to understand she's a "man man man eater." Case also paints such strange imagery with centrifuges, killer whales, and gun powder eyes. The second great solo album from a New Pornographer this year (see: A.C. Newman.) Neko Case Myspace
Throw Down Your Heart
Bela Fleck
Master banjo player, Bela Fleck explores the roots of his instrument of choice. This is coupled with a documentary about his journey through Uganda, Tanzania, The Gambia, and Mali while bring the banjo back to its native lands. Throw Down Your Heart Website
Oohs & Aahs
Say Hi
Eric Elbogen who previously was going by the name Say Hi To Your Mom, and now is working under the abbreviated, Say Hi, has released another album to add to Barsuk Record's stellar catalog. Say Hi has put out with is probably my favorite song(I'm not sure if it's technically a single) of the year with "November Was White, December Was Grey." I know I can hardly complain about the weather here in Austin, what with the 80° weather outside, but hearing Elbogen hissing in my ear about "feel(ing) better when the winter's gone" makes me feel shiver for summer's triple digit days. Say Hi Myspace
Oulipo Saliva
Angil & The Hidden Tracks or Angil & Th Hiddn Tracks
Upon doing a quick listen through all of the 30 second previews of this album you might hear a very heavy theme throughout every small clip. Mickael Moffet (Angil) decided to do a concept album using mostly brass and woodwinds as the primary instruments. Now that's all well and fine, but things start to seem to get a little gimmicky with the added restriction of not using "E", as a letter or chord. However, it doesn't ever feel awkward or even noticeable. Another interesting factor in the art-jazz album is the 104 year old junky, untuned piano that Moffet insisted on using as it had been found when they saved it from a closing clothing store.
Cafe Svetlana
Ahilea
I'm not sure if it was Ahilea intention, but when I hear "In Da Balkan Style" I can't help, but break down into fits of giggles. Ahilea Myspace
Prevention
De Rosa
The second release from De Rosa sounds like a cover band of lost Radiohead songs, and I mean that as the highest compliment. Even the titles seem like they were just songs that didn't make the cut for something like THE BENDS or OK COMPUTER. What I'm trying to say is, De Rosa doesn't exactly cover any new ground, nor do they do blow away their predecessors, but is still a good listen none the less.
Baby
Bosque Brown
Denton, TX has been in a harvest time of talent for several years. Mara Lee Miller is a part of the recent crop to come out of the otherwise sleepy Northeast Texas town. Miller is hard to pin down for comparative purposes. Maybe it's because I've just been listening to this recently, but an unseasoned, unpolished Neko Case. Thinking about it even more another name that comes to mind is a fairly unknown I covered a few weeks back, Niela Miller(Unlike I had reported before, this release wasn't only a vinyl release, but the MP3 download is also available from the Numero Group site, just to clear that up.) A little more alt. country than folk, but with a Mazzy Star richness. Bosque Brown Myspace
Adult Night
Wild Light
It's not hard to believe Wild Light has a founding member of the original Arcade Fire line up. The driving pop anthem, California On My Mind, is a great testament to that. Having opened for indie darling such as LCD Soundsystem and Tapes 'n' Tapes, it sure is good to have friends in relatively high places (as high as you can get in the indie rock world.) It also doesn't hurt to have catchy hooks and a sense of humor about your distant indie SoCal brethren. Wild Light Myspace
That's this week's new releases. On a couple different music related tangents check out Cadillac Records . It comes out next week, but Harry and I watched it on DVD last week, and I was pretty impressed. Leonard Chess is one of my favorite characters in music business history along with Willie Dixon, and the movie does an alright job of stringing together facts from the Chess Records story. Just remember that it isn't a documentary, and by no means entirely factual.
Also last week, I saw Joan Baez at the Paramount Theatre. I am still reeling from the performance, despite the over exuberant woman AIR MANDOLINING next to me. Probably the funniest Bob Dylan impersonation, next to AICN's dear Johnny Wad's.
My email has been a little wonky the past few posts, so if I haven't replied that might be why. Drop me a line.
Peace Out
