2014 New Releases

[alf wiedersehen]

Something I found recently:

Ryley Walker - "Clear the Sky"
https://soundcloud.com/tiny-mix-tapes/ryley-walker-clear-the-sky

It's a really nice song. Very earthy (and baroque) arrangement, intricate fingerstyle guitar playing, unique voice, and dreamy vibe all remind me of the best of Nick Drake and other English folk-ees. I haven't heard the rest of the album yet, but if the rest of it's as good as this song is, I'll be making sure to pick this record up.
If that's your sorta thing, be sure to check it out.

[Lowbacca]

The new Neil Young LP, A Letter Home, is worth a spin. The album concept is pretty self-explanatory (as it is creatively successful, despite the somewhat tired "all covers record" routine many of our dear old rock and roll survivors cling to).

The entire album, which consists of covers of classic songs by Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson and others, was recorded in a refurbished 1947 Voice-o-Graph vinyl recording booth at Jack White's Third Man store in Nashville, Tennessee. A message on Young's website described the album as "an unheard collection of rediscovered songs from the past recorded on ancient electro-mechanical technology captures and unleashes the essence of something that could have been gone forever".

(source)

[the captain]

Michael Jackson's second posthumous release, Xscape, was released yesterday in the U.S. I listened today.

The album was heavily produced--or maybe the better word is assembled--by Timbaland, LA Reid, etc. The tracks are almost entirely newly created around Michael's vocals off of what had been an assortment of demos in various stages. Some may not approve of the idea, but for me it's not a problem at all. Michael's music works pretty well, especially in the current retro-R&B trend we have going on. It's not like taking a '30s blues vocal and putting it in the middle of some modern sound, for example. This works, and may well be how Michael would have approached it anyway, had he been here.

The bigger problem is the material. There is a reason these songs weren't released. I like "Love Never Felt So Good" quite a bit, but otherwise the songs are pretty mediocre. My feeling about the album is that it's well sung, well produced, dynamite sounding in most spots, but just subpar content. Still, the aforementioned single is worth $1.29.

[retrokid67]

Michael Jackson's second posthumous release, Xscape, was released yesterday in the U.S. I listened today.

The album was heavily produced--or maybe the better word is assembled--by Timbaland, LA Reid, etc. The tracks are almost entirely newly created around Michael's vocals off of what had been an assortment of demos in various stages. Some may not approve of the idea, but for me it's not a problem at all. Michael's music works pretty well, especially in the current retro-R&B trend we have going on. It's not like taking a '30s blues vocal and putting it in the middle of some modern sound, for example. This works, and may well be how Michael would have approached it anyway, had he been here.

The bigger problem is the material. There is a reason these songs weren't released. I like "Love Never Felt So Good" quite a bit, but otherwise the songs are pretty mediocre. My feeling about the album is that it's well sung, well produced, dynamite sounding in most spots, but just subpar content. Still, the aforementioned single is worth $1.29.

I remember when I got the Michael album from 2010 and being disappointed too (particularly because they used someone else's voice in a lot of the songs).  As a fan though I got it for my collection as I will do with this new album.  Justin T.  did a great job on Love Never Felt so good, I could listen to both that and the original and be satisfied 

[the captain]

Anybody want a nice earworm for summer?

"Mr. Steak, you're Grade A."

Kishi Bashi, "The Ballad of Mr Steak"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XDiv7VGY4Pw

Kishi Bashi puts out solo music--as I suppose is obvious by this post--and has played with others, including Of Montreal (as violinist, keyboardist, I think a little guitar live, and background singer, especially falsetto). He's absurdly talented. This one is just a great summer tune, so catchy.

[halblaineisgood]

.

[the captain]

Sarcasm? I think one can guess the charts aren't aware of Mr. Steak (sadly). I really do think it's great pop, though.

The new Sharon Van Etten album was released last week. I like some of it, especially this heavy piano-and-voice ballad, "I Know." The piano is so simple, but her voice powers over it in an appealing way.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xeMUPJ5diIs

Not sure about the album as a whole, but this is $1.29 worth spending.

[halblaineisgood]

.

[Ovi]

Just got the new St. Vincent album and look forward to playing it a couple of times. First time I'm listening to a full album of hers. Will come back with opinions.

Forgot to post earlier, but I love this album - really great stuff. How do guys feel it compares with the rest of her discography? I've yet to hear the other albums.

[the captain]

I heard this on the radio today and had to come home and buy it: Dolly Parton covering Dylan's "Don't Think Twice." Talk about an amazing voice, hers certainly has aged well.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LpBfGpr1YNM

[the captain]

Just got the new St. Vincent album and look forward to playing it a couple of times. First time I'm listening to a full album of hers. Will come back with opinions.

Forgot to post earlier, but I love this album - really great stuff. How do guys feel it compares with the rest of her discography? I've yet to hear the other albums.

I think it's a better album than her previous work. She has worked with producer John Congleton (whom I love) to really refine that unusual atmosphere, creepily artificial, sometimes sterile but stabbed with sharp noises. Her singing has improved over time, too, I think.

That said, I'm not as big a fan of her as I once thought I'd be. I really liked "Marry Me" (the song more than the album) and was always excited for what she'd do. With each album I've been less interested despite the indisputable fact that she's extremely talented and the work is very well done. It's just not music I enjoy; rather, it's music that is interesting. It's almost like homework for me rather than an experience I lose myself in. I don't feel joy, or sadness, but usually just detachment.

[halblaineisgood]

.

[halblaineisgood]

.

[the captain]

Conor Oberst (formerly of Bright Eyes, among other things) had a new solo album--his major-label debut, on Nonesuch--released a few weeks back. I've never been much of an Oberst fan, mostly because his quavering voice sounds shakily terrified to me. It's just weak. But this track, "Night at Lake Unknown," off of that new album is self-assured and beautiful, like a late 60s or early 70s Dylan song to my ears.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1ZMbbV_xuw

[the captain]

Today I listened to Jack White's new album, Lazaretto. Never a real White Stripes fan, I did like Blunderbuss and some other things, like "Two Against One." (I may well like the White Stripes if I went back and listened, but at the time they didn't strike me as interesting and I didn't invest much time.)

While not immediately essential to me, the album's first three songs struck me as pretty damn good. My early favorite is the country-influenced duet "Temporary Ground." Prominent violin sounding like Scarlett Rivera's mid-70s contributions to Dylan, a woman (whose name I haven't seen) singing beautifully along with White, it caught my attention after the heavier rockers preceding it.

Temporary Ground
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZaovoKswXOY

As for those rockers, "Three Women" and "Lazaretto," they are the sort of bluesy, sexy, Zeppelin-riffing songs you might associate with White. "Three Women" has a prominent Hammond organ that adds fantastic color, while the title track has a riff that honestly could have been a Page part.

Three Women
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8rxuFh6kV_w

Lazaretto
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qI-95cTMeLM

I bought those three songs; may buy the rest of the album later. Give them a listen; this is quality modern rock music (in case anyone believes rock is dead, as is brought up pretty goshdarn incessantly around here).

[Gabo]

Conor Oberst (formerly of Bright Eyes, among other things) had a new solo album--his major-label debut, on Nonesuch--released a few weeks back. I've never been much of an Oberst fan, mostly because his quavering voice sounds shakily terrified to me. It's just weak. But this track, "Night at Lake Unknown," off of that new album is self-assured and beautiful, like a late 60s or early 70s Dylan song to my ears.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1ZMbbV_xuw

Bright Eyes is so, so terrible. The worst of emo's tendencies disguised as folk and Americana. 99% of his fanbase is likely high school girls... most realize how much he sucks by college.

[Lowbacca]

[...] most realize how much he sucks by college.

I haven't yet, and I'm fresh out of college..

[The Demon]

Conor Oberst (formerly of Bright Eyes, among other things) had a new solo album--his major-label debut, on Nonesuch--released a few weeks back. I've never been much of an Oberst fan, mostly because his quavering voice sounds shakily terrified to me. It's just weak. But this track, "Night at Lake Unknown," off of that new album is self-assured and beautiful, like a late 60s or early 70s Dylan song to my ears.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1ZMbbV_xuw

Bright Eyes is so, so terrible. The worst of emo's tendencies disguised as folk and Americana. 99% of his fanbase is likely high school girls... most realize how much he sucks by college.

10 years ago I was halfway through college and he was very popular with a lot of my peers.

[the captain]

Conor Oberst (formerly of Bright Eyes, among other things) had a new solo album--his major-label debut, on Nonesuch--released a few weeks back. I've never been much of an Oberst fan, mostly because his quavering voice sounds shakily terrified to me. It's just weak. But this track, "Night at Lake Unknown," off of that new album is self-assured and beautiful, like a late 60s or early 70s Dylan song to my ears.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1ZMbbV_xuw

Bright Eyes is so, so terrible. The worst of emo's tendencies disguised as folk and Americana. 99% of his fanbase is likely high school girls... most realize how much he sucks by college.

I'm' not especially concerned about anyone's tendencies, disguises, or fanbases. And I don't like Bright Eyes. But I think this song is beautiful.

[alf wiedersehen]

[...] most realize how much he sucks by college.

I haven't yet, and I'm fresh out of college..

You'll get there. It's one of Piaget's steps.

[Lowbacca]

[...] most realize how much he sucks by college.

I haven't yet, and I'm fresh out of college..

You'll get there. It's one of Piaget's steps.

... a concept based on the assumption of disputable genetic principles. I'll take I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning over epistemological mumbo-jumbo any day of the week.

[Ovi]

Gave the new Lily Allen album 2 listens...nothing really grabbed my attention so far.

[Gabo]

the album to anticipate this year is Panda's new solo album. It is said to have been recorded but a release date (or even final title) still hasn't been announced

[Ovi]

Just got the new St. Vincent album and look forward to playing it a couple of times. First time I'm listening to a full album of hers. Will come back with opinions.

Forgot to post earlier, but I love this album - really great stuff. How do guys feel it compares with the rest of her discography? I've yet to hear the other albums.

I think it's a better album than her previous work. She has worked with producer John Congleton (whom I love) to really refine that unusual atmosphere, creepily artificial, sometimes sterile but stabbed with sharp noises. Her singing has improved over time, too, I think.

That said, I'm not as big a fan of her as I once thought I'd be. I really liked "Marry Me" (the song more than the album) and was always excited for what she'd do. With each album I've been less interested despite the indisputable fact that she's extremely talented and the work is very well done. It's just not music I enjoy; rather, it's music that is interesting. It's almost like homework for me rather than an experience I lose myself in. I don't feel joy, or sadness, but usually just detachment.

To use a Woody Allen quote, you can admire the technique, but it doesn't hit you on a gut level? I can understand that, but I'm not quite with you. I still haven't heard her other stuff, but 'I Prefer Your Love' (to give the most obvious example) can get pretty emotional for me.

[the captain]

Just got the new St. Vincent album and look forward to playing it a couple of times. First time I'm listening to a full album of hers. Will come back with opinions.

Forgot to post earlier, but I love this album - really great stuff. How do guys feel it compares with the rest of her discography? I've yet to hear the other albums.

I think it's a better album than her previous work. She has worked with producer John Congleton (whom I love) to really refine that unusual atmosphere, creepily artificial, sometimes sterile but stabbed with sharp noises. Her singing has improved over time, too, I think.

That said, I'm not as big a fan of her as I once thought I'd be. I really liked "Marry Me" (the song more than the album) and was always excited for what she'd do. With each album I've been less interested despite the indisputable fact that she's extremely talented and the work is very well done. It's just not music I enjoy; rather, it's music that is interesting. It's almost like homework for me rather than an experience I lose myself in. I don't feel joy, or sadness, but usually just detachment.

To use a Woody Allen quote, you can admire the technique, but it doesn't hit you on a gut level? I can understand that, but I'm not quite with you. I still haven't heard her other stuff, but 'I Prefer Your Love' (to give the most obvious example) can get pretty emotional for me.

Fair enough. I'd never try to talk anyone out of liking anything, anyway--what a destructive habit!