Now Downloading: New Releases 04.24.07

This week is haunted by what didn't make it into Rhapsody (see below,) but we're still blessed with some sturdy releases from Arctic Monkeys, Dntel and the star-studded Joni Mitchell tribute album.

Playlist: New Releases 04.24.07

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Album: A Tribute to Joni Mitchell

While the album leads off with a bang (Sufjan Stevens doing "Free Man In Paris",) it's not until you lick your way to the chocolate center to get to finally hear a studio recording of Prince doing "Case of You." He's been covering that Joni song now for over 20 years (a version of it appears on the rare One Night Alone.) Here he's traded the guitar strums for plaintive piano and give it his own feel. And if that isn't enough (and by my calculations, it is,) there's also the thrill of Caetano Veloso doing "Dreamland," which demonstrates more succintly then any other of his recordings the influence he (and Tropicalia) have had upon the music of David Byrne. Just trust me and skip the unecessary tracks from Sarah McLachlan and Annie Lennox. As much as I believe the sentiment that they share inspiration from the great Mitchell, their contributions (I think you'll find) do not fit in with the rest of the contributions.

Download: "A Case of You" - Prince (Idolator)
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Album: Dntel - Dumb Luck

Five years in the making, Dntel's Dumb Luck is a reaffirmation of the talent that Jimmy Tamborello sprung on the world with his work in Postal Service. Here he's working with Jenny Lewis, Bright Eyes, Grizzly Bear, Mia Doi Todd and others, taking his unique electronica sound and bending it to the idiom of his collaborator. On paper, it's an interesting experiment, and there are quite a few highlights ("To a Fault," featuring Grizzly Bear's Edward Droste and "Rock My Boat" with Todd, to name two) but on the whole, it's too uneven to appreciate as an album. More like a mixtape project, and relative to that, it's a pretty good mix that shows just how well Tamborello can morph his sound to fit his singer.

Free AOL album stream

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Album: Arctic Monkeys - Favourite Worst Nightmare

I wasn't nearly as enamored as most with the Monkeys' debut release, so it comes as a surprise to me that I'm enjoying thier second release as much as I do. Whereas the debut was an exercise in the exuberence of tireless youth, this one pulls back the drapes a bit to see there's more going on there then relentless attack. "Brianstorm," as a first single, delivers the expectations of the debut, but it's "Flourescent Adolescent" that may be the best song on the album. I'm still not bought into all the hype, but with Worst Nightmare, the price tag is certainly looking a little less ridiculous.

Free AOL album stream

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Notable releases that didn't make it into Rhapsody (plus link to free AOL album stream where applicable:)
Patrick Wolf - The Magic Position
Cornelius - Sensuous
The Veils - Nux Vomica
Robert Pollard - Silverfish Trivia (download "Circle Saw Boys Club")
Bill Callahan - Woke On A Whaleheart

More going (or already in) the Sansa
Sa-Ra Creative Partners - The Hollywood Recordings
Mando Diao - Ode To Ochrasy
Patti Smith - Twelve
Future Clouds and Radar - Future Clouds and Radar
Ave Tare and Kria Brekkan - Pullhair Rubeye
Cowboy Junkies - At the End of Paths Taken
Calvin Johnson and the Sons of Soil - Calvin Johnson and the Sons of Soil
Electric Soft Parade - No Need To Be Downhearted
The Blow - Poor Aim: Love Songs

tags: music, album review, sufjan stevens, prince, joni mitchell, arctic monkeys, dntel, indie rock, album review, new releases, rhapsody