Now Downloading: New Releases 05.15.07

We've already shot our wad on early looks at much of the cream this week (Wilco's Sky Blue Sky and Rufus Wainwright's Release the Stars made into Rhapsody last week, and the two amazing reissues of Betty Davis the week prior,) but there are plenty of worthy leftovers. These include Guided By Voices' historic romp on PBS (Live From Austin, Tx,) the latest from Swedish folkrockpsych outfit Dungen, the debut release from UK's The Horrors, and a week early look at Voxtrot's self-titled debut.

Playlist: New Releases 05.15.07

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Album: Guided By Voices - Live From Austin, Tx

For those that have seen this as it aired, you may (or may not) have noticed how Robert Pollard quickly went from merely drunk to nearly passed out in the cut from "Do The Earth" to "Pendulum." It makes sense now seeing that there was 11 songs (and countless beers) that were skipped over in the editing. Well now you can witness on CD (or DVD) the whole 30 songs that the band played that night, and the slow and steady inebriation of Robert Pollard. I don't think I've seen anyone remotely that drunk on PBS before. While it's no The Electrifying Conclusion, it's still a worthy document to GBV's final tour.

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Album: Dungen - Tio Bitar

Swedish prog rock multi-instrumentalist Gustav Ejstes (Dungen) is back with another collection of folk-psych-rock workouts, but if it doesn't blow you away like Ta Det Lugnt did, it's not Ejstes fault. That album sounded like it came from nowhere, and now that nowhere is more defined, it's that much harder to be surprised. Estes has been refining and reining in his urges for freeform jams in favor of actual song structures, but his influences are still stitched firmly on sleeve. Can, Hendrix, ELP, Jefferson Airplane, and especially Swedish forbearers Parson Sound, they're all there for the picking. Slip on some quality headphones, tune in, turn on, and fly away.

Free album stream from AOL

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Album: Horrors - Strange House

Velvet Underground gets goth, with production by members of the Bad Seeds and Yeah Yeah Yeahs. On paper it could be either a dream or disaster, and it's honestly a little of both. My first thought is: Do we really need another Cramps? Well, apparently we do. Visually, the band's schtick is a bit tiresome, but if you can get past the gimmmicks run amok, the songs are there, and are delivered with the kind of bravado that can overcome even a truckload of eyeliner. Check out both "Count in Fives" and "Sheena Is a Parasite," but beware - these songs demand volume and it you will frighten your neighbors.

Free album stream from AOL

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Album: Vox Trot - Vox Trot (Exclusive to Rhapsody - one week early)

After releasing three EPs this Texas band finally delivers it's full length debut. Those first EP's has a minimum of production going on, and that juxtoposition with the delicate quality of the songs made the recordings quite endearing. Vox Trot, however, is full and lush, with full orchestration, strings and all, which initially throws off my expectations. The songs are still there, but the production makes them sound like a lot of other bands, and after listening the first time through, I immediately forgot who I was listening to. That never happened with their prior releases, I can tell you that much.

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More going (or already in) the Sansa
YACHT - I Believe You. Your Magic Is Real.
Wilco - Blue Sky Blue (Free album stream from AOL)
Rufus Wainwright - Release the Stars (Free album stream from AOL)
Betty Davis - Betty Davis (Reissue, see review)
Betty Davis - They Say I'm Different (Reissue, see review)
Shrek The Third :Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
Girl in a Coma - Both Before I'm Gone (Free album stream from AOL)
The High Strung - Get The Guests
Gretchen Wilson - One of the Boys
My Teenage Stride - Ears Like Golden Bats
Up The Empire - Light Rides the Super Major

tags: music, album review, wilco, gbv, guided by voices, voxtrot, dungen, the horrors, indie rock, new releases, rhapsody