Now Downloading: New Releases 10.09.07

Other weeks have had bigger names and bigger quantities to choose from, but I'd have to say this week was the deepest as far as albums that I "need to own right now" (this, coupled with a sick household explains the tardiness of the post). On that list is new ones from Sunset Rubdown, Jens Lekman, Beirut, The Fiery Furnaces, Old Time Relijun, and two from Robert Pollard. Other albums that would digital ink any other week of the year include the latest from Band of Horses, Enon, Scout Nibblet and the debut from The Blakes. All this and I haven't even heard the new Radiohead yet (gasp!) made available for download on their site Wednesday (10/10).

Playlist: New Releases 10.09.07

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Album: Sunset Rubdown - Random Spirit Lover

Maybe it's just because I'm currently reading 33 1/3: David Bowie's Low by Hugo Wilcken, but the Berlin era Bowie sound with Brian Eno is so strong with nearly everything that front man Spencer Krug is involved with. Many pointed this out (including myself) with regards to Krug's other band Wolf Parade, but Sunset Rubdown's Random Spirit Lover (and particularly the song "Colt Stands Up, Grows Horns,") certainly has to cement this inspiration. (I'm sure Krug shies away from Bowie covers because of this, but I really have this strong desire to hear Sunset Rubdown cover "Breaking Glass" or "Be My Wife". ) While their last album felt a little slapshot at times, this one is much more focused in it's experimentation, and is currently my ear's favorite album. Highlights include the character-challenged titles "Up on your Leopard, Upon the End of your Feral Days" and "The Taming of the Hands That Came Back to Life".

"Wicked/Winged Things" [mp3]
"Up on your Leopard, Upon the End of your Feral Days" [mp3]
Jagjaguwar

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Album: Jens Lekman - Night Falls Over Kortedala

Night Falls Over Kortedala opens with Lekman sounding like Jonathan Richman singing over an early solo Scott Walker arrangement, with the song "And I Remember Every Kiss". Lekman then slides into a disco arrangement with "Sipping On the Sweet Water," moves into early 70's baroque pop with "The Opposite of Hallelujah," and then finds himself in an early 60's doo-wop with "A Postcard to Nina" -- all in the first four songs. The transitions are buttery smooth, however, and Lekman's innocent-but-wise voiced pop still shines through all the arrangements, making this his best album to date, and undoubtedly serves as a fine introduction into his great catalog of work.

Free album stream from AOL
"Friday Night At The Drive-In Bingo" [mp3]
"The Opposite of Hallelujah" [mp3]
Secretly Canadian

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Album: Old Time Relijun - Catharsis in Crisis

If Captain Beefheart and James Chance had a baby in Olympia, it would be Old Time Relijun. Ok, that's just a lazy comparison, but there's truth to it, you'll hear. Catharsis in Crisis was written and recorded at Calvin Johnson’s Dub Narcotic Studio, and mixed by the legendary Steve Fisk, and represents the band's most focused release in their dozen years, and should be their step out of the anonymous underground, and into at least the consciousness of the indie rock blogosphere (still underground, natch).

Ecard Album Stream (Fanatic)
"Daemon Meeting" [mp3]
Fanatic

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Album: Beirut - The Flying Club Cup

Where Gulag Orkestar mined it's Eastern European influences with through the lens of French pop, The Flying Club Cup bathes the whole affair in Parisian eau de parfum. The gypsy love is still there, but Zach Condon's love for the European romanticism ala Rufus Wainwright is turned up a notch which is good and bad. All the passion Condon has for each song is on full display, but the album could sure use some diversity. However, it's an album that I find myself going back to, even with it's obvious flaws. Highlight: "A Sunday Smile"

"A Sunday Smile" [mp3]
(Ba Da Bing!)
Buy at Rhapsody

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More going (or already in) the Sansa
The Fiery Furnaces - Widow City
Robert Pollard - Coast to Coast Carpet of Love
*Free album stream from Merge Records
*"Rud Fins" [mp3]
Robert Pollard - Standard Gargoyle Decisions
*Free album stream from Merge Records
*"The Killers" [mp3]
Band Of Horses - Cease to Begin
*Free album stream from AOL
*"Is There a Ghost" [mp3]
Enon - Grass Geysers Carbon Clouds
*Free album stream from AOL
*"Mirrors to You" [mp3]
The Blakes - The Blakes
*"Two Times" [mp3]
Scout Nibblet - This Fool Can Die Now
*"Kiss"
Robert Wyatt - Comicopera
Celebration - The Modern Tribe
Loch Lomond - Paper The Walls
Bangers and Cash - Spank Rock And Benny Blanco Are...Bangers & Cash
Johnossi - Johnossi
Doveman - With My Left Hand I Raise the Dead
Graves - Seldom Slumber
Cass McCombs - Dropping The Writ
MV & EE - Gettin' Gone
His Name is Alive - Firefly Dragonfly EP
Prints - Prints
Sleeping People - Sleeping People
Ed Askew - Little Eyes
Samara Lubelski - Parallel Suns
Deborah Harry - Necessary Evil
*Free album stream from AOL
She Wants Revenge - This Is Forever
The Silver Seas - High Society
*Free album stream from AOL
Electric Six - I Shall Exterminate Everything Around Me That Restricts Me From Being The Master

tags: music, album review, bruce springsteen, we are wolves, the pipettes, indie rock, new releases, rhapsody