thus spake drake: Now Downloading: New Releases 09.22.09

The advent of fall brings us some ripe apples in the new release department, and this week sees the much anticipated ~~reunion of The Traveling Wilburys~~ Monsters of Folk, featuring Conor Oberst, Jim James & M. Ward, but we covered that the other day. The other noteworthy releases this week include new ones from Volcano Choir, Islands, Times New Viking, The Twilight Sad, Amy Millan, Pearl Jam, Castanets, Vic Chesnutt, Sea Wolf, Brother Ali, Noisettes, Basement Jaxx, The Pastels, Hallelujah the Hills, Richard Hawley, Le Loup, The Big Pink and the Roller Coaster Project, along with some reissues from Beastie Boys, Elvis Costello and Ween.

Playlist: New Releases 09.22.09

Volcano Choir - Unmap
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Justin Vernon's brief aside from Bon Iver has produced this esoteric collection of atmospheric songs with him backed by the experimental Collections of Colonies of Bees. The album is far less accessible than fans of For Emma, Forever Ago would likely expect, but upon repeated listens, finds itself grooved into the synapse firings of your brain. The enchantment of "Island, Is" especially is hard to escape, with Vernon's vocals dreamily floating along to the closest thing to pop that the album has to offer. (Is it wrong that I find myself eagerly awaiting its inclusion in a future episode of Chuck?) The rest of the album has many fine moments coupled with a few passages that kind of just pass through, easily forgotten. All told, it's a project that deserves a follow-up release, to be sure.

Free AOL Album Stream
"Island, IS" [mp3]

Islands - Vapours
Stream / Purchase [mp3]

For those that found Islands' sophomore release Arm's Way a bit too prog-y, I've got good news for you. Vapours is a return to the kitchen sink-pop that Nick Thorburn joyously captured on their debut, Return to the Sea. Vapours is a bit all over the map, though - including a couple tracks ("Shining" and "The Drums") that slip into Arm's Way-like trappings, but the songs always find their way to sounding like the quirky pop-driven Islands you've come to know and love. Highlights include the title track, the soulful (and auto-tune utilized) "Heartbeat," and the bright pop of "Tender Torture."

Free AOL Album Stream

thus spake drake

Thursday, September 24, 2009

Now Downloading: New Releases 09.22.09

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