Playlist: New Releases 01.12.10
Vampire Weekend - Contra
Stream / Purchase [mp3]
I get the impression that there's kind of two camps for Vampire Weekend fans... those who enjoy the music, and those who secretly enjoy but claim not to like them because either VW misappropriates African music or have something against their Ivy League background. To that I say phooey. If you didn't like Vampire Weekend (or, rather, secretly liked it but show public disdain for the aforementioned reasons), Contra probably won't change your mind, as they're still employing African Soweto style (and have yet to renounce their Columbia University background). But for existing fans, there's the perfect amount of added weirdness that's artful and yet palatable. Take the opener, "Horchaata," which has a wordless and tribal chorus that's akin to something Animal Collective would do. It's the perfect opener, announcing both that they're still VW, yet willing to take some risks. Meanwhile, the final two songs are all about risk... that and The Clash. "Diplomat's Son," I assume, refers to Joe Strummer (who was the son of a diplomat) and it samples M.I.A., making a meta-reference thanks to the Clash-sampled "Paper Airplanes." And the last song, "I Think Ur a Contra," bubbles and floats us to the finish line, sounding nothing at all like anything on their debut. The journey there is worth the ticket.AOL Album Stream
Download: "Horchata" [mp3]
Owen Pallett - Heartland
Stream / Purchase [mp3]
Ok, here's the deal as I understand it. Owen Pallett is giving up the name Final Fantasy after this release -- he wanted a clean break, but his decision came too late and it was cost prohibitive to do it. However, it takes little time to make the change digitally, so if you're downloading, it's Owen Pallett. Physical release = Final Fantasy. MP3 = Owen Pallett. Got it?MySpace Album Stream
More on the radar (and in the mp3 player) this week:
Laura Veirs - July Flame
Freedy Johnston - Rain on the City / Free AOL album stream
Nick Cave and Warren Ellis - The Road - Original Film Score
OK Go - Of the Blue Colour of the Sky / Free AOL album stream
Ringo Starr - Y Not
Jason Boesel - Hustler's Son / Free AOL album stream / "Hand of God" [mp3]
T-Model Ford - The Ladies Man
Polysics - Absolute Polysics
The Gilded Palace Sin - You Break Our Hearts, We'll Tear Yours Out
Ray Wylie Hubbard - A: Enlightenment B: Endarkenment (Hint: There Is No C)
REISSUES
Ween - The Pod
Elvis Costello - Live at Hollywood High
tags: music, album review, vampire weekend, final fantasy, indie rock, new releases, rhapsody
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