It's the last release week in this month of April that's turning out to be the coldest on record here in Seattle. In fitting fashion, two chilly releases headline the weekly drop -- Times New Viking and Cass McCombs. Also, look for new releases from funk legend Bootsy Collins, Steve Earle, Explosions in the Sky, Thao & Mirah, An Horse, Emmylou Harris, Prefuse 73 along with EPs from They Might Be Giants, The Fresh & Onlys and Of Montreal.
Playlist: New Releases 04.26.11
Times New Viking - Dancer Equired
Stream / Purchase [mp3]
For the past six years, Times New Viking has been serving up some of the noisiest pop out there, delivered behind a wall of hiss and distortion thanks to the lowest of lo-fi recording techniques. Not for the faint of ear, their first four albums dragged their pop knuckles down through barbed wire and steel wool. For their first album on Merge Records, the Ohio trio recorded in an actual studio, upping the fidelity tenfold the minute they pressed record. Now you can actually make out chord progressions, the delivery of lyrics and even entertain with harmonies. There's still an endearing sloppiness in the playing and lo-fi still works as a genre even with said studio, so TNV purists shouldn't protest too much. All told Dancer Equired is a fine example in how a band can expand their audience while keeping their existing fans.
Download: "Ever Falling In Love" [mp3]
Cass McCombs - Wit's End
Stream / Purchase [mp3]
Cass McCombs lets us peer into the blackest reaches of his soul, and, if you can make it out the other side, reaffirms that our lives are not so bad. Past the stunning opener, "County Line," McCombs' relentless darkness can begin to wear thin if you're not prepared -- those not wearing black need to make sure you have an anti-depressant nearby and some access to sunshine.
Free AOL Album Stream
More on the radar (and in the mp3 player) this week:
Explosions in the Sky - Take Care, Take Care, Take Care
Steve Earle - I'll Never Get Out of This World Alive
Thao & Mirah - Thao & Mirah / "How Dare You" [mp3]
Bootsy Collins - Tha Funk Capitol of the World / Free AOL Album Stream
They Might Be Giants - Join Us EP / Free AOL Album Stream
The Fresh & Onlys - Secret Walls EP
Of Montreal - Thecontrollersphere
Emmylou Harris - Hard Bargain / Free AOL Album Stream
An Horse - Walls / Free AOL Album Stream
Holly Golightly & the Brokeoffs - No Help Coming
Prefuse 73 - Only She Chapters / Free AOL Album Stream
Todd Rundgren - Todd Rundgren's Johnson
Son Lux - We Are Rising / Free AOL Album Stream
Holy Ghost! - Holy Ghost!
Dennis Coffey - Dennis Coffey / Free AOL Album Stream
The Wombats - The Wombats Proudly Present... This Modern Glitch / Free AOL Album Stream
The Donkeys - Born With Stripes / Free AOL Album Stream / "Don't Know Who We Are" [mp3]
Poly Styrene - Generation Indigo / Free AOL Album Stream / "Thrash City" [mp3]
David Kilgore - Left By Soft / "Diamond Mine" [mp3]
The Airborne Toxic Event - All at Once
COMPILATIONS
The Rolling Stones - The Rolling Stones Singles Box Set (1971-2006)
Tindersticks - Claire Denis Film Scores 1996-2009
REISSUE
MF Doom - Operation: Doomsday (Complete)
T. Rex - Tanx
tags: music, album review, times new viking, cass mccombs, indie rock, new releases
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