Now Downloading: New Releases 03.08.11

In past years, the second Tuesday in March has a big one for releases, coming in advance of SXSW and Spring Breaks, but we're left with merely a tidy stack to choose from. There's still to be pleased with, though, counting another release from the reunited Buffalo Tom, and the latest from Elbow. I've just started listening to the well received latest from Kurt Vile, and am also enamored. Elsewhere there's new releases from Wye Oak, R.E.M., Beth Ditto, Ringo Deathstar and the soundtrack to the Haruki Murakami adapted Norwegian Wood, by Radiohead's Jonny Greenwood.

Playlist: New Releases 03.08.11

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Buffalo Tom - Skins
Stream / Purchase [mp3]

When Buffalo Tom returned in 2007 with Three Easy Pieces after a decade's absence, the amps seemed cranked to make up for time. Now fully settled into the 21st century, their eighth release, Skins, is a more subtle affair, harking back to mood and tempo of their peak from '92-'93 (Let Me Come Over, Big Red Letter Day), mixing up-tempo rockers with heady ballads. Bill Janovitz's voice is like an old sweater that's immediately comfortable, and the older, wiser version still rings true, even as the subject matter is more grown-up. Songs like "Don't Forget Me" and Bassist Chris Colbourn's "Miss Barren Brooks" fit that mold, and even though they're quieter, they pack as much punch as the up-tempo tracks, like "Guilty Girls."

Free AOL Album Stream

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Elbow - Build a Rocket Boys!
Stream / Purchase [mp3]

Like Buffalo Tom above, Elbow by this point has little interest in grabbing the brass ring. Even after winning the Mercury Prize and touring with U2, the Manchester outfit is more interested in crafting their albums for themselves and fans of the band, and if you count yourself in that select company, Build a Rocket Boys! will not disappoint. The album is centered on the gorgeous track "Jesus Is A Rochdale Girl," where saving comes in the form of a girl and a stack of CDs. According to band leader Guy Garvey, that song was written first and everything on the album sprouted from that. Not a bad way to start.

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More on the radar (and in the mp3 player) this week:
Wye Oak - Civilian
Kurt Vile - Smoke Ring For My Halo / "Jesus Fever" [mp3]
R.E.M. - Collapse Into Now
Beth Ditto - EP / Free AOL Album Stream
Jonny Greenwood - Norwegian Wood OST
Ringo Deathstarr - Fading Parade / "Do What You Will" [mp3]
Rival Schools - Pedals / Free AOL Album Stream
Carol Bui - Red Ship / "Geisha Means Open Minded" [mp3]
Parts & Labor - Constant Future / Free AOL Album Stream
The Megaphonic Thrift - Decay Decoy / Free AOL Album Stream / "Candy Sin" [mp3]
Les Breastfeeders - Dans la guele des jours
Glee Cast - Glee: The Music, Volume 5
Daniel Tosh - Happy Thoughts

REISSUE
Neil Diamond - The Bang Years (1966-1968)

tags: music, album review, buffalo tom, elbow, indie rock, new releases

Ear on TV: Week of July 23

This week, to make things simple, just set your digital video recording device to record Letterman every night, as Paul Shaffer and the Late Show Band will be hosting a must-see act every night, bookending the week with two acts I'm particularly excited to see: Grinderman and Buffalo Tom.

First up tonight is the Nick Cave-led Grinderman, which is essentially a stripped-down version of The Bad Seeds. It's driven by the raw sounds of Cave playing electric guitar for the first time in his life, and is a sort of return to the post-punk roots of his early eighties band The Birthday Party. His lyrics and delivery are more off-the-cuff and like his guitar scratches, completely raw, which almost always translates into a great live experience.

Tuesday night, Letterman welcomes critic darlings The National, featuring the lyrical poetry lead singer Matt Berninger, who's baritone delivery is understated magic. Wednesday night, country legend Porter Wagoner stops by and shows how country music should be done, even at 80 years of age. Thursday brings the garage-punk sounds of Yeah Yeah Yeahs, and Karen O's stage presence will surely produce beads of sweat on Paul Shaffer's balding head.

And ending the week in style, the Boston-based trio Buffalo Tom return after nine years with a new album (Three Easy Pieces) and easily join the upper ranks of the indie rock reunion circuit. Funny to think that the last time they played a talk show (in support of 1999's Smitten,) it was closing out the final show of The Jon Stewart Show on MTV (see video.) Bringing it full circle, one of Stewart's guests on that final show was David Letterman.

Finally, I'd be remiss not to mention that PBS is re-airing the infamous Guided By Voices appearance on Austin City Limits, documented on DVD in full earlier this year. That their cohorts in the episode are Modest Mouse only adds to the necessity to tune in (again.)

Picks for the week
Monday, July 23
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Grinderman
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Common
NBC: Late Night With Conan O'Brien: Dr. Dog (REPEAT)
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Dolores O'Riordan (REPEAT)
Tuesday, July 24
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: The National
SYNDICATION: The Ellen Degeneres Show: Lynyrd Skynyrd
Wednesday, July 25
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Editors
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Porter Wagoner
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Stephen Stills
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Ben Kweller (REPEAT)
Thursday, July 26
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: T.I. (REPEAT)
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Yeah Yeah Yeahs
SUNDANCE: Live From Abbey Road: Massive Attack, Dr. John, LeAnn Rimes
Friday, July 27
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Buffalo Tom
CBS: Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson: The Cribs
IFC: The Henry Rollins Show: The Good, the Bad & the Queen
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Silversun Pickups (REPEAT)
Saturday, July 28
NBC: Saturday Night Live: Snow Patrol
PBS: Austin City Limits: Modest Mouse, Guided By Voices

tags: music, television, soundtrack, talk shows, grinderman, buffalo tom, the national, gbv,letterman, indie rock, rhapsody