Now Downloading: New Releases 02.16.10

I'm off to Mexico for the next 10 days, so forgive the brevity/sloppiness/unintelligible babble, as I'm firing this off between packing and shut-eye.

It's a deeper week than last, but not as top heavy. I've been loving this new Field Music release, and the Freeway & Jake One joint is a charmer. Elsewhere, there's the latest from Robert Pollard, Local Natives, Mumford & Sons, Adam Green, Tindersticks, Lightspeed Champion, Juliana Hatfield, The Art Museums and a special Preservation Hall Jazz Band benefit release featuring guest vocals from an eclectic collection of voices like Tom Waits, Jim James, Pete Seeger, Jason Isbell, Andrew Bird, Merle Haggard and more.

Playlist: New Releases 02.16.10

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Field Music - Measure
Stream / Purchase [mp3]

Measure, in musical terms, is a segment of time defined as a given number of beats of a given duration. With a band that's as precise as Field Music, it seems appropriate that their title be so... um... precise as well. While the band thrives on precision, they build chaos around that proper BritPop sound, bleeding the edge. Field Music went on hiatus back in 2007, citing a boredom with the rock format of guitar/bass/drums, and set out to release projects on their own that broke away from their perceived constraints. As such, we got interesting releases from School of Language (David Brewis) and The Week That Was (Peter Brewis). Measure is like a hodge-podge collection of these different styles in one release, mixing the experimentation of the Brewis bros. projects, and the more straight ahead / XTC-influenced BritPop of the band prior. It makes for an initially disorienting ride, but I've yet to grow tired of it's twists and turns. "Them That Do Nothing" sounds like it was written and Field Music had to reunite just to perform it (it's that good), while "Let's Write a Book" finds the band at it's simplest (and, in this context, greatest). It's a high-wire act all the way through, and at the end you may find yourself relieved that it's over, but exhilarated all the same.

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Freeway & Jake One- Odd Blood
Stream / Purchase [mp3]

I have to confess I'm not a huge Freeway fan, but when word got out he had Jake One in tow for this latest release, I was definitely on board. There's a reason that an instrumental version of the record had to be released as well, as the Seattle producer captures the essence of 70's soul so well, the rap often sounds like it gets in the way.

Free AOL Album Stream

Best part may just be the packaging:

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More on the radar (and in the mp3 player) this week:
Robert Pollard - We All Got out of the Army
Tindersticks - Falling Down a Mountain
Lightspeed Champion - Life is Sweet! Nice to Meet You
Preservation Hall Jazz Band - Preservation: An Album To Benefit Preservation Hall & The Preservation Hall Music Outreach Program / Free AOL album stream
Mumford & Sons - Sigh No More
Jason Faulkner - I'm OK... You're OK (AOL Album stream)
The Art Museums - Rough Frame EP
Juliana Hatfield - Peace & Love
Adam Green - Minor Love / Free AOL album stream / "What Makes Him Act So Bad", "Castles and Tassels" [mp3]
Blue Brain - Soft Power / Free AOL album stream / "Ten By Ten" [mp3]
Local Natives - Gorilla Manor / "Sun Hands" [mp3]
The Seven Fields of Aphelion - Periphery
Dum Dum Girls - Jail La La
Ben Sollee and Daniel Martin - Dear Companion / Free AOL album stream / "Something, Somewhere, Sometime" [mp3]
Smoking Popes - It's Been a Long Day / Free AOL album stream
Son Lux - Weapons EP / "Weapons V" [mp3]
Scanners - Submarine / Free AOL album stream
Mark Matos & Os Beaches - Words of the Knife
Backyard Tire Fire - Good to Be
My Name is Khan

REISSUES
Fela Kuti - Open & Close/Afrodisiac
Fela Kuti - Roforofo Fight/The Fela Singles
Fela Kuti - Koola Lobitos 64-68/The '69 L.A. Sessions

tags: music, album review, field music, freeway & jake one, indie rock, new releases, rhapsody

Now Downloading: New Releases 02.13.07

The week following the Grammys is typically a weak offering, with labels not wanting their releases to get stuck in the shadow of this typically weak event. Might've been a good time to roll the dice, though, as the Grammys were a non-event it seems. Folks have already moved on today, and what better way then profile some new releases.

This week sees the US release of both Field Music's Tones of Town, and Charlotte Gainsbourg's 5:55 along with new albums from Lucinda Williams, Anais Mitchell, and the first single from Modest Mouse's forthcoming new release.

Playlist: New Releases 02.13.07

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Album: Field Music - Tones of Town

Field Music's association with The Futureheads (drummer Peter Brewis was a founding member) has seemed to hurt them more then help, seemingly stuck in their shadow. With their sophomore release, Tones of Town, they've moved out of that shadow and are feeling the sunny glow of the California sun, ala Brian Wilson's Beach Boys. Think The Futureheads, but by way of XTC bowing to the altar the aforementioned Wilson, and you're getting closer. Might be the most perfect piece of indie pop we'll hear all year. The opener "Give It, Lose It, Take It" is a great example of the album - three-part harmonies woven through an unpredictable pop structure. The lead single "In Context" (see video below) starts off with a Futureheads-y riff and haromonies until the strings come in and sweep you off your feet. Probably a better example of their songwriting prowess is "A House Is Not A Home" which gets it's hooks in you by the time the George Harrison guitar lead brings you into the first verse. The only negative thing I can find about this album is that every song feels like it could be a single, and albums like that tend to fall off a bit after repeated listens... so time will only tell if it remains as one of my top albums of the year.

The video for Field Music's "In Context" is contextual genius:

Free album stream via AOL

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Album: Charlotte Gainsbourg - 5:55

This is essentially Charlotte Gainsbourg's first album, as a previous release was from when she was 13-years old, and was more a novelty release from a famous daughter (her parents are French legend Serge Gainsbourg and English actress/singer Jane Birkin.) While that first release had her father's hand guiding it, this one finds her leaning on some indie rock greats like Air, Jarvis Cocker, Neil Hannon (The Divine Comedy,) and producer Nigel Godrich (Radiohead, Beck, Air and Pavement.) Charlotte finally gets her big US introduction, not only thanks to this album, but also the beautifully weird film The Science of Sleep, which was released on DVD last week and features Gainsbourg's acting chops.

Gainsbourg's "Tel Que Tu Es" was featured on Episode 4.11 of The O.C. earlier this year.

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Single: Modest Mouse - "Dashboard"

A pretty tame offering from this normally beautifully jagged outfit... seems radio-friendly and ready for it's spotlight. Not sure where and how new member Johnny Marr contributes in this song, but it's certainly his best shot at charting in the US since The Smiths disbanded. I refuse to believe this is indicitive of the album as a whole (flipping blinders on now.)

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Other albums going into the Sansa right now:
Anais Mitchell - The Brightness
Lucinda Williams - West
Dr. Who - Original Television Soundtrack
Po' Girl - Home To You
The Soft Lightes - Say No To Being Cool, Say Yes to Being Happy

tags: music, album review, field music, charlotte gainsbourg, modest mouse, indie rock, album review, new releases, rhapsody