Other weeks have had bigger names and bigger quantities to choose from, but I'd have to say this week was the deepest as far as albums that I "need to own right now" (this, coupled with a sick household explains the tardiness of the post). On that list is new ones from
Sunset Rubdown,
Jens Lekman,
Beirut,
The Fiery Furnaces,
Old Time Relijun, and
two from Robert Pollard. Other albums that would digital ink any other week of the year include the latest from
Band of Horses,
Enon,
Scout Nibblet and the debut from
The Blakes. All this and I haven't even heard the new Radiohead yet (gasp!) made available for download on their site Wednesday (10/10).
Playlist:
New Releases 10.09.07
Album:
Sunset Rubdown - Random Spirit Lover 
Maybe it's just because I'm currently reading
33 1/3: David Bowie's Low by Hugo Wilcken, but the
Berlin era Bowie sound with Brian Eno is so strong with nearly everything that front man Spencer Krug is involved with. Many pointed this out (
including myself) with regards to Krug's other band Wolf Parade, but
Sunset Rubdown's Random Spirit Lover (and particularly the song
"Colt Stands Up, Grows Horns,") certainly has to cement this inspiration. (I'm sure Krug shies away from Bowie covers because of this, but I really have this strong desire to hear Sunset Rubdown cover
"Breaking Glass" or
"Be My Wife". ) While their last album felt a little slapshot at times, this one is much more focused in it's experimentation, and is currently my ear's favorite album. Highlights include the character-challenged titles
"Up on your Leopard, Upon the End of your Feral Days" and
"The Taming of the Hands That Came Back to Life"."Wicked/Winged Things" [mp3]
"Up on your Leopard, Upon the End of your Feral Days" [mp3]
Jagjaguwar
Album:
Jens Lekman - Night Falls Over Kortedala
Night Falls Over Kortedala opens with Lekman sounding like
Jonathan Richman singing over an early solo
Scott Walker arrangement, with the song
"And I Remember Every Kiss". Lekman then slides into a disco arrangement with
"Sipping On the Sweet Water," moves into early 70's baroque pop with
"The Opposite of Hallelujah," and then finds himself in an early 60's doo-wop with
"A Postcard to Nina" -- all in the first four songs. The transitions are buttery smooth, however, and Lekman's innocent-but-wise voiced pop still shines through all the arrangements, making this his best album to date, and undoubtedly serves as a fine introduction into his great catalog of work.
Free album stream from AOL"Friday Night At The Drive-In Bingo" [mp3]
"The Opposite of Hallelujah" [mp3]
Secretly Canadian
Album:
Old Time Relijun - Catharsis in Crisis
If
Captain Beefheart and
James Chance had a baby in Olympia, it would be Old Time Relijun. Ok, that's just a lazy comparison, but there's truth to it, you'll hear.
Catharsis in Crisis was written and recorded at Calvin Johnson’s Dub Narcotic Studio, and mixed by the legendary Steve Fisk, and represents the band's most focused release in their dozen years, and should be their step out of the anonymous underground, and into at least the consciousness of the indie rock blogosphere (still underground, natch).
Ecard Album Stream (Fanatic)
"Daemon Meeting" [mp3]
Fanatic
Album:
Beirut - The Flying Club Cup
Where
Gulag Orkestar mined it's Eastern European influences with through the lens of French pop,
The Flying Club Cup bathes the whole affair in Parisian eau de parfum. The gypsy love is still there, but Zach Condon's love for the European romanticism ala
Rufus Wainwright is turned up a notch which is good and bad. All the passion Condon has for each song is on full display, but the album could sure use some diversity. However, it's an album that I find myself going back to, even with it's obvious flaws. Highlight:
"A Sunday Smile" "A Sunday Smile" [mp3]
(Ba Da Bing!)
Buy at Rhapsody
More going (or already in) the Sansa
The Fiery Furnaces - Widow CityRobert Pollard - Coast to Coast Carpet of Love *
Free album stream from Merge Records *
"Rud Fins" [mp3]
Robert Pollard - Standard Gargoyle Decisions *
Free album stream from Merge Records *
"The Killers" [mp3]
Band Of Horses - Cease to Begin *
Free album stream from AOL *
"Is There a Ghost" [mp3]
Enon - Grass Geysers Carbon Clouds *
Free album stream from AOL *
"Mirrors to You" [mp3]
The Blakes - The Blakes *
"Two Times" [mp3]
Scout Nibblet - This Fool Can Die Now *
"Kiss"Robert Wyatt - ComicoperaCelebration - The Modern TribeLoch Lomond - Paper The WallsBangers and Cash - Spank Rock And Benny Blanco Are...Bangers & CashJohnossi - JohnossiDoveman - With My Left Hand I Raise the DeadGraves - Seldom SlumberCass McCombs - Dropping The WritMV & EE - Gettin' GoneHis Name is Alive - Firefly Dragonfly EPPrints - PrintsSleeping People - Sleeping PeopleEd Askew - Little EyesSamara Lubelski - Parallel SunsDeborah Harry - Necessary Evil *
Free album stream from AOLShe Wants Revenge - This Is ForeverThe Silver Seas - High Society *
Free album stream from AOLElectric Six - I Shall Exterminate Everything Around Me That Restricts Me From Being The Mastertags: music, album review, bruce springsteen, we are wolves, the pipettes, indie rock, new releases, rhapsody
Matthew and Eleanor Friedberger's team up with Sebadoh's Jason Loewenstein is the most straightforward release the band has had since EP. While I'm sure the cult following are missing the crazy concepts and prog-rock noodling solos from Matthew, the Furnaces have always been better when they work off a simpler blueprint, like they do here. Songs like the title track, "Charmaine Champagne" and "Even in the Rain," beg to be hummed immediately/hours/days/weeks later ("Charmaine" so much, the song even reprises itself with "Cups & Punches" - "she could sing you the squarest thing on the jukebox"). 
Wye Oak's debut was a pop album at heart but deliciously heavy on the My Bloody Valentine, but you wouldn't know it from their second release. Nearly all MBV references have been scrubbed, and in their place is an Alt country foundation. There's still some sweet feedback and the first two songs are have some of the bands' best moments on record. The album, unfortunately, kind of falls flat after that, and I'm left wishing for some of the sweet 90's sound they pulled out for their debut. 
