thus spake drake: islands

Showing posts with label islands. Show all posts

Thursday, February 16, 2012

Now Downloading: New Releases 02.14.12 - Shearwater, Islands

Jonathan Meiburg of Shearwater, apparently doing research for latest release, Animal Joy. (Photo credit: Shawn Brackbill)

February continues to churn out (almost) great albums (we're a week away from a real grade "A" twofer, though). This week's crop is headlined by new albums from Shearwater and Islands, but there's also some interesting new releases from Field Music, Heartless Bastards, Tennis, The Kills, Earth and Band of Skulls.

Playlist: New Releases 02.14.12 (Spotify)

Shearwater - Tramp
Purchase [mp3] / Stream via Rhapsody / Stream via Spotify

Fresh off the oft exhilarating-and-sometimes-exhausting Island Arc trilogy (2006's Palo Santo, 2008's Rook, and 2010's The Golden Archipelago), Jonathan Meiburg felt it was time for a change. The three records were tied together loosely by theme and tightly by their lush orchestration, which makes Animal Joy's booming drums and a more stark minimalist approach make for quite a contrast in sound -- something more akin to Meiburg's old outfit, Okkervil River. While Meiburg's voice will never make you think you're listening to a different band, hearing the pulsing lead single "Breaking the Yearlings" must have certainly had some fans giving a double-take. The results of the change are mostly mixed, with the more rock-oriented sound often sacrificing Meiburg's gift for songwriting left turns for a more simplistic approach. For instance, I never thought I'd slot a Shearwater song in my workout mix, but "Immaculate" does the trick -- namely having the BPMs and being bland enough so as not to divert focus. I'm guessing a raise in my HDLs is probably not what Meiburg was going for.

Download: "You As You Were" [mp3]
Download: "Breaking the Yearlings" [mp3]

Islands - A Sleep & A Forgetting
Purchase [mp3] / Stream via Rhapsody or Spotify

I miss my wife / I miss my best friend every night
I miss my home / I miss my own bed and my old life
"I Can't Feel My Face" - Islands

It's been hard to pigeonhole Nick Thorburn's Islands. Since its inception, Thorburn hasn't had the same band members from release to release, and the each album reaches in an entirely direction, often within the same album's confines. While it's all resided within a 'smart' wing of the indie pop niche, it's been frustrating at times to follow. As often is the case, it took some tragedy to get Thornburn to stop moving, as A Sleep & a Forgetting deals with the end of his marriage. While the title suggests "Beware: Wallowing This Way," the songs never get too down, even when a lyric suggests that Thornburn never wants to get out of bed again. Thorburn's obsession with 50s doo-wop (as revealed with the Mister Heavenly project) helps keep the listener from feeling like he bought a ticket to Downer-Fest, which a confessional album like this often leads to. The final song (on the non-bonus release), "Same Thing," has Thorburn swearing he'll never love again, but at the same time he's searching the radio for a good station. We're left with the feeling he'll find eventually find something worth stopping for, both on the dial and off.

Free AOL Album Stream
Download: "This Is Not a Song" [mp3]

Thursday, September 24, 2009

Now Downloading: New Releases 09.22.09

The advent of fall brings us some ripe apples in the new release department, and this week sees the much anticipated ~~reunion of The Traveling Wilburys~~ Monsters of Folk, featuring Conor Oberst, Jim James & M. Ward, but we covered that the other day. The other noteworthy releases this week include new ones from Volcano Choir, Islands, Times New Viking, The Twilight Sad, Amy Millan, Pearl Jam, Castanets, Vic Chesnutt, Sea Wolf, Brother Ali, Noisettes, Basement Jaxx, The Pastels, Hallelujah the Hills, Richard Hawley, Le Loup, The Big Pink and the Roller Coaster Project, along with some reissues from Beastie Boys, Elvis Costello and Ween.

Playlist: New Releases 09.22.09

Volcano Choir - Unmap
Stream / Purchase [mp3]

Justin Vernon's brief aside from Bon Iver has produced this esoteric collection of atmospheric songs with him backed by the experimental Collections of Colonies of Bees. The album is far less accessible than fans of For Emma, Forever Ago would likely expect, but upon repeated listens, finds itself grooved into the synapse firings of your brain. The enchantment of "Island, Is" especially is hard to escape, with Vernon's vocals dreamily floating along to the closest thing to pop that the album has to offer. (Is it wrong that I find myself eagerly awaiting its inclusion in a future episode of Chuck?) The rest of the album has many fine moments coupled with a few passages that kind of just pass through, easily forgotten. All told, it's a project that deserves a follow-up release, to be sure.

Free AOL Album Stream
"Island, IS" [mp3]

Islands - Vapours
Stream / Purchase [mp3]

For those that found Islands' sophomore release Arm's Way a bit too prog-y, I've got good news for you. Vapours is a return to the kitchen sink-pop that Nick Thorburn joyously captured on their debut, Return to the Sea. Vapours is a bit all over the map, though - including a couple tracks ("Shining" and "The Drums") that slip into Arm's Way-like trappings, but the songs always find their way to sounding like the quirky pop-driven Islands you've come to know and love. Highlights include the title track, the soulful (and auto-tune utilized) "Heartbeat," and the bright pop of "Tender Torture."

Free AOL Album Stream

Monday, June 30, 2008

Ear on TV: The week of June 30

This week the talk shows celebrate the independence of our great nation by going on vacation, leaving us with repeats -- but I've still found some things worth sitting on the sofa for. Since the Fourth of July incorporates all the important B's -- BBQ, baseball, beer and blowing things up -- why not include some Big Brother and the Holding Company. Starting tomorrow night, Ovation TV is starting a 15-day programming event called "American Revolutionaries," dedicating every night to another American innovator who changed the meaning of art. Thursday night features the documentary 900 Nights: Big Brother and the Holding Company, which takes a look at the band that introduced Janis Joplin to the world and examines the group's place in the psychedelic movement in the sixties.

Elsewhere, the only live performances not on repeat come courtesy of Fuel TV's Daily Habit, which scores again, nabbing the Montreal band Islands (Thursday). Frontman Nicholas Thorburn (aka Nick Diamonds) hops a lot of genres in his songwriting, from calypso to prog-rock, but always maintains a strong an ear for melody. They might not be from the USA, but the band's independent streak fits with this week's theme nonetheless.

Playlist: Picks for the week
Monday, June 30
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Chromeo (REPEAT)
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Al Green (REPEAT)
FUEL: The Daily Habit: Tweak Bird
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Ed Harcourt (REPEAT)
NBC: Late Night With Conan O'Brien: Tapes 'N Tapes (REPEAT)
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Moby (REPEAT)
Tuesday, July 1
CBS: Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson: Duffy (REPEAT)
NBC: Late Night With Conan O'Brien: They Might Be Giants (REPEAT)
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Moby (REPEAT)
OVATION: Live From the Artist's Den: Aimee Mann (REPEAT)
Wednesday, July 2
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Donna Summer (REPEAT)
NBC: Late Night With Conan O'Brien: A. A. Bondy (REPEAT)
Thursday, July 3
CBS: Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson: John Hiatt (REPEAT)
FUEL: The Daily Habit: Islands
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: The Flobots (REPEAT)
NBC: Late Night With Conan O'Brien: The Kills (REPEAT)
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Cloud Cult (REPEAT)
OVATION: 900 Nights: Big Brother and the Holding Company: Big Brother and the Holding Company
SUNDANCE: Live From Abbey Road: Panic at the Disco, David Gray, Suzanne Vega
Friday, July 4
ABC: Good Morning America: Chaka Khan
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: The All For Nots (REPEAT)
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: The Republic Tigers (REPEAT)
FUEL: The Daily Habit: The Jealous Girlfriends
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Tristan Prettyman (REPEAT)
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Katy Perry (REPEAT)
Saturday, July 5
BBCAMERICA: The Graham Norton Show: Mika (REPEAT)
NBC: Saturday Night Live: Foo Fighters (REPEAT)
PBS: Austin City Limits: Femi Kuti (REPEAT)

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

Now Downloading: New Releases 05.20.08

Another week, another pipin' hot fresh batch of releases for your delicate ears. This week features the sophomore release from Islands, the latest from sludge purveyors Mudhoney, and more from Joan of Arc, Blackstrap, Retribution Gospel Choir, French Kicks, The Wedding Present, Free Kitten, The Ting Tings, and back from a long layoff, the queen of disco Donna Summer.

Playlist: New Releases 05.20.08

Album: Islands - Arm's Way

A few times a year, I'll mentally start making best of the year lists, and invariably imagine upcoming releases that will slide into my eventual top ten, based on expectations alone. Of course, not every album can meet those lofty expectations and instead turn out to be fine instead of great. There was every reason to believe that Islands sophomore release was going to impress: their debut (Return to the Sea) was a strange pop masterpiece, and they signed to Anti - the label to be on currently for critical success. Arm's Way is certainly ambitious in scope, containing plenty of twists and turns. Unfortunately, it's like a musical without a backing story to lead you through the album's entirety. There are still flashes of genius, like in the songs "The Arm," "Creeper" and "In the Rushes," but for an album that requires a lot of concentration, the rewards aren't as rich as they should be given the heights reached in their scattered debut. It's a solid album, to be sure, but can I be blamed for wanting more?

Album: Mudhoney - The Lucky Ones
Album: Mudhoney - Superfuzz Bigmuff: Deluxe Edition

The sounds of indie rock circa '88-'91 have enjoyed a resurgence, as demonstrated by the recent releases of No Age, Wye Oak and the slew of bands from the era making comebacks (The Pixies, Dinosaur Jr., The Breeders, Sebadoh, et al). Perfect time for Mudhoney to get their shit together and release something with teeth, sorely lacking from their last two releases. All it takes is one listen to "I'm Now" and you know the Iggy Pop sludge rock that we all know and love is back in full force. That song is followed by a couple more good-to-great numbers and then it sort of gets muddled until the ending, with stomper "New Meaning." Lucky Ones really only suffers in that it's paired on the shelve next to the deluxe edition of their classic Superfuzz Bigmuff, which still burns with the heat of a thousand dirty heaters in the basement of my brain. "Touch Me I'm Sick," "You Got It (Keep It Outta My Face)" and "Sweet Young Thing Ain't Sweet No More" sure take me back to studying in the stacks at UW's libraries, buzzed on bad Boones and cough syrup. Just hearing it again makes my nose burn with the smell.

Full Album Stream from AOL
Download: "I'm Now"
From Reissue: "In and Out of Grace (Live in Berlin)"

More on the radar this week:
Joan of Arc - Boo Human / "A Tell-Tale Penis" [mp3]
Blackstrap - Steal My Horses and Run
Retribution Gospel Choir - Retribution Gospel Choir
French Kicks - Swimming / "Abandon" [mp3]
The Wedding Present - El Rey / Free album stream from AOL
Free Kitten - Inherit / "Seasick" [mp3]
Donna Summer - Crayons / Free album stream from AOL
The Ting Tings - We Started Nothing / Free album stream from AOL
Indian Jewelry - Free Gold!
Windsor for the Derby - How We Lost / "Maladies" "Hold On" [mp3]
Scarlett Johansson - Anywhere I Lay My Head / Free album stream from AOL
Foxboro Hottubs - Stop Drop and Roll!!!
Sybris - Into the Trees
Abigail Washburn & The Sparrow Quartet - Abigail Washburn & The Sparrow Quartet
Curt Smith (Tears for Fears) - Halfway, Pleased / Free album stream from AOL
The Takeover UK - It's All Happening EP
The Dresden Dolls - No, Virginia
Douglas Armour - The Light Of A Golden Day, The Arms Of The Night
Foxboro Hottubs - Stop Drop and Roll!!!
French Kicks - Swimming
Explorers Club - Freedom Wind / "Do You Love Me?" [mp3]
Bun B - II Trill / Free album stream from AOL
Danielia Cotton - Rare Child / "Testify" [mp3]
Band Of Heathens - Band Of Heathens
Mason Jennings - In the River / Free album stream from AOL
Annihilation Time - Annihilation Time III: Tales Of The Ancient Age
Reissue
Mogwai - Young Team (Exclusive in Rhapsody a week early)

tags: music, album review, mudhoney, islands, indie rock, new releases, rhapsody