thus spake drake: joe pernice

While the past few weeks have been hot, the releases have been all smoke but no fire. This week, there's plenty of flames between the full length debut from Vancouver, BC's Japandroids finally getting released on this side of the border and new releases from Fruit Bats, Modest Mouse, YACHT, Throw Me the Statue and Joe Pernice releasing a Novel Soundtrack (perhaps I should've trademarked the name!). Also, two releases from frontmen going solo in disguise (sort of). My Morning Jacket's Jim James releases an EP under the name Yim Yames while Interpol's Paul Banks releases a full length under the moniker Julian Plenti.

Playlist: New Releases 08.04.09

Japandroids - Post-Nothing
Stream / Purchase [mp3]

Finally, the throwback guitar and drums duo from Vancouver sees their full length debut released in the states after buildig plenty of 'next big thing' buzz upon it's release North of the border. Japandroids trade in the kind of teen angst that I can still get behind, and perhaps that's because they rely on late 80's (Husker Du) and early-to-mid 90's (Superchunk) crunchy guitar pop sounds. It's tempting to lump them into the lo-fi No Age/Wavves noise rock movement, but there's a lot more epic pop at it's base. And while the youthful exuberance, especially demonstrated at their recent Capitol Hill Block party gig, might seem distant to an aging (yes, aging!) rocker like myself, but Brian King & David Prowse aren't just young, dumb and full of cum. Witness the album's highlight "Young Hearts Spark Fire," with the lyric 'We used to dream/ Now we worry about dying/ I don't want to worry about dying, I just want to worry about those sunshine girls.' That's some forward thinking from lads who are barely into their twenties. The other highlight, "Sovereignty", tells of distance from one's home, a mature theme, but sprinkled with enough timely f-words to illustrate the youth/experience juxtaposition that Post-Nothing has in spades.

Free AOL Album Stream
Download: "Young Hearts Spark Fire" [mp3]
Video from Capitol Hill Block Party

Fruit Bats - The Ruminant Band
Stream / Purchase [mp3]

Sub Pop may have lost The Shins, but Fruit Bats' latest, while guaranteed not to sell nearly as much, makes for a nice consolation prize. The band had plenty in common with the former S/P big sellers even before singer/songwriter/guitarist Eric Johnson became a member of The Shins. The Ruminant Band is the fourth (third w/ Sub Pop) album that Johnson & co. have been delivered, and it's a continuation of what I could only call 'elegant pop,' this time helped out by Califone's Tim Rutili and Jim Becker. There's nothing exhilarating about a FB release, but you don't always need that. Just some fine song craftsmanship and execution for another solid Fruit Bats release.
Highlights: the title track and the twang-y "Hobo Girl."

Free AOL Album Stream
Download: "The Ruminant Band" [mp3]
Download: "My Unusual Friend" [mp3]

Joe Pernice - It Feels So Good When I Stop
Stream / Purchase [mp3]

Joe Pernice - It Feels So Good When I Stop (Novel Soundtrack)

Of course I'd be remiss if I didn't address this execution of a former staple of this site, the Novel Soundtrack*. Joe Pernice (Pernice Brothers, Scud Mountain Boys) has always seemed like a novelist dabbling in pop music, and now the tables are turned. His first novel, It Feels So Good When I Stop, is released this week, and so is this album, meant as companion. Instead of just compiling the songs mentioned in the novel, Pernice puts his on spin on several of them, ranging from Del Shannon's "I Go to Pieces" to Todd Rundgren's "Hello, It's Me". Also sprinkled in is Pernice reading passages from the book. As you might already guess, the album doesn't work as well without the novel, but that's not its purpose. But Pernice fans who buy it are sure to want to pick up the novel, and vice-versa, I'm sure, and that's something, right?

*thus spake drake used to be the number one search result, but my NS posts have been few and far between of late.

Play it: Gilmore Girls - Season 1
Download: Sonic Youth "What a Waste"

Last night was the sixth season finale for The Gilmore Girls, and they ended on a high note for creator Amy Sherman-Palladino, who (with her executive producer husband Daniel Palladino,) is saying goodbye to the show. While I can't say I was a fan, their attention to music on the show cannot be denied, and it will be interesting to see if the new braintrust continues their dedication to music. Not only did they have a lot of music on the show, they also casted musicians in recurring roles. Sebastian Bach, Sam Phillips and Grant Lee Phillips all had recurring roles, but it was GL Phillips' role as local troubador that had a lot to do with last night's extravaganza.

Phillips' character gets discovered by Neil Young and is picked up to open on his tour, so all these musical acts flood the fictional town of Stars Hollow, CT, to get discovered next. Appearing last night were Sonic Youth, Joe Pernice, Yo La Tengo, Sparks, and Sam Phillips. Sonic Youth played "Wasted Again" from their new album Rather Ripped (due in June,) and featured Thurston and Kim's daughter Coco on bass. Coco's so cute!

tags: playlist, television, soundtrack, rhapsody, gilmore girls, sonic youth, grant lee phillips, sam phillips, joe pernice, yo la tengo, sparks

thus spake drake

Tuesday, August 04, 2009

Now Downloading: New Releases 08.04.09

Friday, November 30, 2007

Knievel jumps the shark

Wednesday, May 10, 2006

Last night's Gilmorepalooza