Kaki King - Junior
Stream / Purchase [mp3]
Kaki King's guitar and songwriting degree of difficulty has often drawn comparisons to Jeff Buckley's chops, and with good reason. With her fifth album, King swings a bit more commercial, easing back a bit on the finger flourishes while pushing her vocals. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, in theory, but it does serve to amplify the difference in strength of guitar versus her vocals. Because, while King has Buckley's chops, she doesn't have his voice... her vocals are more akin to Laura Veirs -- strong enough for folk rock, but a bit too wispy for the soaring terrain she carves out on guitar. Highlights are the opener, "The Betrayer," and "Falling Day."Free AOL Album Stream
MGMT - Congratulations
Stream / Purchase [mp3]
On one hand, I have to applaud MGMT for sticking to their pysch-pop guns and not attempting to mimic another "Time to Pretend" or "Kids." On the other hand, a good chunk of their uncompromising ends up being pretty aimless and disjointed. Considering the aforementioned fans' favorite songs were written five years ago, and everything since has been more of the meandering psych pop variety, we really shouldn't be too surprised. Free AOL Album Stream
More on the radar (and in the mp3 player) this week:
The Tallest Man on Earth - The Wild Hunt / "King of Spain" [mp3]
Rafter - Animal Feelings / "Paper" [mp3] / "Beauty, Beauty" [mp3]
Dosh - Tommy / "Number 41 (feat Andrew Bird)" [mp3]
The Nels Cline Singers - Initiate / Free AOL album stream / "Floored" [mp3]
Freelance Whales - Weathervanes / Free AOL album stream / "Generator 2nd Floor" [mp3]
Natalie Merchant - Leave Your Sleep
Subhumans - Same Thoughts Different Day
Carrie Rodriguez - Love and Circumstance
Sightings - City of Straw / "Tar and Pine" [mp3]
Raul Midon - Synthesis
Antena - Bossa Super Nova
Bobby and Blumm - A Little Big
REISSUES
Devo - Duty Now for the Future (Deluxe Edition)
Iggy and the Stooges - Raw Power (Legacy Edition)
Braid - Frankie Welfare Boy Age Five
tags: music, album review, mgmt,, kaki king, indie rock, new releases, rhapsody
