Now Downloading: New Releases 03.27.12 - Justin Townes Earle

I'm mostly back after an Amazon-related debacle. You'll notice there's no more links to Amazon here going forward, which has been a hassle, but the switch to in links to emusic, Insound and others should be better in the long run for users. I'll grant that Amazon was convenient, but a case can be made that they aren't good for the user or the artist. Missed The Shins last week, but our return is marked with Justin Townes Earle and Miike Snow, so it can't be that bad. Also of note this week are releases from the Seattle hip hop THEESatisfaction, La Sera (Vivian Girls bassist Katy Goodman), Paul Weller, Retribution Gospel Choir, Poor Moon and the Mars Volta.

Playlist: New Releases 03.27.12: Spotify

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Justin Townes Earle - Nothing's Gonna Change the Way You Feel About me Now
Purchase via emusic / itunes / Stream via Rhapsody / Stream via Spotify

It's odd that it takes a move to London for Justin Townes Earle to sound more like his old Memphis home than ever, both in horns and attitude. Sadly, most of the stylistic change for Earle on Nothing's Gonna Change the Way You Feel About Me Now is feels a bit stagnant and predictable, unlike his previous offerings (especially 2010's excellent Harlem Blues River). Thankfully, even a predictable JTE release can work some magic (see "Memphis in the Rain"), even when it's only 30 minutes in length.


Justin Townes Earle, "The Good Life"

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Miike Snow - Happy to You
Purchase [mp3 vie emusic] / Stream via Rhapsody or Spotify

Knowing two-thirds of Miike Snow is producers Chris Karlsson and Pontus Winnberg (Bloodshy & Avant -- hitmakers for Britney Spears ["Toxic"], Madonna and Kylie Minogue), it's hard to believe that Happy You should feel so restrained. Their sophomore release,Happy You, is still full of potentially exciting hits (see "Waves," "Paddling Out), but so much of the release just washes over you and is forgotten after listening. I'm still listening, though.

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More on the radar (and in the mp3 player) this week:
THEESatisfaction - awE naturalE / Free AOL Album Stream
La Sera - Sees the Light / Please Be My Third Eye [mp3]
Paul Weller - Sonik Kicksall / Free AOL Album Stream
Retribution Gospel Choir - the revolution ep / "The Stone (Revolution)" [mp3]
Poor Moon - Illusion / Free AOL Album Stream / "People in Her Mind" [mp3]
Rocket Juice & the Moon - Rocket Juice & the Moon
Zeus - Busting Visions
The Mars Volta - Noctourniquet
Rusko - Songs / Free AOL Album Stream
Macy Gray - Covered / Free AOL Album Stream
Cowboy Junkies - The Wilderness / Free AOL Album Stream

tags: music, album review, justin townes earle, miike snow, indie rock, new releases

Chuck vs the Gobbler: Me, Myself and Eye

With "Gobbler" we're presented another manufactured obstacle in the Chuck/Sarah romance, on top of last week's, and it's a bit frustrating to say the least.

I understand the show has been pulled and pushed by NBC in regards to the length of the season, but it just feels like Fedak and Schwartz have an end game that they're sloppily working backwards from. Enjoyed seeing former NFL offensive tackle Matt Willig back as Yuri, even if it's the same character he plays in everything (when your an imposing 6'8" you kind of have to accept typecasting).

Playlist: Chuck - Episode 4.12
1. "AM/FM Sound" - Matt & Kim [download]
2. "Midnite Runaround" - Pop Levi (YouTube)
3. "Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks" - The National [download]
5. "Silvia" - Miike Snow [download]

Previously: Chuck vs the Proposal (Ep 4.11)