thus spake drake: patrick wolf

Showing posts with label patrick wolf. Show all posts

Wednesday, June 03, 2009

Now Downloading: New Releases 06.02.09

Another week, another batch of new releases to listen to while we bide our time until the Dirty Projectors' Bitte Orca is released (next week). This week includes the latest from Eels, Patrick Wolf, Elvis Costello, Iggy Pop, Blind Pilot, Girl In A Coma, Diane Birch and remix album from Franz Ferdinand.

Playlist: New Releases 06.02.09

Eels - Hombre Lobo
Stream / Purchase [mp3]

After the nearly baroque extravagance of the confessional Blinking Lights, the scaled back Hombre Lobo harkens back a bit to the off-the-cuff-rock of Souljacker. Like that misfire, Mark Everett writes a character study, this time embodying the desire of a werewolf, and it works much better. I don't know if the folks at True Blood have been made aware of this album or not, but between the howl of the bluesy opener "Prizefighter" and the spooky fun of "Fresh Blood" (also marked by howls,) the album is tailor made for the upcoming second season of the vampire (and yes, werewolves) series on HBO. The album kind of loses steam sometime after that, but for awhile there, the listener was running with the wolves.

Free AOL Album Stream

Patrick Wolf - The Bachelor
Stream / Purchase [mp3]

When Patrick Wolf prematurely announced his retirement a couple years back, most assumed he'd be back, but who knew that it would be with a Celtic Folk Glam Rock sound. The album follows the usual Wolf template of interjecting classical music into rock songwriting, but this time around, with a little bit of Stonehenge to go with it. Call it David Bowie meets Dungeons & Dragons, only a bit more flamboyant. Exchange your chain-mail for sequins, but keep that 12-sided die rolling.

Monday, June 04, 2007

Ear on TV: Week of June 4

Even with nearly all the talk shows back from break, the schedule this week is still kind of spotty. Thankfully there's Bright Eyes' Conor Oberst, who makes a couple appearances this week in support of his latest release Cassadaga. It's an awfully mature release for the 27-year old, full of rich instrumentation and more importantly the acceptance of uncertainty in life. He's still got plenty of piss and vinegar left in him, though, as his appearance on Leno last year is testament to (performing "When the President Talks to God" - video.) The fact that his scheduled appearances on Letterman and Conan were mysteriously cancelled immediately following this infamous performance seems like an odd coincidence. Wouldn't have pegged Leno as a free speech champion over Letterman and Conan, but there you have it.

Elsewhere, Patrick Wolf's appearance on Kimmell Wednesday night is worth checking out, especially considering the spectacle that was his appearance on Conan last month.

Playlist: Picks for the week of June 4
Monday, June 4
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Bright Eyes
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Lucinda Williams
NBC: Late Night With Conan O'Brien: Kings Of Leon
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Silversun Pickups (REPEAT)
Tuesday, June 5
CBS: Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson: Patti Smith
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Rihanna
Wednesday, June 6
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Patrick Wolf
CBS: Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson: Bright Eyes
NBC: Late Night With Conan O'Brien: Nelly Furtado
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Peter Bjorn and John (REPEAT)
SYNDICATION: The Ellen Degeneres Show: Travis (REPEAT)
Thursday, June 7
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Grizzly Bear (REPEAT)
Friday, June 8
IFC: The Henry Rollins Show: Rufus Wainwright
SYNDICATION: The Ellen Degeneres Show: Gwen Stefani (REPEAT)

tags: music, television, soundtrack, talk shows, bright eyes, patrick wolf, indie rock, rhapsody

Monday, May 07, 2007

Ear on TV: Week of May 7

Canada's Leslie Feist is poised to breakthrough in the US on the strength of her latest album, The Reminder, released this past week. When she performs "1234" on Leno Tuesday night, her effortless artistry may only initially be noticed by her ardent followers, but her voice should appeal to a wider base of fans like that of platinum-selling artists like Norah Jones and Corinne Bailey Rae. The album was on repeat at the local Barnes & Noble yesterday, as I watched my son playing with trains, which took me by surprise a little. Not that The Reminder sounded out of place, just that Feist cut her teeth playing with acts like Peaches and Broken Social Scene, who are pretty far away from the radio (and bookstore) play that this album will be getting.

Meanwhile, Kelly Clarkson's already had her breakthrough, but she worked it in reverse of Feist's trajectory. Starting as an American Idol winner, she had a built-in fanbase of pop music buyers, but she craved some more 'cred' and garnered it with the song "Since U Been Gone," appealing to indie rockers and Idol fans alike. But she still knows to stick with the fella that brought her to the dance, so while next album, My December, doesn't come out until July 24, Clarkson is making several appearances this week to coincide with Idol's May sweeps run to the finish. She'll be performing her single "Never Again" on Letterman (Tuesday,) Regis (Wednesday,) and Jimmy Kimmel (Friday.) We can assume there will be more in the coming weeks.

Finally, promising 23-year old Patrick Wolf makes his network television debut (on Conan Wednesday,) this on the heels of his announcement that a concert coming up in November will be his last. He's clarified it as more of a hiatus, but it's still alarming given his quick rise thanks to his incredible release The Magic Position. It's Hunky Dory-meets-Odelay pop artistry is a bold revelation, and if Wolf leaves that as his final parting shot, it's quite a mark, to be sure.

Picks for the week
Monday, May 7
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Cat Empire
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Paul Wall (REPEAT)
Tuesday, May 8
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Kelly Clarkson
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Feist
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Bloc Party
Wednesday, May 9
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: The Kooks
CBS: Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson: Dinosaur Jr.
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Aqualung
NBC: Late Night With Conan O'Brien: Patrick Wolf
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Joseph Arthur
SYNDICATION: Live With Regis and Kelly: Kelly Clarkson
Thursday, May 10
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Nelly Furtado
NBC: Late Night With Conan O'Brien: Stephen Marley
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: The Bird and the Bee
SYNDICATION: The Ellen Degeneres Show: Kanye West
Friday, May 11
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Kelly Clarkson
IFC: The Henry Rollins Show: Chris Cornell
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Ying Yang Twins
Saturday, May 12
PBS: Austin City Limits: Ray Davies (REPEAT)

tags: music, television, soundtrack, talk shows, feist, kelly clarkson, patrick wolf, indie rock, rhapsody

Tuesday, May 01, 2007

Now Downloading: New Releases 05.01.07

A subtle week for releases as several low-key greats make their way into the fold. Besides the latest from Dinosaur Jr (referenced yesterday) there's the latest from Fiest, Patrick Wolf, Frog Eyes and a week early look at The Sea and Cake's Everybody.

Playlist: New Releases 05.01.07

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Album: Feist - The Reminder

Feist's latest album The Reminder finds the Canadian now in full control of her artistic talents. This lazy, warm and laid-back affair was recorded just outside Paris should, by all appearances, propel the 31-year old into the means by which she can afford to purchase herself that place in the country she pined for in her last album's hit, "Mushaboom." While there's nothing nearly as beguiling as that wonderful song, the albums highs are continuous, including the first single "My Moon My Man," which marches right into your head and stays for eternity. The second single is slated to be the song "1234," which is also great, but I'm surprised that "I Feel It All" isn't up for the honor, as it seems the one more likely to break her out ("I'll be the one to break my own heart".) The most enchanting song on the album, however, is the song "Limit to Your Love," which features this lyrical turn: "There's a limit to your love / Like a waterfall in slow motion." Positively dreamy.

Free Album stream from AOL

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Album: Patrick Wolf - Dumb Luck

Seems weird that this album is just now seeing it's wide release, given all the drama that's surrounded Patrick Wolf's recent ascention into fame's fickle sphere. Seems that he was straddling that space between ardent cult fan and attaining some mainstream audience and something snapped. First his drummer, then his fans... then he himself. Wolf announced (via a message board) that an upcoming show in November would be his last, sending fans into a frenzy fearing their comments sent him into early (he's only 23) retirement. He's since reigned in that histrionic plea a bit, saying now he'll just be taking a break from music. Hopefully not too long of a break, as the musical leap he achieved from Lycanthropy to Magic Position is quite amazing, and I'm ever so anxious to see what someone his age would do next.

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Album: The Sea and Cake - Everybody (Rhapsody Exclusive)

The latest from the Chicago band The Sea and Cake is a pleasant surprise, only in that it's in Rhapsody a week early. Otherwise Everybody is nearly exactly the sort of release you'd expect from a band that features the sublime artistic virtues of Sam Prekop, Archer Prewitt and producer exraordinaire John McEntire. Seemingly effortless in it's approach, you sometimes forget just how much is going on in a TSAC song. "Exact to Me" is more overt in it's rhythmic complexity, while "Lightning" gently nods to TSAC's pop side. It's still early (just found it today,) but it's already nestled itself into heavy airplay here in drakeland, and I'm sure it will with you as well.

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More going (or already in) the Sansa
Dinosaur Jr - Beyond (Free album stream from AOL)
Frog Eyes - The Future Is Inter-disciplinary Or Not At All
Black Rebel Motorcycle - Baby 81
65daysofstatic - The Destruction of Small Ideas
Rush - Snakes & Arrows
Tori Amos - American Doll Posse
Ne-yo - Because Of You
Spider-Man 3: Music from and Inspired By
Von Iva - Von Iva

tags: music, album review, dinosaur jr, feist, patrick wolf, the sea and cake, frog eyes, indie rock, new releases, rhapsody