Playlist: New Releases 08.11.09
The Dodos - Time to Die
Stream / Purchase [mp3]
It may feel like a sophomore album for The Dodos, since only a scant few have heard their debut, and their second, Visiter, introduced the band to the public. For Time to Die, the band steps up the ante calling upon a big name Seattle producer Phil Ek (The Shins, Fleet Foxes, Built to Spill). The results are a pleasure to the ear, especially the track "Fables," which might very well be the song to put them over the top. The album isn't due in stores until next month, but thanks to a egregious album leak, the band bumped up the digital release date a full month ahead, to take advantage of the good word-of-mouth being generated by first listens. Poor, poor us.
Download: "Fables" [mp3]
The Cave Singers - Welcome Joy
Stream / Purchase [mp3]
Here's another treat of a release coming to us a week ahead of schedule (exclusively on Rhapsody). Welcome Joy continues the beard rock that their debut, Invitiation Songs, perhaps concentrating more on craft of songwriting. As such, the album feels a bit more like ten songs merely socializing with eachother instead of the song-to-song cohesiveness of their debut. Minor quibble when you end up with a song like "At the Cut," or the opener "Summer Light." Just beware of listening out in the wild of nature, as you may find yourself losing the clothes and running with the deer.Download: "At the Cut" [mp3]
Robert Pollard - Elephant Jokes
Stream / Purchase [mp3]
Uncle Bob has got a new album out, (Elephant Jokes), and it's pretty much what you expect. A few gems (listen to The Who pop of "Johnny Optimist"), some inspired weirdness ("Hippsville (Where the Frisbees Fly Forever") and what I just call "the rest." Download: "Symbols and Heads" [mp3]
Download: "Jimmy" [mp3]
More on the radar (and in the mp3 player) this week:
Jay Reatard - Watch Me Fall (Free AOL Album Stream, a week early)
Patrick Wolf - The Bachelor / Free AOL Album Stream
Malcolm Middleton - Waxing Gibbous / "Carry Me" [mp3]
The Darlings - Yeah I Know / "If This is Love" [mp3]
The Dry Spells - Too Soon for Flowers / "Lost Daughter" [mp3] / "Batwood" [mp3]
Cobra Starship - Hot Mess / Free AOL Album Stream
Box Elders - Alice and Friends
The Bottle Rocks - About Love / "Get on the Bus" [mp3] / "Hard Times" [mp3]
Mindy Smith - Stupid Love
The Rumble Strips - Welcome to the Walk Around
Woodstock: 40 Years on: Back to Yasgur's Farm / / Free AOL Album Stream
tags: music, album review, the cave singers, the dodos, Robert Pollard, indie rock, new releases, rhapsody
