Happy Independence Day! Taking a break from the barbecues, parades and fireworks to give you a taste of this week's new music. I try to stay positive when talking about new music, but I have to admit something - this week has some of the ugliest/weirdest/awkward album covers to come out in one week. Mostly I've been trying to not look at the album art before listening because it probably does skew my thoughts.Though OOIOO, Gamel definitely wins prettiest album cover art for this week. Kudos where it's due. And kudos to some of those other covers out there that went for most awkward cover ever (here's looking at you Benge and MatthewDavid).
There is a slew of reissues/anniversary albums this week including: Bob Marley & the Wailers Legend; Bon Jovi New Jersey; Wreckless Eric The Donovan of Trash; The The Soul Mining; Emerson, Lake & Palmer Brain Salad Surgery; and last, but not least, Pink Floyd The Division Bell.
Holy Singles, Batman!
Including some from well-known acts:
Lenny Kravitz, "The Chamber;" Melissa Etheridge, "Take My Number;" Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, "Forgottten Man;" Ryan Adams, "Gimme Something Good;" and Spoon, "Do You?."
And some from not-as-well-known too:
Elle Belle, "You Better Mean It" - Looking at the band name and title, I thought to myself "Oh neat, a fun summery pop song." Nope. It's a fun rock song that you should check out for sure.
Moist, "Mechanical"
Real Friends, "I Don't Love You Anymore" - it's as angsty as it sounds.
Matt Nathanson, "Headphones" - a poppy little ditty
Toni Rodriguez, "Stupid Boy" - this jumped right onto next year's lovelorn Valentine's Day mix
Flyying Colours, "Not Today"
Kloot per W en de Beesten, "In Mijn Kop" - I think it sounds like a Belgium? Guided By Voices.
Expand Your Ears
OOIOO, Gamel - It's interesting. It's different. I don't know what to say.
Marcos Ciscar, Wisdom of Mountains - Here's some meditation music for y'all.
Remember Remember, Forgetting the Present - Um, they have a song called "Pterodactyl" which sounds like the musical soundtrack that would play in a pterodactyl's mind as it flew around the world. Which is pretty much the awesomest thing this week. Excuse me while I become a pterodactyl and listen to this song again.
Vulkano, Live Wild Die Free - kinda like Karen O and Bjork made music baby. Or something.
Vacant Lots, Departure - it kinda meanders the line between pyschedelic and loose rock.
Summer Listening
Man you'd think this would be bursting at the seams being the middle of summer time and wouldn't everyone want to be the album being rocked out to in the backyard, or on the beach, or wherever you light a fire and cook some food? But there's just a few this week really.
Musicanti di Grema, Musicanti di Grema - I don't know what he's saying, but it's upbeat and fun.
Beverly, Careers - California rock-pop, sun, summer, surf, you know all that stuff.
Jonah Tolchin, Clover Lane - bluesy country americana-y type of singer-songwriter. I'd insert it sporadically into a mix for the weekend.
King Friday, This Is Supposed To Be Fun - Fleet Foxes style harmonics, Simon & Garfunkel sounding, good for some light listening.
David Sauzay, Meeting with Harold Mabern - a little light jazz for chilling out or that transition into evening twilight, hopefully with some fireflies dancing around the lawn right before the fireworks appear above the horizon.
Need a little rock?
Minot, Equal/Opposite - instrumental rock
Turn to Crime, Can't Love - I liked the title track and the 10 minute jam at the end a lot.
...Or a little pop?
Magic!, Don't Kill The Magic - currently with a single on Billboard's top 100
Tessanne Chin, Count On My Love - first release post-The Voice
Well there you go. Hope you can find something new to tune to for this weekend, seems to be something for everyone. And I hope you have a safe, fun weekend. Remember to stay hydrated and use sunscreen! Happy listening!
Friday Refrain is a weekly post regarding what new releases have caught my ear for the week. I try to compile a pretty comprehensive list of releases of the week and see what is available for me to listen to on the web. This is just my non-scientific, highly-subjective, randomly-listened-to list of stuff from the week. Oh, and I don’t always listen to lyrics or look at album art/music videos, so appropriateness is left up to the listener