Out Today: 10.30.12
Every Tuesday is album release day (as well as video games, movies, etc.), but on a day so far from the weekend, it's a good feeling to wake up to some brand, spankin' new music.
Andrew Bird - Hands of Glory (Mom + Pop)I've never met anyone who dislikes Andrew Bird. On the contrary, I'm sure most people who have seen him perform live, with all of his crazy violin looping, whistling, and other Andrew Bird-y things, have dropped their jaws at least once, due to his incredible musicality. Only a couple months after the release of this summer's Break it Yourself, Bird releases Hands of Glory, considered a companion piece for the former that encapsulates Bird's taste for classic folk and country. It features reworkings of Break it Yourself songs, covers from artists like The Carter Family, and some new material. That said, it's more folk n' country than your typical Andrew Bird record, but damn if it's not a really well-done, fun record.
The Crystal Ark - The Crystal Ark (DFA)Producer Gavin Russom is constantly contributing to one project or another, with the most recognized being Black Meteoric Star. The Crystal Ark's self-titled sees Russom and filmmaker Viva Ruiz going a very straightforward DFA route, packed with disco-inspired rhythms, and plenty of driving grooves to get you going. So, for those who like and thoroughly miss our friend James Murphy and LCD Soundsystem, this might be a way for you to get your alt. dance fix.
Matthew Friedberger - Matricidal Sons of Bitches (Thrill Jockey)Most people will recognize Matthew Friedberger as the other half of former Oak Park, Illinois duo The Fiery Furnaces. Fun fact, he was also a UIUC student and CU townie until 1998. Over the past few, post-Fiery Furnaces, he's released quite a few solo records, including an eight-album series he dropped throughout 2011. Now he's back, and just as strange as he's always been with 45 new compositions filled with weird abstractions that somehow manage to feel comfortably accessible. While 45 songs might seem like a lot, everything feels smooth and new, and I guarantee you can get through the whole thing and enjoy every second.
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The Soft Moon - Zeros (Captured Tracks)
On its second full-length on Captured Tracks, The Soft Moon continue its knack for taking post- and synth-punk, and going bonkers with it. By taking 80s pop, flipping it on its head, and spinning it around until it gets dizzy enough to throw up and feel great about it, The Soft Moon's Zeroes contributes invaluably to the ever-evolving post-punk umbrella genre.Stream it here.
Tracey Thorn - Tinsel and Lights (Merge)Another Christmas album several weeks before December 25. While I don't understand the timing of holidays or why so many artists release Christmas albums, Tracey Thorn takes a somewhat different approach in her renditions of the less traditional holiday tunes (minus "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas"). Throw in some cover songs from artists like Sufjan Stevens, Randy Newman, and The White Stripes, and you've got a pretty interesting holiday-inspired record.
[embed]http://open.spotify.com/album/1hunMLGoFPKzkxLlk0gsdu[/embed]