Fall 2012
Wow, a ton of great music has come out over the last month. Staggeringly good in most cases. And my list of must have disks is longer than I can list here.
The Raveonettes – Observator
I liked their last album, but I love this one. Imagine Best Coast backed by JAMC and you only start to get the drift. I even hear Lush in the mix, most especially on the gorgeous “Sinking With The Sun.”
Bob Mould – Silver Age
Mould has cranked out a lot of classics with Husker Du and Sugar, but his solo outings have also been good to great. This is possibly his best solo album, a song cycle full of high octane rockers that is easily as good as Sugar. See him on tour if you get a chance.
Earlimart – System Preferences
Aaron Espinoza’s band is often compared to Elliot Smith and Grandaddy, but I hear everyone from Stars to The Beatles swirling through their delicious dream pop. The opener “U&Me” is an alluring slice of chamber pop, backed by Ariana Murray’s gorgeous vocals. Aaron has a nice voice, but I tend to migrate to the songs where Ariana is featured more heavily. Though I have to say, “Crestline, CA” is another great track, and Aaron sings that one. Certainly they aren’t breaking any new ground, so old fans will feel right at home with this. Still, I encourage anyone who hasn’t heard these folks to check them out. They are that good.
Azure Ray – As Above So Below
Maria Taylor and Orenda Fink delve further into electronic beats on this EP, but they are no less ethereal than their earlier releases. “Scattered Like Leaves” is my firm favorite, followed by “The Heart Has Its Reasons” and “We Could Wake”. While I think they are better served by simple piano and guitar, there is no denying how evocative these ladies are. I first heard them on a long ago TV show, and their current work would be equally at home on some CW drama. Expect nothing less than their lovely voices over mournful dirges.
Neil Halstead – Palindrome Hunches
Neil Halstead’s unassuming and quiet new album could be a collaboration of John Renbourn and Nick Drake (if only). It works its way into your consciousness and is a great chill out album. Since my life is highly stressful of late, I need music like this to stay sane. Not much can be said of the Slowdive frontman that that hasn’t already been uttered by a zillion music critics, so just listen already. It’s a beautiful album.
Grizzly Bear – Shields
I can’t add much that the Pitchforks of the world haven’t already written about this band. If you liked Yellow House, you will love this. And if you like jazz, you will also enjoy this. Those jazzy inflections are real obvious, as is the band’s debt to Radiohead. Crank up “Half Gate” with its lead cello to hear what I mean. Grizzly Bear is hardly breaking new ground, but what they’ve done is taken all the best parts of Veckatimest and Yellow House and thrown them in a blender on Shields. This is not a band you can like halfway. I am hardly a starry-eyed rabid fan, but hearing this record on headphones has been one of the highlights of an otherwise dreadful month where I lost my brother and witnessed the continued destabilization of my work situation. When the day is done, I’m glad to kick back and feast my ears on Shields.
Sea Wolf – Old World Romance
LA-based Sea Wolf is Alex Brown Church and whatever side players he hires on for a project. Lisa Fendelander(keyboards) has persisted for more than one album, and he also has a full time cello player. I mention the latter because that instrument has informed much of Church’s output with an orchestral veneer that really raises the album to a whole other level. As with their last album, Old World Romance is a carefully crafted album chock full of moody compositions colored by washes of mournful cello. A wonderful, autumnal effort.
Cat Power – Sun
Sun may well be Chan Marshall’s breakup album (she denies it), but she performs with style and grace. The fine lead-off track “Cherokee” is my favorite from this melange of folk, blues, jazzy inflections, and electronic beats. Its instrumental starkness is quite the complement to her sunny melodies. A solid release from a long time favorite of mine.
Library Tapes – Sun Peeking Through
This aptly named album perfectly describes the gorgeous ambience from Sweden’s David Wenngren. Playing in the same aural space as riverrun and other purveyors of this type of music, it is watery elegance backwashed with ripples of piano and droning synths. It is peaceful and solemn, all at the same time.
Aimee Mann – Charmer
Aimee Mann’s lovely voice can enchant you even while she’s twisting a shiv between your ribs. Charmer contains her reliable and beautifully wrought tunes, replete with enough musical and lyrical twists and turns to keep listeners engaged. Her music occupies a unique singer/songwriter space that is timeless. She could land in any decade and sound current.
