10 albums in my high rotation
Some old, some new, some upcoming, some repeats.
Former Ghosts – New Love. (Upset! The Rhythm)
For those who preordered, you may already have New Love. Freddy Ruppert‘s sophmore release under Former Ghosts, the album features the same crew Xiu Xiu‘s Jamie Stewart and Nika Roza aka Zola Jesus. Also, find Yasmine Kittles from * Tearist*.
The album is an accomplishment, extending the groundwork that Ruppert began with last year’s debut of Fleurs, it is a habit on which is easy to become dependent.
Download:
Chin Up via Upset! the Rhythm
Winter’s Year via RCRDLBL
Watch “Taurean Nature” (via Pitchfork.tv):
Sufjan Stevens – The Age of Adz (Asthmatic Kitty)
So much love and heartbreak over this album.
Still via Gorilla vs. Bear
I Walked
Too Much
Young Man – Boy (French Kiss)
Somewhere between the folkiness of Animal Collective and the autobahn of Here We Go Magic you can find Colin Caulfield aka Young Man. Those who like one or the other (or both!) will be very happy with last year’s album Boy.
Old and new tracks via I Guess I’m Floating
Just a Growing
Fate
“Fate” is a new track in which you can hear the demo here:
Cold Cave – Love Comes Close (Matador)
Enjoying the ephemera of Cold Cave, but nothing compares to the debut Love Comes Close. The album was self-released by the band and then picked up by Matador last year. I may be a year late but it’s in my high rotation. Think what if Ian Curtis stayed on this mortal coil and put out some awesome pop in the later 80s — well everything sounds like New Order to me now.
Download via Fader:
Life Magazine
Love Comes Close
Title track “Love Comes Close”:
Deerhunter – Halcyon Digest (4AD)
After seeing them play at the Music Box, I now think they are even more genius-y. They are all guitars (and drums) which produce worlds both Shoegazers and Stereolab can live happily.
Via I Guess I’m Floating:
Revival
Primative 3D
First video “Helicopter”:
Esben & The Witch – Marching Song (Matador)
It’s not just for halloween anymore, they don’t only sound like a girly-kick-ass version of Bauhaus but a friend finds a little Siouxsie Sioux in there — maybe it’s the same thing?
Here’s the amazing video for “Marching Song”:
The Russian Futurists – Hoeing Weeds Sowing Seeds (Upper Class)
The first single off The Russian Futurist’s new album The Weight’s on Wheels. Mastermind Matthew Adam Hart sticks to the formula but adds more catch and hook.
Download the whole Hoeing Weeds Sowing Seeds EP with email.
An older track, “Paul Simon” came off his last album:
Parenthetical Girls – Privilege, Pt. II: The Past, Imperfect (Slender Means Society)
In honor of receiving my sweet, sweet vinyl (Thanks Zac & Co!), I’m sharing the video from the opening track in the second of the Privilege series. You can see the cover star Rachel Jensen and Former Ghosts’s Freddy Ruppert in the video. My favorite part is his cross-stitch of The Smiths lyrics “please please please let me get what i want this time”. The album version has additional subtlety and strength.
Via Slender Means Society:
Young Throats
“The Common Touch” via Into the Woods:
Evan Voytas – Tommorow Night We’ll Go Anywhere (Self Released)
Evan Voytas needs to come out with his full-length, until then, search on iTunes and other online music stops to piece together Voytas slick 60s-inspired music. When you do find an EP like Tommorow Night We’ll Go Anywhere, prepare to get all puppy-eyed.
A large sampling of tracks from RCRDLBL
I highly recommend a new-ish track via Fader
I Took a Trip on a Plane
Dirty Projectors – The Getty Address (Western Vinyl)
I’ve been having a deep moment with the Dirty Projectors, listening to their back catalog and trying to unlock the songs. Those not familiar, Dave Longstreth & Co. play dense, literary, tongue-in-cheek and often impenetrable music. Last year without warning, they hit the music blogs in a big way.
Going back a-ways, it seems that The Getty Address marks when the current incarnation of the band turned the corner. Longstreth is joined with female vocalists, makes songs that are bright, full orchestrations, and has all that quirk and fixation on finches.
Sometimes having the backstory on a band allows you to gain some give and appreciation.
Via Western Vinyl:
Jolly Jolly Jolly Ego
Finch-laden video for “I Will Truck”:
