Tuesday, September 22, 2015

First Listen - Truncated Edition for the September 18 New Releases

Seeing how I was busy for half the weekend, sick for the other half, and, by my count, there were 21 new releases worth covering in some form this week, I'm forced to do a truncated First Listen this week.

Top albums I actually heard this week:

Metric - Pagans in Vegas: Metric is similar to Muse in the regard that they keep transforming themselves over time and it still generally works. I can't say this is as good as their most recent couple albums, but they're still putting out some of the more interesting music in recent times.

The Front Bottoms - Back on Top: Arguably one of the better albums of the week, a great indie rock record of the more traditional type. This band has never immediately caught me, so I'm looking forward to spending more time with it.

Meg Myers - Sorry: I talk a lot about the "dark pop" trend happening, and Meg Myers actually got me into it a few years ago with "Adelade," an all-time favorite song of mine. This album has its shares of hits and misses, but when it's on, it's on.

Rose McDowell - Cut With The Cake Knife: This album was apparently shelved for 25 years, being recorded in the late 1980s. What's interesting is how well it fits in with existing retro acts right now, and the title track is truly awesome. A little weird and different, but worth a listen this week.

Telekinesis - Ad Infinitum: Telekinesis is the best band on Merge you're not listening to. Another stellar indie-pop effort by this group that has yet to do anything wrong.

Other albums I heard this week and can recommend:

* Say Hi - Bleeders Digest
* Leigh Nash - The State I'm In
* Ought - Sun Coming Down
* Battles - La Di Da Di
* Lucero - All a Man Should Do

Other new releases this week:

* Glen Hansard - Didn't He Ramble
* Devil City Angels - Devil City Angels
* CocoRosie - Heartache City
* Chris Cornell - Higher Truth
* Dave Rawlings Machine - Nashville Obsolete
* Darlene Love - Introducing Darlene Love
* Joe Ely - Panhandle Rambler
* Blackalicious - Imani Vol. 1
* Lana Del Ray - Honeymoon
* Black Violin - Stereotypes
* Toadies - Heretics

We should be back to business next week.

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