I figured it was time again to throw out some new (or new to me) music, and the albums below are the newest downloads I’m listening to these days.
I’m enjoying it all. I love Alison Sudol’s voice (A Fine Frenzy) and I always like (although never really love) Andrew Bird. I have to be in the right mood for Bird, and I’d echo that for Cold War Kids as well. There are a couple of CWK songs I just don’t care for, but as a whole I really like the album. The music of Ra Ra Riot often brings to mind Vampire Weekend, and Cool Hand Luke is sometimes reminiscent of another of last year’s favorites, The Myriad.
But the two highlights of the year so far are Bruce Springsteen and Ray Lamontagne.
The new Springsteen is, not surprisingly, very good. I’ve read a lot of mixed reviews, probably slightly more negative than positive. And I would admit that it did take me several listens before it really grabbed me as a whole. I liked it initially, but I’ve grown to like it more and more each time I’ve heard it, and it seems unfathomable that it will not be in my top ten at year end.
The newest from singer-songwriter Lamontagne is excellent, too. Recommended to me a while back by Scott, it is just a great piece of work, that, like …Dream, seems destined for my top ten this year. My understanding is that this is his most diverse album to date (I’ve not heard his previous work), and based on what he’s done here, I cannot help but look forward to more from this guy.
Here’s a track from each one…
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Working On A Dream Bruce Springsteen “Kingdom of Days” |
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Gossip In The Grain Ray Lamontagne “You Are The Best Thing” |
One Cell In The Sea A Fine Frenzy “Come On, Come Out” |
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Noble Beast Andrew Bird “Oh No” |
Love, Save The Empty Erin McCarley “Love, Save The Empty” |
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Loyalty To Loyalty Cold War Kids “Something Is Not Right With Me” |
The Sleeping House Cool Hand Luke “Cast Your Bread” |
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The Rhumb Line Ra Ra Riot “Ghost Under Rocks” |
Butterfly Sketches far beyond frail “Portland” |
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That’s it. That’s the list.
I have 17 eMusic downloads left that I need to use this week. Any suggestions?
I was going to ask you the same thing. I just re-upped with eMusic (again), so I have 80-some-odd downloads to spend. I thought about Bird, but I’m unsure. Just doesn’t grab me.
February 9, 2009
Bird is not for everyone, I suppose. I liked his previous two, and I like the new one, but it’s more for particular songs than as a whole. I think his last was better than this newest one, but I still like the new one.
February 9, 2009
by the way, re: eMusic, those last 4 in this post (along with Bird) were all from eMusic.
from last month, I’d recommend the David Byrne & Brian Eno album along with Dar Williams as well.
February 9, 2009
Thanks for this! My favorite is Erin McCarley’s “Love, Save the Empty.” It’s the kind of song that i wanna put on repeat right when the song’s over!
February 11, 2009