I’m embarassingly late with this edition of the “Take”, so late in fact that I’ve already been lapped by Drake this week (he was on the track team, what can I say). In my defence though, I figured you weren’t missing out on too much, because other than the latest from Ratatat, (who are playing MHOW on July 15 and just announced another show at Terminal 5 on September 27), last week was a pretty lean one. -ed.

Drake’s Take: New Releases 07.01.08

It’s a short week, with a short list of albums, to be handled with a short post. Ratatat’s latest is in Rhapsody a week early, making at least one album I can recommend, as the latest Earlimart is at best borderline, and beyond that, this week’s crop is a wasteland.

Playlist: New Releases 07.01.08


Ratatat – LP3
Stream / Purchase [mp3] (Free if you act by midnight, July 4)

Ratatat - LP3Still relatively fresh from their success with 2006’s Classics, the Brooklyn duo Ratatat return with this continuation of their unique take on electronica. This time out, there’s a little less rock guitar (although, the Brian May-inspired guitar leads appear throughout, as in the case of “Mirando”) and the mood is decidedly more mellow. They rhythms are a bit more complex, and there’s far more analog synth sounds to be had, making for a fascinating journey my first time through the album. After this one listen, I know I’m going to need to hear over and over.

Download: “Mirando” [mp3]


More on the radar this week:
Earlimart – Hymn and Her / “Song For” [mp3]
Serj Tankian – Lie Lie Live
Golden Animals – Free Your Mind and Win a Pony / Free album stream / “Try on Me” [mp3]
We Versus the Shark – Dirty Versions / “Mr. Ego Death” [mp3]
Alkaline Trio – Agony & Irony / Free album stream from AOL
Killer Mike – I Pledge Allegiance to the Grind II (in Rhapsody a week early)
Jay Brannan – Goddamned / Free album stream from AOL / “At First Sight” [mp3]
Alkaline Trio – Agony & Irony / Free album stream from AOL
John Mayer – Where the Light is: John Mayer Live in Los Angeles
G-Unit – T.O.S. (Terminate on Sight)
Tickle Me Pink – Madeline
Reliant K – The Bird and the Bee Sides
Reissue
Van Morrison – A Night in San Francisco
Van Morrison – Live at the Grand Opera House Belfast
Van Morrison – The Healing Game
Van Morrison – A Night in San Francisco
Van Morrison – No Guru, No Method, No Teacher
Van Morrison – Veedon Fleece
Van Morrison – Enlightenment
Miles Davis – The Musings of Miles

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