Drake’s Take: New Releases 07.01.08

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