A bunch of these Drake’s Takes kind of got away from me, and since I hate to let good reviews go to waste, I’ve been going in and doing a little bit of blog housekeeping. (That’s right, you’re eyes aren’t playing tricks on you, this post just appeared on September 29 more or less by “magic”.) -ed.
Compared to last (and especially next) week, it’s a sparse one for new releases. The Avett Brothers major label debut tops the list, at least for me. The other headliners are mainly compilations, one being the 7 Worlds Collide benefit album (featuring Jeff Tweedy, Neil Finn, Johnny Marr and more) along with soundtracks Where the Wild Things Are (Karen O & friends) and Whip It! (a hodgepodge including Jens Lekman). Then there’s a new one from the mostly reunited Alice in Chains, and releases from Hope Sandoval, Zero 7 and Whip It! contributors The Ettes & Landon Pigg.
Playlist: New Releases 09.29.09
The Avett Brothers – I and Love and You
Stream / Purchase [mp3]
With their major label debut, The Avett Brothers have continued to expand their sound from the simple folk trio of their beginnings. Rick Rubin must have heard them as another The Jayhawks (whom he kind of owns), as with the harmonies and the lushly arranged ballads (like the title track) filtered through Southern sensibilities. (The brothers seemingly rewrote “Let it Be” several times here.) Sure, there are a few uptempo numbers (like the exceptional “Kick Drum Heart”), but it’s the slower numbers that rule the day. There is some exceptional songwriting here, which bodes well for future releases.
More on the radar (and in the mp3 player) this week:
Karen O and the Kids – Where the Wild Things Are OST
7 Worlds Collide – Sun Came Out / Free AOL Album Stream
Alice in Chains – Black Gives Way To Blue / Free AOL Album Stream
Whip It [Music From The Motion Picture] / Free AOL Album Stream
The Raveonettes – In & Out of Control (AOL Album Stream a week early)
Zero 7 – Yeah Ghost
Hope Sandoval & the Warm Inventions – Through The Devil Softly / Free AOL Album Stream
Metalocalypse: Dethklok – Dethalbum II
Miranda Lambert – Revolution / Free AOL Album Stream
The Ettes – Do You Want Power / Free AOL Album Stream
Kill Hannah – Wake Up the Sleepers
Panther – Entropy
Beaujolais – Admirations
Landon Pigg – The Boy Who Never / Free AOL Album Stream
Melvins – Chicken Switch
Drivin’ n’ Cryin’ – Great American Bubble Factory
Langhorne Slim – Be Set Free / Free AOL Album Stream