Carl Sandburg Visits Me In A Dream

The smooth plucking UK instrumentalist James Blackshaw is out with a new album Litany of Echoes after a much lauded debut and EP.  I have to say that the effort here is a little lacking compared to his previous efforts but I wanted to give you a little taste of what this incredble musician can do.

Check out Litany of Echoes.

Listen to “Infinite Circle“

Straight out of Detroit, Michigan comes the eclectic pop gospel PAS/CAL.  Anticipation has surrounded this collective for some time now, but not until July 22 will PAS/CAL have officially released its debut LP!  Imagine fellow Michiganer Sufjan Stevens mixed with UK-Swedish rockers The Ark combined with a taste of Apples in Stereo.  It’s insanely catchy retropop music that shows an octet with an amazing grasp for grooves and rhythms.  But their discipline doesn’t mean that they take themselves too seriously. All the songs on their debut I Was Raised on Matthew, Mark, Luke & Laura (loving the slightly sardonic album title) are adventurously fun and engaging ditties–they possess an everlasting energy that would surely outduel the likes of cheerleading squads the world over.  So what are you waiting for?  Check out the songs below and get the album I Was Raised on Matthew, Mark, Luke & Laura!

Listen to “O My Cherry”

Listen to “Little Red Radio“

Coldplay has released a new single (that doesn’t quite top the one-minute mark) in honor of their tour launch.  Viva la vida!

Coldplay - “Death Will Never Conquer“

Usually, lasts are bad.  There is no more after the last.  But sometimes, just sometimes lasts are good.  Like last raps in baseball or last wishes with genies.  Amos Lee may not be a genie, but his Last Days at the Lodge is sure to be added to the list.

The smooth-talking, grade-school teacher turned incredible singer-songwriter, Amos Lee has churned out his third LP and the results are quite amazing.  Though Amos is only 30 years of age, his prophetic imagery, wisdom, and maturity are the traits of a much older man.  Not to mention that Amos does more than his share of justice to the biblical character with the same nom de plume.  The folk-blues instrumentation has always suited Lee well, but time has shown his songwriting to improve.  On “Better Days” Lee sings, ‘The darkness has always been / The world was born into a blanket of sin’ as he promises better days over a sunday morning guitar.  ‘All of my heartache was laughed away just like a clown’ is sung on “Ease Back” with a delicate banjo strumming in the background.

“Kid” would be an otherwise typical folk song if not for the wonderful vocals from Amos, which turn the track into one of the more memorable ones on Last Days.  The southern twangy “Street Corner Preacher” is a standout tune, as Amos illustrates that he’s picked up a few new rock tricks over the past couple years.  Amos Lee’s dynamicism is further portrayed in vocally flexible “Truth” and in the soulful “Baby I Want You”. The adventurous “Listen” features a harmonious mix of rolling guitars that complements Amos’ fiery tone.

Lasts (including last songs!) may bring sadness, but there sure is comfort in knowing that you can always press repeat with this one!

Go and get Last Days at the Lodge.

Listen to “Listen” (it’s only semi-funny)

Listen to “Street Corner Preacher“

UK rock-pop collective Good Shoes sound like the Converse crossover of The Strokes and Vampire Weekend.  The rhythms of both are heavily prevalent in their debut Think Before You Speak.  “Small Town Girl”, musically sounds like it was ripped from an Is This It? B-side, while the lazier “Wait” has the reggae influences that are becoming so ever popular in rock these days (see Vampire Weekend, Razorlight, etc.)  It seems as though Good Shoes should be a total formulaic indie hit at this time, but I think what keeps them back on this album is their overall inconsistency.  These songs don’t feel coherent, not to mention the lack of discipline on songs like “Blue Eyes” and “Everybody’s Talking”. Nonetheless, this is a wonderful debut for a band that shows a great deal of both talent and potential.

Grab a copy of Think Before You Speak.

Listen to “Small Town Girl”

Listen to “Sophia“

Sam Beam, a.k.a Iron and Wine, has released an EP Lovesong of the Buzzards full of what seem like B-sides from his excellent The Shepherd’s Dog.  Take a listen and see why even the bottom of the barrel for Iron & Wine is still the cream of the crop:

Listen to “Serpent Charmer”

Listen to “Arms of a Thief“

Just wanted to share a couple tracks with you on this glorious day:

The Invisible - London Girl

Ron Sexsmith - Brandy Alexander (Note: Sexsmith wrote this song for Feist, mind you!)

Toodles!

Chris Martin and all his friends have found the secret to eternal glory.  Somewhere in this world, there is a fountain from which musicians drink that grants them supernatural songwriting abilities.  These artists walk the line between unfathomable fame and modesty, serving simultaneously as everymen and (inter)national heroes.  And so, the anticipation and excitement that stems from the prospect of a new Coldplay album always tingles my senses–each one is a new era for the band and its listeners.  I also grew up with the awkward Brits as they proved their mettle with Parachutes and established themselves as a rock superpower with Rush of Blood To The Head.  I was right beside them when X & Y put Coldplay into the everyday rock icon lexicon.

And now their shortest album yet is their most ambitious.  Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends is as moody as Coldplay as have ever been (much of this album review involves superlatives!).  The pounding keyboards of “Violet Hill” are as chilling as the excitement of the electric guitar and Martin’s falsetto.  Indeed, the album is quite dramatic–it’s bombastic and bold, outspoken and concise, much like a mission statement for the band.  The lovingly done “Viva La Vida” possesses the same kind of magic that “Clocks” did, with its high-charged chorus and the achingly sweet strings that would make ELO drool.  “Strawberry Swing” is an unearthly delight, conjuring scents and sounds from a world far away.  The imagery is most vivid in this lounge-rock ditty as ‘It’s such a perfect day’ rings loud and clear.  The percussion-heavy “Lost!” is complemented perfectly with the harmonious organs as Coldplay proves again its prowess with the rock ballad. The twangy, southern comfort of “Yes” starts out as an ominous rock dirge but soon turns into a wonderfully moody rock tune with country and Middle Eastern rhythms (!).

The combination of styles and flavors are appetizing and equally satiating, showing the once timid Brits becoming the stuff of legend.  Indeed, life has been good to Coldplay—Viva La Vida!

Buy your copy of Viva La Vida or Death And All His Friends.

Listen to “Strawberry Swing”

Listen to “Death and All His Friends“

Out of Southampton, UK come Delays, formed by brothers Greg and Aaron Gilbert.  After two modestly successful albums, Delays have released their third LP Everything’s the Rush and seemed poised for even more success.  Though they have often been likened to the Cocteau Twins, I find them to be similar in style to The Clientele.  You may be familiar with this band from the video I posted last week of their hit single “Hooray” - and it might be the best video of the year!

Everything’s The Rush is not as urgent sounding as the album’s title would suggest.  In fact, ETR is delightfully optimistic and light-hearted (not to mention the exquisite album artwork!).  The anthemic, almost Swedish-sounding “Hooray” is by far  the most cutesy of the songs on ETR, but there’s more to this album that cuteness.  “Jet Lag” is a beautiful, serene song that truly brings to mind The Clientele, while the stringed “One More Lie In” and “Girl’s On Fire” are refined and delicate.  I could go more into the album, but a lack of time urges me to prompt you to explore this album for yourself.

Go and get Everything’s The Rush.

Listen to “Hooray” (5/5)

Listen to “Jet Lag” (4.8/5)

In an age where bands with misplaced exclamation points (The Go! Team, !!!, etc.) rule the indie scene, it takes real courage and willpower to withhold from recklessly throwing !’s everywhere.  I can just imagine how livid Elaine Benes would be at the abundance of Shift+F1’s being used.  Yet The Zutons’ third and newest release, You Can Do Anything, is conspicuously missing the many exclamations it deserves!

The Zutons’ sophomore release Tired of Hanging Around continued to showcase the band’s quirky outlook and knack for catchy riffs.  You Can Do Anything builds on the progress from THA, as the band has found a way to harness its own creativity and seemingly unlimited originality in a way that makes for an incredibly rockin’ album.  What I love most about The Zutons is the self-knowing kitsch–from the album covers to the lyrics to the instrumentation, The Zutons take the music seriously but they don’t puff their own chests.

There really isn’t a theme that ties all these tracks together, except for the optimistic mantra You Can Do Anything.  Indeed, The Zutons have proven on their third LP that they can do anything.  “Freak” is a comically frightening song about a gigolo - the wordplay is quite entertaining.  “Give Me a Reason” is straight out of a Bon Jovi album, complete with choral and electronic wah-wahs.  “Don’t Get Caught” and “Put a Little Aside” fair on the slower side, showing the band’s skill for rock ballads.  But the real highlights on this album really set it apart from other above-average releases this year.  “What’s Your Problem” is a free-wheelin’, feel good, pop-rock song that complements the piano-bopping rock duet “You Could Make the Four Walls Cry” quite nicely.  So grab those exclamation points and use them wisely - You Can Do Anything!

So what are you waiting for?  Buy You Can Do Anything.

Listen to “You Could make the Four Walls Cry” (4.9/5)

Listen to “What’s Your Problem” (4.8/5)