on rotation

to be honest The National and Handsome Furs are still taking up a lot of my listening space, but there are a few other things keeping me company


Dntel - Dumb Luck

Dntel (aka Jimmy Tamborello of the Postal Service and Figurine) released his anticipated follow up to Life is full of Possibilities. Full of appearances from some prominent friends - Jenny Lewis, Conor Oberst, Grizzly Bear and Mia Doi Todd amongst others. There are definitely some good moments here (To a Fault with Grizzly Bear Edward Droste being one of them, and the title song itself), but somehow it's just not LIFOP. It's definitely not disappointing, but perhaps not quite as good as it looks on paper.



Jim Bryson - Where the Bungalows Roam

Rich and impressive release from Canadian singer/songwriter Bryson. He describes this as an accidental record - putting it together in pieces during his last tour with one of my other faves Kathleen Edwards, but nothing about this album sounds accidental. If you're expecting something like his previous albums, don't. This is gentler and acoustic based allowing his considerable songwriting talents to shine.
This record is all class - click here to launch his radio link and hear the album.


Chet - Fight Against Darkness

More sounds from Canada.....this time from Vancouver Island. Achingly beautiful vocals overlaid with old style dance band sounds. Some of it gets a little cloying and melancholy for even me, but there are some genuinely beautiful moments and you can't fault that voice.