Iron and Wine

More good news!

New album coming from Iron and Wine called 'The Shepherd's Dog'

Initial listens suggest more of the same beautiful, deep and yet understated melodies of his previous releases, but somehow even more satisfying. Sam Beam seems to be moving away from his lo-fi roots and building a more polished and deeper sound and as much as I've loved everything he's put out, this is really good stuff. The best kind of music to ease me into another Monday.
(More impressions to follow.)

Listen to Boy with a Coin mp3 through Sub Pop records.

permission to gush...

The ever lovely, entertaining and talented Josh Ritter has a new album coming out.

Get it in:

North America on August 21

Europe on September 7

Worldwide on October 1

Or if you can't wait that long (like me) - hear it streaming from his site

Back...

Home from 2 weeks in Indonesia - not exactly cutting edge music centre I have to say! Have been completely out of the loop and now feel like am still struggling in the musical wilderness. Have I missed much? What's new on everyone's stereos right now? Whatever about the tunes - I can't get The Mighty Boosh off my itunes at the moment - helps get through the work days at least. (need some humour right now.)

othings making an appearance:

Interpol - Our love to Admire

John Vanderslice - Emerald city

Art Brut

It's a bit complicated
(isn't it just?)

although I generally prefer not to get too personal about these reviews and instead focus on the music, somehow this seems like the soundrack to my own life right now.....from the title onwards it strikes a chord. simple tales of making mix tapes, starting new relationships, ending others, hanging out and just living life. the lyrics are so simple but they are still witty and charming like Bang Bang Rock & Roll...the album just sounds like life in all it's banal and fun glory.
some of the picks:
"I can't say I'm not enjoying the kissing, but I've a sneaking suspicion, you're not really listening. I know I shouldn't, is it so wrong? to break from your kiss to turn up a pop song." (from Pump up the volume hear it on their myspace page)
"just a couple of friends, hanging out with each other, we started to swap tapes to soundtrack our summer, tapes that are full of the things we can't say, during the day." (Sound of Summer listen to this track here)
who could resist that?

Art Brut are not trying to be anything they are not. This is pared down rock, and it's good. it may not have the newness and novelty of Bang Bang Rock & Roll (or great song like 'we started a band') but it's a consisently decent second effort and you won't be able to help turning in on over and over again.

Chris Garneau

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.

Why Ryan?

I almost have nothing to say about this....I need to let the disappointment pass a bit.

for now I'm just bored, bored, bored......ughh

update 19 June

Ok I've calmed down now.....so allow me to explain a little. I love Ryan Adams. I think he's an awesome songwriter and have continued to be one of his staunchest supporters along with every release (apart from Rock & Roll of course) It just doesn't sound like he was trying here with Easy Tiger. It's not about the return to a more country sound - I couldn't be a bigger fan of that - in this case it just feels a little too slick, too formulaic.... too uninspired. It sounds more like a second rate impression of Ryan Adams than Ryan himself.....I've been listening to (and enjoying) Mrs Lovely for years now for example and yet I'm none too happy about it being repackaged and rereleased here as These Girls. The whole thing just doesn't really resonate. Nothing feels that new, there's nothing to excite, none of his regular innovation....
Don't get me wrong, Ryan at his worst is probably still better than most, I just expected (ok selfishly wanted) much more.