Grizzly Bear, Annimal Collective, Danger Mouse & Sparklehorse, Sonic Youth

Here is some music I have been listing to lately. If I don't post it like this I will never get around to writing a review for each album.

Grizzly Bear - Veckatimest
Animal Collective-Merriweather
Danger Mouse & Sparklehorse-Dark Night of the Soul
Sonic Youth-The Eternal

Prof and St. Paul Slim – Recession Music

There is no lack of fresh hip-hop coming out of the Twin Cities these days. I'm not too familiar with Prof, but St. Paul Slim has been known to associate with both Rhymesayers and Doomtree. The influences in this album are apparent, from Mos Def to Jay-Z, but the style is unique. And true to Twin Cities form, there are plenty of guest MCs including P.O.S. and Slug. Of course, this if just the free download. You'll have to shell out $5 if you want the whole thing.

recessionmusic.com

Enjoy.

Rilo Kiley – Take Offs & Landings

Just before I went to see M. Ward this past April, I was talking with a co-worker about being excited to see The Watson Twins who were opening. I was familiar with The Watson Twins from their album with Jenny Lewis, Rabbit Fur Coat. That got us talking about Rilo Kiley. I said I had heard much from Rilo Kiley so my co-worker lent me this album, Take Offs & Landings. It's all about traveling and riding in airplanes and such. Pretty good alt-country rock. The songs with Jenny on vocals are best. And I really like the album artwork. But then again, I'm a sucker for slide guitar and isometric technical illustration. Put the two together and you have a winner with me.

Oh, and for the recorder, The Watson Twins sucked.

Enjoy.

Silversun Pickups

Just got the new Silversun Pickups album, it's called Swoon. It's pretty solid. People have compared their sound to The Smashing Pumpkins, and while I can see the similarities, they do have their own sound going on.

I also uploaded their first album, it's called Carnavas. If this band is new to you, I would start with that first album. If you dig it, check out the follow-up.

EDIT: I realized a sample might be nice for you guys. This is Lazy Eye, which is off their first album:

Elvis Costello - Secret, Profane and Sugarcane

Why is the best Americana release in the past 5 years by a London Punk Artist and being sold by label that is known more for its coffee then its music?  Why I don't know.  With his latest release, Secret, Profane and Sugarcane, out June 9, Elvis Costello proves he can conquer any type of music.  Really it is not a strech for international art theif Declan MacManus, he has been toying with Americana with albums like Almost Blue, Delivery Man, and Momofuku, but this album produced by T Bone Burnett is full on Americana.  This album could have been made by the Flying Burrito Brothers, or Lyle Lovette.  However know one could do what he does and he makes the music his own.  As Alice Hartzell once said he does an A+ job with a B- voice.  It is true.  

Highlights of the album are Hidden Shame, How Deep is The Red, Sulphur To Sugarcane and Complicated Shadows (a song orginally written for Johnny Cash).  

Well enjoy, and sound off below if you can figure out how Elvis became the savior of Americana

Oh and if you are so inclinded I posted the full copy of Wilco (The Album).  So that is that.  

MGMT--Oracular Spectacular

So, I was roadtripping this weekend, and I finally decided to hop on the MGMT bandwagon. You've heard all these before, and the album is solid. If you don't have it or haven't listened to Time to Pretend, Electric Feel, or Kids, pull this down.

Phoenix--Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix

Last year I met this French kid (TFK for short) in the pool and we trained together. We found we had an affinity for electornica--daft punk, Justice, and he turned me on to Phoenix. This is their recent album, though the lyrics don't do it for me at all, the beats are fun, and it will be on regular rotation as I bike the city this summer. 1901, Lizstomania, and Girlfriend are fun, but I think my favorite song is the guitar strumming Love Like a Sunset, Pt. II. These guys are coming to the Varsity on June 23rd, and you should come and hop around.

School of Seven Bells--Alpinisms

School of Seven Bells opened for Black Moth Super Rainbow last week at the Triple Rock. BMSR disappointed--I won't go into it--but these two twins rocked the house, forcing us into the back row so our eyeballs didn't bleed. You've probably heard their singles, Chain and Half Asleep, but the whole album is solid. In concert, a lot of it melded together (and it kind of does on the album as well), but it never let us down. Enjoy.

Iron & Wine - Around The Well

I didn't know this was a "B-sides and rarities" album when I bought it. After listening to it, it shows. It's a double album that (like most "b-sides and rarities" albums) doesn't really flow at all. It's not bad, there's some gems in there....and for $8 bucks I can't really complain. But this is for the hardcore Iron & Wine fans only.

At least it has Such Great Heights on it.

Wilco (The Album)

Kevin posted the album.

Phantom Buffalo

A local band from Portland, Maine, but they are starting to make it fairly big.. I know the guitar player, Tim, we drink beers together on Fridays. They played at my buddy's Michael's wedding last summer in Tenants Harbor, and Michael gave out their CD's as a gift. This is what I uploaded.

Les Cowboys Fringants

I found this band when I went to Quebec City a couple times last year.. They are like the Beatles of French Canada.. the people love them up there. I saw them in a packed venue.. everyone in there was going nuts to the music and Labatt's beer.. great atmosphere, so I always think of that when I listen to the album... They definitely don't have an American sound, kind of hokey, but it really grew on me.

State Radio - "Us Against The Crown"

These guys can easily be described as reggae-rock, but don't write them off as a one note act. There's a lot of variety and strong song-writing on this album. I bought this kind of on a whim, and I'm glad I did. It doesn't sound like most of the indie rock I've been into lately, and it's nice to break out of the mold once in a while.

Here's a sample of one of the stronger tracks:

Del The Funky Homosapien

Del's new album "Funk Man (the stimulus package)" is a free download, just go here:

http://delthefunkyhomosapien.bandcamp.com/

Great Lake Swimmers--Lost Channels

The fourth album from the Toronto band is much like the earlier albums: acoustic guitars, solid vocals, and folksy scenes. It won't get you up to dance, but it's great background music (or music to calm that crabby child). Check out "Pulling on a Line," "Still," and "Unison Falling into Harmony," though they're all solid. And check them out on April 22nd with me at The Entry.

The National--Cherry Tree (2004)

This is the National's second release, from 2004. All of the songs are great (if you like The National) though I am not a big fan of "Reasonable Man".

THE BLACK KEYS--Thickfreakness

A sweet little rock and roll blues album from an Akron, Ohio duo recorded in thier basement and released in 2003. Perhaps almost a White Stripes with less hype and more clear blues connection.

The Decemberists - The Hazards of Love

Just posted the latest from the Portland crew, The Decemberists. I haven't yet had a chance to give The Hazards of Love a proper listen other than the single, The Rake's Song, which was released a few weeks ago. Always melodramatic, often pretentious; if you are a fan, The Hazards of Love will not likely disappoint. I picked this up for a mere $3.99 over at lala.com. Enjoy and report back with your findings.

Brother Ali - The Truth is Here

I just got back from a Brother Ali in-store at Fifth Element. It's been 2 years since Ali's last album, The Undisputed Truth. This 9 song EP and DVD is meant to be the bridge between that and his next full length, Street Preacher, which is set to be released this Fall.

Nine tracks featuring two highly sought after b-sides and seven new and previously unreleased songs including “Philistine David”, which was featured in the Jonathan Demme directed documentary, Jimmy Carter Man From Plains and “The Believer” a collaboration with Slug of Atmosphere...

...The Truth Is Here captures a key period in the career of what many have called one of the most promising voices to emerge from the underground this century and will be a must have for any and every Brother Ali fan.

The in-store performance was great. Minnesota hip-hop is alive and well. Between this and the recent P.O.S. release, I'm glad I live in the Twin Cities. Ali was late, so Slug grabbed the mic to kill a couple minutes. He told some stories about being on the road with Brother Ali and got the crowd laughing. The store was packed by the time Ali made his way to the front. He played four or five songs off the new EP including "The Believers" featuring Slug. He told a few stories, did a great freestyle and a few songs by request. Then he stuck around to sign CDs for anyone who wanted an autograph. The great thing was how appreciative Ali was to everyone that was there. You can tell he's humbled to be in the position that he's in. It's refreshing to see such heart and gratitude towards fans.

Enjoy this record and support local music.

P.O.S. - Never Better

"P.O.S returns with Never Better, the follow up to 2006's critically acclaimed Audition. Written mostly in a moving car, P.O.S raps at full clip to ride rolling drums and revving distortion. There's an urgency that he keeps in careful check, and then unleashes for spring-loaded verses that represent his best work. Never Better enters a room like bombshell with a black eye, badass, noisy, and impossible to ignore. With an unlikely punk rock past and an ever growing loyal hip hop fan base, P.O.S proves he is a rapper with range, a real musician and an unstoppable performer."

Stef's third full-length album, Never Better, hits harder than anything else you're likely to hear this year. I'm a big fan of his first two albums and most of what I've heard from the Doomtree collective, but this album takes it all up a notch. To be honest, it took me a couple of listens to warm up to Never Better. It's more abrasive than most of the hip-hop I'm used to. But now that I'm hooked, I can't stop listening. There are so many layers to discover in this DIY hip-hop/punk genre blending album. Best listened to live, but a close second is while driving your car 50 MPH at night down Lyndale with your lights off. So, check out the album and be sure to check out the artwork. Amazing.