#musicmonday

I haven’t done a #musicmonday post in a while, I feel like I hadn’t been listening to anything really new and exciting lately. But that’s all changed and now I have all kinds of rad tunes to share.

First up is Ratatat and their upcoming album LP4 which comes out June 8th. I wouldn’t say this album is a vast departure from any of their others but there’s still something new and fresh about it. The production sounds crisper, they’ve introduced strings in some songs but it’s still the Ratatat you’ve grown to love. Then there’s Smog, who’s A River Ain’t Too Much To Love album was playing for a good chunk of time. I’d highly suggest listening to I Feel Like The Mother of the World if you’re curious.

As I posted last night I listened to the new Catacombkid album Deep Sleep quite a bit. Like I said it’s great to listen to while you work, plus it’s free, so you can’t beat that. After that came Avi Buffalo, which yes, I’m still listening to. I can’t get over this album, it’s struck me so perfectly. When I don’t know what to listen to lately, this is the first thing that goes on. Then there’s Seabear, who I also just posted about, and their new one We Built A Fire. I had been meaning to get this album for a while and I randomly remembered it was out, so I immediately snagged it. So far I love it, though I’m trying not to play it out. There’s something about the lead singers voice that I totally love.

Rounding things out are the new albums from Flying Lotus, Born Ruffians and my old standby Deerhunter. Both the Flying Lotus and Born Ruffians albums are pretty good, but they’re still growing on me, I haven’t been totally enamored yet.

If you’re on Last.fm feel free to add me by clicking here.

Bobby

#musicmonday

Last week was a daaammmmn good week for music, lots of old favorites have started to release new albums and they’re all sounding really amazing. First up is Beach Fossils and their new full length, self-titled album. I was a huge fan of the few song I had originally heard so I was stoked that he had a new album out. So far it’s really chill and I’m excited to listen to it more.

After that was Mr. Bert Jansch who I suddenly got a kick to listen to the other day, followed by Broken Social Scene and their new album Forgiveness Rock Record. Then we had LCD Soundsystem and his new album This is Happening and so far I’m really digging it. I hear a lot of people saying it’s perfect but so far I’d say that Sound of Silver is better.

Following that up is Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti, who’s on this week’s Mixcast, Ra Ra Riot, who I’m a bit late to the game on, Rufus Wainwright and his new album, and finishing up with the new Crystal Castles album which is way too noisy for my taste.

Bobby

#musicmonday

I feel like I’ve gotten a good crop of music lately, there are definitely some good things to check out.

Like I said last week, the new Rufus Wainwright album is an amazing step forward for him, just a piano and his voice. After that was the new Dr. Dog album Shame, Shame, which I wrote a bit about in the previous post. If you like their previous albums you’re going to love this new one. Yesterday ended up being a rainy, crappy day, so I busted out The Clientele who are always perfect for that kind of weather. Following them up was Bonobo who’s new album Black Sands continue to get me in the working mood.

Starting out the next chunk was Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti and his/their new album Before Today, and it’s a totally bizarre but awesome album that’s totally starting to grow on me. Think drugs and rock music. The last album I kinda want to talk about is this Wu Tang vs. The Beatles album. I didn’t really think it was all that great on first listen but after another solid listening to it’s certainly proving to be quite a masterpiece. Don’t expect to find the album in any traditional ways though, you gotta’ know how to search the Googlez.

As usual feel free to add me on Last.fm by clicking here.

Bobby

#mondaymusic

I was listening to some really fun things last week, lots of new gems that I think you’ll enjoy.

First up was Rufus Wainwright and his new album All Days Are Nights: Songs For Lulu. The album came out a couple of weeks ago but I honestly came across it randomly, not knowing it was in the works. This time around Mr. Wainwright has stripped away the theatrics of his last album for a minimal approach, pretty much just him and a piano. The effect is marvelous and this honestly could be one of his very best albums. A lot of the lyrics are centered around his family, which I’m guessing was sparked by his mothers fight with cancer and her passing in January. There’s no sass, no ego, just a deeply personal record which is sad and beautiful.

After that is probably the counterpoint to the Rufus, it’s a wonderful lady named Zee Avi. Zee is a Malaysian singer who released a self-titled album last year and it’s just about the cutest and cheeriest album I’ve heard in a long time. She basically became famous through YouTube, getting signed by a label that’s partly owned by Jack Johnson. Her style is kind of reminiscent of Feist or Regina Spektor and I would add that’s she’s just as talented. I can’t recommend this album more highly, it’s a gem.

Then there was Bonobo, who I read about over on ISO50. Real name Simon Green, Bonobo is a DJ and electronic musician who’s been making these kind of ambient trip hop albums for about 10 years now. I picked up his most recent release Black Sands and I have to say I’m totally impressed with it. The first few songs on the album sound like a hip-hop-esque soundtrack to a Final Fantasy game. If you need some epic sounding music to get some work accomplished this is my suggestion.

As usual feel free to add me on Last.fm by clicking here.

Bobby

#musicmonday

Better late than never on today’s #musicmonday post but I’ve got a few fun things I thought I’d share with you this week. A lot of these bands are also on Kitsune Noir Mixcast No.030, so if you haven’t checked that out yet you might wanna’.

First up is She & Him and their new album Volume Two, which is quite a worthy follow up to Volume One. It seems like they were testing the water with the first album and this time around they decided to really go for it. M. Ward’s production particularly shines on this one, with lots of glowing strings and Zooey’s voice melting your heart.

Bill Callahan came next, and for some reason I’ve just been listening the hell out of him lately. Rather random, but his newest album Sometimes I Wish I Were An Eagle is particularly beautiful, even better than Woke On A Whaleheart though I’m not experienced enough to say if it matches his earlier records with Smog.

Coming in fifth is The Avalanches and their seminal (isn’t that such a cliché word to use while describing a record?) album Since I Left You. It’s mind-boggling to think that record was released 10 years ago, and that they still have yet to release another proper album. Wikipedia is telling me that they may be releasing a new record in October, but I wouldn’t hold my breath if I were you.

Finishing things off is Neil Halstead, the lead singer of Mojave 3. Yet again according to Wikipedia Mojave 3 is simply on hiatus and they’ll be releasing another album in the future, but it’s been 4 years since their last album Puzzles Like You, a gem of an album if you ask me. Thankfully Neil has taken it upon himself to continue releasing albums on his own. I’ve been listening to Oh! Mighty Engine which was released back in 2008, but is still nice to listen to.

As usual feel free to add me on Last.fm by clicking here.

Bobby