the cd store shelves seemed kinda barren for a few weeks there, not that i ever have trouble finding SOMETHING i wanna hear, but now there's tons of new things, good things even...
Bjork - Volta i'd buy a cd of Bjork reading the footnotes to an algebra textbook, so of course i was gonna get this, but seeing her at Coachella and on SNL had me really looking forward to hearing recorded versions of "Wanderlust" and others on here. as usual it's gorgeous and pretty wacked out so will take some time to absorb.
Stars of the Lid - And Their Refinement of the Decline i didn't even know SOTL were still a band. i enjoy listening to this kind of slow-developing music, and i admire those who have the patience to make it. it's on
Kranky who has steadily released a coherently great catalog since '93.
Elliott Smith - New Moon nice liner notes by Larry Crane of
TapeOp magazine (& Jackpot! Studios) explain in detail the provenance of these tracks from '94-'97, the Kill Rock Stars era, plus rememberances from Sam Coomes and Rebecca Gates, but it's the songs of course that you're after and they're familiar and immediate and excellent of course.
Sea and Cake - Everybody love this band. this one seems warmer, maybe softer than past releases? after one listen i just know i like it, and more specific critiques will likely not follow!
Feist - The Reminder i read Feist described as a "Canadian sultry sensation" and she is all of those things, but she also made a record that totally crushes my onetime held idea that Let it Die was a pleasant diversion that would be followed up by diminishing returns...this totally delivers, even rocks in places, goes total lo-fi in others and engages throughout.
Tujiko Noriko - Blurred In My Mirror more music i would love to try to make but don't have the patience (much less the know-how), mysterious, kinda grown-up vibe for Noriko & maybe not as "pretty" as her other records, still sucks you in. i just noticed that she has a new
website where i can keep track of her prolific ways (ie all the cds she releases that i can't find in stores).
also saw on
Idolator that there are new Betty Davis deluxe reissues out on the fine
Light in the Attic label. i think i have crappy bootleg cds of these albums, i'm really looking forward to picking those up.
