New Releases 2013

It was between Nine Inch Nails and The Julie Ruin even though I am not crazy about either album. But since I am seeing Julie Ruin tonight (and Nine Inch Nails in October), I went with a different cover!

“News”, the title track of his October 174th release, is fair to middling. I am not sold on the bridge, but it the chorus is pretty and the hook, , a handful of “ooooos”, is fabulous. And the way he elongates “all my life” seems to do a real neat trick he can’t always many: it sounds deep and trivial: both at the same time

Earl Sweatshirt is the keeper, I was streaming it over the weekend and it is excellent, there is a reason Tyler was so psyched to get him back in the Odd Future fold

To call Van Dyke Parks an acquired taste is to damn him with faint praise; the more you listen the more bemused you become

The essence of Anglo disco 30 years after synth pop, it sounds like all other electronic disco, but with less bass and more brains

‘It’s not going to be 14 tracks sounding like ‘I love It’ because that would be boring’

Maybe I miss her and that’s why I am feeling it so strong, but this is a strong, strong taste of disco with smart techno beats all over the show. I can’t wait for the album now

Timberlake’s last album has hovered around the top 75% in my opinion meter, it is very good but is it great? Sometimes I think it is but mostly I think it isn’t

In the battle of the Gallagher brothers, I’ve sided with the lest gifted one so let’s hope Dave Sitek manages to upgrade the product without going new coke on our asses. Otherwise a slow week, with the return of Sonny And The Sunsets and Jimmy Eat World the not very highlights. Possible June surprise? Alison Moyet

Despite the fact that Burdon just celebrated his 72 birthday this past Saturday, his voice sound youthful, while Lewis’ emotional vocals nicely complement it, with a touch a sexy-scary ambiance in the background.

Some week right? Yeah Yeah Yeahs, I am not convinced, I’ll have to listen to a little more, Fall Out Boys, Meat Puppets, Kid Cudi, an album considered to be their big break through for Shell Shag, Meat Puppets, a hugely buzzed Iron & Wine, Flaming Lips. This could be a year defining week. But best of all. An Art Brut greatest hits, one of my fave bands, the UK rockers are ready for prime time and this might do it.

Sometimes I’ve imagined little trilogies of songs in my head, seeing how a song on the first, second and third albums all form some kind of Vague narrative. But we don’t write rock operas – yet

Absolutely zero doubt that Tyler The Creator is the man to beat this week, his new album Wolf is already among the best of 2013. And I am not certain Rio Kiley are the band for an odds and sods compilation, certainly “Let Me Back In” was pretty lousy and if you are waiting for a new “With Arms Outstretched” you better hurry they won’t wait, they also won’t provide it.

Wavves is the keeper of this lot not least because the Strokes sounds like a major disaster on first listen and Depeche Mode sound like, well, Depeche Mode sound like Depeche Mode and I am simply not a fan at all/ The other album that might be better than you think is Harper Simon’s. Alyson sent me a couple of sonds off the Harper and I was impressed with his more sinewy approach.

“I Be On” is weird BEYond belief and I wonder how or even if it will fill up the gaps on her next open. “Bow Down” is awesome and it is as simple as that. This time they trick out her voice like a chipmunk before Beyonce takes on the haters everywhere

I wonder if Lily Allen could write a song as good as “3 AM” anymore? My feeling is it is gonna be a great great album. Even so, there is a lot of competition here: Peyroux, Hitchcock, a Son Volts from the vaults, TMBG. It might a really good week.

The band played this song, and a few other new ones, at the Great Hall in Toronto on February 8th, during one of their ‘Long Winter’ nights. The series of shows was ‘a monthly night of immersive and interactive music, installations, visual art, readings, food, and dance to help Toronto get through our long and cold winter’, and featured artists, lecturers, dancers, videographers, and other bands.

For sure, Claire’s Diary is the best of the lot but Atoms For Peace might well make it on to my top 10 albums of 2013. Johnny Marr won’t and I can’t even guess whether Emmylou and Rodney come up with the goods… well, I can guess. My guess is yes they do release a good album.

‘Help us make our video! For our first single, “Let Me Back In”, we invite you to upload your favorite personal Rilo Kiley video clip, band footage, created animation, etc… whatever you have in moving pictures that you’d like to share with us’

Kelly Willis is always excellent so I am thrilled she has a newbie, and Bryan Ferry? Still recycling his catalog but why not? But I am not the only one who has been waiting since November for the release of the new Pissed Jeans albums. I’ve only heard two tracks, one is a masterpiece and the other one isn’t.

Wow, a new Silverstein, Sexsmith Jim James (and a goodie by the sounds of it) and Eels (which I’ve been streaming with nothing but pleasure all week). But the week belongs to Chris Stamey, Stamey’s solo stuff is consistently better than his dB’s material and his dB’s material is pretty awesome in its own rights. Word is this was influenced by his work on the Alex Chilton tribute…

Tooth & Nail” draws on personal rather than political themes, and was recorded over a whirlwind five-day session with Grammy Award winning producer Joe Henry. Joe took Billy out of his comfort zone (all vocals were recorded live without retakes or overdubs)

This is an OK slice of disco, the horns are lovely, vocals on point, rap non offensive, and the entire enterprise is smart enough AOP -adult oriented pop. Timberlake is in great voice, he has lost nothing at all from his top end. And while the song goes nowhere it glitters in place

Is this as bad as it looks? Maybe not. I am looking forward to Free Energy and Black Veil Bride, maybe Ra Ra Riot, maybe Darius Rucker, it’s been years since “Come Back Song”. But then I scratch my head in bemusement. I mean, I can’t still decide about Tegan And Sara

“Thank god she had saddle shoes on that day because it added that “magic moment” feeling you get in the studio sometimes.”… I could have done without the “magic moment” stuff but there you go.

I have never heard a bad song by Hitchcock and on the contrary have hummed along for some time now. Robin has never really left the scene but hey now, new material makes me very happy.

In a sense, it is a child of “Candle In The Wind” but with the sentiment distilled… and without a great melody. Gaga’s problem appears to be an inability to write good songs any more. This one is really not that great and the rest of the album better be a big big improvement.