The Wheel's Still In Spin

New Releases – 28 April 2009

Here are The Wheel’s Still In Spin’s suggested new releases.

Samantha Crain & The Midnight Shivers – Songs in the Night | CD MP3
Download “Songs in the Night” (mp3)
Download “Devils in Boston” (mp3)
This folk croonstress has put together a tantalizing debut album. Her style is similar to Thao Nguyen, who Crain is currently on tour with. While Thao’s backing band, The Get Down Stay Down, adds more of a jazz accompaniment her songs, Crain’s supporting cast members, The Midnight Shivers, add a little more of a countrified roots rock sound.

Bob Dylan – Together Through Life | CD Deluxe Edition 2CD/DVD Vinyl MP3
Download “Beyond Here Lies Nothin’” (mp3)
This site is named after a line from a Bob Dylan song. So, yes, I am a Dylan fan. Let me attempt explain the full extent of that comment. If Dylan were to take a shit in the woods, I would recommend we put on our boots and go check it out. But this album is not shit. Not at all.
Continuing the style of his last 3 albums, Dylan has released a new set of songs that conjure the feel of old tyme music. The combination of David Hildago’s accordion, Mike Campbell’s guitar, Donny Herron’s versatile instrumentation, and the solid rhythm section of Tony Garnier and George Recile add an evocatively perfect accompaniment to another batch of great songs by the best songwriter ever.

Tim Easton – Porcupine | CD MP3
Download “Burgundy Red” (mp3)
Download “Broke My Heart” (mp3)
For his fifth album, Easton has put together a buoyant and stirring collection of songs. It is in the Americana/folk rock style that his previous work features. These songs are captivating and well written. I dare you to listen to the 2 tracks above and not be drawn in.

Japandroids – Post-Nothing | Vinyl MP3
Download “Young Hearts Spark Fire” (mp3)
Download “Heart Sweats” (mp3)
This loud two-piece Vancouver band plays music that is a combination of unadulterated punk, aggressively distorted indie rock, and lo-fi, fuzzy garage rock. The band seems to fall somewhere between the sound of DFA 1979 and Mclusky.

After the jump, there is a list of more new releases from this week.

Internet Radio News

With the rise of Internet radio, The Wheel’s Still In Spin lists the recent online news articles about the future of Internet radio.

This was not a busy week for Internet Radio News. A couple of companies announced partnerships to increase revenues from Internet radio. Here are a few:
RadioTime and Ando Media
RadioTime and Triton Digital Media
TargetSpot and a whole bunch of additional Radio Groups

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New Releases – 21 April 2009

Here are The Wheel’s Still In Spin’s suggested new releases.

Booker T. – Potato Hole | CD Vinyl MP3
Download “Warped Sister” (mp3)
This album is soaked with the soul sound that made Booker T & the MG’s a classic soul band. Booker T. Jones’ recognizable Hammond organ sound is supported by the Drive-By Truckers, who give these songs a modern, soulful Southern rock flare, like a fleshed out version of the original Memphis Group. Add to that 9 of the 10 tracks also feature Neil Young on guitar and you have the formula for a classic instrumental rhythm, soul, and rock album.

Drew Nelson – Dusty Road to Beulah Land | CD
This album is an Americana album that perfectly captures the feel of real-life, country road America. The songs are poignant and the production is spotlessly sensitive. After the jump, there is a video of “I’m a Little Catfish,” a cover song that is the bonus track at the end of Dusty Road to Beulah Land.

Also after the jump, there is a list of more new releases from this week.

Internet Radio News

With the rise of Internet radio, The Wheel’s Still In Spin lists the recent online news articles about the future of Internet radio.

Weekly Internet Radio Listenership Jumps from 33 to 42 Million
Corey’s Radio Blog highlights a new study that emphasizes the increase in Internet radio listeners. “Arbitron and Edison Research announced today in a joint study of various audio platforms called "The Infinite Dial 2009: Radio's Digital Platforms".

RAIN Summit “Must Attend” for Radio Industry
Ken Dardis, who regularly writes his thoughts on the state of radio and Internet, has made a call for all who attend the NAB Show to attend the Internet Radio Summit.

New Wi-Fi Devices:
Livio
Myine Ira

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New Releases – 14 April 2009

This Saturday is Record Store Day. Independent record stores around the country will have events and unique albums to celebrate the day. However, if you want to pick up some other albums this week, here are The Wheel’s Still In Spin’s suggested new releases.

Death Cab for Cutie – The Open Door [EP] | CD MP3
I will confess that I am not a huge Death Cab for Cutie fan, but The Open Door is a solid piece of work. In fact, I find these 5 tracks to be more engaging than Narrow Stairs, the album for which these songs were recorded but not used. With the band’s full-length albums, my attention usually wanes. But I thoroughly enjoy this EP from start to finish.

Ida Maria – Fortress ’Round My Heart | CD Vinyl MP3
Download “Oh My God” (mp3)
This punk influenced indie album was released last year around the world, but an expanded edition finally gets proper distribution here in the States. The Norwegian crooner catchily grinds were way through these 3-minute, edgy pop songs with a combination of aggressiveness and enticement.

Pomegranates – Everybody, Come Outside! | CD MP3
Download “Corriander” (mp3)
If you enjoy delving deeply into the lyrics and story of an album, Everybody, Come Outside! has a lot to offer. It unravels into the story of a man who steps out and is abducted by a time traveler. However, if you simply enjoy listening to an album for its musical content, the sophomore Pomegranates album is a set of diverse and catchy art-pop songs.

Risto – Sähköhäiriöön | CD
Risto is from Finland and led by singer and keyboardist Risto Ylihärsilä. The band has a fleshed out psychedelic-pop-rock sound with guitar, bass, and drums. The lyrics are completely in Finnish, so I have no idea what he is singing. But I am drawn to the album.
After the jump, watch the video to “Putoan kaivossa,” the album's closing track of piano and vocals. It plays like a dark comedy with an alluring soundtrack.

Also after the jump, there is a list of more new releases from this week.

Internet Radio News

With the rise of Internet radio, The Wheel’s Still In Spin lists the recent online news articles about the future of Internet radio.

American Media Services Survey Shows Popularity of Internet Radio, Even as Regular Radio Continues Holding its Audience
PRNewswire posts “Internet-only radio is rapidly gaining acceptance as another way to listen to music, according to a national survey that American Media Services released today.
“The latest AMS Radio Index shows that more than a quarter (27 percent) of Americans say they have listened to Internet-only radio on an Internet site. This includes nearly half (47 percent) of young adults 18-24 and about a third (34 percent) of those under the age of 50.”

Mobility is Key to Internet RadioThere was another interview with Pandora founder Tim Westergren, this time with the Winston-Salem Journal. He discusses multiple aspects of his company’s business model and is becoming the lead spokesperson for the Internet radio industry. On the subject of Internet radio, he says, “I think it will be the pre-eminent form of radio going forward, and I think partly because it's getting off the (personal computer). It's moving into mobile devices, so it's accessible in a lot of places that were once the sole domain of broadcast radio, like cars.”

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New Releases – 7 April 2009

For this week’s new release recommendations, these short reviews will be metaphors pertaining to birthday parties. Here are The Wheel’s Still In Spin’s suggested new releases.

Comet Gain – Broken Record Prayers | CD MP3
Download “Love Without Lies” (mp3)
When you were kids, every birthday party had games. There were piñatas, pin the tail on the donkey, capture the flag. This album represents those games. It’s a fun collection of singles and rarities from the British indie rock band. It is a great set of indie pop with influences from the ‘60s, punk, and more modern underground alternative pop. These songs are addictive and the album is expansive with 20 tracks.

Crystal Antlers – Tentacles | CD Vinyl MP3
Download “Andrew” (mp3)
No kid’s birthday party would be complete without the spastic friend. Maybe it’s the overdose of sugar, the freedom of being off the leash, or the festive nature of the party, but this kid explodes. Tentacles is that rambunctious album of garage punk music.

Bettye LaVette – Do Your Duty | CD Vinyl
The candles on your birthday cakes always represented the year you were celebrating. Then there was that one year when the number of candles stopped equating your new age. While I don’t usually highlight reissues, this album is that birthday cake that signified a new milestone without a matching number of candles. It is sweet and sugary in its soul with great arrangements with warm horns. Its nostalgic but not aged. And there’s more than enough to share.

Telekinesis! – Telekinesis! | CD
Download “Coast of Carolina” (mp3)
If you had a great birthday party as a kid, there was a well-organized mom usually behind it. Planning and working out all the details, she is always the unsung hero. Just like mom, on this debut – a Merge debut nonetheless – Michael Benjamin Lerner is a one-man band. Lerner played drums, guitar, keyboards and vocals and creates a wall of indie pop with producer Chris Walla.

The Thermals – Now We Can See | CD Vinyl MP3
Download “Now We Can See” (mp3)
Of course the presents are the main presentation of the birthday party. Like the gift opening ceremony, a new Thermals album is an anticipated moment. There is a combination of expected and unexpected offerings. Like the Thermal’s last album, Now We Can See has an irreverent energy. But unlike The Body, The Blood, The Machine, TWSIS’s favorite album of 2006, this new release is a little more upbeat in its delivery.

After the jump, there is a list of more new releases from this week.

Internet Radio News

With the rise of Internet radio, The Wheel’s Still In Spin lists the recent online news articles about the future of Internet radio. It’s a slow week for Internet radio news, but here’s the one interesting story.

Top Internet Guide Expands to Over 5,000 Streaming Online Radio Stations
A new press release announces, “ChannelJunky.com… announced a new look and feel, which now includes over 5,000 streaming online radio stations. The new format allows users to search for online radio stations by their favorite band, music style, or keyword.

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