The Wheel's Still In Spin

New Releases - 13 May 2008

Here are a few of this week’s new releases that The Wheel’s Still In Spin highly recommends:

The Black Angels – Directions To See A Ghost | Amazon CD MP3 | Insound CD
Download “Doves” (mp3) from KEXP
This band takes its name from the Velvet Underground song “The Black Angel’s Death Song.” The music holds true to the sonic qualities of its namesake, from the tom pounding of the drums to the melodic drone of the fuzzy guitars. Vocalist Alex Mass sounds like Jim Morrison on some of the songs. Ultimately, this band summons the sound of ‘60s psychedelic rock.

Dosh – Wolves And Wishes | Amazon CD LP MP3
Download “If You Want To, You Have To” (mp3)
Multi-instrumentalist Martin Dosh is a member of Andrew Bird’s band. For his fourth solo album, Dosh creates an organic sounding electro-folk album. The album is full of guest appearances by Bird, Will Oldham and many more, but Wolves And Wishes is much more hypnotic and groove oriented than the work released by these artists.

Plantlife – Time Traveller | Amazon CD LP MP3 | Insound CD
This album has a distinctive ‘70s soul free to it. But it also mixes hip hop, funk, rock, and R&B. The album has an old school feel to it, but with modern energy and production. The opening track, “Time Traveller,” begins by stating “I was there when it all began/ I made the whole planet rock with Afrika Bam/ I had Melle Mel’s back when he was by the edge/ I used to wear them big suits with the Talking Heads” and goes on to declare being a part of most major moments in music history from telling “ACDC to come Back In Black” to telling “John Lennon he should leave the Beatles” and from being “with James Brown when he said it live” to “When Dre came along with the bag of chronic/ Then we all got high and made the Supersonic/ Yeah, a little different from the gangsta rap/ But I was with him and Snoop when they made all that.”

Pomegranates – Everything Is Alive | Amazon CD MP3 | Insound CD
Download “Whom/Who” (mp3)
Download “Thunder Meadow” (mp3)
This Cincinnati band calls their music “experimental pop.” This album sounds like Wilco’s Yankee Hotel Foxtrot mixed with Modest Mouse’s The Moon & The Antarctic. Songs like “Whom/Who” and “In The Kitchen” show the Pomegranates’ upbeat, syncopated style, while melodies like the one employed on “Late Night Television” highlight the pop aspects of the band. But the song “Desert Hymn” keeps haunting its way into my head with the simple, clean guitar strumming backing by eerily ghostlike tones. In the liner notes to the album, the band describes how they recorded the album in four days and mixed it down in two. They “didn’t use any pitch correction or metronome, which added a bit to the flavor of the album.” The outcome is a true and honest rock and roll album that sounds fresh and unique on each track.

The Submarines – Honeysuckle Weeks | Amazon CD MP3 | Insound CD
Download “You, Me, & The Bourgeoisie” (mp3)
Married couple Jack Dragonetti and Blake Hazard shared lead roles in this band. The album volleys between a minimalist production and orchestra production. It is full of catchy melodies and diverse instrumentation. The band tours as a three-piece with a drummer added to the duo. I can’t imagine how these songs could be duplicated live as they are on this album since this release sounds much bigger than a three-piece band.

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

New Releases - 6 May 2008

Here are a few of this week’s new releases that The Wheel’s Still In Spin highly recommends:

Firewater – The Golden Hour | Amazon CD MP3 | Insound CD
Download “Borneo” (mp3)
Download “3-Legged Dow” (mp3)
Tod A of Firewater trekked throughout the Middle East and East Asia for three years. Along with a blog called Postcards From The Other Side Of The World, this Gypsy Punk album chronicled his travels. He also recorded musicians in India, Pakistan, Turkey, and Israel with a single microphone and his laptop. With supporting artists from five different countries, this Firewater album was born.

The Last Shadow Puppets – The Age Of The Understatement | Amazon CD LP MP3 | Insound CD LP MP3
The Last Shadow Puppets is a side project for Alex Turner (Arctic Monkeys) and Miles Kane (The Rascals) with assistance from James Ford (Simian Mobile Disco) and Owen Pallett (Final Fantasy). The music has a decisively retro 60s and 70s feel, not unlike The Strokes with orchestral backings.

Russian Circles – Station | Amazon CD MP3 | Insound CD MP3
This three-piece instrumental band takes a page from fellow Suicide Squeeze artists, Six Parts Seven, with sprawling and lush melodically driven tunes. But Russian Circles adds much more to their sound. There are metal influences and discordant distortion cleverly thrown in between the melodic, jazzy riffs.

Insound is also offering a "Give More" program for selected touring artists. Every time you buy an MP3 album from Insound, Insound will donate $.25 to a touring band. They choose six lucky bands that they like (and one of them is Russian Cirlces), but you get to select the actual artist to earmark your quarter to. If you don't choose a specific band, they'll distribute the funds equally to all of the bands. All funds are to be used by bands to support their next national tour. Currently, the bands that will benefit from our donations are: The Big Sleep, Russian Circles, The Twilight Sad, Headlights, Epsilons, Videohippos. New bands will be added 2-4 times each year.

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

New Releases - 29 April 2008

Here are a few of this week's new releases that The Wheel's Still In Spin highly recommends:

Langhorne Slim – Langhorne Slim | buy the CD or the vinyl at amazon
Download “Rebel Side Of Heaven” (mp3)
Langhorne Slim writes engaging, countrified folk songs. His backing band is dubbed The War Eagles. They supply warm low end on upright bass and drums that crack off the heads. The band has toured with The Violent Femmes, Cake, Lucero, and Jeffrey Lewis. But the former tour mate whose sound Slim most assimilates with is Rocky Votolato.

Jamie Lidell – Jim | buy the CD or the vinyl at amazon
This album has less of an electronica style to it than Lidell’s previous release. However, like Multiply, this album has a strong soul feel to it. Actually, Jim is drenched in a 70’s sound – R&B, soul, and disco. With the driving piano, subdued horns, and timbre of Lidell’s voice, he is most reminiscent of Stevie Wonder on this album. Watch the video for “A Little Bit Of Feel Good” after the jump.

The New Frontiers – Mending | buy it at amazon
Download “Mirrors” (mp3)
Download “Look At Miss Ohio” (mp3) [non-album track, Gillian Welch cover, from www.absolutepunk.net]
After releasing a few EPs, The New Frontiers provide their full-length debut. This five-piece band’s sound is anchored in acoustic guitar. There is a slight folk or alt country feel with piano and wafting lap steel. Every track on Mending is inviting and unswerving.

After the jump, watch the video for Jamie Lidell's “A Little Bit Of Feel Good” and see a list of more new releases from this week.

New Releases - 22 April 2008

Before I get to the new releases for this week, I’ve got to mention that Rhino is reissuing the first 4 Replacements albums – Sorry Ma, Forgot to Take Out the Trash, Stink, Hootenanny, and Let It Be. Now here are the recommended new releases for this week:

Atmosphere – When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint That Shit Gold | buy it at amazon
Download “Shoulda Known” (mp3) (clean version)
First off, this is my favorite album title of the year so far. The first track, “The Rest Of Us,” takes lyrics like, “No crime to take a little too much/ Got time to drink away a few months/ Got a little cocaine habit/ But he says he only does if somebody else has it,” and, “She ended up on the pool/ Heels pointing at a Jesus she used to know,” framed over top some loops of classical piano noodling. The songs are contagious and narrative. This album is packaged as a hard cover book and an additional DVD.

Billy Bragg – Mr. Love & Justice | buy the CD or the Deluxe Edition at amazon
This album opens with some endearing love songs, territory that is not always associated with Billy Bragg. He does lead to the protest songs with the title track, “O’ Freedom,” and “The Johnny Carcinogenic Show.” This album reminds me most of Bragg’s work with Wilco on the Mermaid Avenue sessions. That is in large part due to Bragg’s vocal performance and the support of The Blokes backing band, which keeps the lead instruments diverse with guitar, organ, trombone, harmonica, and banjo. The Deluxe Edition comes with a bonus disc of Bragg’s solo versions of the songs. The video for the solo version of “O’ Freedom” is after the jump.

Elbow – The Seldom Seen Kid | buy it at amazon
This band has intriguing percussion, comforting strings, and astute horns. With the dynamic grandiose sound of the album, the appealing vocals and cognitive lyrics of Guy Garvey make this a powerful chamber pop release. Check out www.theseldomseenkid.com to hear the album in a “Find The Music” Rubik’s Cube style menu.

Tokyo Police Club – Elephant Shell | buy the CD or the vinyl at amazon
This is Tokyo Police Club’s first full-length release. Their first EP, A Lesson In Crime, was The Wheel’s Still In Spin’s favorite EP of 2006. Keeping with the same formula for short, piercing songs (only one track clocks in at over three minutes), this Canadian band successfully slashes together a highly anticipated album.

After the jump, watch the video for Billy Bragg’s “O’ Freedom” and see a list of more new releases from this week.

New Releases - 15 April 2008

It’s Tax Tuesday. It’s also the anniversary of some traumatic historic events – Lincoln’s assassination and the sinking of the Titanic. So, who would dare release their album on this day? The Wheel’s Still In Spin has a few new releases to suggest, but all of them have already been released overseas.

The Childballads – Cheekbone Hollows (Pop. 1/2 Life) | buy it at amazon
Download “Cheekbone Hollows” (mp3)
Download “Laughter From The Rafters” (mp3)
The Childballads are fronted by Stewart Lupton, who used to be the lead singer Jonathon Fire*Eater. Three of the other members of Jonathon Fire*Eater formed The Walkmen. Lupton went on to study poetry at George Washington University. Then he formed The Childballads. This album sounds like the early 70’s Stones were lead by a mid-60’s Bob Dylan.

Does It Offend You, Yeah? – You Have No Idea What You’re Getting Yourself Into | buy it at amazon
Download “We Are Rockstars” (mp3)
Download “Let’s Make Out” (mp3)
Last month this synth heavy electronic pop band from Reading, England, released their debut in their homeland. Today it officially comes across the sea. Taking influence from Daft Punk and Death From Above 1979, they are a dance-oriented band with a punk aesthetic.

The Kooks – Konk | buy the CD or the Limited Edition w/ bonus disc at amazon
This band from Brighton, England, sounds decidedly Britpop. They took their name from a David Bowie song off of Hunky Dory, but on The Kook's second album their sound reminds me of The Costello’s. However, The Kooks traverse more direct, less witty subject matter.

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

New Releases - 8 April 2008

I was looking forward to this week for the new releases from The Breeders and Colin Meloy’s live solo album, but here are a few albums that I highly recommend:

Jason Anderson – The Hopeful And The Unafraid | buy it from amazon
This album was made in two-days at Soma Studios. It was recorded mostly live with some overdubs from former members of Magnolia Electric Co. This album has a coursing energy to it. Anderson has played piano with David Dondero, drums for Tilly and The Wall, and guitar in Mount Eerie. The Hopeful And The Unafraid shares some influences from those artists, with ceaseless lyrics, roots rock instrumentation and a pop esthetic.

Cloud Cult – Feel Good Ghosts (Tea-Partying Through Tornadoes) | buy it at amazon
Download “When Water Comes To Life” (mp3)
I am a big fan of their previous release. This album is more direct pop music, but focuses on secular themes. Lead singer Craig Minowa has said that there may not be another Cloud Cult album for a while. Perhaps that’s why the album focuses on larger-than-life themes in a straightforward manner. He searches for a higher being, “The old man in the clouds or happy little alien/ Whoever it is I need to thank her/ Even though I don’t know God I’m happy with the mystery.”

Man Man – Rabbit Habits | buy the single disc or 2CD version at amazon
Mixing horns, strings, organs, and marimbas with the band’s high-energy indie rock songs, Man Man creates another great album. Upbeat and outrageous songs grace the third release from this Philadelphia band.

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

New Releases - 1 April 2008

There are some big named bands with releases this week, including the Danger Mouse produced Black Keys album, and new ones from Moby, Van Morrison, R.E.M., and Trina. With those in mind, here are some of the new releases that I recommend for the week:

The Annuals – Wet Zoo | buy it at amazon
Download “Sore” (mp3) by The Annuals
Sharing bands but splitting songwriters, The Annuals and Sunfold are comprised of the same six members. Performing the songs of Adam Baker, they take the name The Annuals. Fronted by Kenny Florence, they become Sunfold. On this split EP, the two bands showcase their varying styles. The Annuals’ lush arrangements impeccably complement Baker’s melodic and acoustic songs. Sunfold has a more electric, straight forward rock sound, with the final track, “Watering Pail,” ending with a lush ambience.

Los Campesinos! – Hold On Now, Youngster... | buy it at amazon
Download “Death To Los Campesinos!” (mp3)
Reworking some songs that appeared on their stellar Sticking Fingers Into Sockets EP, the domestic release of this Wales band’s first full length album lives up to all of the expectations. The band continues to be sharp and witty while honing a sloppy energy. This band is becoming one of my favorites bands with each release.

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

New Releases - 25 March 2008

With The Raconteurs and Gnarls Barkley announcing that their albums were either pushed forward (in the case of Gnarls Barkley) or suddenly that they would be released (Raconteurs), this week became an more exciting week of new releases. here are a few of my favorite new albums from this week.

Elf Power – In A Cave | buy it at amazon
After being one of the original bands of the Elephant 6 collective, Elf Power is still making catchy, pop albums. In A Cave, their ninth releases, shows the band still having a bed of warm, fuzzy distortion and keyboards beneath the melodic lyrics on tracks like “Spiral Stairs,” “Paralyzed” and “Softly Through The Void.”

eMC – The Show | buy it at amazon
This album from the rap group of Masta Ace, Punchline, Wordsworth, and Strick has a chronological theme. It tells the story of a day with the band getting to and performing a show on the road. Full of solid beats, the album is enhanced by the thematic concept and allows the group to rap about subject matter not typically covered.

The Raconteurs – Consolers Of The Lonely | buy it at amazon
Obviously, every one was flabbergasted when The Raconteurs announced that their new album was completed and going to be released. With only one week’s notice, the band gave no interviews; there was just a press release and an announcement on their website. It only took minutes for the word to travel around the internet.
Fronted by Jack White and Brendan Benson, The Raconteurs are backed by the rhythm section of Cincinnati’s The Greenhornes, Jack Lawrence and Patrick Keeler. On this album the band seems to show some growing room as they mature into a cohesive collective; their sound has become more of their own on this album. The sound is flushed out with more use of keyboards and fiddle, but is still rooted in their breed of blues-rock. The closing track, “Carolina Drama,” is a classic Jack White story-song of murder, family betrayal, and falls from grace.

Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra & Tra-La-La Band – 13 Blues For Thirteen Moons | buy it at amazon
The first 1:16 of this album is filled with a single, dissonant whistle broken into 12 tracks. Then there are 4 songs, each over 13 minutes in length. With instrumentation that includes 2 guitarists, two violins, cello, contrabass, and drums, the band creates a sound that is part art rock and part folk rock while having the elongated sound of a prog rock band.

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

New Releases - 18 March 2008

There are a lot of releases this week. Of the albums to choose from, here are some of my favorites:

Destroyer – Trouble In Dreams | buy it at amazon
Download “Foam Hands” (mp3)
Dan Bejar (of The New Pornographers, Swan Lake, and now also Hello, Blue Roses) is the man behind the name Destroyer. On his latest release, Destroyer begins the album with some short catchy songs before moving on to some experimental tracks.

DeVotchKa – A Mad And Faithful Telling | buy it at amazon
Download “Transliterator” (mp3)
DeVotchKa is a Denver, Colorado, band that merges gypsy punk and traditional folk. They gained notoriety providing the majority of the songs to the soundtrack for the successful film Little Miss Sunshine. This is the band’s first release since that soundtrack. The album is full of impassioned songs with unique instrumentation and symphonious arrangements.

Adam Green – Sixes & Sevens | buy it at amazon
Download “Morning After Midnight” (mp3)
Along with Kimya Dawson, Adam Green started The Moldy Peaches. Sixes & Sevens is Green’s fifth solo album. 20 tracks in about 46 minutes. There are a lot of different influences on this album but it always seems to be catchy and soulful. This is a collection of songs that are short and sweet, simple and accessible.

Connie Price & The Keystones – Tell Me Something | buy it at amazon
A soul revue with funk influences, Connie Price & The Keystones, followed up their instrumental debut album, Wildflowers, with a hip hop masterpiece. By adding MCs like Big Daddy Kane, Blood Of Abraham, Mykah 9, Ohmega Watts, Percee P, Soup, Wildchild and vocalist Aloe Blacc to the band’s realistic revivalist sound, Tell Me Something pairs some of the best instrumental tracks with intelligent lyrics. The album is available as a 2 CD set - one disc with the featured guest and another of the instrumental versions.

She & Him – Volume One | buy it at amazon
Download “Why Do You Let Me Stay Here?” (mp3)
Zooey Deschanel is the actress from films Almost Famous, Elf, Mumford, and The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy. She’s also supposed to portray Janis Joplin in a future biopic. M.Ward is the singer-songwriter that created The Wheel’s Still In Spin’s #7 album of 2006. As She & Him, the two have created an album that sounds both retro and refreshing. Deschanel sounds like a 70’s songstress who croons with equal parts soul and country while Ward’s production perfectly accents her voice. I don’t think this album would have sounded as good with any other partnership.

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

New Releases - 11 March 2008

Here are some of the new releases that The Wheel's Still In Spin recommends this week:

Kevin Ayers – Unfairground | buy it at amazon
Download “Cold Shoulder” (mp3)
Alluring orchestral arrangements, a captivating mixture of indie and classic rock production, and a career of melodic sensibilities make this album aurally engrossing. The guests on Unfairground include members of 30 years of melodious underground bands including Architecture in Helsinki, Ladybug Transistor, Neutral Milk Hotel, Psychedelic Furs, Roxy Music, and Teenage Fanclub.

The Mighty Underdogs – The Prelude | buy it at amazon
Download “Gunfight” (mp3)
Gift of Gab (Blackalicious), Lateef the Truth Speaker (Latryx), and Headnodic combined to produce this album. Originally self-released last October, this infectious EP sees wider distribution today. All 6 tracks on this album are tight and range from dance to jazz influenced to “Gunfight.” Like the title says, this is a prelude to their full-length album, “Dropping Science Fiction.”

Transmissionary Six – Cosmonautical | buy it at amazon
Download “Zero Gravity” (mp3)
This album is full of atmospheric pop with jangling tones and drifting keyboards and synths. The music traverses the middle ground between Mazy Star and Cowboy Junkies. It’s mellow and catchy without sounding overly poppy or pretentious.

There is a list of more new releases after the jump.

New Releases - 4 March 2008

With so many new releases this week, here's a few of my favorites:

Born Ruffians – Red, Yellow And Blue | buy it at amazon
Download “Hummingbird” (mp3)
This full-length album by this band from Toronto is a magnificent piece of indie pop. Lush for a trio, the album is full of hard-panned drums and percussion and melodic guitars. The band just completed a tour with Tokyo Police Club and is currently on the road with Cadence Weapon.

Hotpipes – Future Bolt | buy at myspace.com/hotpipes
Download “Future Bolt”(mp3)
Nashville, TN, band Hotpipes dedicated their latest release to the city of Dayton, OH, where most of the songs were written. The band has released four albums before Future Bolt, but claim to have focused more intensely on this album. Having not heard their previous releases, I’ll take their word for it. This album shows the four-piece band playing incredible, accessible indie rock. It’s straightforward and catchy.

Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks – Real Emotional Trash | buy it at amazon
Download “Cold Son” (mp3)
Download “Baltimore” (mp3)
Between his literate and idiosyncratic lyrics and the blearing guitar riffs, a Malkmus release would stand to be an important album for this Pavement devotee. Now add Janet Weiss (of Sleater-Kinney) as the newest member of The Jicks and this album becomes the strongest Malkmus solo album. Honestly, this album is no Slanted And Enchanted or Woods (but those are two of the best albums of the past 20 years, 5 stars, 10.0 ratings, whatever), but this album is closest that Malkmus has come since tackling a post-Pavement career.

There is a list of more new releases after the jump.

New Releases - 26 February 2008

There are a lot of reissues released this week. But The Wheel’s Still In Spin focuses on new music. Of this week’s new releases, there is one that I strongly recommend.

Lemuria – Get Better | buy it at amazon
Listen to some songs at www.myspace.com/lemuria.
After releasing a batch of split albums, singles, and EPs, this Buffalo, NY, band finally releases their first full-length album. The indie power trio is equal parts punk and pop without delving too far into the typical qualities of either genre. Guitarist Sheena Ozzela and drummer Alex Kerns share lead vocals and all three members, including bassist Jason Draper, contribute to the songwriting. The outcome is an assemblage of distorted and restless ear candy.

After the jump, see a list of more albums released this week.

New Releases - 19 February 2008

There is a long list of new releases this week, including Bon Iver, Grand Archives, and The Raveonettes. Of all the albums, here are a few highly recommended ones.

Atlas Sound – Let The Blind Lead Those Who Can See But Cannot Feel | buy it at amazon
Listen to the album at www.myspace.com/bradfordcox.
Atlas Sound is a side project for Deerhunter lead singer Brandon James Cox. At times this album sounds ambient and haunting with multiple keyboards billowing on top of each other. Wrapped within its melancholic mystery, the album remains melodic and engaging.

Headlights – Some Racing, Some Stopping | buy it at amazon
Download “Cherry Tulips” (mp3)
The second full-length release from Champaign, IL shows the trio expand and mature. Still focused on driving and upbeat songs, the band has traded some of the airy and spacious sound of their earlier work for layers of pop sensibility on this album.

Justus Kohncke – Safe And Sound | buy it at amazon
This German DJ put together one of the better electronica albums I’ve heard in a while. The motion and beat mutations are fluid with great use of varying and upbeat styles. Continually altering its grooves, the beats evolve with near perfect timing.

Mountain Goats – Heretic Pride | buy it at amazon
Download “Sax Rohmer #1” (mp3)
John Darnielle has transcended the lo-fi production of his earliest boom box recordings, but his dynamics and vocal vehemence are still strong on his most recent release. His last few releases have been inspired by biographical elements of Darnielle’s life, from his teenage years to the death of his father to a dark time in his love life. On Heretic Pride the songwriter returns with an album of erudite songwriting. To get an illustrated interpretation for the subject matter of individual songs, check out the “comic book press kit” created by musician and comic book artist Jeffrey Lewis.
After the jump watch the video for "Sax Rohmer #1."

Throw Me The Statue – Moonbeams | buy it at amazon
Download “About To Walk” (mp3)
Overtop of rhythmic and melodic loops, Scott Reitherman has layered electric and acoustic guitars, synthesizers, and lyrical candor to create a eclectic mix of folk-infused indie rock. This is an album that allows the listener to get lost in its nuances or soak in its simplistic beauty.

After the jump, watch a video from Heretic Pride and see a list of more albums released this week.

New Releases - 12 February 2008

Here are some highlights of this week’s new releases:

British Sea Power – Do You Like Rock Music? | buy it at amazon
Near the end of 2007, British Sea Power released an EP entitled Krankenhaus?. This site named it one of the best albums of November 2007. Including the song “Down To The Ground” and an edited version of “Atom,” it was a teaser for Do You Like Rock Music?, the band’s third full-length album. While th