There’s been so much going on lately that I’ve let Drake’s Take fall into arrears once again. Some of you may recall that a little band called The Dead Weather released a new album a couple of weeks ago. -ed.
Drake’s Take: New Releases 07.14.21
Jack White’s latest project, The Dead Weather, headlines this otherwise thin week, which also features the latest from The Most Serene Public, New Roman Times, Baby Teeth, and a great compilation from songwriter Emitt Rhodes.
Playlist: New Releases 07.14.09
The Dead Weather – Horehound
Stream / Purchase [mp3]
Between his work with Loretta Lynn and The Raconteurs, I’ve found myself preferring Jack White’s projects outside White Stripes, as it finds White working with other artists who push him a bit more and, more importantly, he’s no longer working within the blues-rock box he and Meg built to work inside. With his latest project, The Dead Weather, White is straddling both the collaboration of his non-White Stripes work and that blasted aforementioned box. Even with White stepping out of the spotlight (instead playing his first instrument, the drums), his fingerprints are all over Horehound, sounding very much like the blues-rock w/ John Bonham-like drums that we’ve come to expect from the Stripes. This here is a much darker beast, though, with Alison Mosshart (The Kills) snarling out lyrics about a horse named Lucifer and selling “you off to the devil.” I’m still more partial to The Raconteurs, as far as White projects go, but this album has been growing on me.
Emitt Rhodes – The Emitt Rhodes Recordings 1969-1973
Stream / Purchase [mp3]
The singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Emitt Rhodes has operated on the margins of rock history, which is due his recordings being nearly impossible to find. Hopefully now, with this collection of his solo work (on Hip-o Records), more people will discover his genius, expanding his cult status. From 1969-1973, Rhodes released three albums for ABC/Dunhill Records, writing, singing, and playing every instrument, sounding every bit like the nickname he acquired during this time – “the one man Beatles.” Soured on the music industry after a bad contract (one that dictated he release six albums in three years w/ ABC/Dunhill, a schedule impossible for him to meet), Rhodes called it quits and hasn’t released an album since, even though he’s continued to record. Part of the timing of this collection has to do with Rhodes returning to the studio with a new band and new material, which is good news indeed. Fitting also that it comes in conjunction with Paul McCartney popping his head up stateside this week as well, given Rhodes uncanny vocal resemblance (w/ a dash of Harry Nilsson for good measure). While the closest thing Rhodes go to a hit was “Fresh As a Daisy,” there are plenty of tracks that ‘woulda coulda shoulda,’ including “Let’s All Sing,” “Pardon Me,” or even “Live Till You Die.” Those who love the film The Royal Tenanbaums are already familiar his song “Lullabye,” which appeared on the soundtrack as well.
More on the radar (and in the mp3 player) this week:
The Most Serene Republic – …And The Ever Expanding Universe
New Roman Times – On the Sleeve / “Smoke in Your Disguise” [mp3]
Baby Teeth – Hustle Beach
Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros – Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros / “40 Day Dream” [mp3]
The Dandy Warhols – The Dandy Warhols Are Sound
[500] Days of Summer
Care Bears on Fire – Get Over It (AOL Stream)
David Bowie – VH1 Storytellers (AOL Stream)
Miss Derringer – Winter Hill (AOL Stream)
REISSUES
Beastie Boys – Ill Communications
Neil Young & Crazy Horse – Everybody Knows That This Is Nowhere
Neil Young – Afer the Gold Rush
Neil Young – Harvest