Once again, just staying barely behind the curve (but as of now, officially up to date), here’s Drake‘s latest roundup of the new releases. -ed.
Drake’s Take: New Releases 04.06.10
Another shallow week for releases… pretty soon, the floodgates will open again, I assure you. This week features an interesting new collaboration between David Byrne and Fatboy Slim, along with new releases from Dr. Dog, Sigur Ros’ Jonsi, Robyn Hitchcock, Harlem and Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings.
Playlist: New Releases 04.06.10
David Byrne and Fatboy Slim – David Byrne and Fatboy Slim – Here Lies Love
Stream / Purchase [mp3]
Is a musical concept album telling the life story of Imelda Marcos ambitious or foolish? I was leaning toward the latter until I heard the opening title track, “Here Lies Love,” which had me thinking this collaboration between David Byrne and Fatboy Slim might just be genius. But there’s not enough in the double-CD of material that lives up to that opening salvo. In the end, there’s about an EP’s worth of good-to-great songs here, and the rest miss the mark on those of us that have only minimal knowledge of the widow of former Phillipines President Marcos.
Dr. Dog – Shame, Shame
Stream / Purchase [mp3]
With their sixth album, Philly’s Dr Dog are hitting their stride, due in small part to finally bringing in an outside voice to help with production (Rob Schnapf). Even with a fresh ear on the proceedings, this is still the kitchen sink classic rock that Dr Dog has been churning out for the past decade. The 3 B’s still rule the day (The Beatles, The Beach Boys and The Band), all with Dr. Dog’s unique spin on it. Highlights include lead single “Stranger,” “Unbearable Why”
and the Flaming Lips-ish “Where’d All The Time Go.”
Free AOL Album Stream
Download: “Stranger” [mp3]
More on the radar (and in the mp3 player) this week:
Jonsi – Go
Harlem – Hippies / Free AOL album stream / “Friendly Ghost” [mp3] / “Gay Human Bones” [mp3]
Robyn Hitchcock & the Venus 3 – Propellor Time
Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings – Medicine County / Free AOL album stream
The Wedding Present – Live 1988
Melissa Auf Der Maur – Out of Our Minds / Free AOL album stream
Solomon Burke – Nothing’s Impossible / Free AOL album stream
Black Prairie – Feast of the Hunters’ Moon
Javelin – No Mas
Awesome Color – Massa Hypnos / “Transparent” [mp3]
Monster Movie – Everyone is a Ghost
Peter Wolf – Midnight Souvenirs
Patrick Park – Come What Will
Growing – Pumps! / Free AOL album stream
Murder by Death – Good Morning, Magpie / Free AOL album stream
Laura Marling – I Speak Because I Can / Free AOL album stream
BoDeans – Mr. Sad Clown
Communist Daughter – Soundtrack to the End / “Not the Kid” [mp3]
REISSUES
David Bowie – David Bowie (Deluxe Edition)
Julian Cope – Peggy Suicide (Deluxe Edition)
The Slits – Cut (Deluxe Edition)