Drake's Take: New Releases 05.18.10

Drake handpicks a few gems from another colossal week of new releases. (Though it only showed up “on the radar”, I would also recommend the latest from Tracey Thorn, formerly of Everything But The Girl.) -ed.

Another anticipated week for releases, and another delay thanks to Rhapsody’s continued snail’s pace on dropping in new releases. I may have to find a new system, because when you’ve got a week featuring the latest from LCD Soundsystem, Band of Horses, Janelle Monae and the Black Keys, things need to move forward at a quicker pace. Stay tuned…

Playlist: New Releases 05.11.10

LCD Soundsystem – High Violet
Stream / Purchase [mp3]

If this is indeed the last album that LCD Soundsystem releases, and James Murphy has hinted as much, then this is the way to go. This is Happening, lyrically, is Murphy’s most personal release, continuing the inward trend since LCD SS’ impersonal beginnings with “Losing My Edge.” With songs like “I Can Change,” “Somebody’s Calling Me,” and even “You Wanted a Hit,” Murphy’s reeled that fish nearly all the way into the boat. It can flop around to “Drunk Girls,” like the rest of us, and or just quietly appreciate Murphy’s continued mastery of all things Bowie. It could happen. (Can’t wait for their set at Sasquatch!.)

Band of Horses – Infinite Arms
Stream / Purchase [mp3]

Upon first listen, it seems Infinite Arms is Band of Horses cash grab, which is mostly expected given its their major label dabut. Phil Ek is still twiddling the knobs and adding vocal reverb, but something about the release just seems to fall short. Ben Bridwell is the only piece left from their surprising debut (Everything All the Time) and he’s mentioned in interviews that this was the first release where he wasn’t trying to control everything, letting the band function as a whole; and that Infinite Arms is the band’s first release. Sure “Laredo” and “Compliments” are stunners that would slide in nicely on any BoH joint. But the rest of IA feels mostly like prime filler. Is it just me, or are BoH sounding more like a watered down version of Matt Brooke’s post BoH act Grand Archives on some of these tracks? Just saying…

The Black Keys – Brothers
Purchase [mp3]

Akron, Ohio’s The Black Keys have been playing their version of the blues for six albums now, but they’ve never sounded looser than on their latest, the excellent Brothers. Guitarist Dan Auerbach and drummer Patrick Carney took the stripped-down Zeppelin approach as far as they could for four albums and have been expanding their sound ever since. They called on Danger Mouse to produce their last album (Attack & Release, and seem to have taken what they learned and stretched things out even more (just check out the falsetto on the opener “Everlasting Love,” for starters).