Drake's Take: New Release 04.05.11

Revisiting Bill Callahan’s Sometimes I Wish We Were An Eagle as I post Drake‘s latest “Take”. If you’re unfamiliar with Smog’s former frontman, you can check out Ben Ratliff’s flattering piece in this past Sunday’s NYTimes.

Drake’s Take: New Release 04.05.11

While there’s plenty to see here, most are looking to next week’s crop, and with good reason thanks to TV on the Radio and Panda Bear. This week’s crop features Bill Callahan, Maritime, Ray Davies, Robbie Robertson, Alela Diane, The Kills, Glasvegas, Cold Cave and special reissues from Rush and the 20th anniversary of Material Issue‘s energetic debut, International Pop Overthrow.

Playlist: New Releases 04.05.11

Bill Callahan – Apocalypse
Stream / Purchase [mp3]

Apocalypse is Bill Callahan‘s third album since shedding the Smog moniker, and another step in the artist’s maturation process. While not as accessible as 2009’s Sometimes I Wish I Were an Eagle, the latest sees Callahan mixing in both a political yet personal slant along with some of the experimentation of mid-era Smog, for a concoction that new, yet still so very Callahan.

Maritime – Human Hearts
Stream / Purchase [mp3]

Three releases in now, it’s become obvious that Maritime is a wholly different beast than the Dismemberment Plan/Promise Ring parts that make it up. By this point, those expecting to hear those bands with this group have either accepted this or moved on — like former bassist Eric Axelson also formerly of Dismemberment Plan, who left after the first album. Of course, now that the past is behind them, I have to bring up The Promise Ring again, just to say that Human Hearts is their first release that rivals the former’s catalogue. The vocal maturation of Davey von Bohlen continues here, to the point where von Bohlen is interjecting a lot of the same charisma he had back in the Cap’n Jazz, only this time with melody at the forefront.