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Best New Releases: Danger Mouse & Sparklehorse, The Love Language, School of the Seven Bells, Panda Bear, The Spires

darknightofthesoul

Dark Soul of the Night, with its star-studded indie line-up, is Amazon's No. 1 at only $3.99

The album recorded last year with Danger Mouse, David Lynch and Sparklehorse finally sees the light today, a full year since legal battles prevented the original release of the album, Dark Night of the Soul, last summer. Since that time, the producer, singer-songwriter, musician and indie icon Mark Linkous (aka, Sparklehorse), and another Dark Night collaborator, and long-time friend of Linkous, musician Vic Chestnutt, both took their own lives in separate incidents in the past seven months. Other guest appearances on the LP include The Flaming Lips, James Mercer, Black Francis, and Julian Casablancas.

“Little Girl”Danger Mouse, Sparklehorse & Julian Casablancas from Dark Night of the Soul — (stream album)

“Revenge” Danger Mouse, Sparklehorse & Wayne Coyne from Dark Night of the Soul — (stream album)

love-language-libraries

Who's the next band to put a 70s Polaroid of a woman no one knows on their album cover?

Last year, The Love Language‘s self-titled lo-fi debut was a spectacular album that did not get the love it so deserved. If the band were not a band to watch in 2009, they surely are in 2010 thanks to the release today of their gorgeous, genre-bending, orchestra-synth retro, lo-fi pop album, Libraries. If this album doesn’t propel the band into another realm of notoriety and critical acclaim, then we have no idea what’s up with that.

We’ve spun Libraries numerous times in recent weeks, and it an accomplished work, and definitely one of the best albums of 2010. Libraries is full of glorious, upbeat, sunny songs, and has its share of more sombre moments. Yet it doesn’t matter, this band is so fuc*ing amazing. In fact, there is not one song from their now two albums that we could possibly delete from the iPod; file under, ‘Must Have.’

“Heart to Tell”The Love Language from Libraries

The song arrangements are genius, the musical talent stunning, and the impressive lyrics and vocals of Stu McLamb make him, in our book, one of the most important indie singer and songwriters of 2010. The LP is a wonderful experiment (without sounding experimental) where a confluence of music styles, genres and eras are so well woven together that it’s mind-blowing: there’s compelling psychedelic rock (“Horophones”), lo-fi synth folk (“Wilmont”), indie retro ballroom music (“This Blood Is Our Own”) and a perfect summer 2010 love song (“Summer Dust”). Is it obvious yet that we love this album and are urging you to get it?

“Horophones”The Love Language from Libraries

“This Blood is Our Own”The Love Language from Libraries

The Love Language on MySpace

Probably (because it’s impossible to listen to them all) the second best album of the week is the School of Seven Bells‘ sophomore LP.  The band was formed by Benjamin Curtis of Secret Machines with twins Alejandra and Claudia Deheza. The trio broke through in 2008 with one of that year’s best debut LPs, Alphinisms, and are now back with the equally rewarding follow-up, Disconnect From Desire. Still have not had enough spins to absorb this LP, but it’s another contender for the end of the year lists. The band embarks on a mini tour of Europe and Australia this Thursday, followed by a massive, six-week cross-country U.S. tour that kicks off September 9th at the Brooklyn Bowl.

“Windstorm” School of Seven Bells from Disconnect from Desire

School of Seven Bells on MySpace

“The Happy Mondays” The Innocence Mission from My Room In The Trees

“God Is Love” The Innocence Mission from My Room In The Trees

“Tomboy” (Live in Belgium) – Panda Bear from 7″ single

“Orange Yellow”The Spires from Curved Space

“I Heart California” – Admiral Radley from I Heart California (stream album)

“The Mirror”Back Ted N Ted from The Mirror

“Johnny Utah” Futurebirds from Hampton’s Lullaby

“Consider” Backseat Dreamer from The Color of Dreams

“Gold Dust” Backseat Dreamer The Color of Dreams

“Die”Carissa’s Wierd from They’ll Only Miss You When You Leave

“The Color That Your Eyes Changed With the Color of Your Hair” Carissa’s Wierd from They’ll Only Miss You When You Leave