It’s already time to look forward to autumn music releases, even though we’re still getting acquainted with the flood of awesome new releases that have dropped in the past couple of months. Sure, many of them have been featured in the weekly Best New Releases, and via other regular mixes like In Dee Mail and Recent Releases We Almost Missed, but there are still others, especially from bands most people have never heard of, that we’re still listening to – determining if they should make the ‘final cut’. Those that do will be published over the coming weeks.
One of the most talked about upcoming releases is Sufjan Stevens‘ The Age of Adz, which is streaming free on NPR until it’s release date, October 12th. Fans of Sufjan will soon discover yet another side to the prolific musician – his tweaked-out, electro-experimental pop side. We’ll have more to say about Adz next Tuesday.
“Too Much” – Sufjan Stevens from The Age of Adz – Oct. 12th
Belle and Sebastian – Write About Love
You can bet that a lot of Belle and Sebastian fans will be happy Tuesday to finally get their hands on the duo’s first album in four years, Write About Love. The Scottish band, led by singer-songwriter Stuart Murdoch, has built a cult-like following over the years, gaining more fans after two B&S songs were featured in the hit 2007 indie film, Juno. Those songs came from the band’s most successful LP in their 15-year career, 2006’s The Life Pursuit. That album was produced by Tony Hoffer, who guided the band’s music towards a more progressive pop sound. And, just in case you don’t know about Murdoch’s innovative film project, check it out at his God Help The Girl website.
“Write About Love” – Belle & Sebastian from Write About Love – Oct. 12th
For the memories: “There’s Too Much Love” – Belle & Sebastian from Fold Your Hands Child You Walk Like a Peasant (2000)
The Tallest Man on Earth – Sometimes The Blues Is Just A Passing Bird
On November 9th, Swedish musician Kristian Matsson, better known by his moniker, The Tallest Man on Earth, will officially release his second EP, Sometimes The Blues Is Just A Passing Bird. Matsson has often been compared to one of our favorite musicians ever – Bob Dylan. Whether by design or coincidence – or a dash of both – Matsson’s raw, nasal voice is strikingly similar to Dylan’s. Since his brilliant 2008 debut LP, Shallow Grave, and this past April’s follow-up, The Wild Hunt, it’s been a wild ride for The Tallest Man on Earth. He’s enormously popular in Europe, and increasingly so in the U.S. and Canada. We love TTMOE, and he’s getting stronger, but not taller, with each release. By the way, Matsson is 5 feet, 7 inches tall.
“Like The Wheel” – The Tallest Man on Earth from Sometimes The Blues Is Just A Passing Bird – Nov. 9th
Avey Tare (Animal Collective) – Down There
The members of Animal Collective have been keeping busy this summer with solo recordings, releases and tours. Panda Bear (Noah Lennox) was on tour on the heels of his latest release, Tomboy, and now, Avey Tare, has released a new track from his upcoming LP, Down There, set to drop Oct. 26th on Paw Tracks. The new Tare single, “Lucky 1”, sounds, surprisingly, like a new AC song, which you can probably guess is a good, and maybe no-so-good, thing for him. However, until we’ve heard the entire LP, it’s hard to pass judgment. Hard-core AC fans will buy just about anything anyone from the band puts out. Avey also followed the release of that track – which has been trending at No. 1 on the Hype Machine over the past few days – with this silly video for “Lucky 1”.
“Lucky 1” – Avey Tare from Down There – Oct. 26th
A Sunny Day in Glasgow – Autumn Again
The next release we are looking forward to is not likely one that many other bloggers or indie fans have marked down as an anticipated fall release. And yet the upcoming new album, Autumn Again, from Philadelphia/Sydney’s celebrated indie dream pop band, A Sunny Day in Glasgow, not only because we freaking loved their previous releases over the past two years, but also because it will be a free download (freeload) starting Oct. 19th, the official release date of the LP. The band will sell 500 vinyl copies via Carrot Top Distribution.
“Drink Drank Drunk” – A Sunny Day in Glasgow from Autumn, Again – Oct. 19th
And then there’s this: Current tourmates Active Child and School of Seven Bells have remixed each other’s tracks on a limited edition 7” project. This collaboration will be available from Lefse Records on mixed color vinyl October 26. Listen to Active Child’s remix of “Heart is Strange” here: