The long-awaited Okkervil River new album, I Am Very Far, dropped officially this week, and although we have yet to hear the studio version (compared to last week’s live webcast performance of the LP) all the way through (probably this weekend), but what we’ve heard so far is very promising. In 2005, Okkervil River broke out big time to the national stage with the release of Black Sheep Boy, and several months later, the Black Sheep Boy Appendix EP. In 2007 and 2008, the band released The Stage Names and The Stand Ins, respectively. Make sure to check back later today or tomorrow for Part Two of this week’s Best New Releases.
“Wake and Be Fine” – Okkervil River from I Am Very Far
The Antlers‘ 2008 debut album, Hospice, received overwhelmingly positive reactions from music critics, bloggers and new fans when it first came out, and over time, became, arguably, one of the best indie folk debuts of the decade, and one of the best overall debut LPs of 2008 despite, or not, the fact that it was basically a concept album about a hospice worker and a terminally ill patient falling in love. With their new follow-up album, Burst Apart, the band continue their relationship and love concept album mastery. These two tracks from the album, “I Don’t Want Love” and “Parentheses” were provided by the blog, Whale in a Cubicle.
“I Don’t Want Love” – The Antlers from Burst Apart
“Parentheses” – The Antlers from Burst Apart
Following on the success of their critically acclaimed and Mercury Prize nominated second album, Two Dancers, the band Wild Beasts have unveiled their next chapter in their career with the release of their new album, Smother. The band have released the first single from the album, “Albatross,” a track washed with sonic layers and textures of abstract sounds combined to form something typically bold and unique.
“Albatross” – Wild Beasts from Smother
“Invisible” – Wild Beasts from Smother
“Invisible” is provided via the blog, Said The Gramophone
Manchester Orchestra’s Fantastic New Single, The Cars Return
Manchester Orchestra’s Fantastic New Single, The Cars ReturnAnother anticipated release this week is Manchester Orchestra‘s, Simple Math, which you can stream via this link. Andy Hull called the title track, which we absolutely are loving, “the best song we have ever written.”
“Simple Math” – Manchester Orchestra from Simple Math
For some reason, The Cars‘ latest single, “Sad Song,” seemed to fit in place right after Manchester Orchestra’s “Simple Math.” What we like about this track is the fact that is sounds a lot like The Cars’ of the 1980s, when they were at the height of their career. Despite the track name, it’s actually an upbeat track, washed with synths, led with Ric Ocasek easily recognizable vocals, thumbing bass and uptempo beats. “Sad Song’ is from The Cars’ new album, Move Like This, out now. The track is streamed via TheMusicFm.com.
“Sad Song” – The Cars from Move Like This
Colourmusic’s new album showcases an ever-evolving mass of melancholic melodies, gauzy vocals, shifty beats, and monophonic musical structures. Not to mention glimpses of agnostic gospel grooves like the lead single, “You For Leaving Me.”
Pile them on – the other Best New Releases of the week include new albums from Michael J Epstein Memorial Library, the popular indie rock Man Man‘s latest new track from their new album, and Salt Lake City‘s new-to-us band, The Devil Whale (as if we need another band with ‘whale’ in the name) drop their sophomore album, Teeth, featuring 60’s and 70’s garage and pop influences such as The Animals, The Kinks, and Harry Nilsson.
“You For Leaving Me” – Colourmusic from My ___ Is Pink
“Amylee” – Michael J Epstein Memorial Library from Volume One
“Knuckle Down” – Man Man from Life Fantastic
Song via SeizureChicken
“Barracudas” – The Devil Whale from Teeth
Love Inks, Sleepy Viking, Howe Gelb, Phil Cook, Liturgy, Peter Case
Plus, stream and download new music out this week from Sleepy Viking, Howe Gelb, Phil Cook (of Megafun), Liturgy (both the latter and Cook’s tracks are instrumentals from two different worlds); Peter Case’s lead sounds a bit like if T. Rex gone country rock.
“Blackeye” – Love Inks from E.S.P.
“4 Door Maverick” – Howe Gelb from Alegrias
“Calm” – Sleepy Vikings from They Will Find You Here
“Ballad of a Hungry Mother” – Phil Cook from Hungry Mother Blues
“Generation” – Liturgy from Aesthetica
“Round Trip Stranger Blues” – Peter Case from Breaking Bones
Don’t Miss Part 2 of this week’s Best New Releases