Firstly, we’d like to apologize for being late with this week’s Best New Releases – work and family issues took over, plus, we wanted a few days to really listen to all of the tracks and put together an overview of the bands and artists who have the most exciting new albums out this week. As you will see below, there is also one surprise early release (Beirut), a deluxe edition (Arcade Fire) and a re-issued, remastered album (Archers of Loaf).
The wonderful, eight-minute track, “Fast Peter,” from Moonface‘s new album, is a sonic delight and musical journey soaked in shimmering organ notes, a steady tambourine beat, and the terrific vocals of the prolific Canadian musician and multi-instrumentalist Spencer Krug. He is currently a member of Wolf Parade and Sunset Rubdown, and has also written songs for, and performed with, bands like Swan Lake, Frog Eyes, Fifths of Seven, and many others.
For his second solo album, Krug, aka Moonface, wanted to use a vibraphone, but he later said it wasn’t working out, so he turned to the organ, which is implicit in the album title, Organ Music Not Vibraphone Like I’d Hoped. We got hooked on the brimming quality of the song, which lead us to stream the album twice. This is a great album to add to your summer listening list.
The bonus track, “The Way You Wish You Could Live in the Storm” is yet another masterfully crafted voyage through sonic landscapes. Spencer has released it as a free promotional track for the album, however, it is not included on the album itself. Hmmm…No worries, it’s still an impressive sophomore solo albums from one of indie’s most talented musicians.
“Fast Peter” – Moonface from Organ Music Not Vibraphone Like I’d Hoped (stream)
“The Way You Wish You Could Live in the Storm” – Moonface
The lead track off of Love of Everything‘s new EP has a great sound – it’s a metered track melodically, wrapped in repetitious lo-fi guitar notes, heavy bass thumping, a constant drum beat, and high-octane vocals that make it a song you’ll probably likely play a number of times.
The only bummer is that the track is only 1:38 minutes long – so just as you’re ‘getting into’ the track, it ends.
“Three Way Answers” – Love of Everything from Sooner I Wish EP
Other new releases include a new remaster of Archers of Loaf‘s fantastic album, Icky Mettle. Included here is one of the best of many top-notch songs, “What Did You Expect,” from Icky Mettle. The track is a fantastic punk rocker from a band we have always considered underrated compared to their talent.
“What Did You Expect” – Archers of Loaf from Icky Mettle (remastered and expanded)
Beirut Releases The Rip Tide Digitally Ahead of Planned Release
While Beirut‘s long-awaited follow-up to 2007’s fantastic The Flying Cup Club doesn’t officially drop on vinyl and CD until later this month, the band have made The Rip Tide available digitally this week for eager fans. As we reviewed earlier, The Rip Tide, is a fantastic album, and if you’re not already a Beirut fan, you’ll want to get a copy of it – easily one of the most anticipated albums of 2011. Read our partial review of the album and listen to more new Beirut songs.
As for the reason for the early release of the digital album, we believe it is probably so that the label can gauge the demand for vinyl and CDs. There will also surely be people who will buy the digital version just to be able to listen to the album right away. Some of those same people will likely purchase the vinyl or CD when they are released on August 30th.
Order The Rip Tide via iTunes
“The Rip Tide” – Beirut from The Rip Tide – due out August 30th
Arcade Fire Release Deluxe Edition of The Suburbs
Arcade Fire dropped a deluxe version of The Suburbs (they didn’t sell enough copies the first time around?). We’re not that big on deluxe issues, because they usually are only of interest to hard-core fans (which is fair to say they have plenty of), and of course the record label and the band. But, in this case, they probably will sell tens of thousands of copies of the deluxe version worldwide.
Also, check out our original coverage of Arcade Fire’s The Suburbs. Here’s the question we pose to you: “Is Arcade Fire still an indie band?”
“The Suburbs”– Arcade Fire from The Suburbs
“Sprawl II” – Arcade Fire from The Suburbs
The Ettes, Fruit Bats, Diva, Buffalo Killers, Jim Ward and Many Others
“The Pendulum” – The Ettes from Wicked Will
“Tangie and Ray” – Fruit Bats from Tripper
“Glow Worm” – Diva from The Glitter End
“Broken Songs” (with Tegan Quin) – Jim Ward from Quiet in the Valley, On the Shores the End Begins/The Electic Six (stream)
“Circle Day”“ – Buffalo Killers from 3
“Lawn” – Collections of Colonies of Bees from GIVING
“West Side Street” – The Deep Dark Woods from The Place I Left Behind
“Escape” – Richard Buckner from Our Blood
“Latino & Proud – DJ Raff from Latino & Proud
“From Scratch” – Brian Keenan from Today This Year (self-released)
“Sophia In Gold – Letting Up Despite Great Faults from Paper Crush EP
“I Can Hear the Trains Coming” – Mathieu Santos from Massachusetts 2010 (stream)
“Pleasuring the Divine – Jesse Sykes & the Sweet Hereafter from Marble Son
“Penthouse Suites“ – Wise Blood from These Wings
Doubleshot from Neon Indian’s Upcoming LP, Era Extrana
The other day on the latest Fresh Tracks MP3 mix, we featured a new track from Neon Indian‘s upcoming album, Era Extraña, set for September 13th release. Today, we have yet another new track from the album, titled “Polish Girl.” The first track, “Fallout” was released in late July.
“Polish Girl” – Neon Indian from Era Extraña
“Fallout” – Neon Indian from Era Extraña
August 2
Antigone Rising – 23 Red
Arcade Fire – Suburbs (Deluxe CD/DVD)
Beoga – How to Tune A Fish
Brian Keenan – Today This Year
Collections of Colonies of Bees – Giving
Fountains of Wayne – Sky Full of Holes DC
Fruit Bats – Tripper
Himalayan Bear – Hard Times
Jesse Sykes & the Sweet Hereafter – Marble Son
John Hiatt – Dirty Jeans & Mudslide Hymns
Justin Hines – Days to Recall
Keb Mo – The Reflection
Kenny Wayne Shepherd – How I Go
Mat Kearney – Young Love
O.A.R. – King
Richard Buckner – Our Blood
The Calm Blue Sea – S/T
The Duke & the King – The Duke & The King
The Wood Brothers – Smoke Ring Halo
Various – ‘The Voice’ Season 1 Highlights
