MUSIC THREAD

A note for my fellow eMusic subscribers...

If you haven't seen it yet, eMusic added the Warner catalog today -- and from what I've seen, they haven't done any of the Sony bullshit where the hit songs are album-only. There is some great stuff on there now.

 

Holy crap ... it's booster pack time!

 

I got a 100-track gift card for Christmas. I'm a very happy boy.

 

Didn't even know Black Keys lead singer Dan Auerbach had a solo album out until a week or so ago, so I picked it up at a used CD shop on vacation. Really, really good. Best $7 I've spent in a while.

 

Attention Spoon fans: Transference, the band's new album, is on sale for $3.99 (!!!!) today at the Amazon MP3 store.

I just bought it and can't wait to give it a spin tomorrow. From what I've read, it's not as accessible/bright as Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga but still sounds like a Spoon record.

 

Some friends cajoled me into going to an of Montreal concert tonight. Heard of them, but not familiar with any of their songs. What should I expect?

 

Some great melodies, flashy outfits and a frontman (Kevin Barnes) who thinks he's the next David Bowie.

I should really like them, but the band's pretentiousness just rubs me the wrong way. Should be a fun show, though.

 

He was cover story in a recent issue of Acoustic Guitar. He was talking about how much work he's done on his playing over the past decade or two. Interesting story. I haven't heard the record, but it made me curious.

 

Picked up The Antlers' "Hospice," the other day and it's pretty much blowing me away. Very chill, especially the song "Kettering."

Also got Spoon's "Transference." Good, per usual.

 

Nice to see this thread near the top.

The new Spoon album is a grower for sure. From what I've read, most of the cuts were demos or based on demos.

Have you guys heard Surfer Blood? If not, give their debut a shot ... it's incredible, at least to my ears. The vocals on some tracks are a bit like the Shins, but the guitar work is fucking tremendous. I've owned the album for a few weeks and it may be one of the best things I've heard in the last few years.

 

Thanks for the links, Trey. The chime-y guitar song sounds good, and so do their more amped-up tunes. I'll have to check out "Astro Coast" myself.

And, attention all Elvis Costello fans:

His new "Live at Hollywood High" is great stuff from a June 4, 1978 concert. I think the CD is basically the entire show.

A sample (not from the new album, but three songs that are on it):

 

Some decent indie stuff comes out today.

One album is from Mumford and Sons, who are already household names in the UK.

I can't describe the band, but Frightened Rabbit meets the Avett Brothers could be an apt description. And much like the former, there's just something powerful about them.

"Little Lion Man"

"The Cave"

Another new record is the Local Natives' debut. They sound a bit like fellow Pitchfork darlings (yeah, I know) Grizzly Bear.

"Stranger Things"