I'm late again this week due to being busy and battling a cold! Therefore I'm mostly going to be giving some abbreviated comments this time.
Dan Black - "((UN))" (2010). Some guilty pleasure moments like "Alone" & "Yours". However there are some REALLY BAD moments here more than from Owl City. *1/2
K.D. Lang - "Recollection" (3-CD + 1-DVD Box Set Collection) (2010). Aside from including WAY too many covers and not enough of her own originals it's still a lovely collection really. The video of her doing "Helpless" is really beautiful. ****
Tom McRae-"The Alphabet Of Hurricanes" (2010). The 2 opening tracks had me worried but then the album took a new course and became magnificent! I really have enjoyed Tom McRae over the years and this is a fine new album. Highlights: "Told My Troubles To The River", "Summer of John Wayne", "American Spirit", "Out Of The Walls". ****
O (Mika Vainio) + Noto (Alvo Noto) - "Mikro Makro" [EP] (2010)
Mika Vainio - "Time Examined (A Collection)" (2010)
I wanted these 2 releases to be more engaging but they were mostly uninteresting ambient pieces and I'm still perplexed over the low calibre of these releases when these 2 artists usually produce much higher quality.
A couple of albums I revisited this weekend that I give an outstanding 5 + star classic album stamp on, which means every home should have one:
Alice Smith - "For Lovers Dreamers and Me" (2007)
Alice Cooper - "Killer" (1971)
Rocky Votolato - "True Devotion" (2010). Having just seen Rocky live last month with my buddy James I wanted to relisten to his new album. Really another beautiful addition to his already stellar catalogue. If you've never heard him you owe it to yourself to check him out. A great and talented guy. **** 1/2
This next new release is from Scottish Duo Boo Hooray (yes, that is the moniker - I don't like it but what can you do) Boo Hooray - "Haunted" (2010). Wow, this album IS delicious! A top pick for sure. Think: Talk Talk, Blue Nile, Elbow. These are good comparisons and there is much to love on this album. Highlights: "The Angels Are Closer", "Johnny Won't Get To Heaven", "The Last Day Of Something". ****
Balmorhea - "Constellations" (2010). 5th release from this Acoustic/ Classical / Experimental band. I can't say enough about the greatness here. So many highlights including: "Bowspirit", "Night Squall", "On The Weight Of Night". A top pick this week. **** 1/2
Efterklang -"Magic Chairs" (2010). This is the 3rd album from these amazingly talented individuals. That's why it pains me to say that this one feels like a rush job. For some reason it just wasn't connecting with me on first listen. I'm going to have to hold off on saying any more until further listening. Their other albums are so excellent that I don't want to torch them unnecessarily. Jury out.
Backyard Tire Fire - "Good To Be" (2010). 5th album from this band I used to push and like. This new album is something else altogether. The WORST writing I've heard in aging. Cringeworthy would be a better description. I don't know what happened to them making this album but it SUX! Ok, to be fair, it has 2 decent songs: "Ready Or Not" and "Hell and Back". I can only give: *
My TOP TOP pick this week is the new release from Eluvium - "Similes" (2010). If you are a fan of beautifully constructed ambient symphonic guitar pieces with some vocals here and there, then this is for you. Eluvium deliver on this, their 6th album (I think). It's a beautiful album that you just want to keep turning up louder and wish it would last longer. That's what a great record is all about. *****
Lastly this week is the recently released Johnny Cash - "American VI: Ain't No Grave" (2010). Aside from all the religion that was a big part of Johhny, this is a great addition to his never ending catalogue. I didn't think he sounded as frail as I expected. In fact he sounds quite strong. Ever the Artist, a true great and very sad that he's gone. ****
Now onto this week #13 already new releases. Enjoy!!!
MARCH 30
1. ELLEN ALLIEN-“PUMP B/W FEEL LIKE” (SINGLE) (3/26)
2. THE ANNUALS-“SWEET SISTER” [EP] (3/30)
3. JOAN ARMATRADING-“THIS CHARMING LIFE” (3/30)
4. THE BLACK BELLES-“WHAT CAN I DO? B/W LIES” (1/26) (ON JACK WHITE’S LABEL)
5. BLACK FRANCIS-“NONSTOPEROTIK” (3/30)
6. BLACK TAMBOURINE-“S/T” COLLECTION (3/30)
7. BLANK DOGS-“PHRASES” [EP] (3/30)
8. BOE WEAVER-“BOE WEAVER” (3/30)
9. ELVA SNOW-“ELVA SNOW” (IMPORT) (2/9)
10. FELIX CARTAL-“POPULAR MUSIC” (3/30)
11. CATHERINE WHEEL-“FERMENT: SPECIAL EDITION” (IMPORT) (1992/2010) (3/30)
12. NICK CAVE-DELUXE REISSUES W/ DVD: “HENRY’S DREAM”, “TENDER PREY” & “THE GOOD SON” (3/30)
13. CIRCUS DEVILS-“MOTHER SKINNY” (3/30)
14. DONNACHA COSTELLO-“BEFORE WE SAY GOODBYE” (3/30)
15. DUM DUM GIRLS-“I WILL BE” (3/30)
16. ELEPHANT9-“WALK THE NILE” (3/30)
17. THOMAS FEHLMANN-“GUTE LUFT: ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK FROM 24H BERLIN TV DOCUMENTARY” (ON KOMPAKT) (3/30)
18. FREE ENERGY-“STUCK ON NOTHING” (3/30)
19. GOD IS AN ASTRONAUT-“S/T” (2008/2010) (3/30)
20. HOLLY GOLIGHTLY & THE BROKEOFFS-“MEDICINE COUNTY” (3/30)
21. HANOI JANES-“YEAR OF PANIC” (3/30)
22. LINDSTROM AND CHRISTABELLE-REMIX EP’S: “BABY CAN’T STOP” + “LOVESICK BONUS TRACK: GUNS DROP” + “MUSIC IN MY MIND”
23. THE LIVING SISTERS (INARA GEORGE OF THE BIRD AND THE BEE), BECKY STARK OF LAVENDER DIAMOND & ELENI MANDELL)-“LOVE TO LIVE” (3/30)
24. LOOK MEXICO-“TO BED TO BATTLE” (3/30)
25. MEKOACHAN-“MINIMAL BUMP” [EP] (3/30)
26. NORTH ATLANTIC OSCILLATION-“GRAPPLING HOOKS” (3/30)
27. JEN OLIVE-“WARM ROBOT” (PRODUCED BY ANDY PARTRIDGE OF XTC & ON HIS APE LABEL) (3/29)
28. SAM AMIDON-“I SEE THE SIGN” (3/30)
29. SEASICK STEVE-“MAN FROM ANOTHER TIME” (3/30)
30. SLOW CLUB-“YEAH, SO” (LTD EDITION W/ BONUS DISC) (3/30)
31. JON SPENCER BLUES EXPLOSION-“DIRTY SHIRT ROCK ‘N ROLL: THE FIRST TEN YEARS” (3/30)
32. ANGUS & JULIA STONE-“DOWN THE WAY” (3/30)
33. TURIN BRAKES-“OUTBURSTS” (3/30)
34. VISAGE-“THE FACE: THE VERY BEST OF VISAGE” (3/30)
35. VOICE OF THE SEVEN THUNDERS-“S/T” (3/30)
36. WE ARE THE WORLD-“CLAY STONES” (3/30)
37. THOMAS WHITE (ELECTRIC SOFT PARADE)-“THE MAXIMALIST” (3/30) + “THE LAST BLAST” [EP] (W/3-B-SIDES)
38. WOODEN SHJIPS-“VOL. 2” (3/30)
39. JENNY OWEN YOUNGS-“LAST PERSON” [EP] (3/23)
40. VARIOUS ARTISTS-“COLD WAVES AND MINIMAL ELECTRONICS VOL.1” (3/30)
41. VARIOUS ARTISTS-“2010 DIAL RECORDS” ( 4/2)
Thanks for supporting Balmorhea!
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