New Music Tuesday
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Internationally-acclaimed Icelandic band Sigur Rós has always been known for making otherworldly music, pushing music critics to hyperbolic extremes with their ethereal, astonishingly beautiful songs. On their fifth album, the band surprises us in almost the only way left: they come down to Earth. Debut single "Gobbledigook" is a joyously tribal three minutes unlike anything they've done before, with an accompanying video (NSFW) that mirrors the naked-in-paradise theme of the cover art. And for the first time, the band includes a song in English (rather than their invented language, Hopelandic). Without sacrificing any of their majesty, Sigur Rós gives us their most accessible work yet.
Sharon Little's smoky, sultry voice will delight fans of Janis Joplin, Grace Potter, and K.T. Tunstall. Since the beginning of 2008, Little has gone from waiting tables to becoming one of the most impressive up-and-coming artists of the year. After releasing Perfect Time For A Breakdown, she landed a slot as an opener for Robert Plant and Alison Krauss on their North American tour, where she regularly earns standing ovations. As the Village Voice says, "Sharon Little is a unique voice in a crowded landscape and she's here to stay."
The anonymous musician who goes by Podington Bear is an ambitious one, releasing three songs a week for the entirety of 2007. The artist stayed true to this goal until October, when their prolific creative impulse began to take the shape of an album. The End is a collection of glitchy, sparkling electronica that inspired NPR's Stephen Thompson to say that "Podington Bear may be heavily indebted to the Aphex Twins and Brian Enos of the world, but he or she shares their ability to inject heart into a genre that can be icy and clinical by nature." Whether or not the rest of the project will surface as official releases, this album is an excellent souvenir of this enigmatic musician's creative endeavor.
Ever since Jeremy Jay's Airwalker EP was released this spring, his debut album A Place Where We Could Go has been hotly anticipated by fans and critics alike. Displaying passion for '50s doo-wop and French chansons, Jay has earned comparisons to Jens Lekman, Buddy Holly, and Jonathan Richman, and his boyish looks have him poised to become a teen idol. With his movie star charisma and simple retro-pop songs, he's "nothing short of charming" (XLR8R).
Rapper Qwel (of Typical Cats) teams up with jungle/drum 'n bass producer Kip Killagain to create an urgent, avant-garde hip hop album. Qwel's voice and hyperspeed flow will remind many of Atmosphere's Slug, and Kip Killagain layers live instruments over heavy bass lines for "epicurean, organic tapestries" (The Boston Phoenix). The New Wine may take a few listens to seep in, especially as you try to parse Qwel's endless lyrical threads (check the title track), but it's entirely worth the wait.
Following the release of Spock's Beard's sixth studio album, lead singer Neal Morse left the band to pursue a solo career. Soon after, drummer Nick D'Virgilio took over the lead singing and songwriting role, in a move reminiscent of Genesis drummer Phil Collins taking over for Peter Gabriel. The comparisons to Genesis don't end there, as both bands take melodic pop to new levels, incorporating complex arrangements, virtuosic playing, and epic songs. Live was recorded in May 2007 and features 19 tracks, including the full version of the four-part epic "As Far As The Mind Can See."
