New Music Tuesday
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
These United States, the hardest working young band we know, is back with their new album, Crimes, only a few short months after releasing their debut. Following multiple tours of the U.S. and Europe, the band went into the studio and successfully captured the notoriously raucous and sweaty energy of their live shows: picture a wild-west saloon band backing singer Jesse Elliott as he croons and yelps about sins, schemes, devils, and delusions. It'd be a crime not to pick up this album, especially while it's available for the special price of $5!
Washington D.C.'s downtempo kings are back with the politically-charged Radio Retaliation, on which the duo of Rob Garza and Eric Hilton find new ways to incorporate sounds from Jamaica, Latin America, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. This time around, Thievery Corporation utilize special guest appearances from Nigeria's afro-beat heir Femi Kuti, Brazilian star vocalist and guitarist Seu Jorge, Indian sitar virtuoso Anushka Shankar, Slovakian chanteuse and violinist Jana Andevska, and Washington DC's own go-go originator Chuck Brown. Employing their trademark "outernational" sound, Radio Retaliation is a surprisingly cohesive and refreshing album that highlights the infinite possibilities of Thievery Corporation's unique musical approach.
Creating expansive, expressive music that needs no vocals to convey powerful emotion, Mogwai stand alongside Sigur Rós and Explosions In The Sky as exemplars of post-rock. The Hawk Is Howling, the band's sixth album, veers into the harder, darker territory of bands like Tool and Nine Inch Nails; lead single "Batcat" is a violent, screaming five minutes that could soundtrack any action movie. But tracks like "Thank You Space Expert" remind you that Mogwai is just as masterful on the other end of the spectrum, evoking a deeply peaceful feeling of the cosmos. The UK's The Music Magazine currently features The Hawk Is Howling as their Album of the Week, calling it "nothing short of astonishing" in a 10/10 review.
After returning from a recent European tour, Brightblack Morning Light's Nathan Shineywater moved in to an adobe hut with four solar panels on a secluded mesa in New Mexico. During his time there, he and keyboardist Rachael Hughes recorded the group's sophomore release, Motion To Rejoin -- a reverb-soaked psychedelic album with sparse, vintage instrumentation. On each song, the group settles on a simple idea that gradually evolves as slowly as possible, truly exploring the intricacies of their sound. Their patience breeds a magical intensity that has Pitchfork saying "the farther they wander, the more magnetic they become."
This latest entry in the Scion A/V Remix Project presents four monster tracks from Modular Records artists remixed by some of the hottest talents in dance music. Boy 8-Bit, a new artist on Diplo's Mad Decent label, elevates the Bumblebeez track "Rio", to a throbbing, infectious dance floor killer, followed by White Williams' take on the excellent Muscles track "The Lake." Then comes a lesser-known New Young Pony Club song remixed with added vocals by Tampa party rappers Yo Majesty, and the epic Presets track "This Boy's In Love", reworked by Detroit techno DJ Kevin Saunderson. This one will be adored by new music bloggers everywhere!
Progressive power-metal band Evergrey comes from Gothenburg, Sweden with guitars blazing. One thing you'll definitely notice on Torn is lead singer Tom Englund's strong, sandy voice, sounding more like Soundgarden's Chris Cornell than most wailing power-metal guys. Keyboards and the band's unstoppable "guitarmy" fill out the mix, making for catchy and melodic songs that actually aren't too far from rock radio. If you're looking for a gateway into the world of metal, look no further than Evergrey.
