New Music Tuesday
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In addition to this week's featured albums, Rusted Root is giving away a free download of "Dance In The Middle" from their forthcoming album, Stereo Rodeo!
When you download the song, 10 cents will be donated to Grow Pittsburgh, an organization that teaches and facilitates sustainable urban agricultural practices in the Pittsburgh area.
Oren Lavie's The Opposite Side Of The Sea is filled with gorgeous, jazzy chamber pop. The lead single, "Her Morning Elegance," has been all over the place lately; Lavie performed it on Jimmy Kimmel Live last week, and the video has been viewed millions of times on YouTube. As part of Amie Street's Download To Make A Difference campaign, 20% of album sales will be going to Magen David Adom, an organization that provides emergency medical services in Israel. Oren's even throwing in "Her Morning Elegance" as a free download!
For fans of: The Weepies + Joshua Radin + Iron And Wine
Ever come back from a trip dying to tell your friends about the new band you've found? Well, if you'd recently visited Dublin you'd be raving about The Kinetiks, a young group that plays bright, upbeat indie rock in the vein of Hot Hot Heat and The Strokes. Their songs are soaked in frontman Gaz Harding's charisma and energy, and one listen will have you howling "Aye! Aye! Aye! Aye!" along with him. The Irish Times keeps their review simple: "F**kin' brilliant."
For fans of: The Strokes + The Kooks + Hot Hot Heat
Montreal-based producer Tim Hecker combines found sounds and organic electronica to create stunning, intricately textured music. His compositions pulse and flow, echoing scenes in nature; Pitchfork points out that "this naturalism, combined with Hecker's sense of fantasy and mirage, is part of what makes the album such a satisfying listen." If you've worn out your Eno records, this is a wonderful new addition to your ambient collection.
For fans of: Brian Eno + Fennesz + Stars of the Lid
Twenty-three-year-old violist Anni Rossi follows up her excitingly idiosyncratic debut EP with her first full-length, Rockwell. Drums, synths, and cello fill out her unique folk-pop on this album, and many tracks from the EP are revisited here in a full band arrangement. For an unexpected follow-up to her buzzed-about cover of Radiohead's "Creep," Rossi includes a version of Ace of Base's "Living in Danger"! It's simple and endearing; Prefix Magazine says "The best part of Rossi's music is the way she lets the cracks show."
For fans of: Joanna Newsom + The Mountain Goats + Regina Spektor
Best known as the winner of American Idol Season Five, Taylor Hicks is back with his second album, The Distance. Produced by Simon Climie (Eric Clapton), the album showcases Hicks's raspy, energetic voice over a variety of soulful pop, country, and gospel tunes. Whether or not you're a fan from his days on Idol, The Distance is a smooth, easy listen that'll convert many new fans to his loyal fan club, the Soul Patrol. Make sure to tune in to his performance on Ellen on March 11th!
For fans of: The Doobie Brothers + Michael McDonald + Bo Bice
Chuck Brown got his start in the 1960s as a jazz/blues guitarist, but by the early '70s he was pioneering the high-energy dance-funk known as go-go. Over the years, he's reached legendary status in his hometown of Washington, D.C. for his non-stop live sets and call-and-response audience participation. On Timeless, Brown gets back to the roots of go-go, taking on jazz and blues standards like "Autumn Leaves," "Blue Skies," and "Caravan."
For fans of: T-Bone Walker + The Ohio Players + The JB's
