New Music Tuesday
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
If you're one of many who discovered Susan Enan through her Acoustic Sessions on Amie Street, today's definitely Christmas in July. Her plaintive "Bring On The Wonder," with guest vocals from Sarah McLachlan, was featured on the second season of Bones and almost immediately brought this Liverpool singer international acclaim. Plainsong is her debut album, featuring full-band versions of "Bring On The Wonder" and "Monoplain," and eight other songs inspired by Enan's love for the simple folk of Woody Guthrie and songwriting of Tori Amos. Get the album exclusively on Amie Street for $5!
For fans of: Sarah McLachlan + Tori Amos + Imogen Heap
YACHT is Jona Bechtolt (formerly of The Blow) and new vocalist Claire Evans, and their debut for DFA Records is a chic, pulsing summer record that Rolling Stone predicts will be their breakthrough. With standout singles "Psychic City" and "Summer Song" nestled in the middle of the album, See Mystery Lights takes time to introduce itself, gradually layering Afropop guitars, chopped-up vocals, insistent motorik drumming, and Evans's coolly lazy vocals. By the time the earworm hook of "Psychic City" comes around, it's pretty much a truism: "Come on over baby, we're having a party for you!"
For fans of: New Young Pony Club + LCD Soundsystem + Talking Heads
New York-born, Nashville-based pop musician David Mead sounds like he was transported from another era. His sparse piano arrangements and traditionally melodic voice are straight out of the '60s-'70s, giving his songs that peculiar musical ability to exist completely apart from the concerns of the present; Allmusic calls it "some of the most consistently attractive, melodically pleasing, and intellectually rewarding pop music around." Grab the free track "Rainy Weather Friend"!
For fans of: Harry Nillson + Andrew Bird + Paul McCartney
Various Artists
For the soundtrack to the upcoming romantic comedy Adam, Nettwerk Records assembled an all-star soundtrack of heartfelt pop and acoustic folk. Husband-and-wife duo The Weepies surely make an appearance, and Joshua Radin, Maria Taylor, and Miranda Lee Richards all contribute previously-unreleased songs, while composer Chris Lennertz rounds out the compilation with his original score. Adam opens in theaters tomorrow, but enjoy the soundtrack one day early!
For fans of: The Weepies + James Blunt + Aimee Mann
Chicago house deejay Bad Boy Bill has been spinning parties since 1985, and helped found the popular dance music website Beatport. His full-length debut, The Album, ventures from rock-heavy hard house to uplifting dance-pop, and even includes an uptempo remix of Herbie Hancock's seminal 1983 single "Rockit." Admirably diverse, this debut could make Bad Boy Bill a lot of new fans outside the club circuit.
For fans of: Junkie XL + Basement Jaxx + The Crystal Method
Born on South Carolina's sunny Hilton Head Island, with family in Puerto Rico and St. Croix, Zach Deputy makes roots rock heavily influenced by reggae and island funk. A one-man band, he performs by layering horns, guitar, steel drum, and keyboards with his four-octave vocal range, and his new album Sunshine was recorded live in four days. Give it a listen if your favorite Spin Doctors track is "Little Miss Can't Be Wrong."
For fans of: Spin Doctors + Hootie and the Blowfish + Dave Matthews
Recorded in the historic town of Woodstock, NY, the latest album from blues guitarist Marc Copely combines raw blues melodies with intensely uplifting vocals -- a full gospel choir appears less than two minutes into the album! Copely has supported Our Lady Peace, Vanessa Carlton, and Coldplay on tour, and has co-written songs with Carole King and Tracy Bonham; Allmusic calls him "a working-class hero of stadium-sized potential."
For fans of: Eric Clapton + Joe Cocker + Steve Miller
