Most Anticipated Albums of 2009 – Part 4

8.  Neko Case

Middle Cyclone – 03/03

This girl just keeps getting better and better.  I find myself jumping at any chance to hear her voice, whether it is just backing up her bandmate A.C. Newman with their innovative rock band the New Pornographers, or as in this case singing the lead on a solo album.  Although, fortunately for us, the term solo is very relative.  Throughout the album she is surrounded by great talent with the guestlist including M. Ward, Garth Hudson, Sarah Harmer and members of the  New Pornographers, Los Lobos and Calexico, to name a few.  In addition to twelve new songs that Neko wrote herself, Middle Cyclone includes covers of ‘Never Turn Your Back on Mother Earth’ by Sparks, and “Don’t Forget Me” by Harry Nilsson. All I have heard is this first single that she has given away for free.  But it is unsurprisingly rumored to be her best yet.  As if I haven’t given you enough reason to go get this album, she recently graced the cover of Paste Magazine.

Neko Case – People Got A Lotta Nerve

Check out this great video on the making of the album.

7.  Samantha Crain

Songs in the Night – 4/28

The creators of my favorite EP of the year, are set to release their full-length debut this April. Samantha Crain hails from the tiny little town in Oklahoma where my beautiful bride attended college.  So it has been fun to see how much attention she is getting lately. The album is going to be released on Ramseur Records, home of the Avett Brothers and the Everybodyfields, two bands that have been getting a lot of playtime in my library. Along with her band the Midnight Shivers (Jacob Edwards, Andrew Tanz and Stephen Sebastian), Crain recorded all twelve tracks in five days at Echo Mountain Studios with producer Danny Kadar (Grizzly Bear, My Morning Jacket).   Here are two Daytrotter performances of tracks from the new album.

Samantha Crain – Devils In Boston

Samantha Crain – You Never Know

6.  Beirut

March of the Zapotec/Realpeople Holland - 2/24

Zach Condon is absolutely phenomenal and I am so extremely excited about this album.  As I am listening to the few tracks that have leaked so far, I am having a hard time imagining how I could be any more excited about an album.  But apperently I can, for I have five more to go.  If you are unfamiliar with Beirut, it is Balkan music filled with some of the most gorgeous horn arrangements you’ve ever heard, made by a kid from Santa Fe, New Mexico.  In just a matter of weeks he gives us his third official release with a double EP, March of the Zapotec, Realpeople Holland.  The latter of the two appears to be synth-driven, which is something completely new from him.  It should be fun, but I am definitely glad that March of the Zapotec seems to be just building off of their usual style.  I’ve heard a track from each, and honestly he’s never sounded better.

Beirut – The Shrew (from March of the Zapotec)

Beirut – My Night with the Prostitue From Marseilles

5.  Andrew Bird

Noble Beast – 1/20

Yes I know, this album has already been released. Therefore, I am no longer anticipating this album, but rather I am in the middle of digesting it.  But I am taking my time and savoring every moment.  But it seems that is what you must do with an Andrew Bird record.  I find my self just sitting for hours chewing not on just his intricate string-filled melodies, but also on his carefully chosen words.  Like many of his previous records I have found myself curling up with a dictionary as I prepare to be taken into his whistly lit-pop world.  Noble Beast is nothing new, but that makes it no less exciting.  And so far it is very deserving of this number five spot on my list.

Andrew Bird – The Privateers

Andrew Bird performing Fitz and Dizzyspells on Letterman.

Most Anticipated Albums of 2009 – Part 3

3 Song Thursday: Anti-Valentines Songs

Well it’s time to combine my love of lists with my love of music, but that’s about all the loving you’re gonna squeeze out of me today.

Saturday is V-Day.

I’m going to be frank here, I don’t like the day. And if you feel like joining me, well here are some songs to help with the misery of things.

She Wants Revenge – I Don’t Want To Fall In Love

This song couldn’t be more clear with it’s message.I adore the way it says “better run cause…”, is there really any wiser advice for avoiding love?

Art Brut – People In Love

Spoken word euro-rockers Art Brut just start trashing people in love. The way they explain love, who would want to be in it?

Fiction Family – Please Don’t Call it Love

This song sounds like a case of “I thought maybe we were more than just friends” if I ever heard one. Classic overstepping of boundaries, and now the singer just doesn’t know how to classify things with this person, but he is adamant in that he does not want it to be called love. I love how the sound of Fiction Family is so far gone from both Switchfoot and Nickel Creek, as well as even the solo works of Jon Foreman.

When Saturday approaches and the clock won’t fly by, these songs should keep you occupied for a good, ten minutes. May I recommend burning old depressing pictures, and snapping old mix cd’s in half. If it doesn’t make the emotional pain go away, at least you have something physical to show for you frustrations.

But as for me, I’ll be enjoying Valentine’s Day with my girlfriend.

anyways…

I hope you ears don’t get their feelings hurt, and spend the rest of the valentines dance crying in a corner where nobody can see you, except for the 7th grade history teacher who awkwardly approaches you to calm you down and help, but instead calls attention to your sad pathetic self.

Oh wait, that only happens to me . Ω

RW: Hey (Diplo’s Devil Remix)

Download a copy for your iPod

Take that Justin! I can do more than just write! I’m going to try and start pumping out a weekly audio version of the Remix Wednesday, or perhaps a weekly extra available only in audio form. I haven’t really decided yet.

This remix sounds almost nothing like the original, but is a fun listen. Tune in next week for another Diplo remix that is just way to fun to pass up.

The Pixies – Hey (Diplo’s Devil Remix)

I hope your ears feel the red rain. Ω

Ryan Adams Releases V-Day EP

To commemorate Valentine’s Day this year, Ryan Adams has decided to release an EP of love songs that he has titled Extra Cheese.  From the looks of the cover, I’d say he went with extra pepperoni, but that’s just me.  Either way it’s making me hungry.  Well the album is an Itunes exclusive put out by Lost Highway, and includes one previously unreleased tune.  This would be a great bargain for an intro to Ryan Adams catalog, as you can get all seven songs for just 3.99.  But if you’re like me and already have pretty much his entire catalog, it’s not so great deal, as the one new song is listed as an album only purchase.

In other news,  Adams will be releasing a book this April called Infinity Blues.   I wonder if he realizes that he can’t just hit the delete key once this book has been out for a couple of weeks.  Should be interesting.

Extra Cheese tracklist:

1 Two (Easy Tiger)

2 Blossom (Cold Roses)

3 Answering Bell (Gold)

4 Evergreen (Cardinology)

5 My Love for You is Real (Follow the Lights EP)

6 Desire (Demolition)

7 Hey There, Mrs. Lovely (unreleased)