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

Here are some full-length versions of some of the songs you just heard on Justin’s Top Ten presentation.

Conor Oberst – Souled Out!!!

Greg Laswell – How the Day Sounds

Dr. Dog – My Friend

Samantha Crain – The River

TV on the Radio – DLZ

The Silent Years – Aging Gracefully

Right Away, Great Captain! – Cutting Off the Blood to Ten

Bon Iver – Re: Stacks

Anathallo – All the First Pages

Colour Revolt – Ageless Everytime

Hopefully all that idiotic babbling has not got you thinking that I am only a fan of Samantha Crain because I happened to go to school with her. After you take a listen surely you will agree with me that she is one of the most talented new artists, putting her own unique twist on the folk sound. If you still refuse to believe my terribly biased opinion, perhaps you will heed the words of a more reputable source.

Samanta Crain – Beloved, We Have Expired (removed 2/13/09)

May your ears bleed evermore.