image courtesy of doc18
If you happen to have some spare cash after the last week’s gigantic week of releases, you might want to check out a few gems that are currently making the rounds this week. I think the first album on a lot of people’s shopping list is Vampire Weekend’s selftitled debut. I swear, the hype building for this album has been absolutely ridiculous since last year, and it’s definitely hard to avoid. I finally gave in and listened to it a few weeks ago. It’s a decent record, but I dunno if it’s something i’ll be listening to far into the year. Who knows though, it’s just that I can’t stand hype like this. I don’t want music force-fed to me, and would rather just enjoy it at on my pace.
A few albums that i’ve been enjoying include Thao Nguyen’s We Brave Bee Stings and All, The Helio Sequence’s Keep Your Eyes Open, Jeffrey Lewis’ 12 Crass Songs and Ida’s Lovers Prayers. The first two albums have been mentioned here on the blog in previous posts, with the last few being albums that i’m just now discovering for the first time.
If there are any releases i’m missing out, please let me know! Enjoy sampling all of these with a nice bowl of cereal, like i’m currently doing myself!
Chris Walla :: Field Manual
The Helio Sequence :: Keep Your Eyes Ahead
Ida :: Lovers Prayers
Jeffrey Lewis :: 12 Crass Songs
Joe Jackson :: Rain
Louis XIV :: Slick Dogs and Ponies
Murder Mystery :: Are You Ready For The Heartache Cause Here It Comes
Radar Bros. :: Auditorium
Robert Pollard :: Superman Was A Rocker
“Love Your Spaceman”
The Shackeltons :: The Shackeltons
SSM :: Break Your Arm for Evolution
Thao Nguyen :: We Brave Bee Stings and All
“Beat (Health, Life And Fire)”
Vampire Weekend :: Vampire Weekend
Xiu Xiu :: Women As Lovers
“I Do What I Want, When I Want”
Yoav :: Charmed & Strange
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I agree on Vampire Weekend. It’s not too bad, and a few tracks border on really good (“Oxford Comma” especially), but it isn’t even close to becoming my next big thing. Nice melodies, nice music, and lots of overall niceness but not much else. I’d give the album 3 1/2 stars out of 5…
I have been listening to Vampire Weekend for a month or so now, and they are fantastic. Those melodies are great for summer, which it is here, or pretending it is, thus good for those in the Northern Hemisphere.
Moreover they are good songs, with great arrangements, I love what sounds like a cello on ‘Walcott’.
As far as the ‘hype’ goes, I heard they were a band to watch and I have no qualms with that, but as I live in Australia (Perth, the most isolated capital city in the world) where most people would never have heard of Vampire Weekend, or most other bands the Yellow Stereo has introduced me too, the hype is non-existant, yet I still find this a superb release.
Don’t be afraid to admit that a great band was discovered and passed around under your radar…or in the alternative…if you heard of them but decided to not give them a chance until late in the game, don’t be ashamed to admit you were wrong to not give credence to the claims. If you didn’t get into Vampire Weekend earlier you are missing out. Be happy you eventually gave in as opposed to bitter that it took so long. The CD is great and the hype I heard was well warranted.
I’ve been out of town all week, so happy to find an awesome Graboid waiting for me on my return. Thanks!
An album that came out this week that I am enjoying (OK–I have had it less than 24 hours) is from WAZ. He use to be in Pete Yorn’s band. The album is titled The Sweet Bye and Bye.