After quite a long absence, the Graboid is back and this time around with a proper title. As much as I liked the original ‘The Daily Graboid’ title, in the grand scheme of things it just never really made much sense considering it had always been a weekly post. I’ve always meant to have the change eventually, but considering how long it’s been since I’ve last put this up, it just felt right to start back anew with this different title.

So with that being said, you can expect to see this every Tuesday since I know a lot of you actually do your music shopping on the actual day of releases. I know that I probably will now since I actually live near some record shops.

This week brings an abundance of excellent releases from the likes of Air, The Clientele, Kurt Vile, The Dutchess & The Duke, Mission to Burma, The Mountain Goats, The Raveonettes, and current blogger favorites The XX (my opinion on them has soften a bit, but I still don’t think they’re that great).

As always, if there is anything I may have missed, feel free to recommend it to us.

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Tags: A Place to Bury Strangers, Air, Alela Diane featuring Alina Hardin, Betty Davis, Built to Spill, Califone, Daniel Johnston, Glorytellers, Gossip, Harmonia, Headlights, Kurt Vile, Lou Barlow, Mike Doughty, Mission of Burma, Music Go Music, No Age, Noah and the Whale, Octoberman, Orenda FInk, Osso, Sufjan Stevens, Supercluster, The Black Heart Procession, The Black Hollies, The Cinematics, The Clientele, The Dutchess & the Duke, The Mountain Goats, The Very Best, The Weekly Graboid, The XX, Vic Chesnutt

If there’s an upside to taking such a long break from this blog, it’s that I’m always going to be completely overwhelmed with new music to digest.  This time around being no different, as I’m having to put together a list of stuff to possibly write about in the coming days and weeks.

Take for example this new single “Get Going” from Headlights — who have been one of our long-time favorites around here — and their forthcoming third album titled Wildlife.  Due out in October on Polyvinyl, this album seems to be the band’s most difficult to date as guitarist/songwriter Tristan Wraight mentions, “For the first time this is a significantly personal record for us, and for very real reasons like growing up and people dying that you love.”  Apparently, this is due in part to difficulties during the recording process, as well as departures of certain members of the group.

Usually, any kind of contention or conflict within a band is of no importance to me, just as long as they’re able to overcome everything and put out a great record — which seems to be the case with Wildlife, if this single is of any indication.  I’ve always been more partial to Erin’s vocals, and though she takes a backseat on this particular track, her presence is still evident as her lovely harmonies permeate this breezy little song to close out the summer.

MP3: Headlights :: “Get Going”
MP3: Headlights :: “Put Us Back Together Right” [from 2006's Kill Them With Kindness]

Tags: Headlights, Polyvinyl

Photo: Flickr

I meant to start back this back up last Sunday, but as you all know the site decided to throw up on itself. The plan was to include a bunch of songs carried over from last year that didn’t make the cut on the song list, and just have something fun for all of you to listen to on this lazy afternoon. Listening to a lot of these, i’m questioning myself as to why I forgot about how I forgot about some of them in the first place.

For those unfamiliar, every Sunday (not consistent at all) I would tackle any number of randomly selected songs. The format would change every so often, but the result always remains the same.

MP3: Mystery Jets :: “Young Love (feat. Laura Marling)”
- Ever seen a picture of these guys? Ugly dudes.
MP3: Minisnap :: “New Broom”
- Another good song from a band I never really mentioned on the blog.
MP3: The Lodger :: “Good Old Days”
- Jangly guitar goodness.
MP3: The School :: “Let it Slip”
- This is a fine pop song, in the vein of other 60s girl group revivalists (ex. Lucky Soul, Pipettes, etc.)
MP3: Noah and the Whale :: “Five Years Time”
- I think this was on some car commercial.  Just maybe.
MP3: Headlights :: “Cherry Tulips”
- Love the chorus on this one.
MP3: Ra Ra Riot :: “Oh, La”
- I never mentioned Ra Ra Riot at all last year, but I always liked this song.
MP3: The Radio Dept. :: “Freddie & The Trojan Horse”
- Bring out that new album right now. Thanks.
MP3: Lightspeed Champion :: “Tell Me What It’s Worth”
- This song introduced me to Emmy the Great. A million thank-you’s.

Tags: Headlights, Minisnap, Mystery Jets, Noah and the Whale, The Lodger, The Radio Dept., The School, The Sunday Shuffle