CD Releases: Week of 16/10/07

Kind of a slow week in terms of new releases. However, Jimmy Eat World release their follow-up to 2004's Futures entitled Chase This Light. The new album was produced by Butch Vig of Garbage fame. If you don't have Futures yet, you really should check it out. It was a quality piece of work. Got me through the examination period in my second year at uni'. Good times!

This Week's CD Releases
Neil Young - 'Chrome Dreams II'
Exploding Hearts - Shattered (Green Noise)
Louis XIV - Guilt By Association (ATL)
Jimmy Eat World - Chase This Light (Interscope)
Blakes - The Blakes (Light In The Attic)
Joan of Arc - Orchard Vale - Soundtrack
Soulsavers - It’s Not How Far You Fall It’s the Way You Land (Columbia)
Makes Nice! - This Time Tomorrow (Frenetic)
Maritime - Heresy and the Hotel Choir (Flameshovel)
Muscles - Guns, Babes and Lemonade (Modular)
Sally Shapiro - Disco Romance (Paper Bag)
Southeast Engine - A Wheel Within a Wheel (Misra)
Octopus Project - Hello Avalanche (Peek-A-Boo)

Iron and Wine: The Shepherd's Dog

The Shepherd's Dog is the third studio album from Sam Beam's Iron and Wine. It was released on September 25, 2007 and is being considered a great step forward for Iron and Wine. Not only has it received a lot of attention, it has even sold a decent amount of copies. And deservedly so. The album is a fantastic collection of folk-rock songs.

The amount of detail in the music and instrumental progression is what struck me most about this album. You really have to listen carefully to take it all in and gain a full appreciation for what Beam has to offer on The Shepherd's Dog. At the same time, Beam's vocals should not be understated. To do so would be wrong. His voice is smooth and soothing and complements the nature of the songs very well.

I think The Shepherd's Dog is one of those albums that you admire and value more and more with every listen. At least, that has been my experience. The first single, 'Boy With A Coin' was released quite some time ago on July 10, 2007. Other stand out tracks include, 'Carousel' and 'Wolves (Song of the Shepherd's Dog).' As for track #5, 'House By The Sea,' well, nobody should be without hearing this song! I absolutely love it.

Some advice: if you like what you hear, I would consider either ordering the album off of Iron and Wine's label, Sub Pop or actually, dare I say it, going to a record shop and picking up a copy. This is because the album comes with a bonus disc with two unreleased songs called 'Arms of a Thief' and 'Serpent Charmer.' So if you're the kind of person who needs to have every song available by an artist, such as myself, no downloading off iTunes for this one.

Download [mp3]: Iron and Wine - House By The Sea

MySpace: Iron and Wine

Iron and Wine: Official Website

Buy The Shepherd's Dog

You Should Be Listening To: BELL X1 - ROCKY TOOK A LOVER

OK, I know their last album, Flock, came out way back in 2005 but I really just started listening to Bell X1 and I gotta tell you, I'm really liking their stuff. And you will too. They' re from Ireland, have been together for quite some time and deserve some attention here in North America.

Now that I've gotten that out of my system, Flock is a fantastic album but if you need a starter song, listen to 'Rocky Took A Lover.' Funny name for a song but a good one nonetheless.

Cool Fact: The band used to be headed by Irish folk singer Damien Rice under the name Juniper.

Download[mp3]: Bell X1 - Rocky Took A Lover

MySpace: Bell X1

Bell X1: Official Web Site

Buy Flock

Welcome To The New Trend In Music

And what a trend it is. Pay what you want. Sounds good, right.

Well, today Radiohead released their new album In Rainbows. The unique idea around this release is that the band are giving fans the choice of how much they want to pay for the music. You can pay $20, $5, $100 (yeah, right!) or you can hang your head low and grab it for free (more likely). Honestly though, why should you feel guilty? Radiohead have sold millions of albums and if they hadn't, they would never have participated in this. So I say grab this for nothing and pay for music from smaller/lesser known groups that need the support of their fans. I'm giving you permission to do so.

All in all, this is a pretty cool idea and only time will tell how it works out. However, other bands such as Oasis are already following in the footsteps of Radiohead and planing to release albums with the 'pay what you want' concept.

I'm not going to post any songs from the new Radiohead album. Like I said before, you can get it for free and it is a sure bet that the amount of purchases are being tracked. Just click on the 'In Rainbows' link below and buy/download away.

Radiohead: In Rainbows

New Tune From Bloc Party

Cool new song from Bloc Party to share today. It's an instant keeper. I have to admit when I heard the opening notes I got a little nervous. I thought it sounded like a rave-headbanger dance anthem. But my fears were instantly dispelled. The song, called 'Flux', is completely and utterly Bloc Party. It was recorded a few weeks back after the Reading and Leeds Festival and will be released on November 12 in CD format, as well as in 7" and 12" vinyl. The tracklisting for each, minus 'Flux', seems to be different for each, so look out for more new songs from Bloc Party in the next few weeks.

Download [mp3]: Bloc Party - Flux (Radio Rip)

MySpace: Bloc Party

Bloc Party: Official Web Site

Buy A Weekend In the City

New Sigur Ros - Hijomiland

New Sigur Ros song to post today. It's from the upcoming album Hvarf-Heim, which is a double-CD compilation that contains studio recorded versions of previously unreleased songs, as well as acoustic versions of others. It is released on November 6th in North America (and the day before in Europe) and will be preceded by a 7" vinyl of the first single Hijomiland on October 22.

Hijomiland is unmistakeably Sigur Ros. Its grand. Its epic. Its distinctively Icelandic. And its a remarkable piece of music.

Download [mp3]: Sigur Ros - Hijomiland (Radio Rip BBC)

MySpace: Sigur Ros

Sigur Ros: Official Web Site

Buy Hvarf-Heim

Wintersleep - Welcome To The Night Sky

I think its time I post some more music from Canada. And it doesn't get anymore Canadian than Wintersleep. I mean their from Halifax, Nova Scotia and their name refers to hibernation. You know, that state of inactivity used to conserve energy, especially in the winter. Halifax, hibernation and winter. It doesn't get anymore Canadian than that.

Wintersleep released their third studio album, Welcome To The Night Sky, this week. The first single is called 'Weighty Ghost.' and its defined by a heart-thumping drumbeat and a sing-along chorus. It's the perfect song to introduce Wintersleep to anyone who has never heard anything by them before. Other noteworthy songs are 'Archaeologists' and 'Search Party.' The album itself was produced by Tony Doogan who has worked with Mogwai, Super Furry Animals and Belle and Sebastien. Not bad for a band from the East Coast of Canada.

Wintersleep are touring all across Canada this fall. Check their MySpace page for a list of dates.

Download [mp3]: Wintersleep - Weighty Ghost
MySpace: Wintersleep

Wintersleep: Official Web Site

Buy Welcome To The Night Sky

The Pipettes: Rescheduled Tour Dates

Late last week The Pipettes were forced to cancel the first three weeks of their North American tour. It was set to begin yesterday and since I listed the now canceled dates, I feel like it is my civic duty to post the newly rescheduled ones. The first six remain unchanged and a date for Philadelphia should be announced soon:

10/25 Los Angeles, CA @ Echoplex
10/29 San Francisco, CA @ Bimbo's 365 Club
10/31 Portland, OR @ Wonder Ballroom
11/1 Seattle, WA @ Crocodile Cafe
11/2 Eugene, OR @ John Henry's
11/3 Vancouver, BC @ The Plaza Club
11/5 Denver, CO @ The Walnut Room
11/7 Austin, TX @ The Parish
11/9 Atlanta, GA @ Vinyl
11/11 Baltimore, MD @ Sonar Club Stage
11/12 New York, NY @ Blender Theater @ Gramercy
11/15 Boston, MA @ Great Scott
11/16 Montreal, QC @ Petit Campus
11/18 Toronto, ON @ Lee's Place
11/19 Pittsburgh, PA @ Diesel
11/20 Cleveland, OH @ Beachland Ballroom Tavern
11/21 Chicago, IL @ Double Door

MySpace: The Pipettes
The Pipettes: Official Webpage

The Verve Announce More Tour Dates

My world became a little brighter when The Verve announced they were reuniting this past summer. They were, if you remember, one of the most creative and innovative bands to come from the contemporary British music scene back in the late 90's. I have a lot of love for this band. In fact, 'Lucky Man' from the spellbinding Urban Hymns, ranks as one of my all time favourite songs. The Verve, comprised of the brilliant Richard Ashcroft, bassist Simon Jones, guitarist Nick McCabe and drummer Pete Salisbury, are now set to play a second batch of dates in December. This is the response to the selling out of the first handful of shows that were initially announced.

The Verve are planning on releasing a new album this year, although details have not been made available as of yet. The band broke up eight years ago and have worked on some great side projects during that time. The most notable being Richard Ashcroft's solo albums. If you have never listened to any of Ashcroft's work since The Verve, you really should check out Alone With Everybody, Human Condition and Keys To The World. These are the works of a musical legend.

It is, of course, a little to early to speculate if and when The Verve will make the journey to North America. Keep your fingers crossed. The Verve UK tour dates are as follows:

11/2/07 Glasgow, Scotland @Glasgow Academy

11/3/07 Glasgow, Scotland @Glasgow Academy

11/5/07 Blackpool, England @Empress Ballroom

11/6/07 Blackpool, England @Empress Ballroom

11/8/07 London, England @Roundhouse

11/9/07 London, England @Roundhouse

12/13/07 London, England @02 Arena

12/15/07 Glasgow, Scotland @SECC Centre

12/17/07 Belfast, Ireland @Odyssey Arena

12/20 /07 Manchester, England @Central

Download [mp3]: The Verve - Lucky Man

MySpace: The Verve

The Verve: Official Webpage

Buy Urban Hymns

Album of the Month: THE PIPETTES - WE ARE THE PIPETTES

The album has been out for well over a year in other parts of the world but tomorrow, The Pipettes' We Are the Pipettes, will finally be released in North America. It's taken too long, I think I've been listening to it for six months now. However, since many international artists are not getting a proper release here nowadays, let's just be grateful that The Pipettes are.

And that's because their debut album is FANTASTIC! Really. I don't have a bad thing to say about it or them. I also don't have anything new to say about their music that has not been said before. Yes, they are a throwback to the 60's girl-group pop era. Yes, the album has a retro sound. Yes, it has all been done before. Yet, We Are the Pipettes is still a modern indie pop album. It's lively and spirited and refreshing. You'll listen to it, quickly learn the lyrics to it, sing-along to it and probably have a dance to it (In the privacy of your own room, of course. Not me though, I'll probably pull a muscle or something).

The North American version has been slightly tweaked. Besides the new album cover, there are two new tracks that are not available anywhere else. Sadly, the older songs have been remastered for some reason. I'm not sure why. I mean, why change a good thing? But I've heard the 'newer' versions and it's not a big deal, especially if this is your first time hearing their songs.

I cannot recommend The Pipettes enough. Pick up the album and if you get a chance, get a hold of some of their B-sides like, 'Really That Bad' and 'Guess Who Ran Off With the Milkman'. Both of those can be found on the 5 track EP, Your Kisses Are Wasted On Me but there are lots more floating around the web that are worth checking out.

Download [mp3]: The Pipettes- Judy
MySpace: The Pipettes
The Pipettes: Official Webpage

Buy We Are The Pipettes