After a couple of really, really long posts, here's one for the members of Red Bull addled, short attention span generation. Plus I've been listening to lots of new stuff recently and thought I'd share my favorites in one column. And they're off.......
1. Donald Fagen - "Sunken Condos": The blogmaster general, much to his wife's deep chagrin, is a full on Steely Dan freak and the release of anything new (even solo stuff) is an event. Lead singer Fagen's latest release is laid back, loose, and more intimate sounding than the stuff he does on his day job.
2. Frosting - "Frosting II": The latest from my cousin Timmy's newest band. A very fresh mix of pop tunes and some slower paced rockers.
3. Balmorhea - "Stranger": A recommendation from a Facebook friend, Balmorhea is an Austin based instrumental band whose sound reminds me of everyone from minimalist composer Steve Reich to 80's era King Crimson to Sigur Ros. "Masollan" and "Fake Fealty" are among the standout tracks on this album.
4. The Joy Formidable - "This Ladder is Ours": My favorite new power-pop band is back less than two years after their most excellent debut "The Big Roar". While still adhering to the blast accelerated pop sound mastered last year, the band has shown some pretty serious growth and refinement as songwriters on this first single from their upcoming album
5. Neurosis - "We All Rage In Gold": The second track released in advance of their newest work "Honor Found In Decay", the founding fathers of doom metal or post metal or just metal show no sign of relenting even though they've been going at it for three decades. As with their first single "At The Well", "Rage" features all of the trademark heaviness that Neurosis is legendary but the sound features some nuances, particularly from keyboardist Noah Landis generally not heard before on prior releases. This is going to be an awesome record.
6. Enslaved - "Thoughts Like Hammers": I'm generally not the biggest fan of the whole Black Metal thing but something about the opening track from legendary Norwegian act Enslaved's new album that has a different feel than many of the other albums from this genre. While it does feature the obligatory blast beats and inaudible cookie monster style vocals that are trademarks of black metal, it also very seamlessly mixes in a very melodic, progressive element into the equation. A kind of yang to the loud, nasty yin that most Black Metal bands are better known for.
7. Animal Collective - "Centipede Hz" : Yes, Animal Collective managed to piss off many of their fans who were hoping for a repeat of their chill-out pop classic "Merriweather Post Pavillion"but that's not necessarily a bad thing. Moving in a different direction this time around, they still have lots of pop hooks to spare it's just backed by a more experimental sounding backdrop. "Today's Supernatural", "Applesauce", and "Amanita" are among my favorite tracks.
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