After a couple of weeks with barely anything to recommend, there’s a veritable cornucopia of quality new music in stores today. These releases cut across all genres, and as appreciative as I am to have good music, I’ve gotta ask: CAN Y’ALL SPREAD THIS SHIT OUT SO I DON’T FEEL GUILTY ABOUT DROPPING SIXTY BUCKS ON NEW MUSIC IN ONE DAY???? DAMN! Just saying… Anyway, these records come 100% Blerd Approved. If you don’t like ’em, maybe there’s something wrong […]
Indie Rock
New Release Report 5/4/10: Nineties Redux & An Indie Rock Extravaganza!
I knew which titles I wanted to spotlight today, then I took a look at the list of this week’s releases and realized that there’s, like, 3 million albums coming out today. Then my head exploded. Fortunately, a crack team of scientists was able to locate the part of my brain that retains musical knowledge and typing skills, and I am miraculously able to type up this column for you today. Let’s start with what’s a huge day in the […]
ChartStalker 4/25/10:Special Sunday Edition
Still getting back into the swing of things after being away for most of the week. Here’s what’s going on in the world of the Billboard album charts. Last week marked the second week in 2010 when no album managed to reach the 100,000 mark in sales. Justin Bieber’s “My World 2.0” notches a third non-consecutive week at the #1 position, selling another 92,000 copies. Things go into freefall from there, as the #2 album, MGMT’s sophomore effort “Congratulations” only […]
New Release Report 4/13/10: MGMT Clocks in for Their Shift
You don’t have to be a pretentious hipster to like MGMT. I found “Oracular Spectacular”, the duo’s 2008 debut, quite charming. However, a lot of the buzz around their new album, “Congratulations” (which is out today), has been kinda off-putting. Not the reviews of the album itself, but the way the band’s been attempting to distance themselves from their debut just smacks of pretension. I’m probably not being fair. I’m sure the album is at least worth a listen. Maybe […]
Mike Doughty Rises Up: No Stairs or Elevators Required
If you haven’t yet picked up “Sad Man Happy Man”, the latest effort from singer/songwriter/guitarist/poet/columnist/blogger/author/mancrush of mine in a totally not-gay but would love to be best friends kinda way Mike Doughty, then you, sir or madam, are missing out. Now, one of the album’s best songs, “(I Keep On) Rising (Up)” (I may have gotten my parentheses mixed up) has a video as cool as the song. Thanks to some nifty special effects and the presence of Mike’s faithful […]
Vampire Weekend's "Giving Up the Gun": Tennis, Anyone?
My friend and former work colleague Caroline went to Columbia U with the Vampire Weekend guys and she was singing the praises of these guys even before their first album came out. Although her tastes run way indie-er than mine (she plays the theremin, for God’s sake), I very quickly fell in love with VW. Danceable, hooky and smart-assed: all things I enjoy in music. “Giving Up the Gun” is the third single release from their latest album “Contra” (which […]