New Tunes for a New Season

Happy Spring blog-reading peeps!!! I wanted to talk a little bit about some of the music I’ve been listening to lately. Here are some great new releases, plus a couple of disappointments:

-Alela Diane (To Be Still): I stumbled upon Alela Diane’s poorly updated blog (Wandering Stillness, featured in my blog list below), and decided to check out her music. Her first album, the Pirate’s Gospel, is good, and I was instantly mesmerized by her voice. Think of her as a more tolerable Feist. Her voice is distinctly different and folky, but without too much of the up-and-down quivering of some other voices.
-Neko Case: (Middle Cyclone) was something that had to grow on me, and it did. It took me at least three full listens to get hooked. Now it’s one of my favorite albums of 2009 thus far.
-Bishop Allen (Grrr): This was a huge disappointment for me. I was really looking forward to this album, and I’ve only listened to it once all the way through. It was just boring.
-Wavves (Wavves): I heard a random Wavves song and my first thought was ‘ugh, noise’. However, I’ve listened to multiple songs and have to admit it is growing on me. I’m looking forward to making it through the entire thing.
-Elvis Perkins in Dearland: I’ve only heard a couple of songs on KEXP, and I WANT this! It’s been out for a couple of weeks now, and I'm working on acquiring it.
-Metric (Fantasies): I’ve been anticipating this album since the end of last year when I heard “Help I’m Alive” on KEXP. Once I get that beat in my head it won’t stop, and Emily Haines’ voice is like crack. I just got the album last weekend, and have yet to give it a good listen (besides my sad attempt at jogging on Sat and Sun). I am predicting that I will love it, but I doubt any of the songs will suck me in like “Help I’m Alive” did. Here is Metric playing an acoustic version:

-Animal Collective (Merriweather Post Pavilion): After hearing “Summertime Clothes” and “My Girls” on KEXP, I was all about this album. I made a note to self to download it. Brad found the right version last weekend (you have to make sure you get the studio album, not a live version), and it lives up to the critical acclaim. It takes me to another place, without foreign substances.
-A.C. Newman (Get Guilty): This is ok, there are a few songs that I really like, but I probably couldn’t make it through the whole album without skipping a track or two… or three.
-Camera Obscura (My Maudlin Career): I heart Camera Obscura. I heart this album.

So I guess you've noticed that a lot of the new music I'm listening to I first heard on KEXP. This is the best radio station on the planet. (Thanks Brad, for telling me about it.) I just wanted to say something short about public radio and pledge weeks. I listened to the dj's on KEXP for a week and a half during the spring pledge drive, and finally made a donation with a day to go in the drive. I felt at the time that they 'bugged' me into donating, but then I thought about all the joy I receive by listening to the diverse music they play. I've heard so many different types of music, from artist that don't even have albums in stores, that I'd never have heard if it weren't for their live radio stream. It really makes my workday more tolerable. SOOOO, I just want to say to those that complain about pledge drives and refuse to donate, but continue to listen to public radio - get off it. Seriously, if you want to continue to be able to listen to something that's not complete mindless crap, donate some pocket change to keep those stations going. That is all. :)