Album releases this week were overshadowed (at least for me) by the singles that were released. There were still a few great albums, including The Strokes, Wavves, and Dido? Yes, I did just include Dido in that list! Check them all out below.
Listen:
NYC’s boys and saviors of Converse are back with Comedown Machine. I wrote about “All The Time” before but I think the song sounds even better within the context of the album. “80’s Comedown Machine” is another great track with its slowed down intro reminiscent of Room on Fire’s superb “Between Love and Hate.” It’s true the best songs on this album sound like they could fit right in on any of the band’s older albums. I, for one, am grateful for that.
My opinion of Wavves has always been “meh.” Other than “King of the Beach” and “Green Eyes,” none of their songs stuck. Seeing them play a free show at East River Park a couple of years ago was definitely fun, but still didn’t really make me anything more than a casual listener. Afraid of Heights, with its Beach Boys’ “Sloop John B”-esque intro and Hives-like penchant for bombastic guitar riffs, changes all that. “Sail To The Sun,” “Demon To Lean On,” and the Iggy Pop biting “Dog” have all been in heavy rotation for me. Afraid of Heights is a must-listen, if only to hear how clean yet resonate of Wavves’ original sound it is.
I’ve always thought Dido has a beautiful voice and that hasn’t changed on Girl Who Got Away. I was a bit ambivalent about listening to her album, mostly because her sound has somewhat become more appealing to the Adult Contemporary crowd. That doesn’t necessarily change here, but Dido has definitely taken some cues and adds some touches of R&B that definitely help. “No Freedom” opens the album with a guitar and simple (almost) boom bap drum beat. “Let Us Move On” sounds like a Lana Del Ray song, but Dido’s voice is still the most powerful instrument. Kendrick Lamar’s contribution to it is probably the first time I haven’t heard him outshine somebody on their own track.
Vampire Weekend’s “Diane Young” was officially released on Spotify, and I was very thankful for that but I wish “Step” was available as well since it is probably my favorite of the two new songs they’ve bestowed upon us.
Watch:
The Yeah Yeah Yeah’s intense video for “Sacrilege” was released this week. Lots of making out going on.
Read:
Speaking of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, there is a great piece over at the New York Times on their trajectory. Seriously, read the whole thing it almost made me cry. Make sure to listen to “Under the Earth” via the tiny player on the left side of the page.
As some wise men once said, “FUCK DA POLICE.”
This is awesome.
Random Nostalgia:
Mitch Hedberg passed away 8 years ago on the 29th. If you’ve never watched his unique brand of humor, now’s your chance.
