While there’s not a whole lot that qualifies as “new” today, we do have a pretty solid variety of catalog titles perfect for summer listening!
Camera Obscura, My Maudlin Career: New Camera Obscura finally arrives on eMusic. Some of you may have heard this already but for those who haven’t — it’s fantastic. I’ve been iffy on them in the past, but this one won my heart. It’s got the same kind of smoky soulfulness as Dusty in Memphis, and if “Swans” is not a summer jam, I don’t know what is. Highly recommended.
Blue Roses, Blue Roses: Also highly recommended. Lush and lovely, folky, eerie — reminds me at times of eMusic’s good friend Olof Arnalds. Fans of pastoral folk with butterfly-light female vocals will enjoy.
YACHT, See Mystery Lights: New one from DFA duo YACHT, with whom we conducted a pretty funny Jukebox Jury. Our Andrew Parks says this about the record:
Seriously subversive stuff which goes down perfectly with the pair’s pastiche approach to pop and dance music. Take “Summer Song,” for instance. While it was originally intended as a tongue-in-cheek tribute to LCD Soundsystem — the disco-indebted band fronted by YACHT’s new label boss, James Murphy — the track’s clanging cowbells, steady bass throb and icy vocals (something you’d never hear on a Blow record) make it one of the best DFA singles in recent memory. And it’s not the only one on here; most of See Mystery Lights is hard-wired with massive hooks, from the sputtering loops and delirious choruses of “I’m In Love With a Ripper” to the sun-stroked riffs and pass-the-mic pleasantries of “Psychic City (Voodoo City).”
Wu-Tang Clan, Wu-Tang Forever: There’s an old industry adage that goes like this: any time an artist titles an album Forever, you can guarantee that artist’s career is over. Do a little research and you’ll find it’s alarmingly true. By the time Wu released Forever, the brand had diversified into so many different sub-units that their once unstoppable clout was already showing signs of weakening. There are two different schools of thought about this record: one holds that it’s bloated and overlong, the other that it’s an underrated classic. Even now, it’s easy to see how it would have been so polarizing: RZA mostly abandoned the grimy-soul production he had trademarked with the Wu’s perfect debut, opting instead to craft the music himself using both synths and organic instruments. This makes for a weird, sinister-sounding record, one that I personally like a lot while conceding that it could have been lighter by 5 or 6 tracks (nominations for cuts? Let’s start with “Dog Shit”). At any rate, the arrival of Forever means we finally have the full Wu discography on eMusic, a fact that makes me pretty amped.
Michael Knott, Hearts of Care: Michael Knott is a California singer/songwriter that never really got his due. He made a string of harrowing/terrifying records in the early 90s, both solo and with his band LSU, but for the last few years he’s focused more on folkie/troubadour style songwriting. That’s worked to a greater or lesser degree. Hearts of Care is a mixed bag, but fans of, say, Josh Ritter or M. Ward might enjoy. My track picks? The gorgeous and creepy “Wasting Time,” “Waiting for Your Turn to Smile,” “Of My Love” and “Nothing is Roses.” Really, the last half of the record. The first half is kind of garbage.
Cush, Cush: Cush is the band Knott fronted, backed by members of the Lassie Foundation and the Prayer Chain. I know people who swear by this record — it’s shoegazy and kinda stoney and swirly — but I just never really connected with it. Fans of dreampop may enjoy.
James & Bobby Purify, Shake a Tail Feather: Truly fantastic, classic R&B, gritty and soulful — their version of “You Left the Water Running” is a must. The rest of this is great, too, though, and will win the hearts of classic soul fans. Need more convincing? It’s 28 tracks for 12 credits. Why would you not take this?
The Features, Some Kind of Salvation: I don’t know much about the Features, but the samples I listened to sounded decent: spry indie rock with a weirdly pained and occasionally soulful vibe. Worth a quick spin through.
The Lassie Foundation, Face Your Fun: A lot of people I know love this band. Sweet, sugary vocals and grinding, grimy guitars — a little bit dreampoppy, a little bit power-poppy — big hooks and lots of atmospherics. We got a whole haul of records from Northern today, so if you’re a fan of this label (and I know for a fact that this label means a lot to a very particular kind of person), chime in with some recommendations? I was disappointed that the Luxury record didn’t sound a thing like their early stuff, so any help is appreciated!
Odetta, Odetta Sings Dylan: Late, legendary blues vocalist applies her soulful pipes to Dylan classics.
Various Artists, Masked and Anonymous Soundtrack: On a similar note — a collection of Dylan covers from the weird movie starring Dylan from a few years back. I remember thinking this was underrated when I saw it in the theaters, then I saw it on cable a year or so ago and felt it was rated just fine.
Various Albums from the End: A host of great metal records from The End label today (though, inexplicably, not the Nadja covers record). The Darkthrone titles are where to start — punishing Norwegian black metal perfect to play while you’re shaking your fist at the infernal sun. I’m also interested to check out the two Jarboe records here — I loved Swans, but never listened to Jarboe’s solo stuff. I am looking forward to it. We also got Sigh’s Tribute to Venom, which sounds as totally fucking awesome as you might guess.
Various Artists, The Ze Records Story: Compilation from (rightfully) legendary NY New Wave label. Some classic, weirdo jams (sorry) on this one, with the tracks from Cristina and James Chance being of special note. Fans of the Ze sound are advised to check out the fantastic Ze Records Dozen we ran a while ago, along with Douglas Wolk’s History of the Same
Miles Davis, Star People: Early 80s Miles record that is as free-form and fragmented as you might expect. Shocking revelation: I am just now starting to get into Miles Davis. The samples here sound promising — any Miles fans out there who can contextualize this?
Janis Joplin, Box of Pearls: Full disclosure: I really don’t care for Janis Joplin. This 5-Disc set gathers up everything Joplin recorded, along with some raritites. The original was apparently limited edition, making its arrival here noteworthy.
Pink Floyd, Pulse: I’m not much of a Pink Floyd fan, but this 2-disc live set looks pretty complete for fans. I remember when the physical version of this came out, there was a blinking red light on the spine, which I always thought would be annoying as hell when you were trying to go to sleep at night. I should like this band more than I do, but. Shine on, you crazy diamonds.
Optimo, In Order to Edit: New Optimo remix/edit collection. Where’s Todd when you need him?
Singles:
Arctic Monkeys, “Crying Lightning”: First single off the new Arctic Monkeys record. I will confess to some indifference about the Monkeys in the past, but I like this track a lot. It’s darker and stormier than their previous work, and seems to abandon their early punk impishness for a kind of bleak reading of Britpop that I find 150% agreeable. Even if you think you’re not a fan, this track is worth checking out.
The Champagne Socialists, “Blue Genes”: New Slumberland single — great, trashy, C-86y. I like!
Rakim, “Holy Are You”: Man, I wanted this to be better. So badly. I heart Rakim until the end of time, and I’ve been looking forward to this record for years. But, man, he sounds so stiff on this, and his trademark lyrical dexterity has apparently dried up. He just kind of sleepwalks across a tired gospel sample. Rakim, what happened? Are you sweating the technique? Come back, please!
I don’t understand the “Freshly Ripped” listing.
On Monday it said there were 300 new albums. Today after the new albums were added it said there were 915 new albums. But as I page through the new albums, the 7/28 additions stop on page 17. At 15 albums a page, that’s only 255 new albums that are listed.
I just looked for all 17 albums listed above on the “Freshly Ripped” listing (sorting them by “album” then “most recent additions”) and I could only find “The Ze Records Story”
What am I doing wrong?
Hey Jamis – admittedly, it can be a bit buggy. You’re looking at the right page — looking at the link you sent over, I’m seeing 61 pages, 915 albums. Does that match what you have?
Joe,
That’s exactly what I’m seeing.
Take a look at page 11. In theory that page should show the new albums by Michael Knott, Miles Davis, Odetta and Optimo. But none of them show up.
A bit buggy I understand. But not showing 16 of 17 albums you mention seems a tad more than that.
I’m not writing to complain. I’m writing to figure out where I can get an accurate list of Tuesday album drops.
Ah, OK, I see what’s happening — those albums are showing up starting on page 42. Here’s the simplest way to explain it: albums update in batches, and so the dates that they’re “ripped” aren’t always 100% accurate. The simplest way to do it? When you go to Freshly Ripped every day, sort by Artist name A-Z.
And here’s a little trick I’ll let you guys in on. If you take the Freshly Ripped URL:
http://www.emusic.com/browse/n/b/-n/a/0-0/65 538 68/0.html
and change the /0-0/ to /0-100/, you can display 100 albums per page.
Darnit Joe answered as I was checking to be sure before posting Oh well
And Joe told my seceret of making more show on my screen (or in my RSS feed actually)
Joe anyway of getting the site devs to make the max limit (of 100) bigger
The Features!! Hooray!!! I didn’t even know they were coming out with an album. These guys are one friggin’ killer indie pop band – and I mean that in a SUPER awesome way. We got a little call and response, we got driving drums, and we got new-wavey keyboards hopped up on a shitton of sugar. “Wooden Heart” is a song that makes me stomp around the room, lifting my knees high and wishing I had one of those baton thingies band leaders have. And the lyrics are incredibly smart too! Great story tellers, these boys.
Fans of the E6ers, The Format, The Brokenwest, The Little Ones, etc. take note – you’ll likely dig these guys.
Anyone Listen to the new Lo-Fi Allstars Yet?
), and the Flaming Lips
http://www.emusic.com/album/Lo-Fi-Allstars-Ghostmutt-EP-MP3-Download/11549545.html
Also there is a Cover album of Love and Rockets Tunes. I haven’t heard L&R enough to form an opinion about them but the Lineup on this Tribute is Pretty f’ing awesome: Puscifer (MJK from Tool), Black Francis (Frank Black of the Pixies), Dandy Warhols, Film School, Monster Magnet, Better than Ezra (????
http://www.emusic.com/album/Various-Artists-New-Tales-To-Tell-A-Tribute-To-Love-And-Rockets-MP3-Download/11528107.html
Will we be getting the new Arctic Monkeys album? I know it’s on Domino, but their second one was distributed by Warner I believe.
Joe – Thanks!
Steve: We will be getting it, though there might be a slight delay.
I ended up getting the Blue Roses when it came out as it didn’t appear here when we were told it would. It’s highly recommended. Probably will end up in my Top 10 for the year.
The Camera Obscura failed to win me and I loved, loved, loved their last one.
Thanks Joe.
Glad to see Northern Records. In addition to Michael Knott and Lassie Foundation, check out Fabulous, Like You by The Gravity Show.
http://www.emusic.com/album/The-Gravity-Show-Fabulous-Like-You-MP3-Download/11544493.html
Michael Pritzl from the Violet Burning (and also has a solo album available on Northern Records) is in The Gravity Show. Like a lot of Violet Burning albums, there are really good songs on it, and then a few to skip.
New Gary War album from Sacred Bones is out:
http://www.emusic.com/album/Gary-War-Horribles-Parade-MP3-Download/11543991.html
The live versions of these that I have heard are great.
I somehow keep missing all the Sacred Bones arrivals! gah!
looking forward to some new blood in my music collection… thanks for all the recommendations (especially when Freshly Ripped might not catch some older albums that I’m actually interested in, like Michael Knott).
Any ETA on the “save for later” fix? I’m a little disappointed it hasn’t been worked out yet
The last The Sea and Cake record made its way on the site on Friday, Car Alarm.
A pretty solid dub compilation here. I’m a little surprised by how good the entire mix is.
And would I be the only one interested in more Suicidal Tendencies? A couple of things came in through Frontier on Friday actually.
Another load of new arrivals, another load of stuff not available in the UK, do I detect a US centric flavour to this. Increasingly frustrated with e-music and lack of good stuff available in UK!!!!!!!!
Joe, I wish you could have seen Miles on tour circa “Star People,” “Decoy” and the ilk. Not at his most robust physically, but still musically exciting and adventurous. Here’s a link to a piece I wrote some years ago about Miles’ electric era (with quotes from Henry Kaiser among others), for your spare time reading:
http://bit.ly/mileselectric
So, I didn’t recognize The End records by name, but I totally recognize some of the bands on there.
I very much welcome November’s Doom and Japan’s Dir En Grey. Brutal!
Looks like more records for The End showed up later in the day, including the Nadja covers record: http://www.emusic.com/browse/l/b/-dbm/a/0-0/1400289471 68/0.html
AWESOME. Everyone should download their cover of “only shallow” right now, and be sure to read Jayson’s Pitchfork review as well!
The new Mount Eerie also showed up; of course, I had bought it on Amie Street earlier in the day! I have to stop doubting you, eMusic. It’s an epic album, will probably inspire me to download more of his stuff: http://www.emusic.com/album/Mount-Eerie-Wind’s-Poem-MP3-Download/11553401.html
Wu-Tang Forever is a classic, period, end of story. I don’t see how anyone can dispute this. We have had many years to assimilate the new Wu style RZA dropped and thus to understand its glories. Everyone is still rapping at the top of his game. There is a bit of filler on the second disc, but not enough to break the concentration. The first disc is jam-packed with goodness.
any idea if/when the new fiery furnaces album is going to show up?
I hope I’m not aging myself too much typing this, but I can vaguely recall the initial release of Pink Floyd’s ‘Pulse’ in 1995. The first printing of the two-disc set came in an elaborate box that had a blinking, or pulsating, red light on the spine. Cool stuff — for 1995.
How far the industry has come… it’s difficult for me to think of any artist or band commanding such a release in this digital age.