na: best coast, menomena, and more

Bethany’s cat, Snacks

We’ve got a modest haul today with some clear standouts and a few bona fide must-get sleepers. Let’s dive into this infinity pool of sound, shall we?

Best Coast, Crazy For You: One of the most anticipated full-lengths of the year (from an eMusic Selects alum!) doesn’t disappoint. Cali girl Bethany Cosentino and co. make a swaddling, swoony splash out of surf pop with plaintive lyrics and heart-clutching sentiment about her love of boys, her cat, Snacks, and the summer. Check out what eMusic’s Chelsea Brady sez:

Like gender-flopped Beach Boys songs, the 13 lazily gorgeous tracks on Crazy for You are obsessed with boys. But love isn’t idealized in Cosentino’s universe — it makes her sleepy (“Crazy for You”), mentally disheveled (“Goodbye”), and apologetic (“I’m sorry I lost your favorite T-shirt, I’ll buy you a new one, a better one” she sings in her flatly clean, Liz Phair-like croon on “Bratty B”). Her real romance is with that essential Cali obsession — the sun — but even that relationship falls a bit far of perfection.

Menomena, Mines: A sweet, tense new album from the Portland trio that we’re lucky exists! I’ll let Andrew Parks explain:

As Menomena’s drummer/singer, Danny Seim, admits in the band’s bio, “brutal disagreements, unrelenting grudges and failed marriages” threatened to tear the trio apart in the three-and-a-half years since Friend and Foe. The tension’s clear on every single cut — the group is pulled in countless creative directions, from the skittish drums that cut across “Tithe” to the defeat-and-despair that drives “Dirty Cartoons” off a cliff. And yet, it does feel like one cohesive statement; a minor-key descent into darkness, sure, but a cohesive statement nonetheless.

Dean & Britta, 13 Most Beautiful: Songs For Andy Warhol’s Screen Tests: This is a terribly cool project. The former Luna bandmates (and married couple) got together to create some music for a Warhol Museum exhibit. The result is something stunning and simple at once. Here’s more from Chelsea Brady:

Dean Wareham happily growls through the Velvet Underground’s “I’m Not a Young Man Anymore” as the track’s circular riff surfs a propulsive beat. It’s cocky, gritty, and the perfect soundtrack to footage of a young Lou Reed sipping Coca-Cola in his dark sunglasses like a real rock ‘n’ roll badass.

The Phil Spector Collection: Here’s a personal obsession, collected for the first time at eMusic. This is where you’ll find—seriously!—58 of the finest songs ever put to tape, all conceived and recorded by the recently convicted Wall of Sound madman/genius Phil Spector. Everything here is pre-1966, so no Beatles or John Lennon or Ike & Tina Turner. Instead, there’s his iconic work with the Crystals, the Ronettes, Darlene Love and more. This is soul-chilling music; you need every song.

Seu Jorge and Almaz, s/t: You may know Mr. Jorge from his role as Knockout Ned in City of God. Or maybe as the red-capped, guitar-strumming, Bowie-covering shipmate in Wes Anderson’s The Life Aquatic. Either way, the Brazilian is a fantastic singer-songwriter and logical descendant of Jorge Ben and Gilberto Gil and their soaring style of pop samba. This new album is his first with the band Almaz and it’s a low-toned affair; his voice is undiminished, but there’s something darker and more mysterious about things. Predictably great stuff.

J Roddy Walston And The Business, s/t: Do you like bar rock? What about the Hold Steady-style bar rock? And getting beer spilled on your Converses? Then this raucous crew is your new favorite thing. Each song is a rumbling, leg-stomping burner. I sense a Miller Lite licensing opportunity in their future.

NEU!, Neu! Digital Box: Another big commitment that will absolutely pay off. Neu! (pronounced ~NOY~; thanks co-workers!) was there at the birth of Krautrock, in its truest form, and all four of (former Kraftwerk members) Klaus Dinger and Michael Rother’s essential full-lengths, plus a live set from ’72, are collected here. And man, are they beautiful and elusive and propulsively addictive. That chugging rhythm, the sleek basslines, the wiry guitar tone; pure Germanica.

The Moondoggies, You’ll Find No Answers Here: Another new one from Sub Pop’s jangly subsidiary, Hardly Art. I’ve seen a few comparisons to Gram Parsons, and while that might be a reach, it ain’t far off. This EP is a subtle, earthbound collections of acoustic folk rock.

Slum Village, Villa Manifesto: The beloved Detroit underground outfit’s (likely) last album is a fitting exit, featuring the late and lamented co-founders J Dilla and Baatin. Mostly, this is straightforward Slum V. album, full of off-kilter head-nodders and stern proclamations. But there is an inch of the group’s dazzle; check out the Dilla-featuring “2000 Beyond,” an instant entry in their canon.

Various Artists, Get Low soundtrack: Here’s the pitch: Bill Murray as 1920s funeral home operator and Robert Duvall as an aged man who wants throw a funeral party while he’s still living. Office consensus: We wanna see this darned thing. The music, from Rounder Records, is fitfully time-specific, featuring bluegrass flourishes and big band splashes. And don’t miss the Ink Spots’ indelible “If I Didn’t Care.”

Pete Seeger, Tomorrow’s Children: The folk icon singing with a gang of small children. Not really sure there’s more to say than that. If you hate children, don’t listen this

Robert Plant, Angel Dance: Hey, you know this guy? The first single from the Led Zep frontman’s upcoming album, Band of Joy, recalls Raising Sand, his Grammy-winning bluegrass collaboration with Allison Krauss. So, in other words, it’s great. Also, there’s a cat on the cover.

Kooley High, Eastern Standard Time: Throwback raps from this extremely likable hip-hop crew. Joe loves these guys; samples reveal a dusty, heartstring-tugging sound. Giving it a chance this afternoon, maybe you will, too.

Futurebirds, Hampton’s Lullaby: My favorite sleeper of the week. Futurebirds make a skybound brand of Southern music, equal parts My Morning Jacket and Neil Young—sometimes the solos stretch out, sometimes the voices linger long and loud. “Yur Not Ded” is the leg-shaking anthem of the day.

MORE SLEEPERS
The Bitters, Have A Nap Hotel: One of a handful of clattering, brilliant releases from one of our favorite labels, Sacred Bones today.

Electric Bunnies, Pretty Joanna: Another stormy single from Sacred Bones.

Social Studies, Wind Up Wooden Heart: Some gorgeous electro-twee-pop out of San Francisco. More hummable than you’d guess.

QUICK HITS
Christopher Willits, Tiger Flower Sun Circle

Young Galaxy, Invisible Republic

Miniature Tigers, F O R T R E S S

William Brittelle, Television Landscape

What are you listening to today?