Incoming:
Another slow new release week so we’ll focus on quality over quantity and pad it with last week’s highlights, howabout? Wilco’s new opus has dropped (it’s on the stereo right now, George Harrison-esque) on CD and LP+CD, plus we have a limited 7″ available too. Don’t sleep! Bjork has a spectacular live release on multiple formats, Merge Records and Spoon have conjured up a surprise EP with three new songs, and Six Finger Satellite gets the archival treatment with a release of some 2001 recordings. Our drool has dried up for those Loop re-issues becauise they just won’t come out, dangit, but REM’s DCD remaster of Reckoning has and it’s awesome. The original album sounds better than ever and the live disc is totally boss.
Wax On:
The Gossip’s new album is vinyl-only in the US or else I am confused (probably the latter). Other really new vinyl arrivals include Pavement’s Brighten the Corners 4LP extravaganza, Red House Painters Songs for a Blue Guitar on DLP, that Wilco 45, an of Montreal 45, new LPs from Dinosaur Jr. (with free poster), Earth (live, vinyl-only), Deer Tick, Tortoise, Blank Dogs (finally), Amazing Baby, Stewart Murdoch’s God Help the Girl dealio, Kiila… This big question is: Will we get more Modest Mouse 7″s? Stay tuned!
Rocking Our World:
Mott’s hypnotic influence is lessening somewhat so we’ve been blissing out to a variety of new and old genius. Like the new Dinosaur Jr limited deluxe DCD, a swank new George Harrison collection, Band member Levon Helm’s latest, the upcoming Oneida 3CD juggernaut, Tortoise and Wilco… Mostly we’ve been basking in the afterglow of seeing The Horse’s Ha at Cowboy Monkey Saturday night. Storms, bachelorette parties and loud drunks be damned, the band’s quiet intensity remained transcendent. Wished we coulda stayed for Common Loon, but I’ll admit it, we’re too old for late-night shenanigans.
The Top Tenner: (because we can update our page like good boys and girls)
1. Wilco Wilco (The Album) (Nonesuch)
2. Tortoise Beacons of Ancestorship (Thrill Jockey)
3. Dirty Projectors Bitte Orca (Domino Recording Co.)
4. Monks, The Black Monk Time [re-issue] (Light In The Attic)
5. BIg Star Radio City (Ardent)
6. Fiery Furnaces End Is Near (Thrill Jockey)
7. Dinosaur Jr. Farm (Jagjaguawar)
8. Sonic Youth The Eternal (Matador)
9. Sun Araw Heavy Deeds (Not Not Fun)
10. Wilson, Larry Jon S-T (Drag City)