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First Look 02.07.06 |
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Heading to the record store? Here's what's new.
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By : Staff
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Here's a quick look at a handful of new albums, as well as a list of the rest of the stuff that's supposed to hit shelves this week:
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 Aceyalone with RJD2
Magnificent City
Project Blowed
After maintaining relatively low profiles the last couple of years, RJD2 and Aceyalone teamed up for this release. Produced wall-to-wall by RJD2, this album follows in the similar traditions of Madvillian and the Murs and 9th Wonder collaboration, but with a throwback twist. Could this be a return to form for the artist currently known as Aceyalone? ~Adrian Covert
Project Blowed Web site
RJD2 Site
 Belle & Sebastian
The Life Pursuit
Matador
Admit it, after the disappointment of Fold Your Hands Child You Walk Like a Peasant (2003) and Storytelling (2002) you had written off Belle & Sebastian as a relevant musical act, hadn’t you? Well, consider The Life Pursuit the insult to Dear Catastrophe Waitress’s injury. Back in the Matador fold once again, the members of Belle & Sebastian show that the rumors of their demise were greatly exaggerated. ~Justin Sheppard
“Another Sunny Day” MP3
Belle & Sebastian Web sites
 Clogs
Lantern
Brassland
Viola, guitar, bassoon and drums: Sounds a bit new-agey, don't it? Actually it ain’t. The fourth full-length from Clogs, a four piece that includes badass multi-instrumentalist Padma Newsome and guitarist Bryce Dessher of the National fame, is a collection of instrumental wonderment that’s not as high-falootin’ as you might imagine. At a recent performance with Belle Orchestre in New York City, songs from the new record featured Newsome on vocals (albeit sparingly), a new move that works out for the group. ~Andrew Bradick
“Lantern” MP3
Clogs Web site
Brassland Web site
 Jason Collett
Idols of Exile
Arts & Crafts
When he’s not busy touring or recording with half the population of metropolitan Toronto (a.k.a. Broken Social Scene), Jason Collett works on his solo career, which is a sharp contrast from his work with the Scene. The understated, roots-inspired Idols of Exile was released in Canada in June, but the fine folks at Arts & Crafts decided to throw their southern neighbors a bone and keep them in the loop. ~Justin Sheppard
Album Stream
Jason Collett on Arts & Crafts’ Web site
 J Dilla
Donuts
Stones Throw
After a rough 2005 that saw his health deteriorate to the point where he had to rock shows from a wheelchair, J Dilla a.k.a. Jay Dee a.k.a. Dilla Dog comes back with Donuts, the first of two solo projects scheduled for release in 2006. Marking J Dilla’s second release for Stones Throw Records (the other being 2003’s excellent Jaylib album, which he co-produced with Madlib), he comes with thirty-one instrumental tracks that were previously unreleased (although some have appeared on his infamous beat tapes that were widely circulated over the Internet). This should be the perfect holdover for his other heavily anticipated release of 2006: The Shining. ~Adrian Covert
J Dilla on Stones Throw’s Web site
 The Ladies
They Mean Us
Temporary Residence
Rob Crow blends bittersweet melodies and crystal precision with his group Pinback. Zach Hill uses his sixteen appendages to pound the shit out of both his drum set and our minds with his group Hella. These two styles do not go together, but somehow Crow and Hill think they can make it work as a duo known as the Ladies (it’s funny because they’re dudes, right?). Just imagine if those kids at the Rub tried to do a full album mash-up of Summer in Abaddon and The Devil Isn’t Red. Yeah, it’s something like that. We’re scared too. ~Aaron Richter
“Empathy on a Stick” MP3
The Ladies on Temporary Residence’s Web site
 Mylo
Destroy Rock & Roll [reissue]
RCA
No frills, just quality fucking electronica — the kind we all wish Daft Punk still made. Except that shady cat who hangs out in your alley cut Mylo’s baggie of “party” with oregano. so in this case the party does stop. But that’s okay, because we’re throwin’ it down on the dance floor (“Destroy Rock & Roll”) just as often as we’re gettin’ nasty with the lights out (“Muscle Cars”). The long-awaited U.S. reissue of Mylo’s debut is nothing you expected, everything you didn’t know you wanted, and nothing you didn’t expect to want. If that makes any sense. ~Aaron Richter
Streaming audio
Mylo Web site
 Oceansize
Everyone Into Position
Beggars Banquet
Released in the U.K. in September 2005, Everyone Into Position is the second full-length from another one of those pesky Manchester bands (yes, I gave a motherly shake of the head just now). Continuing the same style as 2003’s Effloresce, blending god-knows-how-many genres that begin with “post” (think Pelican, et al.), Everyone Into Position also falls just short of the sixty-seven-minute mark. You know how a cat can meow and yawn at the same time? Oceansize is kind of like a meawn. ~China Bialos
Audio clips
Oceansize Web site
 Prodigy
Their Law: The Singles (1990-2005)
XL Recordings
So who knows if Prodigy has released any good material in the last year or so. This collection of groundbreaking singles is bound to be anchored by monster hits "Firestarter", "Smack My Bitch Up" and "Breathe". Before you catch them at this year's Winter Music Conference, this will be a quick history lesson on the impact this group has made to the electronic nation. ~Norman Mayers
 Various Artists
To: Elliott/From: Portland
Expunged
Tribute albums are always a little discomforting; part of you wants to appreciate the artist being celebrated, but another part of you resents the butchering of his songs and wishes they’d been left the hell alone. Elliott Smith, who reportedly committed suicide in October 2003, gave his songs emotional depth and sincerity that will never be matched. Still, a number of Portland artists were willing to pay homage to the singer-songwriter. Two standouts: a rock version of “Needle in the Hay” by Eric Matthews, who played trumpet on the 1994 original that Smith scrapped, and Sean Croghan’s “High Times,” the sole previously unreleased track. But somewhere between the Thermals’ poppy twist on “Ballad of Big Nothing” and Lifesavas’ hip-hop interpretation of “Happiness,” you’re bound to find something that’ll make you go “hmm.” Watch for the Decemberists’ token appearance. (Ten percent of net proceeds go to Free Arts for Abused Children, a charity within the Elliott Smith Foundation.) ~China Bialos
Album clips
Elliott Smith Web site
5th Ward Boyz: Ghetto Dope [Chopped & Screwed] (Asylum / Rap-A-Lot)
5th Ward Boyz: Usual Suspects [Chopped & Screwed] (Asylum / Rap-A-Lot)
Aceyalone with RJD2: Magnificent City (DeCon Inc)
Andrew Hill: Smoke Stack (Blue Note)
The Avett Brothers: Four Thieves Gone: The Robbinsville Sessions (Ramseur Rec.)
Bad Company: Bad Company (Audio Fidelity)
Belle & Sebastian: Life Pursuit (Matador)
Belong: October Language (Carpark)
Beth Orton: Comfort of Strangers (Astralwerks)
Bigwig: Reclamation (Fearless)
Brotha Lynch Hung & MC Eiht: New Season
Centro-Matic: Triggers and Trash Heaps (Misra)
Chamillionaire: Sound of Revenge [Screwed & Chopped] (Universal)
Charlie Hunter Trio: Copperopolis (Rope-A-Dope)
Chick Corea: Ultimate Adventure (Stretch)
Chuck Norris Experiment: Chuck Norris Experiment [Bonus Tracks] (Devil Doll)
Clogs: Lantern (Brassland)
Collective Soul: Home: A Live Concert Recording (El Music Group)
The Corrs: Home (Rhino / Wea)
Dave Douglas: Keystone (Koch)
Deadboy & the Elephantmen: We Are Night Sky (Fat Possum)
Dem Franchize Boyz: On Top of Our Game (Virgin)
Earth, Wind & Fire: Illumination [CD & DVD] (Sanctuary)
Electric Six: Señor Smoke (Metropolis)
Elvis Presley: Southern Nights (Follow That Dream)
Far-Less: Everyone Is Out To Get Us (Tooth & Nail)
The Gathering: Mandylion (Century Media)
Gil Mantera's Party Dream: Bloodsongs (Fat Possum)
The Go-Betweens: That Striped Sunlight Sound (Yep Roc)
Hamell on Trial: Songs for Parents Who Enjoy Drugs (Righteous Babe)
Hem: No Word From Tom (Nettwerk)
Horace Silver: Horace-Scope (Blue Note)
In Flames: Come Clarity [SPECIAL EDITION] (Ferret Records)
J Dilla: Donuts (Stones Throw)
Jason Collett: Idols of Exile (Arts & Crafts)
Jim Gaffigan: Beyond the Pale (Comedy Central Rec.)
Juliana Theory: Small Noise (Tooth & Nail)
Keak da Sneak: Contact Sport
Kelley Stoltz: Below the Branches (Sub Pop)
KT Tunstall: Eye To The Telescope (Virgin)
The Ladies: They Mean Us (Temporary Residence)
La Epidemia: Epidemia Latina (EMI International)
Layzie Bone & Young Noble: Thug Brothers
Lee "Scratch" Perry: From the Secret Laboratory (Fontana Int'l)
Lesbians on Ecstasy: Giggles in the Dark (Alien8 Recording)
Louis Armstrong: What a Wonderful World (Universal International)
The Mamas & the Papas: People Like Us (Universal International)
Mary Lorson & Saint Low: Realistic (Cooking Vinyl)
Mastodon: Call of the Mastodon (Relapse)
Mikkel Metal: Victimizer (Kompakt Germany)
Mint Condition: Live from the 9:30 Club (Image)
The Minus Five: Minus Five (Yep Roc)
Mylo: Destroy Rock & Roll (Red Ink)
Oceansize: Everyone into Position (Beggars Banquet)
Original Soundtrack: Elizabethtown - Volume 2 (RCA)
Original Soundtrack: Final Fantasy Unlimited (Geneon [Pioneer])
Original Soundtrack: One Tree Hill Vol. 2 (Maverick)
Original Soundtrack: Sing-A-Longs & Lullabies for the Film Curious George (Jack Johnson) (Universal)
Original Soundtrack: Transamerica (Nettwerk)
Penuckle: Sun Beckons (Red Urban)
Peter Cetera: Live in Salt Lake City (Double Play)
Prefuse 73: Security Screening (Warp)
The Prodigy: Their Law: Singles 1990-2005 (XL / Beggars Us Ada)
Psychic Ills: Dins (The Social Registry)
Ray Davies: Storyteller (Koch)
Remy Ma: There's Something About Remy: Based on a True (Universal)
Richard Ashcroft: Keys to the World [Bonus DVD] (EMI)
Rick Moranis: Agoraphobic Cowboy
Roberta Flack: Best of Roberta Flack (Rhino / Wea)
Roy Ayers: Virgin Ubiquity: Remixed (Rapster)
Roy Orbison: Black & White Night (Sony)
Santana: Ballade [Japan Import] (Sony Japan)
Shrift: Lost in a Moment (Six Degrees)
State Radio: Us Against the Crown (Nettwerk)
Susanne Brokesch: Emerald Stars (Chicks on Speed)
Swearing at Motorists: Last Night Becomes This Morning (Secretly Canadian)
Telepathe: Farewell Forest [EP] (The Social Registry)
Thelonious Monk: Jazz Biography (United Multi Consign)
Tim Grimm: Back Fields (Wind River)
Tina Arena: Autre Univers (Sony / BMG Import)
Ursula Rucker: Ma' At Mama (K7)
Various Artists: Electro Slash Disco: 80's Underground Dancefloor (Koch)
Various Artists: Horror of It All, Vol. 2 (DR Cyclops)
Various Artists: Idol Tryouts Two (Ghostly International)
Various Artists: Mews Too: An Asthmatic Kitty Compilation (Asthmatic Kitty)
Various Artists: Run the Road, Vol. 2 (Vice)
Various Artists: Sleepless in Seattle: The Birth of Grunge (High Wire Music)
Various Artists: To: Elliott from: Portland (Expunged Records)
Various Artists: Totally Country, Vol. 5 (Bmg Heritage)
The Velvet Underground: Very Best Of (Fontana Int'l)
Whitesnake: The Definitive Collection (Geffen)
Willie Clayton: Classic Soul, Vol. 1 (Malaco)
The Witnesses: Black Eyes and White Lies (Howler)
Wilson Pickett: Wilson Pickett (Direct Source)
Wolfmother: Wolfmother [IMPORT] (Modular)
*Release dates may change. E-mail brandon@prefixmag.com with corrections or additions.
Discuss this feature at the Prefix Message Board |
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