I am happy to report two things about their new album.  First of all, you can listen to the whole thing online at the album page on mergerecords.com (look for the link under the album cover).   Secondly, I am confident that you and everyone else will agree they have completely, totally, without-a-doubt avoided any semblance of a sophomore slump.  The album is grand in scope and demands multiple listens.  The opening track, “Pedals”, abounds with layers of lush strings, jangly piano, big drums, soaring lead and harmony vocals, and their signature distorted guitars.  We immediately know we’re in for something big here.

Every track on the album is a highlight, with more and more revealed each listen.  I’ve posted the first ‘single’ from the album below (hosted on mergerecords.com).  But do get over to the Merge Records page and give the whole thing a listen.  It’s worth it.  Even brought me out of blogging semi-retirement!

The Love Language – Heart To Tell
HeartToTell.mp3

Enjoy!

Very excited to announce that the debut album from Works Progress Administration is now available for purchase/download at their Bandcamp site.  You can also stream it in its entirety on that site or even via the widget here to the left. The CD version (if that’s your thing) will hit stores on Tuesday, the 15th.

Some of you may remember that I recently wrote about WPA and my interest in them.  Basically, they are led by Glen Phillips, former lead singer of Toad the Wet Sprocket, who is one of my favorite singer/songwriters.  One week from today (i.e. the 17th), they will be playing Lincoln Theatre in Raleigh which is exciting.  Read that previous post for more information about the show.

I’ll see you there!

All of playlists are available at this link and I’ve included the playlist for the top 50 below.  Enjoy!

Enjoy!

http://lstn.urbanoutfitters.com/6/

Looks like the split was good for Vernon as Bon Iver has had quite a breakthrough over the past year.  Hopefully things will turn out just as well for the Megafaun guys with this release.  They are out on tour now with another area fave, Bowerbirds, who just released a new album of their own and will make a stop in Carrboro at the Arts Center on August 22.

This track is called “The Fade” which is track 3 on the new album.

megafaun-the-fade.mp3

These Four Walls

Clearly the winner of this year’s “Best Band Name” among the debuts, We Were Promised Jetpacks just recently released These Four Walls, a collection of emotive, raw, anthemic tunes that belie their frosh status.  Definitely qualify for a “Recommended If You Like” description that includes labelmates and fellow countrymen Frightened Rabbit and The Twilight Sad, two of my favorites in recent years.  Perhaps it’s the Scottish accents, so thick they are not lost in the vocals, that add a certain gnarl to the songs.  Or maybe it’s the painful emotion-on-the-sleeves approach that grabs the listener and pulls her/him in.  Or it could be the straight-up, clearly instrumented, alternative music approach that is so refreshing.

For me it is some combination of these things that puts this release in my list of favorites so far this year.  In the coming months, We Were Promised Jetpacks will embark on a US tour with the aforementioned Frightened Rabbit and The Twilight Sad that unfortunately will not stop anywhere close to Raleigh.  But, according to their label, WWPJ and The Twilight Sad will continue touring the east coast along with brakesbrakesbrakes.  Hopefully that leg of the tour will come close as I really want to see these guys live.  You’ll definitely read about it here if it does!

Here’s a track off this album called “Quiet Little Voices.”  Enjoy!
wwpj-quietlittlevoices.mp3

For those who perhaps aren’t Gusterrhoids, as the Guster-faithful are called, here is a sample from Lost and Gone Forever.  It’s definitely one of their most well-known tracks.

guster-eitherway.mp3