Evan and James

Autumn always seems to be a good time for new releases.

I got the new Lemonheads LP this week. It's pretty steadily good all the way through, but with only a couple of listens nothing has stood out yet - but it is a lot more upbeat and rockier than Evan Dando's solo album Baby I'm Bored, which I'm a big fan of.

Also got the James Yorkston album, as promised. Only a couple of listens to this one too, but it is lovely, dreamy stuff. It is very evocative - I feel like I'm some sort of rural setting taking in a windswept Celtic landsape, or some such nonsense. Thumbs up from me!

She's Your Lover Now

Today is Bob Dylan Day in the Strings of Nashville household, as it often is.

I've been listening to some Blonde on Blonde outtakes I found at An Aquarium Drunkard, a blog that generally offers up a lot of tracks worth listening to and where I have discovered quite a lot of stuff.

Probably the best track is She's Your Lover Now, which I haven't knowingly heard before and is on a par with, if not better than, some of the tracks that actually made the LP. There were two versions posted on An Aquarium Drunkard, one Dylan solo, one with band/Band and there are both magnificent, prime-era Dylan, just impossible, compelling music. It is fascinating to see the rambling solo version being kicked into some far more driven with a full band. There is just this defiance throughout, lyrically and musically.

The other tracks are amazing too, but She's Your Lover Now is the one for me at this point in time, and it's going to take a while to unravel it.

PS I'd have liked to have put up a natty picture of Dylan to pretty up the post, but Blogger won't let me upload pictures at the moment. :-(

Back from the dead!

Hello!

I thought I'd start this up again, what with being bored on a Sunday afternoon/evening.

For the time being I'm not going to upload tracks, but I may do so in the future. As it stands I may just post up now and again with my current favourites.

So...I'll start with the man in the fetching knitwear here, M. Ward. His new album Post-War is highly recommended. It is really laid-back stuff on the whole, generally acoustic and folksy, but with a dusty, ragged feel like some old blues field recording or something. If that makes any sense. It has some genuine beauty in places too. I'm certainly going to have to pick up some of his earlier records soon.

I've heard a few tracks from the new James Yorkston effort, The Year of the Leopard, due out any day now. His LP Moving Up Country is one of my absolute favourites, and while the next album Just Beyond The River didn't do as much for me, from listening to the new songs I'm hopeful for another corker.

Also, very excited about the Cold War Kids debut, Robbers and Cowards, out in October in the States, and will hopefully get a release here in the UK too. I saw them live earlier this year and they blew the other bands on the bill off the stage. Their stuff is all over the internet, and they do seem to be one of the many internet darlings now, but they do live up to the hype. They seem really tuned in on the visual side too, their site has some amazing photos and check out their video here.

That's enough for me, now. Any feedback appreciated. I have a warm and fuzzy glow about embracing the blog-geekdom again.

M. Ward
James Yorkston and The Athletes
Cold War Kids

You've Got A Friend

Ryan Adams and Elton John - Tiny Dancer

A very belated Happy New Year. I've been ill and stuff, so didn't fancy uploading anything.

But...here's a little treat for you. And while I'm here, you should really get the new Ryan Adams album, "29". It is by no means his best, but it is a real grower, and there are three or four songs on there that compare favourably with his best stuff.

Buy Ryan Adams stuff

Buy Elton John stuff

Tomorrow is a long time - Part Two

More new stuff to download and look forward to in 2006.

Clap Your Hands Say Yeah! - Skin Of My Yellow Country Teeth

This was released this year in the States, but will get a UK release in the New Year. Word of mouth over the internet saw them sell loads of copies themselves in a bizarre cottage industry type deal, where before they knew it they were shipping out thousands of copies of the album by hand. The New Arcade Fire- if you want a trite and easy comparison, which are the best comparisons, I've found. Looking through audio blogs it seems like it is law to put up a track by these guys, so I have. Just a shame I'm so late.

Buy here, amongst other places

http://clapyourhandssayyeah.com/news.php

And as a little bonus, here is The Arcade Fire covering New Order.

Buy Arcade Fire stuff

http://www.arcadefire.com/

Mogwai - Glasgow Mega-Snake

The ever-mighty Mogwai also have a new album out next year, "Mr Beast". Its nice and noisy. As you'll be able to tell from this track. Alan McGee says the album is "probably the greatest art rock record that I've been involved in since My Bloody Valentine's Loveless". We'll have to wait and see on that one.

http://www.mogwai.co.uk/


That's all for today. I hope you found something half decent.

Tomorrow is a long time

Hello!

I figured I'd start this here new blog with some songs due for release in 2006.

They are my, ahem, tips for the top.

So to speak.

Cat Power - Lived In Bars

This is from Cat Power's newest album "The Greatest", and any song that promotes spending too much time in drinking establishments and dancing on tables is alright by me.

Previously she has been very low-key and indie-fied, often with just acoustic guitar and piano (despite cameos from Eddie Vedder and Dave Grohl on her last album "You Are Free"). However, this album has a definite Southern American Soul thing doing on, very Dusty in Memphis, the Grunge Superstars replaced with legendary Memphis sessionmen who backed the likes of Al Green and Booker T and the MGs.

http://www.catpowerthegreatest.com/


Jenny Lewis - Handle With Care

Jenny Lewis is better known as the lead singer of Rilo Kiley, but has a solo offering out in the New Year, "Rabbit Fur Coat", backed by the Watson Twins, whoever they are. Its released on that doe-eyed Bright Eyes guy's label, but don't hold that against her.

Hopefully you'll recognise this as a Travelling Wilburys cover, and Travelling Wilburys covers are always a good thing.

http://www.team-love.com/bands/jenny/news.html




The Strokes - Razorblade


These guys don't need an introduction, surely?

This is from "First Impressions Of Earth" and sounds like "Mandy", Barry Manilow's finest moment.

What more could you ask for?

http://www.thestrokes.com/

Anyway, I hope you enjoy these. If any of the links don't work let me know, and I'll see what I can do.