New Music : August 24, 2010 - August 30, 2010

Eels "Tomorrow Morning"

There’s pretty much nothing groundbreaking about this new Eels’ album, their ninth studio recording. Most loyal fans should recognize bits and pieces from the previous works of frontman and songwriter Mark Oliver Everett. The usual affected drum-and-electric piano stomp, winsome folk, the static of an old transistor radio. What they might not recognize is the optimism in his lyrics. It’s especially welcome after years of songs that plunged listeners into depression. This album is ostensibly about redemption, a peculiar concept to associate with Eels. Pulling away the gloom lets Everett’s songs shine, and helps coalesce the distant strands of a complex career. Songs like “Spectacular Girl” pushes a hard drumbeat, and calls to mind “Susan’s House” off 1996’s Beautiful Freak. “I Like The Way This Is Going,” meanwhile, is a bright-eyed love letter, with easy charm and a passing resemblance to “Packing Blankets,” off 2000’s Daisies Of The Galaxy. Both songs draw smiles, and they aren’t the only ones here that do. Everett is a complicated dude, and perhaps he’ll return to the dark stuff soon, but this new album should prove to be a welcome change of pace.

Kate Perry "Teenage Dream"

Throughout the summer of 2010, Katy Perry has dominated the airwaves with the irresistible "California Gurls" and seems determined to make the summer last as long as she can. Just in time for the summer to end, she finally releases the album with hopes to keep the sizzle going. Perry has cited Madonna, ABBA and the Cardigans as big influences on her sophomore studio album, the follow-up to her multimillion-selling debut "One of the Boys." Her 2nd coming definitely hits fans with radio-friendly grooves, produced by the pop-art sounds of Dr. Luke, Max Martin, Stargate, Tricky Stewart, and Greg Wells. In the "Hummingbird Heartbeat," the album nails that weird middle ground between heart-on-the-sleeve emo and Top 40 pop that Kelly Clarkson works so well. But much of the potential fun is undercut by dark sentiments ("Circle the Drain"), and overall the lyrics are cloying and clunky. "Teenage Dream" definitely delivers a sweet sugar rush, but also leaves a bitter aftertaste.

Fantasia "Back To Me" 

Has it really been four years since her last record?  The winner of Season 3 of "American Idol" has kept herself busy while time flew. She published an autobiography, was the center of a VH1 reality show, starred in a Lifetime TV movie and the Broadway musical "The Color Purple." Keeping herself busy by creating work to satisfy her beloved fans, Fantasia had been inspired to give the title of her third album, "Back to Me."  She felt that now was as good time as ever to go back to how things used to be when America first laid their eyes on her during 'American Idol.  As if her fans weren't already, Fantasia wanted to focus everyone's attention back to her and back to the music that everyone can relate to and enjoy. In addition to her current R&B hit, "Bittersweet," the disc includes writing and production credits from Ne-Yo and Jim Jonsin, a collaboration with Cee-Lo Green ("The Thrill Is Gone"), and a reprise of "I'm Here," her showstopping number from "The Color Purple." 

JJ Grey & Mofro "Georgia Warhorse" 

JJ Grey's sound has been called swamp music, but it's a helluva lot more than that. Grey’s fifth album, Georgia Warhorse, was recorded a St. Augustine, Fla.’s Retrophonics studio, and it’s a Southern-fried ride through funk, soul and straight-ahead blues. Grey writes, composes and arranges every aspect of this CD, and accordingly, his stamp is all over it — and this disc is evidence that he’s one of the freshest talents emerging from North Florida. From powerful opener “Diyo Dayo” to more poignant tracks such as “King Hummingbird” and “Gotta Know,” each song reads like a short story, with Grey putting on a show with his storytelling abilities and gritty vocal delivery. It’s not a fully consistent release — he loses his pace on tracks such as “All” and “Lullaby” — but it’s a keeper. Swamp music it ain’t, but it’s done the Everglades proud.

Little Big Town "The Reason Why"

The band best known for their platinum-selling 2005 album "The Road to Here" have undergone their share of personal heartaches over the years, but two things have remained unchanged since the country vocal quartet's inception back in 1998. The line-up of Karen Fairchild, Kimberly Schlapman, Jimi Westbrook, and Phillip Sweet is still going strong after 10+ years. Their trademark vocal harmonies. And both still seem as strong as ever on their fourth full-length. The new release has had its share of ups and downs, from the heart-tugging "Shut Up Train" to the rip-roaring "Little White Church," but those differences are only matters of tempo and sentiment.

Isobel Campbell and Mark Lanegan "Hawk"

This new creation from the collaborate team of Isobel Campbell (formerly of Belle & Sebastian) and Mark Lanegan (Screaming Trees, Queens of the Stone Age). Though their voices don't sound very much like the perfect duet, they certainly possess enough complexities of an oddball cult duo. With Campbell's breathy soprano juxtaposed with Lanegan's gruff, weathered bass on eight of the 13 Americana-inflected selections, they give fans of both groups the satisfaction of mashing the band's distinctive vocal sounds together in harmony. Produced by Campbell, the pair's third collaborative outing also includes contributions from the Smashing Pumpkins' James Iha and singer-songwriter Willy Mason. Highlights include a mysterious reading of "Snake Song" by the late Townes Van Zandt.

!!!(chk-chk-chk) "Strange Weather, Isn't It?" 

This Dance-rock combo have unleashed some amazing underground singles over the ast few years, most notably 2003's epic "Me and Giuliani Down by the School Yard (A True Story)," but their albums weren't nearly as impressive until 2007's "Myth Takes." Three years later, their newest release sounds like their most cohesive full-length album to boot. Recorded in Berlin, New York, and Sacramento, Calif., and co-produced by the band and Eric Broucek (former house engineer for the trendy DFA imprint), the album has already spun off a trio of summer jams: The mesmerizing "AM/FM," the metallic funk of "The Most Certain Sure," and the album's high point, "Steady as the Sidewalk Cracks," an Afrobeat-tinged post-punk freak-out that makes Vampire Weekend sound positively anemic. The album will surely get your groove on.

 

Other New Releases Worth Checking Out:
(Have not listened to, but please feel free to post a review)  

• The Dandy Warhols "The Capital Years: 1995-2007" 
• BARB "BARB" 
• Dead Confederate "Sugar"