...something new...went to NPR to listen to the new Sharon Van Etten but it did not feel like the right record for me at that moment, so I clicked off after a few songs...switched to Heartless Bastards' Arrow, since it was there on the NPR page—a band I've never heard before but this was nice enough, though a day later I don't really remember it other than the singer had a compelling and strong voice...was reminded that I wanted to hear First Aid Kit's new album—a band I've never heard of until hearing "Emmylou" on the internet somewhere; it reminded me of 2010's Chapin Sisters record, which is not a bad thing, but like the Van Etten it just wasn't sitting well with my mood so I turned it off...later in the day I finally put on Of Montreal's Paralytic Stalks—I say finally because I acquired it a few days ago from a publicist but have not been enthused enough to actually listen to it, despite past fandom; I doubt I'll put it on again (does anyone need more Of Montreal at this point?)...tried the new Hospitality record on Matador; was sort of ambivalent to individual tracks I'd heard previously but liked the overall album more, and will probably go back to it...wished I had the new Jason Urick album but I don't (yet)...which reminded me to look into what Thrill Jockey has been up to lately, so I sampled a few mp3s on their site from two groups I'd never heard of, Imbogodom and Pontiak, neither of which did it for me...but I have a lot of faith in Thrill Jockey so I noted some other new releases and headed to Spotify, where I tried out a new album by a band called Rhyton which was kinda aimless instrumental spacey psych jams, didn't reel me in...and finally one more Thrill Jockey release Zomes' Improvisations, which is guitar-based ambient and more up my alley—finally!
All the albums I'm looking forward to don't come out for another month. It's only early February—there's still a chance for me to keep up with music in 2012, so please tell me what I new stuff I should be hearing.
Some stuff I've been listening to recently. While most of it's not new, it is all relatively new to me, and I don't see it elsewhere on your blog.
Wild Flag - Wild Flag
Apocalypse - Bill Callahan
Golden Archipelago - Shearwater
The Ruminant Band - Fruit Bats
Tanglewood Numbers - Silver Jews
Posted by: Jordan | February 02, 2012 at 02:38 PM
Have you listened to Lower Dens, Scott? A friend hooked me into them lately, and they're really good. They have a new one coming out, but I've been listening obsessively to their first one, Twin-Hand Movement.
Also, I only recently realized (since I've been so out of the loop) that Jason Urick has been putting out records. He used to work at the record store I frequented here in Baltimore (even opened his own, short-lived one, which I also frequented, while it existed). He recommended a lot of great music to me. Nice guy; nice to see his music being well received.
Posted by: Richard | February 03, 2012 at 03:39 PM
Been hooked on Leonard Cohen's new Old Ideas all week now - highly recommended.
Posted by: jordan | February 05, 2012 at 11:28 AM