Vacation Time

Sorry for the lack of updates folks. We're all taking a short vacation but will return soon with more music news, release dates, and new artist features. Thanks for stopping by and reading.

New Music Tuesday: July 8, 2008

Seems we've moved beyond the mediocre batch of last Tuesday's releases and finally have some music worth talking about, so let's get to it.

Modern Guilt marks Beck's sixth album in ten years and his eighth overall. The new album sees him hooking up with producer extraordinaire Danger Mouse (Gnarls Barkley, Gorillaz, The Black Keys) and features a couple guest vocals from the always lovely Cat Power. The new creative forces help give Beck and Modern Guilt a much needed breath of fresh air and a feeling of contentment when it's all over. Less glitchy than The Information, think more of an uptempo Sea Change or a more refined Mutations. 

While a new Strokes album is on indefinite hold, Albert Hammond Jr. hasn't been waiting around with his hands in his pockets. Como Tel Llama?, the follow up to his charming and decidedly good debut Yours To Keep, is more focused and feels like Albert finally took the time to really expand his own sound outside of Strokes territory while remaining faithful to his influences. 

Here are some releases I didn't write about:

• Two Men With The Blues - Willie Nelson & Wynton Marsalis (could be interesting)
• I Pledge Allegiance To The Grind II - Killer Mike (If nothing else, you have to like him for the fact that his name isn't Killa' or Killah)
• Exit Strategy Of The Soul - Ron Sexsmith
• Used And Abused - Danger Radio
• Three Flights Fro Alto Nido - Greg Laswell
• Love Is Dead - Kerli
• The Stoop - Little Jackie
• Nude With Boots - Melvins

New Music Tuesday: July 1, 2008

Unfortunately all we have this week is a watered down helping of blah-ness. Well, I suppose that depends on who you are and your taste in music. Still, so totally uninspired by this week's releases am I (interesting phrasing no?), that I can't seem to muster the creative energy (read: I ran out of beer) usually focused on a couple of standouts; so we're going straight to the bullet points. Better luck next week.

• Where The Light Is: Live In Los Angeles - John Mayer
• Identified - Vanessa Hudgens
• T.O.S. (Terminate On Sight) - G-Unit
• Forgiven - Los Lonely Boys
• Agony & Irony - Alkaline Trio
• Join The Band - Little Feat
• The Bird and the Bee Sides - Relient K