Everyone must be at the beach this week. There's really no explanation for the scarcity of albums below. However, within our grasp there are a few solid albums groups to delve into. If you think someone should have made the cut who didn't, give us a shout.
One of the most popular groups on this list (as far as the East Coast goes) are our Rockville, MD friends O.A.R. Maybe you're eardrums have been pounded to "That Was A Crazy Game Of Poker" a million times over, but those times have run dry and now with the group back in action after a breif hiatus since their Boys and Girls in America album back in 2006, their latest album, Stay Positive should bring some more grizzle folk rock to your mp3 player.
You'll also notice two seasoned veterans are here this week with Nas and John Mellencamp releasing this umpteenth album respectively.
A few pop / punk bands to look at are A Coastline Ending, who are a bit grizzlier than your average pop and The Mile After who released their third album Armada.
Lastly, be sure to check out The Hold Steady, whose latest album Stay Positive, got a rave review (8.4) from Pitchfork.
MP3: Dr. Dog - The Old Days (buy)
MP3: Natalie Portman's Shaved Head - Slow Motion Tag Team (buy)
MP3: Sunset - When Perfect Flames Expire (buy)
A Coastline Ending - In The Name Of Progression (Official) (MySpace)
Ace Young - Ace Young (Official) (MySpace)
Blackmore's Night - Secret Voyage (Official) (MySpace)
Circus Circus - Brooklyn Nightlife (Official) (MySpace)
Delta Goodrem - Delta (Official) (MySpace)
Bajofondo - Mar Dulce (Official) (MySpace)
Dr. Dog - (Official) (Myspace)
Elisa - Dancing (Official) (MySpace)
Hans-Joachim Roedelius/ Tim Story - Inlandish (Official) (MySpace)
The Hold Steady - Stay Positive (Official) (MySpace)
John Mellencamp - Life, Death, Love and Freedom (Official)
Nas - Untitled (Official) (MySpace)
North - What You Were (MySpace)
O.A.R. - All Sides (Official) (MySpace)
The Mile After - Armada (MySpace)
Wire - Object 47 (Official) (MySpace)
Kate Nash - Made of Bricks
This was released today on iTunes US, which is actually quite a lag for the time this song has been around in the UK. "Foundations", her first single from Made of Bricks is quite interesting in that, once you get past the gaudy accent, her music is quite pleasant. Althought the message in "Foundations" is more sophomoric, it rightly serves it brash purpose of laying down a truth; one of the easiest subjects for writing music: the love/hate relationship. Aside from all of the build up and quick stardom she's recieved, she has quite a story behind where she now stands.
Official site-http://katenash.co.uk/
Myspace-http://www.myspace.com/katenashmusic
Biography-http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kate_Nash
Jack Johnson - If I Had Eyes
The first single from Jack Johnson's newest album pending, Sleep Through the Static, is expected to release on February 5th, 2008. However, "If I Had Eyes" is not that great. Not that I want to write a full out review on this song, but its nothing different than I've heard before. This song is certainly no "Taylor" and will not be your favorite track off of the album. But if you are anticipating his latest album, you can get this track early by preordering from iTunes and receive the pre-order bonus track “Goodbye”.
Jack Johnson’s ability to captivate that which is soothing and relaxing into his basic shoreline beach style of music separates Jack from the field. Of course, it all started with his roots, having grown up in Hawaii, where the most convenient form of lugging music to the beach would be by means of a guitar. It goes without saying; his popularity cannot exceed his spiritual roots of thought and the kind-worded lyrics that make his popularity the success from his general appeal. Though his lyrics and laid-back music style, Jack Johnson could be simply deemed the singer/songwriter version of Ghandi.
Jack Johnson will be touring from the beginning of 2008 to mid-summer in Australia, to Germany and the UK. For his tour dates go here.
Jack Johnson - Taylor (video)
