This is the first in a hopefully ongoing series in which I take a quick look at some of the more recent albums I've checked out lately - especially those that I might not have had a chance to review elsewhere.
Cat Power - The Greatest (Matador)
I have to admit that I've never had a Chan Marshall album completely "click" for me before. Sure I've liked a good handful of her tunes and been easily able to tell why so many people are able to be so rabid about her work, but I'd never fallen head over heels for one of her discs before. After my first listen to her latest I figured that wasn't about to change, it struck me as pretty solid but nothing special. But something kept (and still keeps) drawing me back to the album for another listen. I'm not sure if its the soulful backing provided by the Memphis session dudes down at Ardent Studios or the relative straightforwardness of Chan's lyrics this time around, but from the moment her own ghosts echo the confession of how she "wanted to be the greatest" this disc just will not let me go.
Recommended Tracks: "Lived In Bars", "Where Is My Love", "Love & Communication"
Jenny Lewis with The Watson Twins - Rabbit Fur Coat (Team Love)
If you hadn't been paying much attention to Ms. Lewis over the past several years, you could be forgiven for expecting this album to be a total disaster. Former child star breaks from rising indie rock band to record solo album that is loosely based on her rough childhood and features some gospel singing twin sisters - not exactly the type of stuff to inspire confidence. But those of us lucky enough to have been following Jenny's career with Rilo Kiley (among countless other successful guest appearances) knew that the woman has enough talent and drive to at least have kept it from becoming a total trainwreck. I don't think anybody, however, was expecting this thing to be so damn amazing. Rabbit Fur Coat manages to be nearly everything all at once - uplifting as it breaks your heart and hopeful as it wallows in pain. By the time the album ends you aren't quite sure if Jenny has found what she's been looking for, but you may just realize that you've found something you didn't even know you were missing. Not to mention a cover of the Traveling Wilburys' "Handle With Care" featuring Ben Gibbard, Conor Oberst, and M. Ward that actually manages to trump the original (all while annoying legions of Bright Eyes and Death Cab haters).
Recommended Tracks: "Handle With Care", "Happy", "Born Secular"
Test-Icicles - For Screening Purposes Only (Domino)
Stupid name aside, these guys have been taking a lot of undeserved flak in the past couple of months. Granted, much of this flak stems from the band getting heaps of praise thrown at them by the NME - which you know, happens to nearly every group of boys ever photographed anywhere near a guitar - but for at least breaking the recycled new wave Brit band mold Test-Icicles are deserving of at least a little press. Rather than emulating Gang of Four or Joy Division, these guys have spent more time listening to American hardcore bands. The easiest starting point I can think of is throwing Blood Brothers and Glassjaw into a blender, but I don't think that does justice to the Icicles' willingness to jump on an actual melody or hook from time to time. Granted this is absolutely nothing new, but if the more straightforward nu-Britpop bands like Editors and Arctic Monkeys bore you to tears (which, really, neither of them should) - Test-Icicles just may scream some life back into your eardrums.
Recommended Tracks: "Sharks", "Circle, Square, Triangle", "Boa vs. Python"
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