New Music Round-Up
Wilco - Sky Blue Sky
This highly anticipated release is being met with decidedly mixed reviews, some of them a little harsher than others. I'm not sure why so many people seem to be disappointed with this one, I'm rather impressed with the '70s AM air throughout its twelve tracks. I guess fans were hoping for Tweedy to push the band futher into the outer reaches of their button-pushing, krautrock-loving extremes, but I think by not doing so they managed to screw with people's expectations - something they've managed to do with nearly every single release up to this point. This won't top Summerteeth or Yankee Hotel Foxtrot on fans' favorite lists, but its definitely a pleasant listen that shouldn't be dismissed before being given a fair shot.
Wilco - "Walken"
The Horrors - Strange House
I'm not entirely sure how I feel about these guys just yet. On the one hand I want to hate them for their obviously over-constructed image (the hair! the fake names!) and for being associated with Ultragrrl's label, but there's something about the pseudo-goth cum garage rock sound that I can't really deny. True, The Horrors seem to milk a very narrow aesthetic for all its worth (see also: Raveonettes, Clinic), but I think they have struck upon a formula that works really well for them. If you heard and dismissed the self-titled EP from last year, this full-length might be worth a listen as it tones down the punk snarl of tracks like "Jack The Ripper" and "Sheena Is A Parasite" (both appearing here with new versions) while slowing down the tempo and amping up the atmospherics. Check out "Gloves", a haunting tale of murder and dismemberment for a taste of what the band has to offer.
The Horrors - "Gloves"
Bjork - Volta
The Icelandic quirk princess' latest opus is another album being met with rather polarizing reviews, some seem to love this batch of experimental pop while others think Bjork is slowly disappearing a little too far into her own little world. Honestly I think this album is a little bit of both. There are some really enjoyable tracks that easily rank with the highlights of her career ("Earth Intruders", "Wanderlust"), but there are also a few experiments that fall completely flat ("Declare Independence", "My Juvenile"). "Earth Intruders" is a particularly great track, featuring a stellar beat by producer extraordinaire Timbaland. Give it a shot.
Bjork - "Earth Intruders"
Fields - Everything Last Winter
Fields are a London five-piece that swirls American indie rock, classic folk, and electronic pop into a surprisingly original mix that recalls both Bloc Party and Arcade Fire without sounding like slavish imitators to either. Everything Last Winter is an album full of slow burns and climactic payoffs, as evidenced by songs like "Charming The Flames".
Fields - "Charming The Flames"
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