February 8 Album Releases

Is it February already? No, really? Must I admit that I am still living in 2010, even though best-of-the-year lists have been filed away, far away, in our hard drives? I suppose I must, but thankfully there are a few albums coming out this week that may yank me out of my rut and bring me up to speed in this newest year.

How better to get acquainted with new music—and edge on some high-strung hype—than with a cover version of a song from the catalogue of a high-profile indie artist. In London producer James Blake’s case, he chose Feist’s “Limit to Your Love.” He casts the quiet song with an equally stark cover version, directed with quiet clarifications. An impactful piano and Blake’s soulful, vibrato voice heat up with dub effects and electronic ticks and snaps. His ability to craft poignant pauses in his music is staggering—spine-tingling even. Indie admirers are ready to snack on what seems to be a meticulously plotted self-titled, full-length debut, and I am right there with them.

I never know what to expect from an Akron/Family album. Akron/Family is a band that choreographs psychedelic, love-soaked, raucous songs, but each album has a distinct personality. However, the band’s newest seems to have multiple rainbow-anchored personalities, as the title, The Cosmic Birth of Shinju TNT, suggests. The album starts with “Silly Bears,” a childish fable-telling song depicted with bursting electric guitars and sing-along vocals, all ending with cricket chirps—not a first for Akron/Family (See the insect-themed track on their album Love Is Simple for obvious evidence). It might seem silly, but this opening song does not lack fun. I haven’t dared to listen to the rest of this idiosyncratic concept record yet, but I would only expect more gaudy confusion and more outright amusement.

Speaking of amusement, Gruff Rhys of Super Furry Animals is set to greet the world with his third solo release, Hotel Shampoo—an album so-titled due to his unstoppable accumulation of free hotel loot, which he recently used to craft a doghouse-like art installation also entitled Hotel Shampoo. Led by the single “Shark Ridden Waters,” the album continues his string of sugared '60s melodies and friendly, out-of-the-ordinary lyrics.

Also coming out this week are Cut Copy’s Zonoscope (led by the soothing electronic appeal of the single “Need You Now”); Vivian Girls/Woods/Bossy side project The Babies’ debut self-titled album; and Silk Flowers’ sophomore album, Ltd. Form, which is so obviously affected by Joy Division in every trance-like musical sense.

Of course there is more to be heard and methodically discussed and reviewed, but it will take me careful steps to reacquaint myself with the process of suffering through many upon many new albums, seeking what is new and good. One album at a time, please. I’ll start with these few.


-Jessi Finn, Album Reviews Editor