Music

This Week's Best New Music Releases February 2, 2010

by Josh

Magnetic Fields – Realism

“Realism” may have been released as a companion album to 2008’s “Distortion”, but don’t expect them to be similar.  In fact, in many ways, they’re the exact opposite.  The Magnetic Fields are known for concept albums – perhaps their most notorious work is their epic triple “69 Love Songs”.   And where “Distortion” was, well… distorted, “Realism” is primarily acoustic and folk-driven.  Perhaps the only constant for The Magnetic Fields is front man Stephin Merritt, whose songwriting is always top notch, and his baritone voice that reminds you from album to album that it’s still the same band. Label: Nonesuch

The Album Leaf – A Chorus of Storytellers

For just over a decade, The Album Leaf has slowly been growing from its side-project beginnings.   Their first album, “An Orchestrated Rise To Fall (1998)”, were mere improvisations on piano accompanied by a drum machine.   When Jon Birgisson of Sigur Ros bought the album in 2001, he invited them to open for them on their US tour.  In 2004, The Album Leaf signed to Subpop Records, and since then, have steadily increased their fan base.  Now in 2010, The Album Leaf are releasing “A Chorus of Storytellers”, and maintaining their state of evolution, is the first album they recorded with a live band. Label: Sub Pop

Hot Chip – One Life Stand

Hot Chip are not what you would call categorical.  While they may be defined as electro-pop, their sound incorporates elements of jazz, house, and rock, amongst a royal smattering of others.  They’re also not known for taking their time, releasing a steady stream of albums, EPs, singles, remixes, and covers.  “One Life Stand”, their fourth album, might be a little more chill that its predecessors, but still offers up a disc jockey’s dream of infectious experimental pop tunes. Label: EMI

Midlake – Courage Of Others

For some reason, some of the best musical acts on earth get their big break overseas before developing buzz back home.   Such was the case for Midlake, a Texas-based band who first found success in Europe before America.  Since forming in 1999, Midlake have released only three albums (including their latest, “Courage Of Others”).  And despite their jazz based roots, Midlake’s sound is a heavenly blend of psych and folk rock.  The sum of their efforts can best be described as epic and timeless.   And considering how well they fit the current landscape of indie music, are very underrated. Label: Bella Union

Bassekou Kouyate – I Speak Fula

Let’s face it.  Despite Peter Gabriel’s best efforts, music in the western world is very exclusionary – so much so, that we manufactured the genre “world music” to file stuff not of the first world.   But perhaps that is starting to change.   We saw change in the form of M.I.A. becoming an international sensation (okay, she wasn’t born in Sri Lanka, but has certainly embraced her roots).  And in a new surprising twist, Bassekou Kouyate of Mali is releasing “I Speak Fula” through grunge-come-indie label Sub Pop.   Kouyate has been forging a trail into the western world for some time, performing with the likes of Carlos Santana and U2, and with “I Speak Fula”, is that much closer to becoming a household name. Label: Sub Pop