Music

This Week's Best New Music Releases - April 27, 2010

by Josh

Hannah Georgas – This Is Good

Hannah Georgas has come a long way since releasing her debut EP, “The Beat Stuff” last January. She has amassed a hefty fan base nationwide, and has poised herself for greatness. And it’s not because she has aligned herself with Walmart and Starbucks, though in this day and age, it certainly doesn’t hurt. Her sassy ‘tude, her coveted skill of writing a mean pop tune and her sweet and assertive voice come together to create a collection of songs that stick to the back of your brain like gum in your hair. And while the album borrows from many genres, in the end, it’s an undeniably fearless pop record. And sometimes, that’s all we really want. (Hannah Georgas performs live at Criminal Records tonight (April 27 at 6pm)

Label: Hidden Pony

The Pack A.D. – We Kill Computers

With some bands, you know what you’re getting before you press play. Sometimes, that’s bad. In the case of Pack A.D., it’s very good. Becky Black and Maya Miller are back with their third album, “We Kill Computers”, and they are doing what they do best – rocking hard. Their sound is easily compared to other guitar ‘n drum duos, like The Black Keys and The White Stripes, which is certainly good company to be in. But there is something a little more pure and genuine about Pack A.D. Perhaps it’s my inherent love for my fellow Canadians. Or perhaps I like to root for the underdog. Either way, I’d rather see Pack A.D. in a dive bar than the Stripes in an arena any day of the week. Know what I mean?

Label: Mint

Apples In Stereo – Travellers In Space And Time

Perhaps you know Apples In Stereo as Robert Schneider (the band’s front man) who wrote the ode to Stephen Colbert several years ago. Perhaps you know them for Schneider’s work with Neutral Milk Hotel on their iconic “In The Aeroplane Over The Sea”, not to mention being a member of Elephant 6. Or perhaps you’ve never heard of them. If that’s the case, you might want to look them up. Think of bands like Yeasayer, but simplify them and wipe away the pretention. To get a good idea of what these guys are like, check out their video featuring Elijah Wood.

Label: Yep Roc

The Magnetic Fields – 69 Love Songs

Obviously, “69 Love Songs” is not a new release. In fact, it’s over a decade old. But the album made a resurgence in April in the form of a ten-inch vinyl box set. When the album first came out in 1999, it was lauded as being one of the best contributions to the decade, and revered as a fine send-off to the 90’s. Perhaps what made it so grandiose was its genesis. In an interview with the San Francisco Bay Guardian, front man Stephin Merritt said, “I decided I’d write one hundred love songs as a way of introducing myself to the world. Then I realized how long that would be. So I settled on sixty-nine. I’d have a theatrical revue with four drag queens. And whoever the audience liked best at the end of the night would get paid.” So really, what’s not to love about that?

Label: Merge