Music

This Week's Best New Music Releases - April 6, 2010

by Josh

Jonsi – Go

Sigur Ros vocalist Jonsi Birgisson may be releasing his debut solo album, but it’s not the first time he’s strayed from his post-rock flock.  Jonsi has been flirting with a solo career since his release with boyfriend Alex Somers, “Riceboy Sleeps” last year.   Jonsi’s solo album, entitled “Go”, also features Somers, along with a slew of additional players including collaborative king, Nico Muhly.  The end result has a lot of the expected – grandiose orchestral arrangements and upper octave vocals.  But the kitchen sink was thrown at this, with a lot of ideas not often heard in Sigur Ros.   Yes, even English lyrics. Label: XL

Dr. Dog – Shame, Shame

Dr. Dog are a pretty simple and straight forward band.  But sometimes, it is the band that aren’t radically unique that are hard to shove into a category.  Dr. Dog are often referred to as “psychedelic rock”, but their latest album, “Shame, Shame”, certainly isn’t.  They share a playfulness possessed by My Morning Jacket and Spoon.  But they aren’t really like those bands either.  Often, there are moments where they sound like The Beatles and The Band.  But their sound is far from old fashioned.   So imagine taking all the above traits, and packing them into one band.  You’d have Dr. Dog. Label: Anti

Jakob Dylan – Women + Country

Remember the Wallflowers?  I get the sense Jakob Dylan is trying to forget the band that birthed him, based on the effort that went into his new solo album (his second).  He pulled out all the stops, bringing in Neko Case and Kelly Hogan as backup singers, and the Acadamy Award winning T Bone Burnett as producer.  You can easily hear what each person brings to the table, and combined, they all help prop up Dylan (son of the famous Bob), who’s chip-off-the-block vocals mesh nicely with Burnett’s ability to turn ordinary songs into toe-tapping ditties. Label: Columbia

Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings – I Learned The Hard Way

Amy Winehouse may have been the biggest player in bringing soul back to the mainstream, but Sharon Jones has been doing it for decades.  And she does it better – much better.  Not to disrespect Winehouse, but Jones has soul in her blood.  She was born in Georgia, but moved to New York City at a young age.  Through most of her adult life, she held day jobs, including serving as a corrections officer at Rikers Island.  She oozes authenticity.  She is also backed by the Dap Kings – a band so tight, they could burst at the seams.  On her new album, Jones and company do what they do best.  They play music from the heart and soul, and have a lot of fun doing it.  And please, check all pretensions at the door. Label: Daptone