Coalition of Independent Music Stores head Don VanCleave shares his favorite new releases:
The Shins - finally starting to not listen to this record 24 hours a day.Easily my favorite release this
year. Great pop music from a great label.
Modest Mouse - So in an age of American Idol this is the number one release? Thank God. What a KILLER
record. Improves with every listen. Even better, the vinyl comes out on 4-10. Beautiful, two disc heavy vinyl with really great packaging. Highly recommended and only at indie retail.
Silversun Pickups - Yeah I know this has been out for a while BUT I finally picked up the vinyl. Has to be some of the best packaging out there. In addition to the two discs of heavy wax, there is an extra seven inch with two more songs. And, if that is not enough, there is a card enclosed where you can go to the label site (dangerbird) and grab the two extra songs as a free download. This looks like a reward to those that buy the vinyl. I love the trend with indie labels to provide the whole album as a free download if you buy the vinyl (thanks Merge). It lets those who spend money have a portable version without having to go thru the backdoor to get it. Smart.
Oh, and did I say that this band ROCKS? It reminds me of what I loved about Gish era Smashing Pumpkins while still being fresh.
Death Proof - This is the new Quentin Tarantino soundtrack. This guy, like Cameron Crowe, must spend as much time picking music as he does filming the movies. Really tasty collection of oldies along with
some new cuts.
Amy Winehouse - She is a star. All you numbers geeks know that she only dropped 5% in scans in this, her second week. She plays to rave reviews. Her band is as tight as it gets. My only beef is that she seems to be not only a star but a rock star and all that implies. She was scheduled for an instore at Waterloo during SXSW. All of you label types know that is almost an impossible gig to get. A few days prior to SXSW she cancelled the instore.
The reasons were vague but something about something really important in Los Angeles. So, imagine my surprise to see Amy and her manager chomping down some BBQ on Fifth street at the exact time of the cancelled instore. Tisk tisk. Great record.
Neil Young - Live at Massey Hall. Stunning. Neil playing some of his biggest songs for the first time. Before they were recorded in the studio. As you would expect, the sound is pristine. And the audience is polite like you wish they would be now. One of his best records period.
Kings of Leon - Because of the Times - it is no secret that I love the Kings of Leon. Have since day one. I actually caught their second show ever as a band and have seen them dozens of times since then. Most recently at Stubbs at SXSW. I think each of their records have show amazing growth and this one is just beautiful. One of my favorite American bands.
Manchester Orchestra - Wow, what a great young band. All clocking in at about 20 years of age, these guys have self recorded a record that should have come much later in their career. We ran across them last year thru a friend and decided to help them get their music out there. Now, six months later, they are opening the sold out Brand New tour and scanned over 600 records this week. All without a label deal. Oh, they also just got on Rolling Stone's Top 10 to Watch list. Not bad for DYI. Not bad at all.
