New Album Releases 05/13/08: Death Cab For Cutie, Jason Mraz, Old 97s, Foxy Brown, Robert Cray, Bill Frisell
Published May 13, 2008
Prepare yourselves to be a bit uninspired by what is arriving in your neighborhood record store this week. Honestly, I don't mean to sound like such a downer, but I don't believe I have seen a weaker crop of new releases so far this entire year.
This is not meant as disrespect, as I am sure the new albums by Death Cab For Cutie and Jason Mraz are perfectly fine outings. But I mean, summer is just around the corner. You mean to tell me that this is the best that the record labels can do?
Let's start with Death Cab For Cutie.
Two years ago, the Seattle-based band was the buzz band of the year when its album Plans did far better than anybody — including, I am quite sure, the band itself — expected it to do.
Last time I checked, Vampire Weekend had pretty much claimed the "buzz band" mantle for 2008. And much like with Death Cab now, I'm quite sure we'll be making a similar progress-check on those blood-suckers about midway through what I sincerely hope to be Barack Obama's first term in office. That said, Death Cab's Narrow Stairs is said to be a bit darker, although it also has plenty of radio-friendly pop fare in songs like "No Sunshine."
Adult-alternative, funky-folky sort of dude Jason Mraz also returns this week with We Sing, We Dance, We Steal Things, which, if nothing else, is certainly a catchy album title. On this one, Mraz goes more the blue-eyed soul route — there's even a duet with British soul man James Morrison. But there is also plenty enough of that adult-alternative sort of folk thang here to keep the Starbucks crowd happy.
Other highlights this week include the return of hip-hop diva Foxy Brown sounding as street-tough as ever on Brooklyn's Don Diva. Rhett Miller and his Old 97s continue to bridge the gaps between rock and roll, country, rockabilly, and all points in-between on the ever twangy Blame It on Gravity. Bluesman Robert Cray resurrects a classic concert from the Strong Persuader era on the double disc Live at the BBC.
Anyway, I apologize for my lack of enthusiasm about this week's releases, as I'm sure there are at least one or two nuggets worth a chew here (I'll be checking out the Death Cab For Cutie for sure). The good news is that at least we have June, and the new Coldplay and My Morning Jacket CDs to look forward to.
I have to be forgiven if I refer to this album as sounding like Frisell "getting back to his roots." His roots, to me, are not necessarily his original sound but where I picked up with this great guitarist - the era in the early to mid-'90s where he bridged a strange gap between angular jazz and countrified twang. That twang has always been there, but over the years on more recent albums, it has been the focus of his sound, and some fans have longed for him to bring back some of the angular elements. I can't say for certain if the two-disc, 30-song History, Mystery is going to provide that, but from bits I have heard, it edges closer to that than we have heard in a long time, sounding like a sophisticated big cousin to 2001's Blues Dream, which is a very good thing in my book.
- New Album Releases 05/13/08: Death Cab For Cutie, Jason Mraz, Old 97s, Foxy Brown, Robert Cray, Bill Frisell
- Published: May 13, 2008
- Type: News
- Section: Music
- Filed Under: Music: Recording, Music: News, Music: Lists, Music: Business
- Part of a feature: New CDs
- Writer: Glen Boyd
- Glen Boyd's BC Writer page
- Glen Boyd's personal site
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Comments on this articleComments
I don't normally spotlight best of's anyway...not unless they are a definitive or otherwise exhaustive sort of document that adds some sort of new element. Both Sinatra (many times in ol' Blue Eyes case) and to a lesser extent Maiden have been afforded this treatment before. And like you already noted these aren't exactly complete anyway.
There were a bunch of reissues from 10cc too. On three different labels covering what -- best as I could tell anyway -- was not exactly their peak period (no "Im Not In Love" or "Things We Do For Love."
Face it Bicho, its just a crapola of a week. I certainly have.
-Glen
Dave Douglas' Moonshine actually came out on April 15.
I think the Cray release may have come earlier this year too Pico, just in a less complete version. Anyway, I just go by AMG here -- unless I spot a really glaring obvious error (which I often do, for whatever its worth).
-Glen
Maybe the rest of the week's offerings were mediocre, but we got what might be album o' the year this week, for me at least, in my pick.
And no one needs a best-o-Maiden from the 80s. Just buy each and every one of those albums. There isn't a one that isn't a classic from beginning to end. No songs can or should be left out. Just stay away from the terrible remasters - stick to the originals or the Castle 2-disc versions.
I hear ya', Glen. I was checking out AMG's list yesterday myself and it was confusing to say the least. It seems that nowadays a lot of records have several release dates attached to them: limited release, general release, digital release, jewel case release, regular CD release, enhanced CD/DVD release, etc. I wish they can simplify it and release all versions of a record on the same damned day.
Not counting the Douglas, there's no releases this week that excites me, either, except for the Frisell. Tom's write-up has gotten me even more stoked about it.
"And no one needs a best-o-Maiden from the 80s. Just buy each and every one of those albums."
Quoted for Truth. Scream for me, BC!
I hear ya', Glen. I was checking out AMG's list yesterday myself and it was confusing to say the least. It seems that nowadays a lot of records have several release dates attached to them: limited release, general release, digital release, jewel case release, regular CD release, enhanced CD/DVD release, etc. I wish they can simplify it and release all versions of a record on the same damned day.
Not counting the Douglas, there's no releases this week that excites me, either, except for the Frisell. Tom's write-up has gotten me even more stoked about it.
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What's wrong with these Best-of's?
Iron Maiden - Somewhere Back in Time is missing "Running Free"
Frank Sinatra - Nothing But the Best is missing "Night and Day" and "One for My Baby (and One More for the Road)"