At this very early point in the new year, it's not surprising to see a lot of reissue packages still making their way to record stores, and that is exactly what we've got for you this week. We've got your Mariah Carey ballads, your Thom Yorke remixes — we've even got an entire new series of repackaged albums from some of your favorite artists headed your way this week from the folks at Legacy.
Of course, it's also Inauguration Day. The historic swearing in of Barack Obama as our President will most likely already be underway for many of you by the time you read this. It's one of those days where a lot of you will always remember just where you were, what you were doing, and who you were with.
But for Chicagoans, today is particularly special. Perhaps that is why Chicago band Umphrey's McGee have chosen this day to release their two-years-in-the-making new album, Mantis. This is a band that has grown itself a devoted following largely through its concerts, which always feature plenty of improvisation and experimentation, and where the band often works out their new material onstage.
Here, in a change of pace, the band is offering all-new, never-before-heard material that was entirely conceived in the studio. The advance word (well at least according to our own Pico), is that this also represents what could be Umphrey's most progressive and fully realized work to date.
The Eraser, the solo album released by Radiohead's Thom Yorke a few years back, is given a re-imagining on The Eraser Rmxs. It features remixed versions of every track on the original album, all done by some of Yorke's favorite artists, and apparently with his blessing. The release was previously only available as a Japanese import.
Legacy's new From The Heart series, brings together complete albums of previously released material by artists ranging from Babyface to Miles Davis to Sinatra to Dolly Parton, presumably with some sort of romantic theme. Some of Mariah Carey's own biggest romantic hits are repackaged while she is otherwise between projects on The Ballads [US].
Josh Hathaway checks in with his thoughts on the new Tuatara in just a second. But first, NAR welcomes back contributor Tom Johnson, who is here to tell you why the new Andrew Bird reminds him of a centipede. Take it away, TJ...
I hear a good melody and I am hooked - the kind of thing that sounds like it is crawling over and through the nooks and crannies of the music as if a centipede is making its way through the busy forest undergrowth. And that's what Bird's music is - busy forest undergrowth, with a beautiful melody weaving its way through it, across it, and sometimes opposed to it. The lush background is entrancing, often based much on hymn - Bird plays violin, guitar, mandolin, and glockenspiel, (not to mention whistling), sometimes looping it all.
Article comments
1 - Sterfish
Animal Collective's new release is fantastic. It's better than their last full-length and more accessible too. If you're wary about it, download "My Girls," "Summertime Clothes," or "Brother Sport" to see why I love it.
2 - Leslie Bohn
Or, NPR is streaming the whole thing. AND the Bruce, and the Andrew Bird. Yay! Free!
BTW, the new Animal Collective is indeed great. It's like a distillation: same sound, better songs, better singing.
3 - Josh Hathaway
I tried Animal Collective's last album on your recommendation, Sterfish. I still don't know what I think of it, so I might have to give this one a shot, too.
4 - Glen Boyd
I wanted to write something about Animal Collective, but I must confess I'm just not that familiar with them. If any of you can point me towards somewhere where I might sample their stuff, I'll most certainly correct that.
-Glen
5 - Leslie Bohn
NPR is streaming the whole thing. AND the Bruce, and the Andrew Bird. Yay! Free!