Blogcritics The critical lens on today's culture & entertainment
New Release Day started early this week with Pearl Jam's new record being released on Sunday rather than the traditional Tuesday. There are fewer buying options for those seeking the new record but it's not difficult to find. The album is available through the band's web site. As for retail, your options are independent music stores and Target. Because Huntsville has few indie choices, I went to my wife's favorite place on earth and got it at Target. It's also available digitally through the normal means, and no, I don't mean file sharing.
Pearl Jam
Backspacer
Backspacer is an album for the multitasker with a short attention span. The band intentionally scaled the record back, turning in a brief record of 11 tracks and 36 minutes. Pearl Jam is now old enough to wear the classic rock clothes they've always had in their closet and this kind of approach fits them well. These guys love bands like Buzzcocks and The Ramones, punk bands who gave you three chords and the truth. While Pearl Jam has made great music by stretching, this leaner approach also suits them.
What caught me on my first few listens to the disc is that in addition to about 15-20 minutes, Backspacer is also missing some of the angst of past records. Maybe it's a change in the weather. Maybe it's a change in administrations. The venom of past records is downplayed and we're often left instead with an optimistic feistiness. Eddie Vedder isn't ready for a rocking chair and he's not declaring "mission accomplished," but this record feels less angry.
Richard Hawley
Truelove's Gutter
I might have chosen to write about this album even if I didn't like Hawley because I love the title of it. I admire songwriters (and writers of any stripe) who can take words that don't belong together and use them to create an image or an idea. Truelove's Gutter is a great combination of words from an artist who makes brilliant, understated, meditative records that belong in another time and place. Once again, I tip my cap to the great Aaron "Duke" McMullan for introducing me to the wonders of Richard Hawley. American listeners probably have no idea who Hawley is. They should rectify that with all due haste.
Here are your new releases for Sept. 22, 2009:
Basement Jaxx
Scars
Harry Connick, Jr.
Your Songs
Mika
The Boy Who Knew Too Much
Pearl Jam
Backspacer
Various Artists
Where the Action Is! Los Angeles Nuggets 1965-1968
Alarm Will Sound
a/rythmia
BarlowGirl
Love & War
Beastie Boys
Hello Nasty [Bonus Disc]
Joshua Bell
The Best of Joshua Bell: The Decca Years
The Big Pink
A Brief History of Love
Billy Talent
Billy Talent III
Jahdan Blakkamoore
Buzzrock Warrior
Brand New
Daisy
Castanets
Texas Rose, The Thaw and the Beasts
Nick Cave & Warren Ellis
White Lunar
Vic Chesnutt
At the Cut
Guy Clark
Somedays the Song Writes You
Alan Cumming
I Bought a Blue Car Today
Early Day Miners
The Treatment
Five Finger Death Punch
War Is the Answer
Renee Fleming
Verismo
Girls
Album
Robert Gordon/Link Wray/Chris Spedding
Live Fast, Love Hard
David Gray
Draw the Line
Hawk Nelson
Live Life Loud!
Richard Hawley
Truelove's Gutter
Hornet Leg
Ribbon of Fear
I'm OK You're OK
Presents…
Islands
Vapours
Sean Kingston
Tomorrow
Diana Krall
Quiet Nights [Deluxe Edition]
Larry the Cable Guy
Tailgate Party
Le Loup
Family
Mae
(m)orning
Cell/Tooth & Nail
The Majority
The Decca Years 1965-1968
Rose Melberg
Homemade Ship
Amy Millan
Masters of the Burial
Monsters of Folk
Monsters of Folk
Múm
Sing Along to Songs You Don't Know
The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
Speed of Life
Noisettes
Wild Young Hearts [Bonus Track]
Yoko Ono Plastic Ono Band
Between My Head and the Sky
Original Game Soundtrack
Halo 3: ODST
Original Soundtrack
Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure [Original Soundtrack]
Pastels/Tenniscoats
Two Sunsets
Rain Machine
Rain Machine
Sea Wolf
White Water, White Bloom
Manassas
Manassas Pieces
A Sunny Day in Glasgow
Ashes Grammar
Angel Taylor
Love Travels
Thee Midniters
Thee Complete Midniters: Songs of Love, Rhythm and Psychedilia
They Might Be Giants
Here Comes Science
Three Days Grace
Life Starts Now
Times New Viking
Born Again Revisited
To Kill A Petty Bourgeoisie
Marlone
The Twilight Sad
Forget the Night Ahead
Various Artists
Crayon Angel: A Tribute to the Music of Judee Sill
Vertical Horizon
Burning the Days
Volcano Choir
Unmap
Rufus Wainwright
Milwaukee at Last!!!
Why?
Eskimo Snow
