A killer past two weeks as far as new releases. Today we are going to focus on two particular new albums that I am really digging on, Thread by Great Apes and AM by Arctic Monkeys. I have been up all night spinning both records and I really have to stretch the recesses of my memory to remember another time when two amazing albums dropped on the same date.
Now in fairness, the Great Apes album doesn't officially drop until next Tuesday, but you can grab the digital download version on the band's Bandcamp Page for a donation of eight bucks or more.
These albums are wonderfully compelling ragers for two reasons: both offer elevated, infectious energy and both releases are true front-to-backers. Of the 22 combined songs included on both LPs there is not one bad song.
Certainly this week makes up for last week's utter disappointment that was Nine Inch Nails, which kind of limped along a pathway that started at the corner of much hyped and eagerly anticipated and ended as roadkill at the junction of ridiculously over-hyped and "that was a regrettable buy."
We are going to be spinning a ton of Great Apes and Arctic Monkeys this week, along with our usual set of picks and pans for your perusal so here's hoping you'll tune in. [Links = BUY ME]
New Spins airs every Tuesday at 7PM and again on Wednesday Afternoons at noon. That's CST in case you were wondering. You can listen via the widget in the right sidebar or click this link to open up the player in a new window: http://live365.com/stations/jivewiredradio.
YOU SPIN ME WITH CREED & CANTER
CREED SAYS: So it's been awhile since I've given my two cents on new music recently. Given the wedding preparation I'm going through, I feel this is my solace. Soooooo...without further adieu...my new LP of the week is actually coming out in Sept 17 on Asian Man Records and Side With Us. The album is "Thread" by the Great Apes. Brian Moss is one of the most honest and prolific songwriters and storytellers out there. I'm lucky to call him a friend. Brian is one of my favourite artists of all time and this time his band does not disappoint. "Thread"is a Bay Area punk rock masterpiece featuring 10 tracks based on conversations with different individuals. Each track is its own story with its own POV. This comes with the highest recommendation possible. Sept 17 is the release day. This album will be forever. For now- check them out at greatapes.bandcamp.com and featured on Jivewired America radio this week! That's all I've got for the week. I'm always looking for new spins, so please share and let me know what's out there!!! Friends. Music. Life.
CANTER SAYS:I have not been a big fan of Arctic Monkeys but I have to say that AM is my hands-down new release of the week. It's edgier, darker and heavier than anything I've heard them do. It’s a record about sex, lust, sexual frustration, more lust, more sex and some down time stoning it up. It's a record that plainly rips it through 12 songs and 42 minutes.
But it's also got this great G-Funk/Black Keys vibe interspersed with elements of mid 1990s hip hop, some Motown and a lot of 1970s glam rock, and even a song that is eerily reminiscent of Black Sabbath -- an unbelievable combination by the way -- throughout the LP that make this album fun.
Way more fun than Suck It & See. In fact I am going to say this is not only the greatest release by Arctic Monkeys, it is also the best release of 2013 (so far). AM is all over the place musically but remains impeccably structured, with wonderful, deep grooves, pitch perfect harmonies, non-stop energy and a sexually charged storyline. This is a 'fu*king' album in the most verbal sense of that word. Every song is great.
I said every song.
I am now an Arctic Monkeys fan.
Legacy pick is easy this week: The Clash dropped a bunch of re-releases and remasters including the monumental, unabridged, all-encompassing Clash library entitled Sound System [iTunes only I believe] that includes full versions of five studio albums, the Live at Shea Stadium performance plus 52 additional songs, also including all the A and B-side singles AND for good measure, 15 video versions. Perfectly packaged together for $100 and a bargain at that price since it includes 205 digital audio and video files. Must have.
Dollar Bin Pull: Practice What You Preach by Poets of Rhythm -- German funk band who have released under numerous aliases, including Hotpie & Candy which is now their label, as well as a number of albums released under the guise of various artists compilations. These guys shamelessly and unabashedly rip off James Brown but it's a blast anyway because they're German and, well, James Brown!
Have a musically enriched week.
(Great Apes)
STAFF PICKS
- Seventeen Years by Great Apes
- The Edge Of The Western World by Great Apes
- Yellow Ribbon by Great Apes
- Do I Wanna Know? by Arctic Monkeys
- Arabella by Arctic Monkeys
- I Want It All by Arctic Monkeys
- Why'd You Only Call Me When You're High by Arctic Monkeys
- Reflektor by Arcade Fire
- Atlas by Coldplay
- Man by Neko Case
- Chocolate by The 1975 (re-release)
- Radio Silence by Frightened Rabbit
- The Edge Of The Western World by Great Apes
- Arabella by Arctic Monkeys
- Find My Way by Nine Inch Nails
- Tae Phoenix
- Valerie Jones
- Kayla Yvonne
- The Griswolds
- BOY
- Arctic Fire released the self-titled single ahead of their album Reflektor which is due to drop on October 29, 2013. This will be Arcade Fire's first long player release since 2010's The Suburbs.
- Coldplay released a single, titled Atlas, that will be included in the upcoming Hunger Games movie. The single is the band's first release ogf any new music since 2011's Xylo Myloto.
- Turbine by Barbarossa
- The Hearse by Wampire
VINYL FRONTIER
Collect vinyl with me. This week's selection is The Bottom Line '78 by Van Morrison.
From Wolfagng's Vault: Concert Vault presents this exclusive 180-gram vinyl edition of a never-before-released 1978 set from Van Morrison at the Bottom Line club - the venue that launched the careers of both Bruce Springsteen and Billy Joel, among countless others. The stunning show features a satisfying mix of material from his then-new Wavelength LP and some of the best-loved Morrison classics, such as "Brown Eyed Girl," "Moondance," and "Into the Mystic."
The band was lava-hot and provided the perfect compliment to Morrison's free form vocal stylings. In the line-up was Pete Bardens (who also played keyboards in Morrison's 1960s British Invasion band, Them) and former Jeff Beck Group vocalist/guitarist Bobby Tench. Because he was backed by a great band, Morrison was able to successfully mix hot jazz, blazing blues, romantic and melodic ballads and gospel-fevered rock 'n' roll over the course of a single show.
Get it here for $35