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  1. #1
    Big science. Hallelujah. noddin0ff's Avatar
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    NPR: Exclusive First Listen

    I recently made NPR's Exclusive First Listen a permanent bookmark (a serious sign of commitment since I like my bookmarks lean). I'm finding some good stuff and it's starting to influence my 'buy' list.

    Thought I'd start a thread for discussing whatever the current offerings of the day/week are. For those that don't know, EFL offers streaming previews of full albums 2-weeks prior to release.

    Currently up:
    Lou Barlow (Dinosaur Jr, Sebadoh) : Goodnight Unknown
    The Avett Brothers: I and Love and You
    Noah and the Whale: The First Days of Spring
    Rosanne Cash: The List

    I'm listening to Lou Barlow now. I like. And another 37 minute album...hmmm. I like the closing few tracks much more than the first. The album started out more indie-rock sounding then transitioned to more melodic tunes. As a digression, I'm wondering if I'm falling out of favor with the current indie-rock sound, which I'll lamely categorize as densely layered fuzzy chords with a straight drum beat and vocals with a whiney characteristic often accompanied by floaty strings or synth sounds walking a chord.

    Anyway, once I got past track 1 and a little of track 2. Lou Barlow became a contender for my ears.

  2. #2
    Big science. Hallelujah. noddin0ff's Avatar
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    I forgot about this thread, and looks like everyone else did too.

    anyhoo...

    Merle Haggard is up with a new album "I am what I am"

    I don't think I ever listened to a Merle album, my exposures whatever came over the radio back when I lived in the rural north west. I'm about half way through. Its a charmer for those that like the more traditional country stylings (defining traditional as pre-1990 or so before NASCAR and Garth Brooks took over). Easy to listen to if a little schmaltzy on many songs, but Merle's still got it going on. I won't be getting this album, but I enjoyed the 35 minutes of nostalgia.

  3. #3
    Big science. Hallelujah. noddin0ff's Avatar
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    Some interesting first listens are currently up. Enough to keep me busy for the day. Listened to first 2 tracks on of New P while typing and hyperlinking. Pretty good.

    The New Pornographers: Together

    Josh Ritter: So Runs the World Away

    The Fall: Your Future Our Clutter

    LCD Soundsystem: This is Happening

  4. #4
    Big science. Hallelujah. noddin0ff's Avatar
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    I'm really digging The Fall: Your Future Our Clutter. It's rocking, jangly,noisy and driving. It sounds classic and fresh at the same time. The Fall is new to me but apparently they've been around for 28 albums. Despite being punk driven, I get a sense of layers and structures and meaning behind the sounds and difficult to comprehend lyrics that can keep me engaged for a while.

    The track Mexico is damn danceable.party house punk...or whatever. I have no idea what he's saying but this cut is kicking.

    I'd say that this is an album to consider and likely a contender for year end top 10.

  5. #5
    Big science. Hallelujah. noddin0ff's Avatar
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    2 track into the new one from The National, High Violet. So far, lovely.

  6. #6
    Rocket Surgeon Swish's Avatar
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    I heard some tracks on WXPN and just ordered it today.

    Quote Originally Posted by noddin0ff
    2 track into the new one from The National, High Violet. So far, lovely.
    It was just released today, actually, and the price on Amazon was less than $8! I also ordered the latest Richmond Fontaine (released months ago but I was so busy I never ordered it), and I'm trying to add a few more to my list since the shipping is free. I'll have to do some research and figure out what else I really need.
    I call my bathroom Jim instead of John so I can tell people that I go to the Jim first thing every morning.

    If you say the word 'gullible' very slowly it sounds just like oranges.

  7. #7
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    Quote Originally Posted by Swish
    It was just released today, actually, and the price on Amazon was less than $8! I also ordered the latest Richmond Fontaine (released months ago but I was so busy I never ordered it), and I'm trying to add a few more to my list since the shipping is free. I'll have to do some research and figure out what else I really need.
    Tell me how you like the new National, Swish-daddy. What little I've heard sounds very much like the previous 2 releases... and I'm not sure if I need a third one. Then again, I'll be seeing them in August, and that usually "sells" me on a band's new stuff (I'm a sucker like that).
    Mr. MidFi
    Master of the Obvious

  8. #8
    Rocket Surgeon Swish's Avatar
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    I have 5 of their cds already, and I'm really looking...

    Quote Originally Posted by Mr MidFi
    Tell me how you like the new National, Swish-daddy. What little I've heard sounds very much like the previous 2 releases... and I'm not sure if I need a third one. Then again, I'll be seeing them in August, and that usually "sells" me on a band's new stuff (I'm a sucker like that).
    ...forward to this one after hearing a couple of the tracks. I, for one, don't expect bands to completely change direction for one cd to the next, and don't know many that do. Can I say each National cd sounds like the others? I suppose, but I still like hearing what they have to say, both lyrically and musically. I just haven't tired of them yet.
    I call my bathroom Jim instead of John so I can tell people that I go to the Jim first thing every morning.

    If you say the word 'gullible' very slowly it sounds just like oranges.

  9. #9
    Big science. Hallelujah. noddin0ff's Avatar
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    Just put in my Amazon order today

    "High Violet" - The National
    "Initiate" - The Nels Cline Singers
    "So Runs the World Away" - Josh Ritter

    "Historicity" - Vijay Iyer Trio
    "All My Friends Are Funeral Singers" - Califone
    "El Ultimo Trago" - Buika & Chucho Valdes

  10. #10
    Big science. Hallelujah. noddin0ff's Avatar
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    There's a bunch of albums up. I'm not quite keeping pace with them all.

    Betty LaVette: Interpretations: The British Rock Songbook
    This sizzles. Definitely worth a listen. It's all covers but they all are so excellently re-envisioned that they sound new. I mean, who has the authority to make an R&B/soul take on Pink Floyd's Wish You Were Here? Answer: LaVette. Not sure how it will stand up to repeated long-term listening; could become gimmicky or might become a favorite, could go either way.

    Harvey Milk: A Small Turn on Human Kindness
    What a bunch of dirk metal wanking. Pass

    Claudia Quinten: Royal Toast.
    Couldn't take it. Pass

    Still up for listening

    Sleigh Bells: Treats
    10 seconds in and I thought. "God, make it stop". A couple of minutes in and I'm thinking it might be fun. I'll have to listen to the whole thing first, but my initial impression is that if you took all the hyper candy pop from the 80s and amped it up and added heavy bass and compression you'd get this.
    The Black Keys: Brothers
    This ones also pretty good. Bluesy R&B. Fuzzy and both forward and backward looking. I like.
    Tracey Thorn: Love and it's Opposite
    I caught a bit of this on a radio interview (NPR) and figured I'd pass. Probably has merits for some, just not me. Still have to give the album a fair listen though
    Last edited by noddin0ff; 05-18-2010 at 06:53 AM.

  11. #11
    Suspended atomicAdam's Avatar
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    Thanks for the link. I had no ideas NPR had this. Nice score.. old, but nice and new for me.

  12. #12
    Big science. Hallelujah. noddin0ff's Avatar
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  13. #13
    Big science. Hallelujah. noddin0ff's Avatar
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    A number of you are going to like this one. I'm just about completing my first listen and found it rather enjoyable.

    Admiral Radley, 'I Heart California'

    From the NPR Website (link above)
    "Grandaddy and Earlimart are two beautifully mopey bands that secretly just want to have fun. After years of releasing (usually) melancholy, inwardly looking albums, members of both groups recently decided to get together and record a whole new batch of songs that are surprisingly playful and full of hope. Sure, there are still moments of wistful heartache. But the new tracks on I Heart California, coming out July 13 under the collective band name Admiral Radley, are relatively breezy with a healthy sense of humor.

    Admiral Radley features Grandaddy frontman Jason Lytle and drummer Aaron Burtch along with Ariana Murray and Aaron Espinoza of Earlimart. Longtime friends, the four say they were a natural fit in the studio. "Recording started and sure enough, it was just as expected," says Lytle. "Loose and enjoyable, sometimes even hilarious and insane. Which is great!""

  14. #14
    Indifferentist Slosh's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by noddin0ff
    A number of you are going to like this one. I'm just about completing my first listen and found it rather enjoyable.

    Admiral Radley, 'I Heart California'

    From the NPR Website (link above)
    "Grandaddy and Earlimart are two beautifully mopey bands that secretly just want to have fun. After years of releasing (usually) melancholy, inwardly looking albums, members of both groups recently decided to get together and record a whole new batch of songs that are surprisingly playful and full of hope. Sure, there are still moments of wistful heartache. But the new tracks on I Heart California, coming out July 13 under the collective band name Admiral Radley, are relatively breezy with a healthy sense of humor.

    Admiral Radley features Grandaddy frontman Jason Lytle and drummer Aaron Burtch along with Ariana Murray and Aaron Espinoza of Earlimart. Longtime friends, the four say they were a natural fit in the studio. "Recording started and sure enough, it was just as expected," says Lytle. "Loose and enjoyable, sometimes even hilarious and insane. Which is great!""
    Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes!
    Originally Posted by Troy: She has that same kind of cleft-pallet, slightly retarded way of singing that so many other people find endearing.


  15. #15
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    The Books: The Way Out

    Wow. This one is weirdly cool. And, another group I've never heard of. Probably not for everyone, but I really like it. An album of 'found' sounds turned into music. These guys apparently hit up thrift stores and buy up abandoned tapes and videos and scrounge.

    The result is a wandering, strangely engaging, hippy-dippy, not quite techno, sound trip. Lots of spoken word sound bites. The write up at NPR (click here) is trying too hard, we're not talking about the second coming here. But, it's different, surprisingly well done, and a pretty good album start to finish.

    Listen to the album at this link
    http://www.npr.org/templates/story/s...oryId=98679384

    I also found a video from one of the more driving tracks. Pretty good encapsulation of the weirdness of the album in general. There's a lot more variety to be found on the album, however. Some of the more mellow speaking parts of the album, to me, are reminiscent of the intro to PT's Signify (if that gets any of you interested, heh heh).

    From Pitchforks comment with the video (linked for your pleasure)..
    If you're like me and made your parents buy you a Talkboy the second you walked out of Home Alone 2, this video might give you some chills. A new Books track, which they performed in Boston last week, is culled from Talkboy tapes they found in thrift stores, and, boy, was I that nasty as a 10-year-old? Eh, probably so.

    Last edited by noddin0ff; 07-14-2010 at 06:37 AM.

  16. #16
    Big science. Hallelujah. noddin0ff's Avatar
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    More previews...

    Three more up now.

    Menomena: Mines (link)
    Got about 3 songs in and got bored. YMMV.Moody looping lush-ish tracks.

    Jessica Hoop: Hunting (link)
    3 tracks in and liking this one. Interesting sound with some classic folk roots. Reminiscent of Kate Bush and Tori Amos (the write up adds Bjork and Fiona Apple to my picks. I don't hear Bjork, personally, but can see Fiona). Track 3 gets more experimental and distorted, maybe a slight lean to Breeders territory. But maybe I just make stuff up. Think this one could be a 'grows on you' winner. There's some substance to engage.

    Measha Brueggergosman And The Cleveland Orchestra Perform Wagner's Works (link)
    Haven't gotten to this one yet.
    Last edited by noddin0ff; 07-19-2010 at 11:05 AM.

  17. #17
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    The new Arcade Fire is up for free streaming
    http://www.npr.org/templates/story/s...ryId=128878239

  18. #18
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    Ray LaMontagne: God Willin' and the Creek Don't Rise is up for listening

    http://www.npr.org/templates/story/s...ryId=128986999

  19. #19
    Big science. Hallelujah. noddin0ff's Avatar
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    Also up are a bunch of good recorded streams from the 2010 Newport Jazz and Folk Festivals. Pretty decent way to hear some new stuff.

    Jazz
    http://www.npr.org/templates/story/s...oryId=92839666

    Folk
    http://www.npr.org/templates/story/s...oryId=92834404

  20. #20
    Big science. Hallelujah. noddin0ff's Avatar
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    There's a new album up for streaming from Deerhunter, Halcyon Digest.



    http://www.npr.org/templates/story/s...ryId=129866612

    I'm only a few minutes into my first listen. However, my first thought is there must be some fans here in RR that might want to know...Halycon seems like an apt descriptor so far.

  21. #21
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    New Neil Young is up for streaming! Just Young and a guitar. That's it. At least that's what the text says.

    "This is a unique album from Neil Young. As producer Daniel Lanois puts it, there is no band, no overdubs, just "a man on a stool and me doing a nice job on the recording." The result is a stunning sonic adventure."


    Maybe one man and no overdubs, but it sounds a good distance from acoustic. There's a lot happening in the electro realm.

    http://www.npr.org/templates/story/s...ryId=129955938

  22. #22
    Suspended atomicAdam's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by noddin0ff


    New Neil Young is up for streaming! Just Young and a guitar. That's it. At least that's what the text says.

    "This is a unique album from Neil Young. As producer Daniel Lanois puts it, there is no band, no overdubs, just "a man on a stool and me doing a nice job on the recording." The result is a stunning sonic adventure."


    Maybe one man and no overdubs, but it sounds a good distance from acoustic. There's a lot happening in the electro realm.

    http://www.npr.org/templates/story/s...ryId=129955938
    I'm giving it a listen now. From what I understand - saying it is just a man and a guitar is a bit of an understatement. It is more like, a man, his guitar, and a lot of production effects by Daniel Lanois.

    I'm digging it though, I'd love to hear it on the big system but the computer goes to headphones. I've got the K701 which have a large stage depth. And this, at least in streaming format, doesn't sound like it that has that large of a stage. Which is too bad. Because of all the effects it would seem natural to pair that space like sound with a huge stage.

  23. #23
    Suspended atomicAdam's Avatar
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    Overall I'd say the new Neil Young album was good. I'm glad they mixed up the effects. Going from overly done to almost none - or just splitting up certain string on the guitar on left and right channel.

    Listening to the "Guitars from Agadez Vol 3" now - this is good stuff - but - a little too much of the same thing after 3 or 4 songs.

  24. #24
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    just finished listening to Sufjan Steven's new stuff online -

    http://www.npr.org/templates/story/s...oryId=98679384

    I have to say I was scared - but now I think it is just fantastic!

    Can't wait to buy it and hear it on the big system!

  25. #25
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    Black Dub

    I haven't been keeping up with the streams, unfortunately. Just got a listen to this one
    http://www.npr.org/templates/story/s...ryId=130674092

    I gotta say, its fantastic. It gets better the further in you listen. At least after the first track...which isn't that bad, either.
    There is a good writeup of the album from a non-NPR site here. I copy from it below

    Quote Originally Posted by www.hearya.com
    "Black Dub consists of Trixie Whitley (vocals), Brian Blade (drums), Daryl Johnson (Bass) and Daniel Lanois (guitars, vocals, keys). Trixie is the newcomer to the equation, bringing a smoky and soulful belt that you would expect from someone twice her size. I’ll admit that Trixie’s vocals were a bit of an obstacle for me at first. Being a Lanois fan, I wanted to hear him sing. But after a week of listening to this album, I’m really drawn in by what she brings to the table.

    On bass guitar, Daryl Johnson is as smooth as butter. His tone covers a broad range from deep subby raggae/ dub to vintage Motown tube growl. Pair him up with Brian Blade, one of the greatest drummers alive, and you have one potent rhythm section. I’ve never wanted to hear a drummer’s hi-hat more than Brian’s. There’s something about the way he hits it and the way Lanois records it that has incredible character. It’s not just there to keep time – it’s part of the story."
    So...the band is a project by Daniel Lanois, who produced a ton of U2 albums and Gabriel's So and Us. He also produced that recent bit of electronic wanking, Neil Young Le Noise (mind you, I'm not faulting Young). I, personally, have grown real tired of that overproduced, multi-layered sound. And, truthfully, this album has it and IMO would be better, if not and instant classic, if it a less slick, more organic production. That said, there is a still lot to like on Black Dub. There's a great soul, spiritual, blues funky vibe that comes through. I found it a hopeful and uplifting bit of rocking out and jamming. It doesn't hurt that everyone on it sounds damn good.

    An album who's soul shines bright despite an overproduced gloss.


    Black Dub (self-titled)

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