So...anything good in 2012 yet?

[nobody]

I've mostly just been listening to the large stack of music I ended up grabbing around the end of 2011, but a few 2012 releases are starting to catch my attention as well. I've been enjoying Mark Lanegan's Blues Funeral and Strange Weekend by Porcelain Raft to name a couple. But so far, the one that has really grabbed my attention is the new Leonard Cohen:


Leonard Cohen: Old Ideas
This one arrived yesterday and I spun it about three times in a row last night. If you're at all a Leonard Cohen fan, grab this. It's an excellent outing that I enjoyed as much as just about anything of his. I've tuned in and out of Cohen's music over the years and am far from an expert in his complete catalog, so take that praise with a large grain of salt. I feel pretty sure this year will feature listening to this one late at night prominently. And for you vinyl fans, the pressing is excellent as is the packaging, including an LP-sized lyric booklet.

[Swish]

...these artists:

Ben Folds Five
The Shins
Andrew Bird
Mark Lanegan Band
Shearwater
Magnetic Fields
The Mars Volta
Zeus

[Slosh]

So far, just this.

[Swish]

So far, just this.

I like it just fine.

[ForeverAutumn]

BarryL bought me the newest Kathleen Edwards disk for my birthday. It's quite different from her previous disks which had her earning comparisons to Lucinda Williams. This new album is much more upbeat and melodic than previous albums...and that's a good thing. After two spins I'm really enjoying it.

Kathleen Edwards' 'Voyageur' is the acclaimed Canadian singer-songwriter's fourth album, and her first since 'Asking for Flowers' (2008). Produced by Justin Vernon (aka Bon Iver) and Edwards, 'Voyageur' is less of a departure than it is a journey, and like any transforming trip, it demands that we let go of any preconceptions about the destination. 'Voyageur' evokes a spectrum of overwhelming feelings within the atmosphere of a lucid dream. Edwards' characters speak to the grief, loneliness, shock, and confusion that come with endings as well as the hope and irrepressible joy that accompany new beginnings, but the stories are told with a seductively quiet strength. Aided by the musical support of fellow travelers Justin Vernon and Norah Jones, 'Voyageur' features standout tracks such as "Change the Sheets," "Mint," and "A Soft Place to Land."

...these artists:

Ben Folds Five
The Shins
Andrew Bird

I'm also looking forward to those releases, along with this one:

ROADRUNNER RECORDS are delighted to announce the signing of STORM CORROSION.

STORM CORROSION is the long-discussed and highly anticipated collaboration between two of the current music scene’s most innovative and multi-talented artists; Porcupine Tree’s Steven Wilson and Mikael Åkerfeldt of Opeth.

Full story here

[Jim Clark]

I'm blanking big time. Had very high hopes for the Big Pink follow up but I really don't care for it much at all. that first one though...

Chairlift came to me on a recommendation but I'm not diggin' that one either.

This is a massive departure from last year. I heard a shins single on XM that got me all excited though.

jc

[Duds]

ooooohhhhhh nice, that one could be interesting!



I'm also looking forward to those releases, along with this one:

ROADRUNNER RECORDS are delighted to announce the signing of STORM CORROSION.

STORM CORROSION is the long-discussed and highly anticipated collaboration between two of the current music scene’s most innovative and multi-talented artists; Porcupine Tree’s Steven Wilson and Mikael Åkerfeldt of Opeth.

Full story here[/QUOTE]

[MasterCylinder]

YES !

As of yesterday, in a weak moment, I ordered a new 7 - piece set of Ludwigs.....................2 up, 2 down, 2 basses and a matching snare.

This will be the sixth kit I've had in my life, three of which I no longer own.



The next great event for 2012 is that my daughter had better graduate college in May !!!

[ForeverAutumn]

YES !

As of yesterday, in a weak moment, I ordered a new 7 - piece set of Ludwigs.....................2 up, 2 down, 2 basses and a matching snare.

This will be the sixth kit I've had in my life, three of which I no longer own.



The next great event for 2012 is that my daughter had better graduate college in May !!!

Congratulations on both. You own three kits? Are they all set up? Where do you keep them?

I'm trying to get Hubby to buy a new kit. Something a bit quieter than the one that he has now. The current kit is insanely loud! If he doesn't get one before then, I'm thinking that I might have to do myself a favour and buy him a new kit for our 20th anniversary (in two years).

I know all about those weak moments. My guitar collection came very close to growing by one more on Wednesday night. If Hubby hadn't been there to talk me down who knows what might have happened.

[MasterCylinder]

Congratulations on both. You own three kits? Are they all set up? Where do you keep them?

I'm trying to get Hubby to buy a new kit. Something a bit quieter than the one that he has now. The current kit is insanely loud! If he doesn't get one before then, I'm thinking that I might have to do myself a favour and buy him a new kit for our 20th anniversary (in two years).

I know all about those weak moments. My guitar collection came very close to growing by one more on Wednesday night. If Hubby hadn't been there to talk me down who knows what might have happened.

I own an original custom-ordered set of Gretsch USA from 1977; this June, I will have had them for 35 years............it would take about $5K to buy these now.
I also have a set of Yamaha electronics for special occasion.
The new kit will be double-bass which is what I had in college.
None of these are set up............the Gretsch and the Yamaha are in cases and the Ludwigs have not yet arrived.........when they do, they will take their place in the daughter's abandoned bedroom.

So you and hubby are looking for "quiet drums" huh ?...........I'm intrigued.
He must currently be playing birch shells, no ?

If you buy him some drums, you better be totally certain you know what he wants.
Just sayin'.

[Mike]

BarryL bought me the newest Kathleen Edwards disk for my birthday. It's quite different from her previous disks which had her earning comparisons to Lucinda Williams. This new album is much more upbeat and melodic than previous albums...and that's a good thing. After two spins I'm really enjoying it.

I'm enjoying the Kathleen Edwards too, I picked up her debut years ago and then missed out on a couple of releases. On a similar vein I like the latest Gretchen Peters - Hello Cruel World much more mainstream but still good.

So far from what I've picked up 2012 is leaving me cold with one exception.

Lana Del Ray - Born to Die, lots of promotion this side of the pond but not doing much for me.

Black Keys - El Camino, absoloutely loved the last one, this one lacks soul.

Chairlift - Something, another 80s retro sound with nothing memorable.

Air - Le Voyage Dans La Lune, probably works ok as a soundtrack....enough said

First Aid Kit - Lions Roar, Emmylou Harris meets The Fleet Foxes, all rather strange considering they hail from Scandinavia.

Nada Surf - Can't even remember what it's called, but dull anyway.

So that leaves my best of 2012 so far which is Shearwater - Animal Joy, a bit like Richard Thompson meets The Decemberists which can't be bad.

Cheers
Mike

[ForeverAutumn]

I'm enjoying the Kathleen Edwards too,
Cheers
Mike

Hey Mike. Great to see you here! I'm happy to hear that you even know who Kathleen Edwards is. She has a small following here in Canada, but even most Canadians have never heard of her, so to find that someone overseas knows of her is very cool.

If you like her, you should definately give the new CD a try. It's very good IMO.

[ForeverAutumn]

So you and hubby are looking for "quiet drums" huh ?...........I'm intrigued.
He must currently be playing birch shells, no ?

If you buy him some drums, you better be totally certain you know what he wants.
Just sayin'.

QuietER. Emphasis on the "er". Even he finds them too loud to play in the house. He's done everything he can to dampen them. I don't know what they are made of. He's had them since he was a teenager.

Our plan is to eventually build a soundproof music room in the basement.

[MasterCylinder]

QuietER. Emphasis on the "er". Even he finds them too loud to play in the house. He's done everything he can to dampen them. I don't know what they are made of. He's had them since he was a teenager.

Our plan is to eventually build a soundproof music room in the basement.

QuietER will probably have to be made of 100% maple.
Unfortunately, maple drums are generally pricey, but not always.
For the best maple drums for the money ..............check out the following :

Gretsch Catalina Maple (a.k.a. Maple-Cats),
Mapex Meridian
Crush Sublimes

Happy shopping !

[Jim Clark]

so the Cloud Nothings came in to save the day. Nice little album.

[jonnyhambone]

^ good one, I've been diggin' that Cloud Nothings lp also. Also, spending time this weekend with the new Mark Lanegan and liking it quite a bit...wishing for some more female harmonies that Bubblegum had but he has a nice, subtle, and very effective use of electronics and some Beach Boys-ish harmony's popping up here and there on the album. I also like what Caretaker has done with his latest release...a very limited ed. run of vinyl but think it's out there on cd...he takes old 78's, in this case of Schubert concerto's, and mashes them into looped and manipulated recordings that degrade and fuzz out over the course of listening...

[nobody]

Sleigh Bells: Reign of Terror

One of the first of my more anticipated discs for 2012 and I'm not disappointed. Slightly dialed down from the debut. Somehow not quite as catchy yet more melodic. I think they did a great job of sticking with their instantly identifiable sound while still changing things up noticeably. I'll be playing this one frequently.

[Jim Clark]

Sleigh Bells: Reign of Terror

One of the first of my more anticipated discs for 2012 and I'm not disappointed. Slightly dialed down from the debut. Somehow not quite as catchy yet more melodic. I think they did a great job of sticking with their instantly identifiable sound while still changing things up noticeably. I'll be playing this one frequently.

I'll bet that one is on the shelf at BB. I'll check it out today.

I tried to get through the Leonard Cohen based on your rec. but I just don't get this at all. Honestly, I can't sit through more than one track before I have to switch to something else.

I have benefited from this thread quite a bit. Really like the Mark Lannegan Band record. Reminds me a bit of Grinderman, just not as raw. The Shearwater rec was pretty solid too. Not a great album overall but there are enough good songs to make it a worthwhile listen for me.

[ForeverAutumn]

I think that Leonard Cohen is a beautiful song writer. But he can't sing IMO.

[bobsticks]

I was looking at the Sleigh Bells yesterday, in fact...not sure why I went the other direction...

If anything I've been going backwards...the other week I found a copy of the Matador at 15 double disc...has some nice stuff by Malkmus and Interpol and Cat Power and Yo La Tengo...

[nobody]

I tried to get through the Leonard Cohen based on your rec. but I just don't get this at all. Honestly, I can't sit through more than one track before I have to switch to something else.

Yeah, I can't say I would imagine that Cohen would be something you'd like much, probably not your thing. I have to be in just the right mood for it myself, but when I am it really hits the spot. You're much more likely to get interested in that Sleigh Bells record I would think. You might also dig Porcelain Raft: Strange Weekend. I grabbed that Cloud Nothings after seeing you and others mention it and that is a fun one.

[nobody]

Here's a track off the Porcelain Raft:

from Porcelain Raft on Vimeo.

[Jack in Wilmington]

Just ordered some new jazz.

Najee............ Smooth Side of Soul

Herbie Hancock......Gershwin's World

[Davey]

The Shearwater rec was pretty solid too. Not a great album overall but there are enough good songs to make it a worthwhile listen for me.

So much of what made Palo Santo and Rook two of the best records of the last decade seem to be missing on this latest one, at least on the first couple listens. But I remember how much time Palo Santo took to fully convey all of its complex beauty. And Rook as well, though it made a more immediate impact with the bigger recording budget and more polished sound. I first came to know and like Shearwater through Matador's re-recording and remastering of Palo Santo prior to the release of Rook, but I didn't find love until I got lost in the original issue. Yea, doesn't sound as slick or polished as the reissue, but it breathes with life. And I go back to that original Fargo 2006 release of Palo Santo the most these days (including right now which kind of prompted this post). Talk about the ghost of Jeff Buckley, maybe riding with Mark Hollis (btw, anyone else a huge fan of that beautiful 1998 one-and-only solo by Hollis?). Never liked the Matador remaster of Palo Santo near as much. The original just seems more honest, and a little more timeless. Helps that its much more dynamic than the remaster.

But back to Animal Joy, some good songs, but so far I lose interest about halfway through and can't yet remember the whole record. And the congested CD mastering is a big detraction too, they seem to spend so much time getting everything just right in the recording, and then compress it to death for the CD. This new one even sounds kind of distorted in places, best to go with the vinyl if an option. I know it's a new direction and all that, much more stripped down, but hopefully the lack of adventurousness I hear changes with more listens. Right now I think the earlier ones were much more interesting, starting with the amazing Palo Santo, and ending with the also amazing Rook.

That new Mark Lanegan rocks. Probably my favorite so far, but haven't heard many yet.

Just listened to the new Josh Ritter EP, it's some toss-offs that he couldn't use on the next album, all with darling in the lyrics. Kinda wish he would go back to writing more interesting (and substantial) music, like on Animal Years. Can't say I'm anxiously awaiting the next album.

Like that Cardinal return quite a bit, though not as revelatory as hoped.

But the rediscovery of how much I love that original Palo Santo, that's been my listen of the year so far.

[Slosh]

Listen to it yourself.