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.

[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.

[LeRoy]

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.

Thanks for this tidbit. I never have heard of her but I think I am gonna have to order some of her music. I like Lucinda Williams music so should K.E. should be a sure bet to like.

Thanks!

[ForeverAutumn]

Thanks for this tidbit. I never have heard of her but I think I am gonna have to order some of her music. I like Lucinda Williams music so should K.E. should be a sure bet to like.

Thanks!

I don't like Lucinda, but I do like Kathleen so YMMV. You may want to check out some samples first. There's quite a bit on YouTube.

[Jim Clark]

This is kinda random, given the age of this thread, but I'm coming around quite a bit more on Shearwater's Animal Joy. while I won't disagree with Davey's assessment on the quality of recording I mainly have been listening during workouts and the sound quality is not significantly less than anything else I listen to while lifting. Think I'll head over to Vinyl Renaissance this weekend and see if they have the big discs.

jc

[ForeverAutumn]

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

[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

[Slosh]

Listen to it yourself.

[ForeverAutumn]

Listen to it yourself.

Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!

[LeRoy]

I was introduced to the music of Hugh Masekela late last year and finally got the CD about one week ago. Even though this music was recorded loonng time ago it's new to me. Great recording with lots of felt sentiment throughout the tracks, especially, the last track. Hugh Masekela- Hope- Live

Here are some listener reviews:
Amazon.com: Customer Reviews: Hope

[3LB]

Funny, I got tired of Smashing Pumpkins a few years ago, but did like the Silversun Pickups:Carnavas album. I was less than impressed with the follow-up to that album and haven't heard any of the latest one.

[jonnyhambone]

I'm such a slut, a music slut...
been buying/listening to a lot of new stuff.
Ty Segall - Slaughterhouse, so good for garage-y punk with serious hooks and walls of sound backing it all up.

Sigur Ros - Valtari, ambient and organic. beautifull. listen to this a lot while I'm weeding the garden at dawn...a new past-time with a 2 1/2 yr. old.

just ordered the new Codeine box set from the Numero Group...very psyched...a fantastic band who mines the subtle spaces between the notes and should be a great vinyl repress that was done with a real attention to detail..

Circle - Manner , surprising and weird...like a prog. rock Judas Priest with a handful of Scandinavian doom drone thrown in. Awesome.

new Dirty Three sounds great and makes me psyched to see them live in Sept. similar sound to older stuff but slightly less frenetic and a bit more ambient...

Mt. Eerie - Clear Moon , great album, a bit dour but rich sounding and poetic. Curious for the 'big' release in Oct. ( a similar but, supposedly, richer, heavier, more layered album)