CC recommends: New popular music
Today, another gift list from "CC recommends" in the December 15 issue of the Century: my list of popular music selections. Here's the list from the magazine; go here for my comments:
Curse Your Branches, by David Bazan
Townes, by Steve Earle
Monsters of Folk, by Monsters of Folk
Yonder is the Clock, by the Felice Brothers
Together Through Life, by Bob Dylan
Come O Spirit! by Bifrost Arts
And here are some additional choices:
Lost Channels, by Great Lakes Swimmers. Very pleasing folk-rock with some country leanings. Lots of nice close harmony.
Noble Beast, by Andrew Bird. Pop music's best violinist and whistler also writes quirky and distinctive songs and has a hot-shot band.
Life on Earth, by Tiny Vipers. Jesy Furtado's melodies are minimalist but catchy; her spare guitar is moody and captivating.
Hold Time, by M. Ward. Another solid solo effort from the songwriting monster of Monsters of Folk.
Beware, by Bonnie Prince Billy. Will Oldham's post-punk country is warm, strange and gorgeous.
Popular Songs, by Yo la Tengo. Veteran indie rockers are as eclectic as ever but can still bring the straight-ahead thrash.
Veckatimest, by
Grizzly Bear. Psycho-pop band's sweet harmonies pull off the rare feat
of recalling the Beach Boys without simply mimicking them.
Songs of Leonard Cohen, by
Record Club. Beck and friends' experimental re-imagination of Cohen's
1967 classic. This one's not for sale but well worth a listen here.
