Music Blog
Camera Obscura's latest is one among many promising new releases this week on a busy new release Tuesday. The Scottish band returns with My Maudlin Career, their first album in three years, and it finds them making the label jump from Merge to 4AD. Aside from that, however, little appears to have changed-- not necessarily a bad thing when you've been making records like their most recent efforts, especially. It's twee takes on Motown and Southern California, in other words, and Tracyanne Campbell coos her way through breezy tracks like "French Navy," and the title track. Maudlin, indeed, but when it sounds this good that's hardly a criticism.
MP3: Camera Obscura- "My Maudlin Career"
Another return this week comes from Eilen Jewell, the Boise-bred, Boston-based singer-songwriter. We've been high on Jewell ever since hearing her debut a few years back, and her in-studio visit late in 2007 didn't hurt, either. Sea of Tears is the title of her third album on Signature Sounds, and it finds her once again backed by her hot band-- the sound of the music, however, could hardly be more different. Jewell has replaced the jazz-tinged western swing and straight-up folk and country influences found on her past efforts for the sounds of early rock & rollers like Buddy Holly and the more electric sounds of the Brtisih Invasion. It's an about-face and a bit of a risk, to be sure, but Jewell still sounds great and the band continues to burn it up no matter what the flavor.
Stream: Eilen Jewell- "Rain Roll"
Plenty of highlights this week on stage, too, including Bloc Party with Menomena at the Roseland Theater on Wednesday. Intimacy, released late last year, is the most recent effort for the London-based Bloc Party, who burst onto the scene with their 2005 debut, Silent Alarm. Menomena, meanwhile, is one of Portland's finest, and the duo continues to let their wonderful 2007 release Friend & Foe breathe a bit before following up with anything new. Two young but established bands whose best work may still lie ahead of them, in other words, and a show you might be able to tell your children you saw someday, if not at least your friends the day after.
Vid: Bloc Party (on Letterman)- "One Month Off"
MP3: Menomena, from Friend & Foe- "Wet & Rusting"
More to come throughout the week--- keep it tuned to the stream for the latest on performances and new releases. The thread is open....
Tagged: mp3
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Archived Comments
inmemoryofjohnpeel / April 19, 2009
Still no Baby Bird eh? You'd love Babybird's album "Love Me" c. '96. Play 'Youre Gorgeous', 'atomic soda' or 'Cornershop' from that. fyi: Baby Bird (with a space) is Simon Jones alone, Babybird is him with a band. Baby Bird made 100's of songs which later got converted to 5 CDs: of which 4 seems best. Babybird's first album "Love Me" is outstanding - some, who like the minimalism of Baby Bird, diss the BabyBird.
Jeremy Petersen / April 19, 2009
"...but this is radio!' Ha, I do know what you mean with that one when it comes to some far corners of the Super Furrys' catalog. Totally with you on "Common People" too, although it's sometimes hard to hear now without Shatner's version haunting the back of my mind.
inmemoryofjohnpeel / April 19, 2009
Gunky The new Mississippi studio was a surprisingly mild transition from the old cosy space. Assuming you know the old place the new is bigger - but not a lot more. They have kept, or reinstalled the top 4 rows of seating and then there's a flat dance floor space in front of the band. Trouble is, as often happens in PDX people sit half way back and when people dance they do so behind the single row of sitters - this is AWFUL for the bands (who see a big empty space and dull sitters before them) and general atmosphere. That aspect will be better on crowded nights or if people are not quite as polite to the presumptuous. Sound was excellent, shows ran a little late as is, again, de-rigour. Also a side standing balcony to stand and watch from above and a good bar up front. For the artists it is night and day - they actually have a backstage!
gunky / April 19, 2009
I've been to the new MS Studio, and did know the old version. I wasn't wild about MS Studio v2.0 but I recognize it's more adaptable and obviously better if dancing is to happen. The upper balcony along the side may turn out to be a keeper. The sound wasn't as excellent as I expected but that may have been a function of the way Weinland's guest musicians had to play from the upper balcony. But I hadn't thought about the lack of backstage in v1.0 - an obvious improvement.
inmemoryofjohnpeel / April 19, 2009
I've got a request in line wit what you're playing - The Bad Livers play the NW string fest soon - i'd rather you play something I don't know but if not something from Blood & Mood
inmemoryofjohnpeel / April 19, 2009
Gunky - I'm re-listening to In Our Nature by Jose Gonzalez, would seeing him be better in Mississippi 1 Or 2? This should have been in my top-ten - but as you've pointed out before, we often don't get albums until the following year(s) JP - one for the next show - has shades of Loch Lomond's Bach-inspired string builds (when are people going to start referencing Penderecki, Lutoslawski and Xenakis? (a while yet). "Cycling Trivialities" - last track on "In Our Nature Good night friends. Time to paint.
Jeremy Petersen / April 19, 2009
Well, I do like me some Bad Livers...but, in line with every other request you've ever made, we don't have anything readily available in our work-in-progress (but continually improving) library. Another raincheck, maybe. BTW, working on the BabyBird.... ...and how 'bout this new Super Furry Animals, huh?
gunky / April 21, 2009
I like what I've heard of Jose Gonzalez, though I don't have any of his discs. Guess I'll add that to my list. But my guess is MS 1 would have been truly intimate - can't see it being a dancing show. On the other hand, Aladdin would probably be a better venue for him in terms of bringing in the crowds.
jessielikesmath / April 19, 2009
Hey Jeremy, could you play something by the Mountain Goats? That would totally make my night..
inmemoryofjohnpeel / April 19, 2009
JP - Feedback from the Mississippi show last night thanks to opbmusic. All three bands were solid, talented musicians. 1st up was Kaitlyn ni Donovan who sang what appeared to be very intimate songs against a nice folk/classical sound but it was impossible to hear her words. Probably worth a CD listen at home tho'. White Hinterland are a very original twosome - he creates a shifting sound-scape using saws, 4-tracks, minimal drum kit and various devices, while she sings movingly and somewhat mischievously in French and English while playing a very old keyboard. Best fringe act I've seen for a while - seemed sincere and convincing. James Low Band? I wouldn't expect to like a straightforward mix of rock, pop and country but James Low is a consummate artist with wry and lifting songs. The Joe Jackson of our time, and so therefore to be sadly underrated. IMOJP
Jeremy Petersen / April 19, 2009
Hey Jessie-- hope that one worked for you. Newer stuff, of course, but I absolutely love the song, so any excuse to play it I'm glad to get. Was that you who sent me the email recently? I'll get the opbmusic session version of that new JV song a bit later on tonight if so (and really do plan on responding properly....soon).
jessielikesmath / April 19, 2009
Hey that was me! That's one of my favorite songs of Heretic Pride... I saw him sing it live at the WOW Hall in Eugene last February and it was transcendent. And yay to the new JV, too! Thanks for everything you're doing!
Jeremy Petersen / April 19, 2009
@IMOJP- Thanks for the mini-review, glad you enjoyed. Low is the only one of the trio I've previously seen, although I have seen Kaitlyn ni Donovan fronting the High Violets. Low's output seems like it's always deserved far more attention than it's gotten, and I'd recommend finding his older recordings, Mexiquita and Black Heart, in addition to the latest EP.
inmemoryofjohnpeel / April 19, 2009
I have many SFA Cds up there on my top shelves also, if ever there was a clever band who mix pop-wash with blindingly insightful comment. I almost missed (dismissed) them first time around because of the pop overlays, but one real listen and I was hooked. You tend to play the side of the spectrum that I like less, but this is radio! Jarvis Cocker sounded convincing there, digging back to 60's roots. "Common People" is one of the greatest ever Pop/Rock songs.
gunky / April 19, 2009
I'm liking hearing Ramblin' Jack back in the saddle. Brings back memories of the midwest in the early 80's. I used to have an old bootleg vinyl from him playing with an obscure band from Minneapolis - for all I know my brother still has the record. That was a nice treatment of "Death Don't Have No Mercy", though he sounded a bit like Dr. John, and the song was reminiscent of "St. James Infirmary" too. IMOJP - how'd you feel about the new Miss. Studios space?