As Brian mockingly mentioned earlier in the week, we’ve hit the winter doldrums here at Citizen Dick and have been swamped with our 9 to 5’s. Call it burnout, call it stress, but we’ve been neglecting our readership quite a bit. As we slowly crawl out of our ice caves and begin to hit you with more regular content, be patient. We’ve got some plans in the works to get a tish more organized around here. So if you’ve been coming back often and seeing the same post up for a couple days at a time, continue to visit. We’ll get our ducks in a row soon enough. In the meantime, follow us on Twitter HERE and on Facebook HERE. There’s been a flurry of tracks released recently, and, at least to me, March seems like a huge month musically. Perhaps it’s the surge of SXSW leaks to gear up for that, or maybe it’s just the month where things begin to thaw and people get excited again. This week’s track list includes plenty of tunes from folks you know, with a splash or two of new material that’s making its way around the web. From all of us here, we apologize for leaving you hanging for the past couple of weeks content-wise. That may just make our Springtime resurgence all the more inviting. We’ll begin with a couple album review teasers and move onto this week’s full track list.
Album Reviews Coming Soon:
We’ve been a little remiss in getting our full album reviews up on the site, but that doesn’t mean we haven’t been paying attention. This week, I hope to get us all back into business and hit a few reviews of albums that have been doing well on our turntables. Here’s a taste of this week, although we hope to get some more things onto the site, as well.
Shearwater – Baby’s On Fire (Brian Eno Cover) - This track we caught over at Chromewaves and have been enjoying it thoroughly. It’s a few years old, but The Golden Archipelago just hit the shelves last week and I’ve been meaning to write plenty of words about how spectacular it is. Look for that this week.
Shearwater – Baby’s On Fire (Brian Eno Cover)
White Hinterland – No Logic – We’ve had the White Hinterland album in our possession for so long, we almost forgot that it’s being released soon. This album is killer, and pulses and meanders through a whole gauntlet of pristine sound and ambient beauty. “No Logic” will no doubt be a crowd pleaser, but the entire album is a substantial effort. Check out the buzz HERE and get in line for the flurry of hype as Kairos nears release date on March 9.
This Week’s Track List:
She & Him – Thieves – As I’ve previously mentioned, Citizen Dick Brian was all over last year’s She and Him album, and I wasn’t completely on board. With the second released track from their upcoming LP, Volume Two I’m beginning to fall in a little more. M. Ward and Zooey Deschanel are excellent together, and this fact is impossible to ignore on both tracks that have been released. Merge is expecting big things from the album, and maybe I’ll begrudgingly allow myself a little more latitude on this one. Duos aren’t my thing, but the gorgeous arrangement here isn’t something I can knock at all.
We Were Promised Jetpacks – A Far Cry – The arena-hook laden energy of These Four Walls solidified the band as one of Scotland’s big three. Touring and being pals with labelmates Frightened Rabbit and The Twilight Sad has its perks certainly. Interestingly, the Scottish accent is heavy, but the music shoots pretty far away from the other two Scotland biggies. WWPJ is rooted in the buildup and the anthemic release. Last year’s release was big in sound and, at times, wickedly snarling. Our pals at FatCat are releasing their EP, The Last Place You’ll Look and “A Far Cry” is not a left turn from what we’re used to. The buzz is rising pretty steadily with these dudes, and those of you who are already fans will find this track to your liking.
We Were Promised Jetpacks – A Far Cry
Wounded Lion – Creatures in the Cave – This little ditty is borderline campfire singalong, except it’s loaded with string-breaking guitar treble. The LA based garage sound isn’t a new thing, but there’s something identifiable with this track that makes it different. To me, it’s the absolutely stomping palm muted rhythm of the track’s center section. Cymbals crash and danceable madness ensues. I guess, in short, it’s difficult not to like this song. It’s bruising and offsetting in all the right ways. In the Red records are fabulous at signing these kinds of acts, and if you’re a fan you really don’t need to look any further than their website HERE. Blank Dogs, The Intelligence, The Hunches, etc. Wounded Lion fits right in, and I’ve been playing this song all day.
Wounded Lion – Creatures in the Cave
So Many Wizards – Nico – This one we read about first at Aquarium Drunkard and loved it immediately. Produced by members of The Morning Benders, there is something addictive here. Perhaps it’s the organically melodic structure, or perhaps its that we’re all just enjoying this kind of thing lately. Check out the band’s website HERE for more.
Casiokids – Finn Bikkjen! – I didn’t know a whole lot about this Norwegian act until I haphazardly followed WOXY’s byLarm coverage last week. Apparently, Casiokids’ songs have been released throughout Europe via a string of 7″ singles and their full length is set to drop in the US soon. This song is everything I like about the 80′s throwback model that’s enjoying such success lately. The high pitched vocals and keyboard blips are all hushed by the enlarging surroundings of silence. If this doesn’t make sense, listen to the track. It sounds like the dudes are floating in space with woodblocks, quiet handclaps, and soothing synths all soaring away in excellent rhythm. This song is easily my go-to Spring anthem if we can ever get some thawing here in Cleveland.
Neon Indian – Mind, Drips (Summer Dregs Remix) – Brian and I have been in discussion about the glo-fi movement and, of course, who’s sitting at the top of the heap. For many folks, the completely muted and chill aspects of the genre are most important. For me, honestly, it’s the retro color associated with the movement that is easy to get behind. That’s probably why Neon Indian is easily putting out the best music of the genre. The Toro Y Moi album doesn’t even hold a candle in my opinion. Here’s the most recent remix, and it folds this track into something pretty cool.
Neon Indian – Mind, Drips (Summer Dregs Remix)
Born Ruffians – Sole Brother – Warp Records is releasing a new LP from Born Ruffians on May 31st and we’re expecting it to be a solid effort. As “Sole Brother” is the first released track, snag this and let it serve as a taste of things to come. Lyrically, there’s some darkness here. Lyrically, that is. Otherwise, “Sole Brother” weaves through its minutes pleasantly, a gentler track than the lyrics would presage. We’re stoked for the end of May and this is a big reason.
The New Pornographers – Your Hands (Together) – Matador is set to release the next TNP full-length, Together on May 4th. AC Newman, Neko Case, and a whole slew of newly channeled inputs promise another excellent LP. This song doesn’t come from left field, nor does it leave listeners in a far away place. It’s crsip, loud, and promises more of the same on the forthcoming. Matador is allowing folks to pre-order and is including some goodies along with it. Check it out HERE.
The New Pornographers – Your Hands (Together)
Low Sea – Never Yours – It’s amazing how quick the internet works. I can guarantee that I was one of the first several bloggers to stumble upon “Never Yours” from the Irish act, Low Sea. Within three days, the track has been deemed worthy enough for Pitchfork’s Forkcast, and it leads me to believe that there are eyes watching us all. All this aside, check out the band’s CD Baby website for more information on their self released, Las Olas. Last Saturday I was turned to this site and listened to each track three or four times before emailing the band. The dark and ethereal rhythm is entrancing and there’s enough guts here to keep this from being labeled electronic or pop. If you like “Never Yours,” do yourself the favor of picking up the rest of the album. This duo has got buzz band written all over it.
