It’s youth versus old age in this week’s roundup of new releases. Seattle’s Fleet Foxes have reason to celebrate as they embark on a tour starting with two sold out shows at the Moore Theater in their hometown (last night’s show was magnificent!) and a brand new, critically applauded sophomore release. Helplessness Blues is rich in archaic and pastoral themes that dip as frequently into 19th Century poetic references like William Butler Yates’ “The Lake Isle of Innisfree” as they do into 60′s folk rock influences like Van Morrison’s Astral Weeks -- somehow, and through much labor in recording this by the band, the album feels as refreshing as an autumn day in spring. Yet while Fleet Foxes manage success by seeming old despite their youth, pioneering trio Beastie Boys do the opposite, and 25 years after their record-breaking debut, return with Hot Sauce Committee Part Two, their first full-on rap album in seven years. Originally titled Hot Sauce Committee and delayed for its intended 2009 release due to MCA’s battle with cancer, the new album sports fun as “Part Two” and contains all the faux mic battles, cheeky pop culture references and downright funky beats that fans wished for more on their comparatively lackluster 2007 album. Clearly, age has refreshed them!
Other worthwhile new releases this week come from artist young and old. The young Spokane-based musician and beat producer James Pants puts out his third album this week; veteran musician (Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds) and artist/producer (PJ Harvey) Mick Harvey has a new solo album out on Mute; and Australia’s Architecture in Helsinki return with their latest. Jazz/funk/jam collective Galactic let loose a blazing live album just in time for Jazz Fest, while British pop group The Wave Pictures have released something like their 11th album! Sample all of these and more below, and check out Largehearted Boy’s list for a full list of what you’ll find in stores this week.
Architecture in Helsinki - Contact High (MP3)
from Moment Bends on Cooperative Music USA/Downtown Records
Priscilla Ahn - When You Grow Up (download)
from When You Grow Up on Blue Note Records
Beastie Boys - Make Some Noise
from Hot Sauce Committee Pt. 2 on Capitol Records
Cat’s Eyes - Face in the Crowd
from Cat’s Eyes on KOOYP/CooperativeMusicUSA/DowntownRecords
Dead Rider - Stop Motion (MP3)
from The Raw Dents on Tizona
Dave Depper - Dear Boy (Paul McCartney cover) (MP3)
from The Ram Project on Jackpot Records
Det Vackra Livet - Viljan (MP3)
from Det Vackra Livet on Labrador Records
Jason Forrest - Raunchy (MP3)
from The Everything on Staastakt
Fleet Foxes - Helplessness Blues (MP3)
from Helplessness Blues on Sub Pop
Galactic - album preview
from The Other Side Of Midnight: Live In New Orleans on Anti Records
Grand Pianoramax - Roulette (MP3)
from Smooth Danger on ObliqSound
Mick Harvey - Famous Last Words
from Sketches From The Book Of The Dead on Mute
The Jolly Boys - Emmanuel Road (MP3)
from Great Expectation on Ent. One Music
Les Blanks - Straw Man (MP3)
from In Country (self-released)
Joel Morales - Cyanide Breath Mint (MP3)
from When Beck Was Cool on Future Farmer Recordings
Mount Moriah - Lament (MP3)
from Mount Moriah EP on Holidays For Quince Records
James Pants - Clouds Over the Pacific
from James Pants on Stones Throw
Pulseprogramming - First They Fire
from Charade is Gold on Audraglint
Gruff Rhys - Sensations In The Dark
from Hotel Shampoo on Wichita Recordings
Anni Rossi - Rude Boy (Rhianna Cover) (MP3)
from Heavy Meadow on Syllables Records
Sounds Under Radio - Sing (MP3)
from Where My Communist Heart Meets My Capitalist Mind on Caroline
Vandervelde - More Than You Can Feel (MP3)
from More Than You Can Feel on Secretly Canadian
The Wave Pictures - Little Surprise
from Beer In The Breakers on Moshi Moshi
VA - No Future: A Tribute To The Sex Pistols, the Clash, the Damned on Released Emotions Records
Leatherface - Melody Lee (Damned cover) (MP3)
