April 7, 2009

New Releases: Jimmy Eat World, Arcade Fire, Bat for Lashes

Dear lord, what a release week. In sheer size, if nothing else. I had to do a lot to pare this down to 67.

Obviously the odds are good that there are going to be a few good gems in here. Worth highlighting are Jimmy Eat World‘s release of Clarity Live, Arcade Fire‘s Miroir Noir live DVD, which is one of the better live videos I’ve seen, and the debut album from Sara Watkins of Nickel Creek (which you’ll see a review for soon).

A few smaller ones I’ll probably check out: Balmorhea, Bat for Lashes, Doves, Junior Boys and Youth Group.

Enjoy your Tuesday!

:: Abstract Rude, Rejuvenation (Rhymesayers)

:: Arcade Fire, Miroir Noir DVD (Merge) [free video stream]

:: The Assemble Head in Sunburst Sound, When Sweet Sleep Returned (Tee Pee)

:: Balmorhea, All Is Wild, All Is Silent (Western Vinyl)

:: Bat for Lashes, Two Suns (Astralwerks)

:: Black Dice, Repo (Paw Tracks)

:: Bob Mould, Life and Times (Anti-)

:: Buraka Som Sistema, Black Diamond (Fabric)

:: Caroline Weeks, Songs for Edna (Manimal Vinyl)

:: Casiotone for the Painfully Alone, Vs. Children (Tomlab)

:: Cassandra Wilson, Closer to You: The Pop Side (Blue Note)

:: Chain and the Gang, Down With Liberty… Up With Chains (K)

:: Circus Devils, Gringo (Happy Jack Rock)

:: The Coathangers, Scramble (Suicide Squeeze)

:: Crystal Antlers, Tentacles (Touch & Go)

:: David Wilcox, Open Hand (What Are Records)

:: Dirtfedd, The American Nightmare (Sopra Evil/Koch)

:: Doves, Kingdom of Rust (Astralwerks)

:: Eat Skull, Wild and Inside (Siltbreeze)

:: The Ettes, Danger Is EP (Take Root)

:: Eulogies, Here Anonymous (Dangerbird)

:: The Felice Brothers, Yonder Is the Clock (Team Love)

:: Gavin Castleton, Home (Five One)

:: Gliss, Devotion Implosion (Ryko/Cordless)

:: Godflesh, Songs of Love & Hate/Love & Hate In Dub CD/DVD (Earache)

:: Grateful Dead, To Terrapin: Hartford ’77 (Rhino)

:: Harvestman, In A Dark Tongue (Neurot)

:: The Haunted, Warning Shots (Earache)

:: Hello Saferide, More Modern Short Stories from Hello Saferide (Razzia)

:: The Hold Steady, A Positive Rage live CD/DVD (Vagrant)

:: I Was a King, I Was a King (The Control Group)

:: It Hugs Back, Inside Your Guitar (4AD)

:: Jadakiss, The Last Kiss (Roc-a-fella/Def Jam)

:: Jimmy Eat World, Clarity Live (self-released)

:: Joker’s Daughter, The Last Laugh (Team Love)

:: The Juan Maclean, The Future Will Come (DFA)

:: Junior Boys, Begone Dull Care (Domino)

:: Kevin Blechdom, Gentlemania (Sonig)

:: Lady Sovereign, Jigsaw (Midget)

:: Mia Doi Todd With Andres Renteria, Morning Music (City Zen)

:: Micachu & the Shapes, Jewellry (Rough Trade)

:: Neil Young, Fork in the Road (Warner Bros.)

:: Oceano, Depths CD/DVD (Earache)

:: Pele, A Scuttled Bender In a Watery Closet (Polyvinyl)

:: Pontiak, Maker (Thrill Jockey)

:: Propagandhi, Supporting Caste (2.13.61)

:: Qemists, Join the Q (Ninja Tune)

:: Ramblin’ Jack Elliott, A Stranger Here (Anti-)

:: Richard Swift, The Atlantic Ocean (Secretly Canadian)

:: Sara Watkins, Sara Watkins (Nonesuch)

:: Spokes, People Like People Like You (Counter)

:: Storsveit Nix Noltes, Royal Family-Divorce (FatCat)

:: Superchunk, Leaves in the Gutter EP (Merge)

:: The Sway Machinery, Hidden Melodies Revealed (JDub)

:: Syrens, Syrens (Cavity)

:: Telekinesis, Telekinesis (Merge)

:: The Thermals, Now We Can See (Kill Rock Stars)

:: Thieves Like Us, Play Music (Shelf Life)

:: The Tragically Hip, We Are the Same (Zoe)

:: Vacations, I Was Bikini/But Ran Afraid (Record Label/Flameshovel)

:: The Veils, Sun Gangs (Rough Trade)

:: Venetian Snares, Filth (Planet Mu)

:: Vienna Teng, Inland Territory (Rounder)

:: Wetton/Downes, Icon 3 (Frontiers)

:: The Whitest Boy Alive, Rules (Bubbles Music)

:: Young Widows/Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy, Young Widows Split Series single (Temporary Residence Ltd.)

:: Youth Group, The Night Is Ours (Ivy League)

:: Various Artists, SCORE! 20 Years of Merge Records: The Covers (Merge)

Did I miss anything important? Post it in the comments, sucka!

11 Responses to “New Releases: Jimmy Eat World, Arcade Fire, Bat for Lashes”

  1. On 04/7/09 10:13 AM, Kyle said:

    that balmorhea album is sooooo good.

  3. On 04/7/09 1:18 PM, tAlex said:

    I just picked up Bob Mould, Life and Times. I’ve heard 2 songs off of it already and it’s shaping up to be a great classic BM record.

    I really miss having Ruckus. New release Tuesday was always so much fun.

  5. On 04/7/09 6:44 PM, Dozr said:

    As a Nickel Creek fan, the Sara Watkins album interested me. However, after listening to the songs on her MySpace and reading a couple reviews, it sounds like it’s pretty mediocre. “Long Hot Summer Days” is a great song, at least.

  7. On 04/7/09 11:30 PM, The 1/3 said:

    Has anyone heard Clarity Live? I’m not generally into live albums, but I’m considering buying it because more Clarity can only be a good thing.

  9. On 04/8/09 6:33 AM, tAlex said:

    I already have a recording of the Chicago show that I went to. So I’m not sure if I’ll buy this one.

    Besides, I’d kind of like to forget that concert. The band so oversold the venue that I couldn’t see in the slightest. That’s $700 I won’t be getting back.

  11. On 04/8/09 7:24 AM, The 1/3 said:

    $700? How did you manage to spend $700?

  13. On 04/8/09 11:05 AM, Sean Cannon said:

    yes, tell us more about that. it sounds like an evening that would be immortalized in a humorous coming of age film.

    also, JEW did a live internet stream of them performing songs from clarity. i only caught part of it, but i enjoyed it. even though you could barely hear the vocals.

  15. On 04/8/09 11:23 AM, tAlex said:

    $100+ for 2 tickets concert tickets (gosh I hate service charges, plus tickets were nearly double usual JEW ticket prices). $600 for 2 airline tickets/hotel reservations because the tour wasn’t coming to Michigan.

    The venue was packed out and busting at the seems. We had to stand outside of the concert room and could barely see through a doorway. There were dozens of people in the exact same situation. There wasn’t even any wiggle room in the crowd to try and snake your way forward.

    Yeah, being out the money sucks, but that’s just money. It’s the fact that this ‘once in a lifetime opportunity’ was robbed from us because the band failed to plan and understand how many people could fit.

    Biggest letdown of my entire life. Clarity has been our favorite album for so many years. I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to listen to that album again without getting pissed.

  17. On 04/8/09 11:30 AM, tAlex said:

    Now that I look back, tickets were $80. Still nearly double the price I paid the last time for JEW tickets.

  19. On 04/8/09 11:56 AM, Sean Cannon said:

    dude, that definitely sucks. i thought about driving five hours to chicago to see that one, but in the end i guess it’s a good thing i didn’t.

  21. On 04/9/09 7:52 PM, Travis Lee said:

    Halloween, Alaska – Champagne Downtown is getting released this week, cd release show tonite in eau claire, WI, then tomorrow at first ave. greattttt band

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