Our monthly print+use guide to what is worth your 9.99 in itunes dollars or that hard earned emusic subscription. You're welcome.
3/4/08
Autechre – Quaristice – The IDM legends’ 9th album features shorter, more manageable songs, and lots of them (20, to be exact).
Bauhaus – Go Away White – Goth pioneers Bauhaus looked to be heading for a full-fledged reunion before an “incident” occurred which caused the band to call it quits forever. This album, recorded in 2006, is their farewell.
Born Ruffians - Red, Yellow & Blue – The Toronto indie rock trio finally gives us a debut album after teasing us with singles and opening for a slew of great bands (Hot Chip, Caribou, The Hidden Cameras) over the course of the last year.
Cadence Weapon – Afterparty Babies – This Edmonton rapper/producer and former Pitchfork writer incorporates electronic music and indie rock into his third album. He’s in with much of the Canadian rock scene and has toured with Final Fantasy.
Ghostland Observatory – Robotique Majestique – The Austin duo’s third album keeps up the soul-influenced electro-dance music that’s made them blog darlings.
Gutter Twins – Saturnalia – Mark Lanegan (Screaming Trees, QOTSA) and Greg Dulli (Afghan Whigs, Twilight Singers) join forces to release one of the most anticipated albums (by me, at least) of 2008.
Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks – Real Emotional Trash – Former Pavement frontman, now joined by former Sleater Kinney drummer Janet Weiss, and his new band release their 4th album since Pavement disbanded.
These United States – A Picture of the Three of Us at the Gate to the Garden of Eden – The local boys’ debut takes another step towards the stardom that this band seems destined for.
What Made Milwaukee Famous – What Doesn’t Kill Us – From Austin, not Milwaukee, these guys have toured with Franz Ferdinand and the Smashing Pumpkins and hope their sophomore effort lives up to the buzz they’ve been generating lately.
3/11/08
Del the Funky Homosapien – Eleventh Hour – The Oakland-based MC, who is a member of Deltron 3030, Gorillaz, Handsome Boy Modeling School and Hieroglyphics, releases his first album under the Del name since 2000.
Kaki King – Dreaming of Revenge – This incredible guitarist moves more towards traditional song structures with vocals on her fourth album.
Why? – Alopecia – Former underground rapper Yoni Wolf moves further away from hip-hop and more towards straight rock on his band’s second full-length.
3/18/08
Adam Green – Sixes & Sevens – The former Moldy Peach’s 5th album is more upbeat rock and less folk than past efforts.
Be Your Own Pet – Get Awkward – The Nashville garage band tries to capture the same energy on their sophomore effort that made their debut album such a breakout hit.
Crystal Castles – Crystal Castles – This Toronto duo, who released their first single nearly two years ago, finally have a full-length album out, full of video game sound-influenced electropop for us all to enjoy.
Destroyer – Trouble in Dreams – The ever-prolific Dan Bejar (New Pornographers, Swan Lake, Hello Blue Roses) returns to his flagship project for his ninth album and first since Rubies vaulted him into another level of indie rock fame.
DeVotchKa – A Mad and Faithful Telling – Denver quartet continues to rock its mix of gypsy punk and folk on the band’s fifth album.
Dodos – Visitor – This folk/indie rock duo from San Francisco has been garnering a lot of buzz for their sophomore album. They’re touring both on their own and as the backing band for Akron/Family.
Fuck Buttons – Street Horrrsing – This Pitchfork-approved experimental noise/electronic duo from Bristol, UK has gotten tons of attention for their raucous live shows, but early reviews of their debut album suggest that it too deserves some love.
The Kills – Midnight Boom – The half British (guitarist Hotel) half American (vocalist VV) garage rock duo release their third album.
These New Puritans – Beat Pyramid – This quartet from Southend, UK sounds like the Fall mashed up with My Bloody Valentine with a dash of electronic noise thrown in. This is their debut album after releasing several EPs and singles over the last two years.
3/25/08
The B-52s – Funplex – The legendary Athens, GA band returns with their first album of new material in 16 years, and from what I’ve heard, it actually might be pretty good.
De Novo Dahl – Move Every Muscle, Make Every Sound – This Nashville quintet makes fun indie pop with male/female vocals. It’s safe for the whole family.
Elf Power – In a Cave - The Athens, GA band is a member of the Elephant Six Collective and has been making their psych-pop since 1994, and continue to on their ninth album.
Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra and Tra-la-la Band – 13 Blues for Thirteen Moons – Featuring three members of the now-defunct Godspeed You! Black Emperor, including key member Efrim Menuck, Silver Mt. Zion continue making their heavily instrumental post-rock on this, their fifth album.
God loves a cheerful giver.
"Goth pioneers Bauhaus looked to be heading for a full-fledged reunion before an “incident” occurred which caused the band to call it quits forever. This album, recorded in 2006, is their farewell."
no new tale to tell there. time for a love and rockets reunion!
Alopecia is the 3rd full length from Why?. And his first two are must haves!
Side note - Malkmus' solo work is underrated.
I saw Bauhaus in MD like two years ago, I was
a) the only one not dressed in black
b) bored
ha! that's funny stuff. did they lower peter murphy upside-down onto the stage while they opened with bela lugosi's dead? gag.
side note - peter murphy's solo work was underrated.
also out on the 25th is the Plants & Animals album which I am currently semi-obsessively listening too.
And most of these bands will be passing through DC this and next month (starting out with Born Ruffians and Cadence Weapon tomorrow at DC9) so you get to hear it all live. And hopefully well.