http://newmusicnation.com Music Advice for the '00s Tue, 22 Jul 2008 14:18:46 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Note: After five indie label albums, Alkaline Trio makes their major label debut with Agony & Irony. Sound: Don’t expect a dramatic change due to the move to the big leagues. Their punk-rooted, death-obsessed, melodic rock has had a poppy polish for a couple of albums now anyway. The difference here, though, is that Alkaline Trio has lost a bit of their dangerous edge...]]> http://newmusicnation.com/reviews/2008/07/22/alkaline-trio-agony-irony-epic/ Note: The Baseball Project is the brainchild of Scott McCaughey (former Young Fresh Fellows and current The Minus 5 frontman; and touring R.E.M. musician) and Steve Wynn (best known as frontman of ‘80s rockers Dream Syndicate). The two baseball lovers collaborated to write an entire album’s worth of quirky, narrative-heavy tunes that document anecdotal nuggets about the sport’s rich history...]]> http://newmusicnation.com/reviews/2008/07/18/the-baseball-project-volume-1-frozen-ropes-and-dying-quails-yep-roc/ Note: The album was produced by Danger Mouse, who’s known best for his production work as a member Gnarls Barkley and on albums like Gorillaz Demon Days. Sound: A mix of punchy, tight grooves and woozy, trippy chill-outs that are assembled by a patchwork of jangly acoustic guitars, chugging electric riffs, hypnotic organs, skittering electronic beats, grandiose orchestration, floating background vocals and more...]]> http://newmusicnation.com/reviews/2008/07/15/beck-modern-guilt-interscope/ Sound: Craig Finn’s in-your-face narratives and the band’s meaty riffs, dancing piano, driving organ and boogie-inducing horns are still present. But this time around, they add many new flavors – skittering harpsichord, whimsical synthesizer, metal-power-ballad guitar solo, brooding mandolin, even a talk box...]]> http://newmusicnation.com/reviews/2008/07/11/the-hold-steady-stay-positive-vagrant/ Note: This is the Wu-Tang Clan mastermind’s third solo album as the character Bobby Digital. It’s been seven years since his alter ego’s last full length release, 2001’s Digital Bullet. Sound: Most of RZA’s beats have a hypnotic quality...]]> http://newmusicnation.com/reviews/2008/07/07/rza-as-bobby-digital-digi-snacks-koch/ Update: Wolf Parade's debut album made them indie darlings, but in my book it was overhyped. The follow-up, though, At Mount Zoomer is a great achievement and lands them in the Top 10. Meanwhile, after a brief stint on the list, the latest from N.E.R.D., Seeing Sounds, gets bumped out of the Top 20. 1. My Morning Jacket Evil Urges (ATO) 2. Vampire Weekend Vampire Weekend (XL) 3. Adele 19 (XL/Columbia) 4. Gnarls Barkley The Odd Couple (Atlantic) 5. Lupe Fiasco The Cool (Atlantic)]]> http://newmusicnation.com/top-20-albums-standings/2008/07/01/top-20-albums-of-2008-as-of-7108/ Sound: David Berman’s deep, weathered and twangy baritone once again narrates a few more oddball American tales. Lookout Mountain is definitely brighter and more hopeful than the last Silver Jews album (2005’s Tanglewood Numbers) as it jumps from breezy alt country to jangly roots rock to quirky indie rock, and Berman’s wife Cassie frequently chimes in with spunky background vocals... ]]> http://newmusicnation.com/reviews/2008/07/01/silver-jews-lookout-mountain-lookout-sea-drag-city/ Sound: Arty and progressive indie rock with strong musical hooks – whether it be choppy guitar riffs, nimble guitar flourishes, pounding piano chords, driving organ pulses, cheap-sounding keyboard flutters, danceable drum beats and more. The ragged, yelping vocals aren’t as crisp and defined as the instrumental accompaniments, but they do have a strong sense of melody and are more refined than they were on their debut album, Apologies to the Queen Mary...]]> http://newmusicnation.com/reviews/2008/06/27/wolf-parade-at-mount-zoomer-sub-pop/ Sound: A darker, stranger and less accessible version of Coldplay. There are some pretty piano parts, some delicate vocal melodies and some swirling, atmospheric guitars. But you’ll also find Chris Martin singing in a deeper register uttering thoughts on death, more strings than usual...]]> http://newmusicnation.com/reviews/2008/06/25/coldplay-viva-la-vida-capitol/ Update: Disturbed come back strong with Indestructible , a significant improvement from their last two albums. It finds its way into my Top 20 so far, as does N.E.R.D.'s latest Seeing Sounds. As a result, The Mars Volta's The Bedlam in Goliath and Wu-Tang Clan's 8 Diagrams get bumped off the list. 1. My Morning Jacket Evil Urges (ATO) 2. Vampire Weekend Vampire Weekend (XL) 3. Adele 19 (XL/Columbia) 4. Gnarls Barkley The Odd Couple (Atlantic) 5. Lupe Fiasco The Cool (Atlantic)]]> http://newmusicnation.com/top-20-albums-standings/2008/06/24/top-20-albums-of-2008-as-of-62408/ Sound: An adventurous mix of electro funk, throwback hip hop, smooth r&b and spacey rock with a few jungle rhythms, jazzy horns and fuzzy riffs thrown in. As one of the premier production duos in popular music this decade, The Neptunes (Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo) make beats and hooks for the masses, but with their band outlet N.E.R.D., they conjure up a much more challenging sound...]]> http://newmusicnation.com/reviews/2008/06/22/nerd-seeing-sounds-star-trakinterscope/ Sound: Menacing, primal and powerful metal with pummeling rhythms, bruising riffs and vocals that bounce between animalistic/staccato and wicked/soaring. Some throbbing electronic pulses, thrash guitar wizardry and demonic growls work their way into the mix, as well...]]> http://newmusicnation.com/reviews/2008/06/18/disturbed-indestructible-warner-brothersreprise/ Update: New #1!! My Morning Jacket's Evil Urges is not only the best album this year, so far, it's also the best album of the last couple years. UK singer Adele also finds her way into the Top 5 with her debut 19. Meanwhile Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks Real Emotional Trash and The Roots Rising Down get bumped off the Top 20 list. 1. My Morning Jacket Evil Urges (ATO) 2. Vampire Weekend Vampire Weekend (XL) 3. Adele 19 (XL/Columbia) 4. Gnarls Barkley The Odd Couple (Atlantic) 5. Lupe Fiasco The Cool (Atlantic)]]> http://newmusicnation.com/top-20-albums-standings/2008/06/15/top-20-albums-of-2008-as-of-61608/ Sound: A hodgepodge of hip hop styles – from smooth, sexy and r&b-flavored to spare, bombastic and street-ready to slick, synthy and radio-friendly. Plus, there’s room for some dark soul, nimble jazz, ominous gangsta rap and quirky, oddball beats...]]> http://newmusicnation.com/reviews/2008/06/15/lil-wayne-tha-carter-iii-cash-moneyuniversal-motown/ Sound: A wildly diverse batch of songs that constantly jumps styles and eras. In the first five tracks, the rock goes from Grateful Dead-like, epic and jammy to Flaming Lips-ish, synth-infused and chill to Prince-esque, electro-stompin’ and funky to sing-along rootsy to reflective and orchestrated...]]> http://newmusicnation.com/reviews/2008/06/13/my-morning-jacket-evil-urges-ato/ Sound: Classic Weezer - a mix of riffin', poppy rockers and breezier, dreamier odes with easy-to-hum melodies and a loose, carefree attitude. This album differs from the rest of their catalogue for a couple reasons, though...]]> http://newmusicnation.com/reviews/2008/06/10/weezer-weezer-the-red-album-geffen/ Sound: The young UK singer’s vocals have the sprightly dynamics of Regina Spektor and Bjork and the rich, rasp of Amy Winehouse. She hops from acoustic folk to jazzy soul to orchestrated pop to indie rock and more. Yes, 19 has a classic, vintage feel, but it’s modern enough to be considered contemporary music...]]> http://newmusicnation.com/reviews/2008/06/06/adele-19-xlcolumbia/ Sound: Atmospheric, fuzzy rock that alternates between hazy and woozy, riffy and anthemic, and bouncy and jangly. The lead vocals jump back and forth between Holly Miranda and Josh Abbott, who often harmonize or duel with each other...]]> http://newmusicnation.com/reviews/2008/06/03/the-jealous-girlfriends-the-jealous-girlfriends-good-fences/ Note: West London native Estelle is the first artist signed to John Legend's new label, HomeSchool Records. He executive produced this debut album, which features guest vocals from Kanye West, Cee-Lo, Kardinal Offishall and Legend himself, plus production by A-listers will.i.am, Swizz Beatz, Wyclef Jean and Mark Ronson. Sound: Estelle’s ability to jump from fierce raps to sensual crooning is reminiscent of Lauryn Hill (but with a London accent)...]]> http://newmusicnation.com/reviews/2008/05/30/estelle-shine-homeschoolatlantic/ Update: This week there are two additions to the Top 10 - Death Cab for Cutie's long-awaited second major-label album Narrow Stairs and Shy Child's Noise Won't Stop. Meanwhile, Flowers Forever's self-titled album and Erykah Badu's New Amerykah, Pt. 1: 4th World War fall out of the Top 20. 1. Vampire Weekend Vampire Weekend (XL) 2. Gnarls Barkley The Odd Couple (Atlantic) 3. Lupe Fiasco The Cool (Atlantic) 4. Hot Chip Made in the Dark (Astralwerks) 5. The Hush Sound Goodbye Blues (Fueled By Ramen/Atlantic)]]> http://newmusicnation.com/top-20-albums-standings/2008/05/26/top-20-albums-of-2008-as-of-52608/ Sound: An eclectic mix of junkyard, stompin’ hoedowns; twisted, carnival-esque romps; breezy acoustic guitar or piano reflections; whimsically funky grooves and more. Regardless of the style, Tim’s layered and often self-harmonized vocals have a twang and cynical attitude...]]> http://newmusicnation.com/reviews/2008/05/26/tim-fite-fair-ain%e2%80%99t-fair-anti/ What music are the campuses of Princeton Review’s Top 20 Best College Radio Stations in 2008 buzzing about? New Music Nation surveys radio station and newspaper Web sites for these schools every week to find out. Carleton College closes out 2007-2008’s College Radio Buzz by highlighting the latest release from Walter Meego. We’ll be back in the fall with more new music picks from the nation’s best college radio stations. ]]> http://newmusicnation.com/college-radio-buzz/2008/05/23/college-radio-buzz-51708-52308/ Sound: A mix of hard-hitting, rhythm-heavy synth rock and dreamy, atmospheric electro pop with lots of affected vocals and sing-along hooks/chants. Their retro-flavored styles aren’t particularly original, but they compensate for their derivative sound with relentless energy and impressive musical chops...]]> http://newmusicnation.com/reviews/2008/05/23/shy-child-noise-won%e2%80%99t-stop-kill-rock-stars/ Sound: Ben Gibbard's vocals are as clear, gentle and pretty as ever as he narrates pained and occasionally creepy descriptions of love sought and love lost. Musically, Narrow Stairs delivers a tighter and more pounding rhythmic attack than their last two, more atmospheric albums did, and the guitar riffs have a darker, more ominous bite...]]> http://newmusicnation.com/reviews/2008/05/20/death-cab-for-cutie-narrow-stairs-atlantic/ Update: As we approach the half-way point in 2008, Vampire Weekend's self-titled debut still holds the top spot on the list. Some recent entries to the Top 20 include Dizzee Rascal's Maths & English, Portishead's Third, The Roots' Rising Down and Santogold's self-titled debut. 1. Vampire Weekend Vampire Weekend (XL) 2. Gnarls Barkley The Odd Couple (Atlantic) 3. Lupe Fiasco The Cool (Atlantic) 4. Hot Chip Made in the Dark (Astralwerks) 5. The Hush Sound Goodbye Blues (Fueled By Ramen/Atlantic)]]> http://newmusicnation.com/top-20-albums-standings/2008/05/18/top-20-albums-of-2008-as-of-51808/