Ratatat

Ratatat - Classics

Ever since we stumbled upon Ratatat late last year, we've been waiting for another album from these guys. Well here it is!

Our fav track: Wildcat

"Classics" remains resolutely instrumental, but the band has introduced a wealth of new sounds, from acoustic and slide guitar to sleigh bells and cello. Their vastly improved production and writing makes this record a refinement of their art. "Ratatat lay squealing metal harmonies over choppy Neptunes-style dance thumps, then break into pastoral waves of keyboard tone, riding dub tempos and hip-hop struts. They're crotch-pumping arena pimps and introverted minimalists..." - Blender.

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Jim Noir

"Tower of Love" from Jim Noir
Our Fav Track: Eanie Meany

Tower Of Love is the debut of the year, a swirling ethereal wonder to soundtrack your dreams and underscore. Tower of Love is not just packed full of great pop tunes, however. Noir's mastery of computers and things that go beep adds depth and rewards repeat listening. With influences ranging from the Beta Band ('A Quiet Man', 'My Patch' and the chirpy lo-fi of 'Turn Your Frown Into A Smile') to the first British pop explosion of the mid 1960s - 'Turbulent Weather' could almost be 21st Century rewrite of The Small Faces' 'Itchycoo Park' with added Casio interludes - Noir is clearly a man who isn't prepared to just sit on his laurels and go with whatever flow fashion dictates this week.

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Mew!

Mew, And The Glass Handed Kites

Our fav track: "Apocalypso"

Producing dark and atmospheric songs, Mew posses a graceful beauty and create an epic sound with strikingly memorable tunes over which delicate vocals soar to angelic heights. Two years after their award-winning debut album Frengers wowed the critics, the Danish four-piece's follow-up, And The Glass Handed Kites is the fourth album for the dream-pop four piece but only the second to be available to a worldwide audience. Mew And The Glass Handed Kites features 14 total tracks including 'Apocalypso', 'Chinaberry Tree', 'A Dark Design', 'White Lips Kissed', 'The Zookeeper's Boy', 'Small Ambulance' and more.

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French Kicks

"Two Thousand" from The French Kicks is one our favorite albums of 2006!

Our fav tracks: So Far We Are, Cloche, Also Rain

From Vital Source Mag:
Two Thousand sees The French Kicks obtain a firmer grasp on their own sound by using it as a foundation to experiment with new instruments. Greek mandolin-inspired strumming, brush drumming and percussion extras give Two Thousand a worldly air while keeping the dreamy pop-rock brand of the band fresh and sparkling.

“Also Ran” and “Knee High” are reminiscent of an 80s new wave dance party while “So Far We Are” is garage-y and “No Mean Time” is the closest thing to power pop The French Kicks have gotten around to yet. Despite this diversification, the songs of Two Thousand stay in the same fluid vein of their traditional sound, pumping out danceable pop, more sugar than vinegar.

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New York Dolls

"One Day It Will Please Us to Remember Even This"

New York Dolls

Our Pick: Dance Like A Monkey

From CMJ:

The New York Dolls, the glammed up early-'70s band responsible, in large part, for the creation of punk rock, have announced that they will be working on their first new album, One Day It Will Please Us To Remember Even This (Roadrunner), in over 30 years. The 13-track album, due in US stores July 25, will contain guest appearances from R.E.M.'s Michael Stipe, Iggy Pop, Against Me! frontman Tom Gabel and rock 'n' roll pioneer Bo Diddley. Vocalist David Johansen and guitarist Syl Sylvain will represent the original lineup. Rick Rivets, however, will not be on the album. The band will be filled out by Steve Conte on guitar, Sami Yaffa on bass, Biran Delaney on drums and Brian Koonin on keyboard.

Talking about the album on Roadrunner's website, Johansen said, "There's so much negative bullshit being forced down people's throats in the marketplace, we really wanted to create a thing of beauty that will stand the test of time, and hopefully add something positive to people's lives..."

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Brightblack Morning Light

Brightblack Morning Light's self-titled album is a new classic on our list.

From Amazon:
"Haunting", "ethereal", and "oozing with soul" are just a few of the words used to describe the music of these Alabama-Kentucky-to-Northern California transplants. Backed by a crack ensemble, this duo's transcendent brand of super-spooky, carefully crafted music for many moods is the genre-blurring experience of the decade. "Brightblack's free form blues sound transcends marketing, name-dropping, and hustling, taking us for a blindfolded dive into a live river. When you close your eyes, separating yourself from your immediate surroundings, and hear Rabob's (Rachael's) moody keys and experience the slow syrup rhythms of Nabob's (Nathan's) 'Bear Momma' slide guitar, you find yourself lost in an unpretentious, unmaterialistic world" - Soma.

Our fav: Everybody Daylight

Check out the album

Fatboy Slim

You are gonna hear a lot about this album in the upcoming months! Fatboy Slim's greatest hits album, entitled "Why Try Harder" gives us a couple new tracks too.

Our fav track: That Old Pair of Jeans

Check it out at Amazon