Some excellent new albums that I have been enjoying recently:
The Hold Steady-Stay Positive
Where the hell was this band when I was 18? Had I discovered them 4 years ago I'm fairly confident that the entire way I consume music would be different. They combine the reckless idealism of Springsteen with the drunken gutter sound of The Replacements.
Beck-Modern Guilt
Why is it that I like mopey Beck more than I like happy Beck? Beck teams with Danger Mouse on this disc to dabble in psychadelica and garage rock and the result is astounding. It's also a huge bummer. I really like albums that have downtrodden lyrics set to upbeat music, and this is the epitome of that dichotomy.
The Walkmen-You & I
Alright, so it hasn't come out yet and it's probably a bad idea to admit that I've heard the whole thing. With that being said, this is a complete return to the innovation and brilliance of Everybody Who Pretended To Like Me Is Gone. The song "Red Moon" is their new "We've Been Had", and "In The New Year" certainly gives "The Rat" a run for the money.
The Heathens-Big White House
This was a local Orlando band that consistently makes me want to punch myself for never having seen them live before they broke up. It's got all of the staples of a great country rock record: swagger, arrogance, and paeans to the glory of making impulsive decisions while under the influence of alcohol. It's the record whiskeytown should have made after Faithless Street.
