LCD Soundsystem - 45:33 Remixed

In 2006, LCD Soundsystem released a workout mix for Nike that lasted 45 minutes and 33 seconds. The name of the album was titled, oddly enough, 45:33. Shortly after, various DJ/producers took a shot at remixing the tracks that made up the mix (although the initial LCD Soundsystem mix was offered as a single track). Unfortunately, as is often the case with remixes, the originals were far superior to every single one of the remixes. Here is all the different remixes that were created offered in a single album. And even though this release is entitled 45:33 Remixed, it far exceeds the time length that it's name suggests. Disappointingly enough.

LCD Soundsystem - 45:33 Remixed

Karen O & the Kids - Where the Wild Things Are

Hipsters are still trying to collect themselves from the news that not only was auteur Spike Jonze handling directing credits for the children's classic Where the Wild Things Are but also the fact that the script was being drafted by celebrated author Dave Eggers. And just when that news had settled then came the next bomb; Karen O and her hip friends were taking soundtrack credits. Whew. The impressive thing here is that Karen O (along with, among others, her fellow Yeah Yeah Yeahs members) has once again created something fresh and new that wildly varies from the YYY's It's Blitz! release from earlier this year. The soundtrack to Where the Wild Things Are plays like the book reads. You can keep up with the story line merely by listening to this album. And much like soundtracks, the song titles give the listener an idea of what kind of track they are in store for (just imagine what "Rumpus" and "Animal" sound like...). The songs here, which sound like folky kids songs for adults, roll along smoothly from one to the next. The album's atmosphere can be established with the first track "All Is Love." The song is an acoustic driven track with Karen and some children singing of love over a bouncey rhythm. Even when things get a little "mature" as on the piano ballad "Worried Shoes," the song is presented in a lullaby-type manner (which takes away from the somber lyrics). Karen O and company (er, the Kids) have taken an event (that the creation of this film has become) and made something that can be held next to it and not dwarfed in it's presence.

3.9/5.0

Ben Harper & Jack Black - "Under Pressure"

Last night on "The Jay Leno Show," they had listed as the musical guest Ben Harper (and whatever band he's with these days). However, he was joined by a special guest Jack Black. And what song (obviously) would these two tear up other than the epic Bowie/Mercury duet "Under Pressure"? Jack Black keeps the hamminess down and Harper controls his constant desire to stretch a note ala (insert any 70s soul singer here) to deliver a nice rendition of a classic. It might be safe to say that Black did this so that people will talk about his performance with Harper on Leno and not his performance in the recently released to DVD uber-stinker Year One.

Sparklehorse + Fennesz - In the Fishtank 15

The 15th volume in Dutch independent music distributor Konkurrent combines the work of pop singer/songwriter Sparklehorse and the weird ambient/arty/glitch sound of Fennesz. Recorded in two days time in the Fishtank studio (the catch of the "Fishtank" series), the artists on this release seem to be working on different levels. Never do the two styles really mesh to create something coherent ("Shai-Hulud" sounds as though the instruments were messing up and instead of stopping the recording, the artists allowed it to continue). Occasionally Mark Linkous' voice works well with Fennesz productions ("If My Heart" and "Mark's Guitar Piece" somewhat resembles a song but the constant white noise background effort grows for too tiresome), however, overall it all just fizzles. Fairly upsetting since Linkous' collaboration with Danger Mouse and David Lynch earlier this year (Dark Night of the Soul) came off as a success.

Sparklehorse + Fennesz - In the Fishtank 15

Paul Westerberg - PW & the Ghost Gloves Cat Wing Joy Boys

Paul Westerberg is light years from his Replacements days (he scored the animated film Open Season) but that doesn't mean he doesn't still have something to say. This EP is a nice roots rock release which features Westerberg's raspy (and still limited range-wise) voice and somewhat bleak lyrics. Dominated by acoustic guitars and simple rhythms (his band is a tight yet loose (?) bar band which works well with this setting), PW & the Ghost Gloves Cat Wing Joy Boys (whew) is a testament of a person aging; gone are those raucous 80s, the 90s were good for regrouping, and now he has time to reflect back on his times and life like the true aging artist that he is.

Paul Westerberg - PW & the Ghost Gloves Cat Wing Joy Boys

Sole - Battlefields

White rappers have been an anomaly in hip hop since the genre's inception. However, the white boys have always been affluent members of the underground scene. Take the label Anticon; it's roster (as well as founders) is majority white. One such member, Sole, came from the northeast (not NYC or even Boston but Maine) to create his music. Although his career hit a nearly unmatchable point in the late 90s with the amazing Bottle of Humans, he still puts out new material at an impressive clip. His latest is an EP entitled Battlefields which features a live band, the Skyrider Band, to accompany his trademark flow-of-consciousness lyrics. While once again he falls short of the standard he set at his outset, all the Sole intangibles are here to satisfy/baffle listeners old and new.

Sole - Battlefields

The Dodos - Time To Die

As only a duo, the Dodos are more than capable to make quite a bit of noise without needing the aid of effects or studio gadgets. Their 2007 release Visiter, was a refreshing piece of rhythmic psychedelic folk pop that showcased the two members' abilities on their respected instruments (guitar, drums). For Time To Die, a vibraphone (some kind of hybrid xylophone/marimba thing) was added as well as the help (production-wise) of Phil Ek (The Shins, Band of Horses, Fleet Foxes). While not quite up to par with Visiter, Time To Die does come off as another album that displays the spastic yet controlled drumming of Logan Kroeber as well as the quick strumming/fingerpicking style of Meric Long. However, the noticeable difference between the aforementioned albums is the assistance of Ek. Studio tricks are added here and there (occasional feedback, faux-electric instruments) as are vocal harmonizations and the echoey vocal effect that is oh-so-characteristic of Band of Horses . While some of the songs drag on a little too long, things are kept so the tracks often end at different places than where they began ("The Strums" runs the spectrum of styles in the Dodo's repetoire). The overall effort on Time To Die is sure to garner deserved attention especially for fans of Ek's work and interested in expanding their musical horizons.

3.7/5.0

The Dodos - Time To Die

Mr. Hudson - "Instant Messenger"

Mr. Hudson's (UK crooner best known for helping out on Kanye's 808s & Heartbreak) debut will soon be released (in the UK at least) but until then, here is a video for track 6 off Straight No Chaser. "Instant Messenger" involves, what else, the new(ish) art/frustration of communicating via the communication device that everyone owns nowadays instead of the old landline. With guest appearances from Kid Cudi, Jay-Z, and Kanye (whose G.O.O.D. Music label is releasing the record) the expectations are definitely there for Straight No Chaser (even though Mr. Hudson released an album in 2007 with his band The Library). The video here is pretty low budget with random visuals thrown in as Hudson wanders around some 'hood but the track is a little more memorable.

True 2 Life Music - Larger Than Life

This "collection of new songs inspired by Notorious B.I.G." is exactly what it sounds like; songs with verses by the NYC-based True 2 Life Music over B.I.G. samples. And together it works out nice. While never taking themselves too seriously, the trio of T2LM relate the usual party themes (women, clothes, the fact they are NOT lame) with a old school kind of feel good vibe. The fact these guys are intelligent (Cornell kids) doesn't hurt either as they are able to make pretty obscure references and jokes that works perfectly with the style they embody.

True 2 Life Music - Larger Than Life

The Mountain Goats - "Ezekiel 7 & the Permanent Efficacy of Grace"

The Mountains Goats (John Darnielle and whatever musicians he decides to surround himself with) are back again. Away for what seems like a long time (really only about a 16 months) considering their proficiency, Darnielle has released The Life of the World to Come. Once again, Darnielle's excellence as a songwriter is put on displayed but whereas the previous effort Heretic Pride went expanded on it's instrumentations, this release keeps things fairly stripped down with a newly found emphasis on the piano. Although each track carries the title of a biblical verse, the only thing remotely biblical about the album is it's exploration of themes and not the book itself. Take this single/video for example; as directed by Rian Johnson (Brick, The Brothers Bloom), the video focuses on nothing but Darnielle and his piano for a single take of the album's closing track. Seemingly alone with nothing but an always moving camera, the video haunts both visually as well as musically. Overall, the track is an excellent closer to yet another great album from one of music's supreme songwriters.

Spoon - Got Nuffin

Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga brought Austin, Texas' Spoon critical success but also helped in expanding their fanbase thanks to it's landing on a number of "best of 2007" lists. Got Nuffin is the first release following Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga and is little more than a few more tracks to add to the Spoon catalogue. While only containing four songs (two of which are different "versions" of the same "song"), it does help fans feel relief that hopefully another full-length is in the future. Until then, Got Nuffin will have to hold fans off until the Austin boys get their things together again.

Spoon - Got Nuffin

Donnis - Diary of an ATL Brave

Atlanta's Donnis' Diary of an ATL Brave mixtape is a refreshing piece of southern rap. Whereas a number of ATL rappers have taken the gangsta route, Donnis' topics (as well as flow) are very reminiscent of fellow ATLiens Outkast as well as the rising star B.o.B. On hand to help Donnis out is Mick Boogie who has thus far this year released some excellent mixtapes (most notably Wale's Back to the Feature and the Peter Bjorn & John mash-up). While Diary of an ATL Brave is a grab bag of good and bad tracks (it is a mixtape), the good exceeds the bad and the overall product is sweet and worthy of attention from hip hop heads.

Donnis - Diary of an ATL Brave