The Pelican’s Perch

First things first: I don’t condone or encourage illegal downloading of leaked albums, but yesterday was insane for some reason with me coming across a goldmine of albums not yet released either through legit ways like my PR buddies, or by various other means. The point is not that I came across the following albums all in one day, but the fact that I’m here to say to everyone that we have got some seriously GREAT music about to hit us over the horizon and I just can’t sit here and keep mum about it. This year’s big releases have surprisingly fell flat for me, but the rest of the year seems likely to more than make up for it. Here’s my first impressions of everything I came across yesterday, which was my favorite day music-wise in longer than I can remember.

Iron and Wine
Shepherd’s Dog
Release Date: September 25

Stereogum say it much better than I ever could, so check their premature evaluation of the album out for a more in depth view, but my oh my do I love this album. It’s like a very good mix between his collaboration with Calexico and his older, more stripped down stuff. Sam Beam has officially hit the big time with this album and while a few years ago I would have been skeptical if you told me he’d make an album where he was backed by a full ensemble, I’m here to say it works. Calexico returns for a few songs this time around, but the Iron and Wine feel to the songs are still here in full, they just feel bigger now that he has back up. There’s a good mix of old Sam Beam whispered vocals and his acoustic songs with the epic (for I&W at least) feeling ones. It’s tough to say just yet how everyone will ultimately feel about it, but new Iron and Wine is all good in my book so I couldn’t be more excited.

Pinback
Autumn of the Seraphs
Release Date: September 11

I have an unhealthy obsession with Pinback, considering how simple their music is, but Summer in Abaddon remains one of my favorite albums ever. I’ve only had a few listens to this new one, which was a long time coming for me, and was immediately floored by songs such as “Good to Sea” and “Bouquet”. Not everyone will like it, and the masses never seem to agree on Pinback since they are pretty calculated and simple, but I sure enjoy it. Autumn of the Seraphs finds Pinback truly perfecting the sound they’ve been developing for years.

Barnes (mp3)

Minus the Bear
Planet of Ice
Release Date: August 21

While I didn’t expect Pinback’s new one to be as good as my favorite of theirs, I was kind of hoping Minus the Bear would return to their glory days of Highly Refined Pirates over Menos el oso. The former is my favorite of theirs and featured simple, insanely precise math rock with finger tapping and electronics all over it. The latter found them to be a bit too rocking for their own good, and I’m happy to say Minus the Bear are back with this newest release. The lead singer stays out of the mix more, which seemed to always be their main problem, and instead there’s more focus on the clockwork melodies and harmonized lyrics. This is possibly the most surprisingly good album on this list. Didn’t expect it to be this good.

Dr. L’ling

Throwin’ Shapes

A few more

Stream the Whole Album

John Vanderslice
Emerald City
Release Date: July 24

I’ve had this one a while, but still figured I’d add it to the list. I was initially disappointed with this one, much like I was with Pixel Revolt, but also much like that album, this one is full of more mellow tunes that find JV still being more reserved than usual and it ultimately grows on you. The production is top-notch and you find some little bell or back up vocal hidden in the mix with each listen. Not up to the greatness of the upbeat Life and Death of an American Fourtracker, but still vintage JV none the less.

White Dove

Animal Collective
Strawberry Jam
Release Date: September ‘07

This one was a complete surprise to find, and while I could only find the six of nine tracks that have leaked, it’s still all pretty damn amazing. I rather enjoyed the “internet leak” section on their wikipedia page, where the journalist who leaked it was caught within a few hours because it was watermarked, much like my Spiderman 3 soundtrack was. You can’t be that dumb and leak an album this big that has your name all over it and not expect to get caught. Regardless, the guys from the band were mainly sad about the leak because people couldn’t experience the album as a whole, and while I’m still absolutely loving these songs, I see how it feels incomplete without the others. I’ve always been a huge fan of Animal Collective, but their albums have been shades of greatness mixed in with the just plain weird and inaccessible. This new one seems to find them sounding at their most accessible, with one song “Peacebone” turning from glitchy nothingness to a full on dance fest. If you’ve always wished Animal Collective would have expanded more on their weird but accessible elements, then you’re wish has been granted. Of course, it’s still weird as ever, with the occasional crazy screams and whatnot, but this album should turn some heads in the Animal Collective haters crowd and make them take note of this amazingly unique band.

Peacebone

Songs from Strawberry Jam at the Hype Machine

The New Pornographers
Challengers
Release Date: August 21

I’ve always been a “sort of” fan of the New Pornographers. With each release, I’d listen intently, love it, then sort of forget about it until someone randomly played one of their albums and I’d get in the mood again. Challengers may finally break this streak as I’ve had this one on repeat for a while today. The New Porno crew have once again crafted piano heavy, dual harmony filled pop gems and the songs are great this time around like usual. Songs like “Failsafe” stay reserved enough to be called the album’s “slow songs”, but there’s plenty of full on upbeat pop numbers like “All the Things that Go to Make Heaven and Eath” and “My Rights Versus Yours”. I’d have to say the slower songs, like “Mariad Harbour”, which features Dan Bejar (Destroyer), outweigh the faster ones on this new album and that may be the main reason I’m liking it so much. It’s just a really pleasant pop album to listen to and August 21 couldn’t come soon enough.

Head over to the Hype Machine for songs from Challengers

P.S. Everyone head over to this link and vote for Springfield, MO to host the Simpson’s movie premier.  You’ll get an advanced review of the movie here if you do since I’ll be able to see the sneak peek.  Don’t be shy and go vote!