BLUE MAG

Here’s a round up of the things finding themselves in rotation on my ipod that have come out recently. Be warned I’m not much of a music critic but I know what I like and maybe all you readers (all three of you) can come up with some more recommendations.

Boxer by The National – This record came out a month ago and I haven’t stopped listening to it all June. A fantastic blend of Leonard Cohen and Sufjan Stevens with lyrics that are both witty and poignant at the same time. For me the tracks “Mistaken for Strangers” and “Fake Empire” stand out as the two best songs released this year.

We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank by Modest Mouse – This band seems to get better with every record they release. This new one is as good as anything they’ve done and makes new musical noises that had me furrowing my brow and asking, “This is Modest Mouse?” “Steam Engenius” is just a fun track and “The Parting of the Sensory” is maybe the best song they’ve done? No, that’s still “Dark Center of the Universe” but still … pretty good.

Jarvis by Jarvis Cocker – The front man of Pulp’s solo record is full of the things that made Pulp great. It also has some of the best things that people like Scott Walker and Serge Gainsbourg brought us over the decades. His lyrics are full of detached playful cynicism and the music provides a playful contrast making this a melodramatic pleasure. I mean how can you not like songs like “I will Kill Again” and “Running the World?” And the “Crimson and Clover” sample on “Black Magic” is just great.

Back to Black by Amy Winehouse – Everyone seems to hate this girl with the criticism that she “doesn’t know enough about music” or some such pretentious claptrap (this refers to a review I heard on NPR that made me want to strangle music critics.) All I knows is I like most of her songs on this record. Sure there are a couple stinkers (not many LPs are “Revolver” these days) but there are quite a few songs that stay in your head for days among them the title track and “Wake Up Alone.”

The Reminder by Feist – Listen to “1234” (actually, better yet, watch the music video which is AWESOME) and you will be hooked on this record. I liked her previous work but I think this LP is her best. It’s the kind of music that makes you feel good, you know like the Beatles or the Beach Boys. What Kurt Vonnegut said great art was supposed to do.

Writer’s Block by Peter, Bjorn, and John – There’s that “Young Ones” song that is as perfect a pop song as you can get. I actually like the rest of the record just as much as that particular single. “Let’s Call It Off” sounds like vintage New Order (well …kind of) and “The Chills” has great dance possibilities. It’s bubbly pop but it’s also pretty addictive like most candy.

Well that’s it for now. There are a couple things I haven’t gotten around to that I’ll have to talk about next time like Frog Eyes and Low and there’s that new White Stripes thing … but who has time for all that?