A thread for new notables music releases for 2008. Ill start with these.....


Boris "Smile"

Hasn't actually released yet, but was leaked earlier this week. There is definitely a larger presence of Kurihara's noisy guitar work and O'Malley of Sunn also makes appearances. Overall, I found it not as memorable as Rainbow but a definitely shows more experimentation by the band. if anything, it really comes off as a culmination of their earlier sounds into a "listenable" standard album format.
Statement

Dawn Landes "Fireproof"

Originally found out about her through a cover she did of PB&J's Young Folks and have been hooked ever since. This album will actually be released in March but like with many things, it got leaked quite early. I can't say her sound is really unique, typical folkfare but can't say thats neccessarily a bad thing....
Twilight
Young Folks (PB&J cover)
Dig Me a Hole (Acoustic Live)

Earth "The Bees Made Honey In The Lion's Skull"

Whether its true or not, i seriously find Earth to be not only the pioneers of drone, but possibly the most accessible as well. Especially given their more recent country-sound influences, they've possibly become one of the more unique sounds in the genre as well as one of the more melodic. This release, which comes out later this month is actually alot less droney and more close to a more somber post-rock sound.
The Driver (MP3 Sample)

Ida "Lovers Prayer"

A very soft-sounding folk band, kind of reminds me of a more dynamic Damon & Naomi. Anyways samples available at their myspace.
Ida Myspace

My Blueberry Nights OST

Im actually not sure when this came out if ever but as the film hasnt been released yet, I thought it still applied to 08 technically. This isn;t an album really, just a great compilation of old classics and some new ones. I find it one of those great albums to branch off to other possible artists you may have never heard of, sort of like many Tarantino OSTs.
Cat Power - The Greatest (on Later with Jools Holland)
Mavis Staples - Eyes on The Prize
Otis Redding - Try A Little Tenderness (Live)
And Norah Jones new track from the film, scroll to the bottom of the page and hit play on the imeem.com thingy:
Norah Jones - My Story

Sambomaster "Ongaku No Kodomo Wa Mina Utau"

I seriously hope these guys never change their sound, possibly the best mainstream jrock band out right now. Couldnt find anything besides live recordings of their new tracks but better then nothing I suppose:
I Love You
Very Special!!

Vampire Weekend "Vampire Weekend"

The debut album from this band, and probably one of the more unique sounding indie releases in a while. Supposedly they have a large influence from African popular music but I can't really tell since I know so little about it, interesting though. Definitely give a listen to their performance on the Takeaway Shows for The Kids Dont Stand A Chance. I actually find they are one of the few acts out there that sound better live then recorded.
A-Punk (on Letterman)
Mansard Roof
Performances on the Take-Away Shows

YMCK "Family Genesis"

This is simply just a fun album/group to listen to. Jpoppy vocals with 8bit goodness, reminds me of the good old cartridge days on my SNES....
Starlight

wow, thanks for the variety. I'm liking Vampire Weekend's sound, and I think Earth may be my new inspirational sketching white noise music.

YMCK is just f*cking silly fantastic 8-16bit goodness...

not technically 2008 but I was wondering if anyone caught Beirut's new album at the end of last year.


http://www.beirutband.com/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXIaDBad5Vg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jc3ZAs17uAg&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLV6jygKNCM&feature=related

old fav: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kjeh6P4sRfw&feature=related

or maybe I'm the only one into ukelele/ accordian heavy folky tunes influenced by balkan gypsies.

Beirut's the shit, and if I felt any need to post more than that, I'd throw down my list of CD enjoyments.



But I don't. Beirut FTW

I've seen beirut live a few times, the band's a LOT bigger than most people think

I kinda hoping Ghinzu'll drop their new album this year...they've been working on it forever -_-

I just added Ida to my *loves* list ^^

Stumbled a newly releasee video for "Statement" from Boris's new album "Smile". Posted up top and link also below:

This is some good stuff, crap...

can you recommend some new/sorta recent tunes from Korea-land? I need to get back in touch.

...don't make me bust out my old Drunken Tiger CDs.....please god.

not that I would really know, but my general impression is....theres nothing worthy coming out of Korea these days.

Haha one of my friends is in love with Dong Bang Shin Ki... but I doubt that's what you're looking for Evol xD




Ok to be fair I'm linking their most WTF?!?! music video, but still... first time she showed me, I was like wow. OxO

...posting a link to another of their video to not just show them in their . . . state


- I just listened to it for the first time myself and it's quite good, so check it out and try not to let the first link influence you too much lol x]

I'm conflicted, my inner 16 yr old girl wants to squeal and make out with JaeJoong but my inner 29 yr old wants to go hide in a corner in the fetal position...with one of my cats.....Nixi, cause shes fluffy.

*high fives flyin*

AHAHAHAHHAHA XDDDDDD

I gotta say I got a soft spot in mah heart for Jae too (my friend is a die-hard fan of Changmin). He's just so PRETTY. GOTTA LOVE THE PURTY BOYS I SAY.

*high fives Evol* XDDD

Just found out about this, but NIN has a new release and its actually a refreshing surprise. From the description it seems its essentially an improvisational album which is kind of an interesting take especially given its electronic nature. I've just given the free download a listen and it basically seems like an ambient album but definitely some interesting shit goign on here. You can get the first 9 tracks below and other methods of order. Im actually thinking of buying the cds since its relatively cheap:
http://ghosts.nin.com/main/home

Because I'm lazy, copypasted from wiki:
Volume One is the first album by She and Him, a collaboration between M. Ward and actress Zooey Deschanel. It will be released on March 18, 2008, through Merge Records.
I'm usually somewhat turned away from non-musicians taking a stab at music since it usually ends in failure, but Zooey is surprisngly not a bad singer. Defintely worth a check.....

Heres a track off the album: Why Do You Let Me Stay Here?
http://www.mergerecords.com/audio/shehim/whystayhere.mp3

*bumps* anything good recently... or not so recently? I've almost reached the stage where I'm tired of all my usual tracks, but I'm not sure what to get. :]