Joanna Newsom
Y’s
Label: Drag City
Release Date:11/14/2006

Honestly, this is the first time I’ve ever actually listened to Joanna
Newsom, and I must say I’m intrigued, not only by the sounds that are
coming from my [horrible MacBook] speakers, but by all the quirks and
factoids that go along with this record. First, this album was
recorded completely analog, meaning everything was […]

Hammock
Raising Your Voice… Trying To Stop An Echo
Label: Darla
Release Date:08/22/2006

The droning of electric guitars, the light caress of angelic vocals, and
the intensity of heartfelt emotion reverberate throughout Raising Your
Voice… Trying To Stop An Echo, Hammock’s much anticipated second
full-length release. Hammock, which consists of guitarists Marc Byrd and
Andrew Thompson, two Tennesseans who began composing together after
their […]

Swan Lake
Beast Moans
Label: Jagjaguwar
Release Date:11/21/2006

Wolf Parade: makers of one of James’ favorite albums of 2005. Destroyer: maker of one of James’ favorite albums of 2006. Frog Eyes: a band James thinks is okay, maybe good, but not as good as the other two, who are awesome. So make an internet press release […]

Mustafa Ozkent
Genclik Ele Elele
Label: B-Music
Release Date:10/31/2006

Selda
Selda
Label: B-Music
Release Date:10/31/2006

Anatolian Invasion starts here 30 years late and thousands of miles displaced but no less sick (meaning healthy). Finders Keepers has unearthed two heavily sought after artifacts of Turkish pop from the 70s which are utterly mindblowing. I know I have perhaps played the card of […]

Squarepusher
Hello Everything
Label: Warp
Release Date:10/17/2006

Tom Jenkinson, that is Squarepusher, has done something ironically shocking in making his new album, “Hello Everything,” a relatively soft, pleasant affair relatively lacking in noise, shocks or noodling. This is a case where a lack of personal experimentation actually makes for a better release. Squarepusher has, along with Aphex […]

31 Knots
Polemics
Label: Polyvinyl
Release Date:11/07/2006

The second ep, and prelude to the second full length from Portland, Oregon based 31 Knots shows the band still finding their footing, attempting epic statements both musically and lyrically. The 4 songs and some playfully intense soundscapes roll like a demo attempting to showcase the bands range, and there’s some creative […]