New Music Roundup: 2/13/09

This post was written by TNG co-founder Zack.


Did you know that TNG loves music? I bet it never occurred to you. It's not like we write about it all the damn time or anything. Though we regularly cover bands in What We're Listening To and our interviews and our monthly live music roundups, we still receive many high quality CDs that never get reviewed on the site. To make up for this I am introducing a new weekly feature to give you the rundown of all the new music I've picked up in the last seven days. Not all of it is amazing and not all of it is released yet, but I do hope you that you find one or two in here that pique your interest.

This week includes mini-reviews for Benjy Ferree, Gretchen Phillips, Lilly Allen and several other.

Artist: Anamanaguchi
Album:Dawn Metropolis
Who the hell are they?: Instrumental band who uses a hacked Nintendo to make their beats
Sounds like a combination of: Super Metroid and a seizure
For Example: Blackout City
Recommended?: For playing video games. Duh.
Release Date: March

Artist: Benjy Ferree
Album: Come Back to the Five and Dime, Bobby Dee Bobby Dee
Who the hell are they?: PG County singer writes a concept album about dead Disney child star.
Sounds like a combination of: A.C. Newman and Sharon Jones
For Example: Fear
Recommended?: Yes.
Release Date: Feb. 3

Artist: Cut Off Your Hands
Album: You and I
Who the hell are they?: New Zealand indie band
Sounds like a combination of: Hot Hot Heat and Every indie band ever
For Example: Oh Girl
Recommended?: For a beer commercial
Release Date: Jan. 20

Artist: Gretchen Phillips
Album:I Was Just Comforting Her
Who the hell are they?: Smart queer country singer
Sounds like a combination of: Amanda Palmer and The Dixie Chicks
For Example: Red State/Blue State
Recommended?: People who thought they didn't like country
Release Date: Feb. 3

Artist: Lilly Allen
Album: It's Not Me, It's You
Who the hell are they?: Sexually frank British pop-tart discovers electro
Sounds like a combination of: Lady Gaga and Sandra Bernhard
For Example: The Fear
Recommended?: For people who prefer pop stars with brains
Release Date: Feb. 10

Artist: Lovvers
Album:Think! EP
Who the hell are they?: Lo-fi British punk band
Sounds like a combination of: Love is All and Times New Viking
For Example: No Romantics
Recommended?: For people who can't sit still
Release Date: Sept. 12, 2008

Artist: Mi Ami
Album: Watersports
Who the hell are they?: 2 West Coast emigrees of DC-band Black Eyes
Sounds like a combination of: Deerhoof and a violent, screaming orgasm
For Example: New Guitar
Recommended?: For going down on a porcupine
Release Date: Feb. 17

Artist: Obi Best
Album: Capades
Who the hell are they?: Silky voiced "The Bird and The Bee" backup singer goes solo.
Sounds like a combination of: Aimee Mann and Regina Spektor
For Example: It's Because of People Like You
Recommended?: For coffee shops with brushed aluminum counter tops.
Release Date: Feb. 24

Artist: Peachcake
Album:What Year Will You Have The World
Who the hell are they?: Dancey Arizona duo
Sounds like a combination of: The Faint and The Presets
For Example: Did I just Do That or Was It Jim Carrey?
Recommended?: For dancing.
Release Date: Nov. 18, 2008

Artist: Project Jenny, Project Jan
Album: The Colors EP
Who the hell are they?: Duo with no members named Jenny or Jan, but a lot of guest vocalists
Sounds like a combination of: Architecture in Helsinki and Ugly Duckling
For Example: Pins and Needles (featuring Fujiya & Miyagi)
Recommended?: If you like the involved vocalists.
Release Date: April 14

Artist: Those Dancing Days
Album: In Our Space Hero Suits
Who the hell are they?: Upbeat Swedish pop band? The devil you say.
Sounds like a combination of: No Doubt and The Pretenders
For Example: Hitten
Recommended?: For filming a "couples running through the park" montage
Release Date: Oct. 7, 2008

So which ones should I buy?: In my mumbled opinion, this week's best bets are Anamanaguchi, Benjy Ferree, Gretchen Phillips and Peachcake.