New Music Roundup: 2/6/09

This post was written by TNG 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 My Dear Disco, N.A.S.A., The Plushguns and many others.

Artist:DeVotchKa
Album: How It Ends
Who the hell are they?: Denver-based "Gypsy Folk" band which I frequently mix up with Devandra Banhart
Sounds like a combination of: Andrew Bird and Gogol Bordello
For Example:How It Ends
Recommended?: For pining for the old country. Even if the old country is detroit.
Release Date: 2004. I'm not sure why I just got it now.

Artist: Don't Be A Stranger
Album:Frutti Di Mare
Who the hell are they?: Another Swedish pop band. Sigh.
Sounds like a combination of: Cat Power and a double espresso
For Example: Mon-chi-chi
Recommended?: For feeling whimsical
Release Date: April

Artist: Emeralds
Album: What Happened
Who the hell are they?: Experimental electronic band
Sounds like a combination of: A white noise machine and your cat walking on a synthesizer
For Example: Damaged Kids
Recommended?: For fans of aptly-titled albums
Release Date: Jan. 28

Artist: The Five Corners Quintet
Album: Hot Corner
Who the hell are they?: Jazz hepcats from Helsinki
Sounds like a combination of: Frank Sinatra and Angelo Badalamenti
For Example: Shake it
Recommended?: For a hot date at the Black Lodge
Release Date: Feb. 10

Artist: Future Clouds & Radar
Album: Peoria
Who the hell are they?: Austin dream-rockers
Sounds like a combination of: The Zutons and Mutations-era Beck
For Example: The Epcot View
Recommended?: I guess.
Release Date: Nov. 28, 2008

Artist: Golden Bear
Album: Everest EP
Who the hell are they?: Austin power-popsters
Sounds like a combination of: Islands and Vampire Weekend
For Example: Night Light
Recommended?: For jumping around in your own living room
Release Date: 1/20/09

Artist: I Was a King
Album: I Was a King
Who the hell are they?: Norwegian band with contributions from Sufjan Stevens
Sounds like a combination of: Suzanne Vega and Garbage
For Example: It's All You (Myspace player, third track.)
Recommended?:For the background of a really fun party
Release Date: I was completely unable to find when this album actually comes out, but I think it's soon.

Artist: Joker's Daughter
Album: The Last Laugh
Who the hell are they?: Celtic-tinged collaboration between UK singer and Dangermouse
Sounds like a combination of: Lisa Germano and The Mummer's Dance
For Example: Worm's Head (Myspace player, first track.)
Recommended?: For dying your hair red and roaming the moors
Release Date: April 7

Artist: My Dear Disco
Album: Dancethink LP
Who the hell are they?: Detroit dance-rockers with queer lead singer. They're playing at the next Homo/Sonic
Sounds like a combination of: Daft Punk and Lady Gaga
For Example: White Lies (Myspace player, third track.)
Recommended?: For dancing! And for seeing at the next Homo/Sonic.
Release Date: Oct. 11, 2008

Artist: N.A.S.A.
Album: The Spirit of Apollo
Who the hell are they?: Two DJs who recruited a million guest vocalists as varied as David Byrne, Tom Waits, Santogold and KRS-One
Sounds like a combination of: UNKLE and said million guest vocalists
For Example: Strange Enough, feat. ODB, Karen O and Fatlip
Recommended?: There are too many guest vocalists for you to not find something you like.
Release Date: Feb. 17

Artist: The Pains of Being Pure at Heart
Album: The Pains of Being Pure at Heart
Who the hell are they?: Fuzzy, pop-y New York band
Sounds like a combination of: The Smiths and My Bloody Valentine
For Example: Everything With You
Recommended?: For running through the park, holding hands and generally being happy
Release Date: Feb. 3

Artist: Plushgun
Album: Pins & Panzers
Who the hell are they?: Kinda emo, kinda electro dance-pop
Sounds like a combination of: Postal Service and Blink 182
For Example: Dancing in a Minefield
Recommended?: Yes!
Release Date: Feb. 17

Artist:Raveonettes
Album: Beauty Dies EP
Who the hell are they?: Dark Danish release download-only EP
Sounds like a combination of: Velvet Underground and Jesus & Mary Chain
For Example: Black/White
Recommended?: For doing terrible things. And liking it.
Release Date: Oct., 2008

Artist: Richie James Follin
Album: Battle
Who the hell are they?: Bluesy singer/songwriter
Sounds like a combination of: Janis Joplin and Lynyrd Skynyrd
For Example: Battle (MySpace player, first track.)
Recommended?: For drinking whiskey outdoors
Release Date: April 7

Artist: Seeland
Album: Tomorrow Today
Who the hell are they?: Birmingham electronic-rockers
Sounds like a combination of: Radio Dept. and Magnetic Fields
For Example: Library (Myspace player, first track down.)
Recommended?: Yes.
Release Date: March 17

Artist: The So So Glos
Album: Tourism/Terrorism
Who the hell are they?: Brooklyn Punks
Sounds like a combination of: Titus Andronicus and Hot Hot Heat
For Example: My Block
Recommended?: Not Really
Release Date: Nov. 4, 2008

Artist: Wintersleep
Album:Welcome to the Night Sky
Who the hell are they?: Halifax falsetto-mongers
Sounds like a combination of: Coldplay and Counting Crows
For Example: Weighty Ghost
Recommended?: For campfire sing-alongs
Release Date: Nov. 11, 2008

So which ones should I buy: In my humble opinion, this week's best are My Dear Disco, The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, Plushgun and Seeland.