Listen before it's gone (NPR, Spin, etc)
EDIT: This was the NPR First Listen thread, but now it incorporates sites that allow you to listen to new releases for a limited time until release date.
Inexplicably, I keep forgetting to stop onto this site (NPR First Listen) regularly to see what's new. Maybe a thread will fix that.
Right now, I'm listening to PJ Harvey's new album "Let England Shake".
http://www.npr.org/series/98679384/first-listen
It started out pretty good, then dropped off into cheesy. I believe the song "Words that Maketh Murder" may have signaled a low point for the album (it's tough to tell because the NPR streamer doesn't tell you which song you're currently listening to). Anyways, just when I was about to give up on the album, it's really taken a huge turn for the better. It's really got me to looking forward to the next track.
Inexplicably, I keep forgetting to stop onto this site (NPR First Listen) regularly to see what's new. Maybe a thread will fix that.
Right now, I'm listening to PJ Harvey's new album "Let England Shake".
http://www.npr.org/series/98679384/first-listen
It started out pretty good, then dropped off into cheesy. I believe the song "Words that Maketh Murder" may have signaled a low point for the album (it's tough to tell because the NPR streamer doesn't tell you which song you're currently listening to). Anyways, just when I was about to give up on the album, it's really taken a huge turn for the better. It's really got me to looking forward to the next track.
Comments
Great thread idea, Jonahpwll.
And what the hell is UMG's problem? Oh, we don't want you to hear this fantastic new album for fear that you'll buy it...
"100 Lovers"
-If you've ever seen "Little Miss Sunshine", then you've heard them. They've always had an oddly intriguing sound, sorta as if Efterklang threw a martini party. I've always found their albums sort of uneven. I'm someone who appreciates the view of the forests rather than the shape of the bark and leaves on individual trees.
So far, first track sounds fantastic, a nice soaring opener. And now listening to the second track, my first impression is they've been listening to their Arcade Fire albums, but it could be my memory is failing me and they've always had a more dramatic sound than I'm remembering. Damn, this second track is really really good. If the rest of the album holds up, this is going straight to the top of my to-purchase list.
http://www.npr.org/series/98679384/first-listen
For what it's worth (to them), letting NPR stream that bad boy just got them a sale.
There should be a name for this genre, isn't there? I think some people call it "Baroque pop," but there should be a better term for it.
Anyway, great band and I can't wait to hear the new one.
Esperanza Spalding: Tiny Desk Concert
- 17 min. - stream only. . .
she's an avid - just with sticks.
BTW if you think Ted Greene worth following up on he's got an album over at eMusic.
Devotchka, again, thank you for the listen to your album. I just purchased it. It's almost certain that wouldn't have happened had I not been able to first listen to it in all its wondefulness. Streaming it on NPR gained you at least one sale.
Cheers.
Edit: Ubuweb/Bandcamp/Good Free Stuff should continue to go in their respective threads. Although some of the NPR first listens stay up, most are taken down after the release date. Those are the sort we would point out here.
The Strokes - Angles Streaming for free on their website. March 22 release date.
Spin Magazine also has that, though nothing there intrigued me enough to post about it.
Here, let me see if I can change the thread title.
The Mountain Goats - All Eternals Deck on NPR First Listen until the 29th.
This is, I believe, Evans first foray into the big band genre. Previously, mostly piano trios. He's got a clear voice on piano, but I often find his compositions start as diamonds and end in shattered glass, so I've never been able to buy into him wholly. However, he's clearly got talent, so it's worth giving it a listen.