Musicheads,
It’s been a busy week already, and not just musically. First of all, April has arrived and no I won’t be playing any April Fool’s jokes on you. Secondly, America’s favorite pastime returned yesterday with Opening Day for baseball. One can only hope the sport brings Springlike weather to a majority of the country that has been hit hard with a rough winter. In other news, music announcements have been taking off as of late, with a very busy May slated with all kinds of big name releases. Announcements have already been made for new albums from Coldplay, The Black Keys and Jack White, and more are on the way.
Well, what does that leave us with today? A number of new releases hit this week, here is a sizable list of them (AllMusic.com – New Releases). I picked up three new albums myself, so let’s begin with them.
I started by taking a chance this week on the new album from Cloud Nothings, Here and Nowhere Else, and to tell you the truth, it was a waste of my time.
Let me start with the fact that I was hesitant from the beginning about picking up the band’s album. I had really only heard one track, the single I’m Not Part of Me and I wasn’t overly impressed, but I said, what the heck? The band’s sound is also one that I’m not overly emphatic about either, that of garage-y suburban rock. I was hoping that if the rest of the album sounded like the single, I would appreciate the album, but alas, that is not the case. In fact, the single is the only track on the 8-song album that sounds like it does. The rest is much heavier, even with a bit if screaming involved. Personally, that’s just not my cup of tea, but to each his own. I will refrain from saying more as I’m not the one that should be addressing the group’s music.
Next on the pickup list was the “début” album from RAC, Strangers.
Originally RAC stood for a group of artists under the name of Remix Artists Collective (hence RAC), but it has since become a solo project for Portugal native André Allen Anjos who now resides in Seattle. It’s hard to call this the début album, especially after Chapter One was released at the end of 2012. All the same, the album is a quality compilation of original tracks paired up with other artists on the musical forefront. Led off by the familiar track Let Go, the album kicks off with something catchy and never stops until the last note is played in Cheap Sunglasses, the album’s closeout track.
The 16-track album includes two tracks that are solely created by RAC, Cells and Sixteen, which happen to both also by purely instrumental tracks. other tracks worth highlighting are the pairings with Penguin Prison, Tegan and Sara and Alex Ebert (of Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros). Those tracks are in order as follows: Hollywood, Hard To Hold and Tear You Down. All in all, the album is a solid acquisition and great for playing at a casual, yet energetic and loud party. It will keep listeners happy and upbeat, and can even invoke light dancing.
Last but not least came the reunion album from progressive bluegrass trio Nickel Creek.
The trio of Chris Thile, Sara Watkins and Sean Watkins have all done their own thing since the band went on an “indefinite hiatus” over 7 years ago. Thile has taken his mandolin and guest played in a number of other artist’s work, as well as creating another group Punch Brothers. Both of the Watkins siblings have developed their own solo careers as well. This somewhat unexpected album, A Dotted Line is a welcome return to the group’s unique sound and enjoyable approach. The album includes three singles (the only tracks available on Spotify) Love of Mine, Destination and 21st of May. All are quality tracks that remind us all why we fell in love with this trio in the first place. One writer even penned the phrase “a ready-made best-of album” for the group’s return, which has the feel of a double-edged sword. The album also includes two cover tunes, the close out track Where Is Love Now is a Sam Phillips cover, and Hayloft was originally written by Mother Mother. This is definitely another must-have for music lovers. With the signature harmonies and stronger individual performances from all three who have all matured in their personal abilities, this album is a fantastic bluegrass album rich with strings. Be sure to pick this one up!
And now, as always, here was everything acquired on this New Release Tuesday:
- Nickel Creek – A Dotted Line
- Cloud Nothings – Here And Nowhere Else
- RAC – Strangers
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-Akwitz
Now Playing: Jack White – High Ball Stepper
Judging by the artist lineup, you can tell it is a very introspective and somber soundtrack, but it does have its moments of soaring positivity and incredibly motivating. This is especially true with the track that is featured in the trailer, 
Audiophile : Akwitz 