As you get further and further into music writing, collecting new music randomly as one goes, you get to certain point around this time of year—before the onslaught of September’s new releases—that you realize somehow you’ve accumulated days and days of music that you’ve yet to really give a good ear to. Well since you’ve been at the beach jamming to Katy Perry, I’ll help you out.
• If you’re a fan of Florence + The Machine and early, early Sarah McLachlan or wish The xx would drink coffee, then Young Galaxy is for you. Their CD Invisible Republic is a breath of fresh alt air.
• We Are Fallen is what happens when you realize Amy of Evanescence is such a horrible person, your whole band leaves, hires Idol’s Carly Smithson, and crafts a better album than Amy could ever do. Skip her watered-down solo Evanescence, and get with the real. Ben Moody and Co. rock it hard.
• A Silent Film at first may sound like a better version of Coldplay and Keane, but the keen ear will hear the true root: latter-day a-ha. Lush arrangements, lyrical narratives, and stunning vocals are an obvious homage to Norway’s finest.
• Robyn released her second mini-album this month, Body Talk Part 2, featuring the fleshed-out version of last CD’s acoustic Hang With Me. Part 1 was hot, but the girl proves she can write a hook like no one’s business. She delivers perfect summer beach tracks that rival Kylie’s Aphrodite.
• And finally, for the old homos, art-pop darling Laurie Anderson puts out her newest CD in her 28-year recording career with one of her best– the multilayered audio novel Homeland. Fans of her early work will be pleased to hear Laurie still mastering not only the spoken word, but dreamy vocals and soft synths. At 63, she’s still pushing boundaries.
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