Hey everyone! I don't know about you but I spent MY 4th weekend sifting through the bags and bags of letters I got about how I didn't post any New Tuesday's for June. Little Cindy, Age 5, from Nebraska had the following to say:

Music Bath,

Bitch, how do you expect me to know what CDs to bye. Post something already you total whore!

Screw off,

Cindy.

Awww. First off, Cindy, it's buy...not bye. It's okay... clearly your mom listened to a little too much Phish during your pregnancy...if you know what I mean. Which I'm pretty sure you don't. Whatever, I'll probably make five or six similar mistakes in this post.

Secondly, that dirty little runt has a point. June (the month, not the band) had some pretty great CDs. So I've been busy this week checking out some recent releases... Here are some of the better or more interesting releases from the past month, just in case you missed them:

6-6-06 - The amount of good music that came out today was rapturous!

Alexi Murdoch - Time Without Consequence
The comparisson is inescapable - Alexi is a modern day Nick Drake. It's a pity that Nick Drake can't be a modern day Nick Drake, but Alexi is the next best thing. I mean, just check out the beautiful "All of My Days." It has be 4 years since the release of his EP, 4 Seasons. The song "Orange Sky" from that album spent those years being played in every movie and tv show ever apparently... Garden State, Ladder 49, Dawson's Creek, The OC, Prison Break, House, and Honda and Hallmark commercials. Geez. Born in London and raised in Scotland, he is just one of the many UK artists releasing fantastic albums on this day. Visit Website.

Camera Obscura - Let's Get Out of This Country

Those indie rock Glaswegian lovelies are back with their third album, and from the sounds of it their most beautiful. Some music supervisor needs to get on the ball and use the track "Country Mile" in a tv show ASAP. Visit Website

Scanners - Violence is Golden
Travel a little farther South and you'll find London's Scanners. Their single LOWLIFE is pretty wonderful. Visit Website

Mojave 3 - Puzzles Like You

Mojave 3 is another London area band still going strong with it's fifth album. This one has some freaking beautiful tracks, with standouts like "Breaking the Ice" and "Big Star Baby." Send them on tour with Calexico right this second please. Visit Website

Sound Team - Movie Monster
Not to be outdone by the Brits and Scots, the US proudly released the debut full length of Austin TX's The Sound Team. From start to finish it is an excellent indie rock album with a great summer vibe. Hopefully they have the same great vibe live, because they start off Lollapalooza. Visit Website

Donavon Frankenreiter- Move by Yourself

Donavon's first album bothered me a bit... he was Jack Johnson's surfing buddy, signed to Jack's label, had Jack play on his album and musically was just a less interesting carbon copy of Jack Johnson (whose music, though I love it, was already pretty undiverse). Basically, it was all just a little bit too familiar. If I wanted to listen to Jack Johnson I would listen to Jack Johnson. His new album though moves slightly away from Jack's, throwing in some funk and soul. I like it more now. Sure, now he's just derivitave of other artists (a little bit of Jamiroquai, some Amos Lee, and still a good chunk of Jack Johnson) but at least it is more interesting than just Jack Redux. This album is less for the beach and more for the car ride home. Visit Website

Portastatic - Who Loves the Sun
This album features a beautiful film score comprised of extremely short instrumental songs. If you are looking for some peaceful instrumental stuff, here you go. Visit Webiste

John Ralston- Needle Bed
Florida's Ralston has a song called "Time for Me to Ruin Everything" and for that I love him. Check that song out, as well as "When We Are Cats" and "Gone Gone Gone." Visit Website

Zero 7 - The Garden

Rounding out the day of the beast is another UK band and Garden State soundtracker, Zero 7. Personally, I think the album sounds great from the clips I've heard... a great progression from the track on Garden State. I'm still on a Sia high from the end of Six Feet Under, so it is nice hearing her do vocals on five of the tracks, as she has done on their previous releases as well. Good stuff. One iTunes reviewer doesn't agree, saying "I was really grossed out.the "music" is boring and does'nt have any good beats and this music is for nerds who don't listen to anything good. In some songs they sing like people in the 70's. BAD MUSIC. These songs REAK so bad it makes me bleed" Ouch. I guess just judge for yourself. Visit Website.

6/13/06

Sonic Youth - Rather Ripped
This band had been around nearly as long as I have...and I've never listened to them. The clips I've heard from their 21st album are pretty melodic and listenable. I'll at least check out a few songs at Lollapalooza (up against Gnarles Barkley.) Visit Website

The Futureheads - News and Tributes
What I heard of the Futureheads first album I didn't love (whaaa???...me not love an English indie rock band?) I don't know if I matured or if their new album is that much different than their first, but I dig the little I've heard, especially "Skip to the End." Visit Website

Don Dixon - The Entire Combustible World in one small room
Dixon is another artist who was very influential in the music of the 80s... He co-produced the debut R.E.M. album along with many others. Although he has had many solo albums out, this is his first since 2001. I dig it and I dig his site's music player...although I wonder if it breaks some copyright laws. Visit Website.

Small Sins - Small Sins

Thomas D'Arcy is Small Sins (although he did get a band for live shows). He is a Canadian (born in the UK) and plays wonderful indie electronic stuff that has been compared to Grandaddy, Magnetitc Fields and the Postal Service. He says that he never even listened to Postal Service until his CD was done. He also says that doesn't appreciate most current music and doesn't pay attention to it (other than standouts like Yankee Foxtrot Hotel and the first three Spoon albums). Well, I think he is missing out on some great stuff, but different strokes for different folks. As long as he keeps putting out music as good as this... probably the best release of the week. Visit Website

Hot Chip - The Warning

Another Electro-pop group... this one from the UK. I like Small Sins a bit more, but this album sounds like it has huge growing and staying power. This group was also bored by most current music so the decided to make their electronic based stuff a little differently... no computers or backing tracks. Instead they use 4 keyboards and a drum machine. Too bad they are up against The Frames and Nickel Creek at Lolla, or I'd see them. Visit Website

Dave Melillo - Talk Is Cheap
Emo Power pop. Very catchy. Reminds me a bit of the Rocket Summer. Good times. Visit Website

Regina Spektor - Begin To Hope
One Word - Fidelity. Listen to It. Love It. Visit Website