Another weekend is upon us, so open your ears and let the music spin. This week I take a look at some new releases that I'd been looking forward to as well as some recent curiosity pick-ups. There's mostly rock on here, with some jazz and Lana thrown in. Some of these were great discoveries and all left me pretty satisfied. Hopefully you'll be able to find something worth checking out. As always, enjoy.
Lana Del Rey - Lust for Life: Despite the cover photo, the queen of heartbreak is no chirpier on her fifth album than she was on the previous two. Her music still inhabits a dark paradise of despair, confusion, and wrong love. Her music still features her captivating voice and mellow L.A. beats. And her music is still compelling, even if this album offers nothing that departs from her previous work. A dream pop reinvention of Mazzy Star's "Among My Swan" and Portishead's debut, this would have been my favorite album of 1997. Twenty years later, it is an album that I thoroughly enjoy, but won't necessarily love forever, like I will Ultraviolence and Born to Die.
Motorgun - Motorgun: The debut heavy rock album from the Rio de Janeiro band was released last year and it's a miracle (if not a crime) that such a perfect band name has never been used before. This is heavy rock steeped in the blues rock style, born out of bands from the '70s. It sounds a lot like Velvet Revolver with Scott Weiland vocals and Slash guitar. That's not a bad thing. There is no really bad tracks on here. It's solid throughout and lived up to my expectations from the name and cover, which were pretty high. "Deliverance," "Come and Go," "Heading for Tomorrow," and "Going Home" are standouts.
The Dears - Times Infinity Volume Two: Two years after the first installment, the Montreal indie band releases their next installment in what simply amounts to two albums with names that are made to make you think they go together, though I don't see how. This is by far the better album and returns to the sound of a decade ago when they were one of my favorites. Indie with a touch of sadness that I really enjoy. Easily their best record since 2006's Gang of Losers.
Brats - 1980: This criminally unknown Danish rock band released only one record which came out in the year of its title. I recently came across this on a blog and was totally blown away. It sounds a bit like the Ramones crossed with The Misfits, but more forward feeling than either of those bands. It's no wonder that existing copies of this rare album sell for triple figures. Way ahead of its time, while still being within its time. Definitely one to check out and snatch up if you see during crate digs.
Hanoi Rocks - Oriental Beat: The second album from the Finnish glam band was released in '82 and I recently picked up the Uzi Suicide '89 re-release on red vinyl. Influences to most of the L.A. glam metal bands that came up around this time, or in the years that followed, in many ways they were pioneers of the sound and the look of L.A. sleaze rock era. Had it not been for a infamous accident involving Vince Neil, it is possible Hanoi Rocks would have been a house hold name, as they were poised to conquer the world. All the raw energy and ambition shines through on this record.
Zoot Sims - Zoot Sims: This compilation features some of the saxophonist's most well-known recordings from the hey dey of the jazz area. An accomplished musician who played alongside the legends of the genre, but nearly forgotten today except among jazz fans, Zoot had the style and energy of the greats, if possibly not the vision. Not a heavy weight, but certainly a name those seeking to dig deeper than Parker, Coltrane, and Davis should check out.
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