New Music Tuesday: Catching Up On Tuesdays

It's been a few weeks since my last New Music Tuesday. I wanted to spotlight 4 albums that have been released over the last few weeks. All end up being great summer music, so it's fitting they're in rotation now.

Josh Rouse - Country Mouse, City House (iTunes) (Amazon)
This one came out today. It reminds me of his live show I saw last May. It's very solid and fun. You can even catch him smiling through the songs from time to time. If you're gonna do the one song to help you decide thing, I recommend "Hollywood Bass Player" or "Nice to Fit In."

Ryan Adams - Easy Tiger (iTunes) (Amazon)
You may not trust my Ryan Adams review because I think the more of this guy we get to hear, the better his catalog starts to be. Easy Tiger is another classic. There are moments when I swear I'm back in 2001 listening to Heartbreaker or Gold and there are moments when the presence of the Cardinals is nice and obvious...you might even hear a little something reminiscent of Whiskeytown. A very solid record, and after all it had been since December of 2005 since his last release. Just do yourself a favor and pick up the album...but if you're not sure, try "Off Broadway", "Two" or "Halloweenhead."

Spoon - Ga Ga Ga Ga (iTunes) (Amazon)
I'm hooked on this album. There are some great hooks on this album and as I mentioned for all of these albums, it's classic summer music. Fun poppy with an edge, just waiting for you to pop it in your iPod and cruise around town. "You Got Yr. Cherry Bomb" is definitely on my Summer of 2007 mixtape.


St. Vincent - Marry Me (iTunes) (Amazon)
St. Vincent is Annie Clark's project. You may remember her from such indie classics as Sufjan Stevens and Polyphonic Spree. She's got a lot of talent with a unique sound and songwriting vibe. My first impression a few months ago was that it was a pretty even blend of Sufjan and Regina Spektor...which makes for an original flow. Try on "Now.Now." for size.

With the exception of the Ryan Adams record, the rest are also available on eMusic.com a great subscription service with lots of rare, exclusive, and independent music...not to mention a lot of free stuff too. If you've never checked it out, do it.

New Music Tuesday: America Always Told Me That Bars Are Dark And Lonely

In the early 70's the band America took the world by surprise. Their song "Ventura Highway" is still a common tune to get mixed into my iPod. They enjoyed several hits in the 70's and being produced by Beatles producer George Martin doesn't hurt your cred. They were compared to Crosby Stills Nash and Young. They faded away as the 80's hit, but their back with a new album released today titled Here & Now. Produced partly by former Smashing Pumpkins guitarist James Iha, the double album contains America with help from some contemporary artists including Ryan Adams, Ben Kweller, members of My Morning Jacket and Nada Surf. The first "disc" is new material including a cover of My Morning Jacket's captivating "Golden." The second "disc" includes old standards from America performed live. When I first heard about this project back in the summer, I didn't know what to expect. The news I heard was about a collaboration between Jim James of My Morning Jacket, Ryan Adams and Ben Kweller and they were calling themselves America. I thought it was a project like The Thorns, but it puzzled me because of the band that already had the name America...like a certain phone. My first experience with My Morning Jacket had me making mental comparisons to America, and now the generations combine. Both "discs" are priced at $9.99 in the iTunes store which means 25 tracks for $9.99. A bargain and a steal. Definately give it a listen. You might hear such songs as "A Horse With No Name," "Muskrat Love," "I Need You" and the aforementioned "Ventura Highway" on your local classic rock or hipster soft rock station.

Buy America - Here & Now