4. Zammuto (TBA)
When I found out Nick Zammuto was coming to Carleton last spring, I jizzed myself more than once. I assume you did the same. And what a great show it was, regardless of what drugs you, our readers, might or might not have been on. Remember that gnarly audiovisual accompaniment? I was only the slightest bit disappointed to find out that he isn’t nearly as exciting in person as he is in his music. But who is? (Me.) I did discover early in the encounter, however, that I was taller than him, so booyah, Mr. Zammuto. Anyway, in case you didn’t know for whatever stupid reason, Zammuto was at least half of the electroacoustic sample-based meditation-funk band, The Books, one of the greatest acts of our time. After four mind-blowing albums, The Books called it quits, but Zammuto was soon back in the game with his self-titled debut proper. 2012’s Zammuto embraced the pop hooks often eschewed by The Books and made music that was actually sort of playable by humans. Last year, Zammuto launched a crowdfunding campaign to support his next LP. And you chumps totally bought it. Way to go! Zammuto has proved himself time and again as one of the most daring contemporary composers, so you better fucking listen to the album you already paid for.
3. Owen Pallett – In Conflict (May 13)
Owen Pallett has been floating around in the full beard of Canada’s indie scene for over a decade now, scoring his way out of paper bags and into Polaris Music Prizes. As Rolling Stone might put it, he sounds like the bastard child of Radiohead and Andrew Bird: lush arrangements, complex instrumentation, and clear pop sensibility. And he hasn’t released an LP since 2010’s achingly beautiful Heartland. He recorded his new album last year but delayed the release because of his tour with Arcade Fire, for some reason. After his last album, he famously said “I have violent desires on the daily….This music is the sound of white knuckles, of indignation, of repression; it is the sound of Masculine Instruments, it is maleness, with all its inferiority; it is the sound of the Canadian mindset.” So you can see Owen is sort of an artist’s artist. He has a lot of artistic urges and I’m sure he’d really appreciate it if you let him splatter you with them next month. We’re looking at a record made for you, his loyal listeners, with love and care. I should also mention it features vocals and keys from demigod Brian Eno. What else do you want? On that note…
2. Brian Eno and Karl Hyde – Someday World (May 5)
Bri-Bri continues his four decade trend of collaborations with respectable electronic musicians. This time around: progressive house rockstar Karl Hyde of Underworld. I shouldn’t have to tell you this one is worth a shot. We don’t know what to expect, but c’mon? Although I will throw out there that lately Eno seems to be gasping to stay relevant in this confusing world of brostep and nu-disco…and not even doing a very good job at it. He might be the most foundational character in electronic and ambient music, but his latest solo albums were nothing particularly groundbreaking. Not to mention some questionable production gigs recently (U2’s last album and Coldplay’s last two). Now he is undeniably one of the greatest musical minds of the last half-century, so I think each of us owes it a good listen.
1. Yeasayer (TBA)
Maybe you liked their last album, maybe you haven’t listened to it enough. But you definitely liked it. Since 2007, Yeasyer have cranked out three impressive albums of pretty progressive post-pop shit. While there may have been a few hiccups along the way, Yeasayer show no sign of ceasing to experiment with production, instrumentation, and thoughtful composition. And we should give them credit for defying many recent trends experimental indie music. Beginning somewhere in the Grizzly Bear camp, their All Hour Cymbals proved one of the most thoughtful and adventurous debuts ever. It’s follow-up, while not as successful, took a turn for flirtations with indie electropop. But were “Ambling Alp” or “Love Me Girl” not some of the most bumpin’ songs of the year? And their last album? That shit’s crazy. So many ideas, so many layers. Like forty different instruments. I didn’t come out here today to recruit any new Yeasayer fans, but that actually seems like a good idea now. Give any and all of their music a shot and bathe in those sensuous melodies. Then you’ll be excited about this album.
Bonus: Lame Indie Release to Not Get Excited About in 2014
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Pixies – Indie Cindy (April 28) The Pixies proved themselves as one of the first and most timeless alternative bands ever. But after two decades years apart, they just can’t get back together, trade Kim out for another fucking “Kim,” release one crap EP, and expect everyone to love them again. And what kind of title is that?
