_________________________New 4.26.2011

About Group _ Start & Complete

Bold, eccentric indie rockers mix traditional songwriting with wild sounds and effeminate male vocals. See "Lay Me Down," "There's A Way To End This Run Of Doubt."

Agoraphobic Nosebleed/Despise You _ And On and On…

Grindcore band via Springfield Mass shares a guitarist with Pig Destroyer.

**Airborne Toxic Event _ All At Once

LA rock band's sophomore effort of arena-sized indie tunes is not to be missed. See "Changing," "All I Ever Wanted, "Strange Girl."

**An Horse _ Walls

Australian indie-rock duo sound like a faster, brighter version of Wye Oak. See "Trains And Tracks," "Walls," "Leave Me."

Armor for the Broken _ The Black Harvest

Hardcore with bursts of melody from one of the South's premier labels, NC's Tragic Hero.

Augustana _ Augustana

Cali emo band channels John Mellencamp on their fourth record. Straightforward American pop/rock tunes.

Bill Frisell and 858 Quartet _ Sign of Life

Progressive, adventurous jazz/folk.

Bootsy Collins _ The Funk Capitol of the World

Funk legend gets help from an impressive but odd list including Snoop, Hendrix, Al Sharpton, Samuel L Jackson, Buckethead, George Clinton, and Bela Fleck. Definitely funky. See "Cool Whip."

**Cass McCombs _ Wits' End

Nomadic American singer/songwriter is better than ever on his follow up to 2009's critically adored Catacombs. See "County Line," "Buried Alive," "Hermit's Cave." RIYL Elliott Smith.

Daedelus _ Bespoke

Brilliant experimental pop DJ follows up 2008's awesome Love To Make Music To with more future music.

Dennis Coffey _ Dennis Coffey

Longtime Motown guitarist's latest features spots from Mayer Hawthorne, Rachel Nagy, and others, over 40 years after the release of his 1969 debut.

**Emmylou Harris _ Hard Bargin

Alt/country legend adds yet another great album to her extensive catalogue.

Explosions In The Sky _ Take Care, Take Care, Take Care

Guitar atmosphere kings struggle to capture the emotion and beauty of their earlier work, but they have their moments here. See " Human Qualities," "Trembling Hands."

Girl Names _ Dead To Me

Lo-fi indie act may have overdone it with the reverb, skimped on the hooks.

Holly Golighty And The Brokeoffs _ No Help Coming

Dark, authentic, smokey blues/rock. See "The Rest Of Your Life," " Burn O' Junk Pile Burn," "Get Out My House."

Julian Lynch _ Terra

Experimental composer's electro/jazz/folk is nice, but will probably not blow anyone's mind.

Kort _ Invariable Heartache

Old fashioned American alt/country duo's debut is slightly cloying but has its high points. See "She Came Around Last Night."

Lions!Tigers!Bears! _ Shallow Waters, Endless Depth

Moderately complex screamo. Not bad if that's your thing, but Memphis May Fire's The Hollow is better.

Lynda Carter _ Crazy Little Things

Fluffy pop/country from former Ms World USA.

Memphis May Fire _ The Hollow

Texas band plays chilling post hardcore. See "The Victim," "The Commanded." Recommended for fans of the genre.

Otep _ Atavist

LA metal.

Poly Styrene _ Generation Indigo

Final album from the now deceased X-Ray Spex singer is receiving widespread critical acclaim.

Prefuse 73 _ The Only She Chapters

Ambient electro. See "The Only Contact She's Willing To Give," "The Only Way To Find." RIYL Flying Lotus.

Rachel Platten _ Be Here

Traditional, light American pop. See "Little Light," "All I Seem To Do."

Silverstein _ Rescue

Canadian rockers blend post-hardcore with elements of emo and punk.

Steve Earle _ I'll Never Get Out Of This World Alive

The prolific legend hasn't lost a thing on his 14th full-length studio album. See "Every Part Of Me," "Lonely Are The Free."

Swingin' Utters _ Here, Under Protest

20+ years is impressive for a punk band, and their 10th album finds the Cali punks as ornery as ever.

Thao & Mirah _ Thao & Mirah

Merrill Garbus produced debut features Mirah's stripped-down songwriting combined with Thao's sense of adventure. See "Teeth," "Spaced Out Orbit," "Squareneck."

**The Wombats _ This Modern Glitch

Hooky sophomore effort from this Liverpool three-piece combines Arctic Monkey's cool with M83's bright melodies. See "Our Perfect Disease," "Last Night I Dreamt..," "Walking Disaster."

Times New Viking _ Dancer Equired

Columbus OH lo-fi indie act write great songs but would benefit from slightly better recording. See "California Roll," "New Vertical Dwellings."

Vomitory _ Opus Mortis VIII

Swedish death metal. Makes most American metal sound like little girls.

**Younger Brother _ Vaccine

Pretty, psychedelic electro. See "Pound A Rhythm," "Train," "Spinning Into Place."

**recommended

__________________New Music 4.19.2011

The Belle Brigade _ The Belle Brigade

LA brother/sister duo make artfully arranged indie. See "Where Not To Look for Freedom," "Losers."

Bob Schneider _ Perfect Day

Prolific Austin singer/songwriter plays the music he wants to hear on a perfect day.Dalton Academy Warblers _

Brian Setzer _ Setzer Goes Instrumental

Setzer goes instrumental.

Daz Dillinger _ D.A.Z.

Longtime Dogg Pound member makes an album equal parts pop/gangsta rap.

Del The Funky Homosapien _ Golden Era

Ice Cube’s prolific rapping/beatmaking cousin is one of the underground’s weirdest, and best.

Death Ray Vision _ Get Lost Or Get Dead [EP]

5 song EP from metal supergroup to watch.

**Dengue Fever _ Cannibal Courtship

American brothers Holtzman and Cambodian lead singer Chhom Nimol combine Cambodian pop with 60’s psychedelia.

DJ Quik _ The Book Of David

Highly anticipated album from legendary producer aims to change the game with stylish, synth heavy beats.

Duff McKagan _ The Taking

Founding member of G‘n’R keeps mixing hard rock with elements of punk with moderately impressive results.

Eliza Doolittle _ Eliza Doolittle

UK tart makes slightly sophisticated pop on her anticipated full-length debut.

French Horn Rebellion _ The Infinite Music of French Horn Rebellion

Milwaukee buzz band plays fun, inventive electro that almost lives up to the hype.

Glee: The Music presents The Warblers

TV’s most nauseating aural phenomenon..

**I’m From Barcelona _ Forever Today

29 member Swedish pop band make their most direct, catchy songs yet. See “Always Spring,” “ Charlie Parker,” “Skipping A Beat.”

**Jenniferever _ Silesia

Ambient indie act via Sweden extract moments of brilliance from their noisy soundscapes. See “The Beat of Our Own Blood,” “Dover,” “Hearths.”

Kimberly Caldwell _ Without Regret

Texas native and former American Idol finalist makes a totally generic pop record.

Les Nubians _ Nu Revolution

Original, progressive R&B from hugely popular Parisian-born sisters Faussart. See “Afrodance,” “Deja Vous.”

Nedry _ Condors

Interesting experiemental/triphop via London. See “A42,” “Condors.”

Plan B _ The Definition of Strickland Banks

The singer-songwriter/rapper/actor/director AKA Ben Drew scored a #1 hit in the UK with this set of pop/soul. See “The Recluse,” “Free.”

Sylosis _ Edge Of The Earth

Talented British metal act combine thrash and hardcore with progressive elements for an excellent sophomore effort.

tUnE-yArDs _ W H O K I L L

New England native Merrill Garbus follows up her hit 2009 debut Bird-Brains with more unapologetically creative experimental electro. See “Gangsta,” “Bizness.”

The Unthanks _ Last

Critically acclaimed folk outfit makes beautiful, soothing, pastoral folk.

**recommended

Remix Golden Age!

Hey guys - we've had some people do cool remixes for us before, especially this one from our friends Mitten:
Treetops (remix by Mitten) by Mitten

We put the word out to see what song from the new album people might want to take a crack at, and so here are the individual wav files for the different tracks for our song Golden Age:

golden age vox only (wav file, 54.9MB)

golden age individual tracks zip file (wav files 350MB)

Would love to hear what you guys come up with.  We'll be posting our favorite remixes here on the blog, and we'll send a Golden Age T Shirt and copy of the Vinyl to the person who does the one we like the best.  So, yeah, I guess it's a contest.  Fancy.  Send us your mp3's and/or soundcloud or bandcamp links to info@beatradio.org.

 

 

____________________________New 4.12.2011

The Apache Relay _ American Nomad

Interesting blend of mainstream pop with indie/alternative.

Atmosphere _ The Family Sign

MN natives Slug and Ant make another quality underground hip-hop album with ease.

Bass Drum Of Death _ GB City

Rowdy, fast-paced upbeat garage rock.

Bell X1 _ Bloodless Coup

Irish rock outfit play their pretty dramatic upbeat electro. See “Velcro,” “4 Minute Mile,” “Safer than Love.”

**Bob Dylan _ In Concert (Brandeis University 1963)

Bob Dylan live.

Crystal Stilts _ In Love With Oblivion

Pitchfork endorsed BK garage rockers make a decent record despite their horrible name.

**Brett Dennen _ Loverboy

Fun, unapologetic folk/pop.

The Feelies _ Here Before

Longtime NJ rockers’ first new album in 20 years is full of new classic rock tunes.

Foo Fighters _ Wasting Light

Dave Grohl and Co are a reliable rock machine.

Foreign Legion _ Night Moves

Quality Cali underground. See “Didn’t Work Out,” “Fresh Air.”

He Is We _ My Forever

Sappy, radio-friendly female-fronted indie pop.

Holy Ghost! _ Holy Ghost!

NYC electro-pop act have been struggling to make it despite the support of LCD’s James Murphy. Their full-length debut is fun but the pervasive retro styling/vocals may turn some listeners right off.

Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit _ Here We Rest

Excellent Southern pop/rock from former Drive By Trucker.

Jessie J _ Who You Are

Young English singer/songwriter is hoping her UK success will translate to this side of the pond.

Joan As Police Woman _ The Deep Field

Joan Wasser and Co make extremely stylish folk/pop. See “Run For Love,” “Chemmie.”

Alison Krauss & Union Station _ Paper Airplane

The bluegrass beauty has cemented her place in music history, and keeps making beautiful American music.

letlive. _ Fake History

Exhilarating post-hardcore. See “The Sick, Sick, 6.8 Billion,” “H Ledger.”

Mack & Malone _ Money Music

WSC members match big voices with big beats.

Meat Puppets _ Lollipop

Upbeat pop/rock tunes from the legendary American band.

Moonlight Towers _ Day Is The New Night

Straightforward American rock.

**Agnes Obel _ Philharmonics

Danish singer/songwriter’s beautiful album has already gone double-platinum since its October 2010 European release.

**The One AM Radio _ Heaven is Attached By A Slender Thread

Accessible electropop. See "A New Photo Of Your Old Lover."

**Panda Bear _ Tomboy

Animal Collective mastermind Noah Lennox follows up 2007’s smash Person Pitch with some of his prettiest, most accessible tunes yet.

Pentagram _ Last Rites

Virginia metal band best know as a pioneer of the doom metal genre.

The Pretty Reckless _ Light Me Up

Taylor Momsen and co make a predictably cheesy emo/rock record.

Rebirth Brass Band _ Rebirth Of New Orleans

Awesome free-spirited Jazz via NO.

Paul Simon _ So Beautiful Or So What

Beautifully written and produced folk/pop.

Sonny And The Sunsets _ Hit After Hit

West Coast playwright/songwriter

Swollen Members _ Dagger Mouth

Canadian trio make innovative, upbeat indie rap. See “Do Or Die,” “Moonshine,” “Fresh Air.”

Thursday _ No Devolucion

Former NJ screamo kings records will always be compared to their early masterpiece, Full Collapse, unfortunately for them.

TV On The Radio _ Nine Types of Light

Highly anticipated follow-up to Dear Science lives up to the expectations.

Vivian Girls _ Share The Joy

BK girl band plays unique guitar rock and prepare to take over the world.

Wild Palms _ Until Spring

UK band has potential but are inconsistent on their debut. Great review here: http://thequietus.com/articles/05876-wild-palms-until-spring-review

**recommended

_____________________New Releases 4.5.2011!

Ambrose Akinmusire _ When The Heart Emerges Glistening

Emotionally charged instrumental jazz from this critically touted California trumpeter.

Bizzy Bone & Layzie Bone _ Bone Brothers IV

Like most Bone Thugs records, a dark mix of bizarre and awesome elements.

Blueprint _ Adventures In Counter Culture

Interesting mix of hi-fi beats and pop sensibility under Blueprint’s simple but creative flow.

John Brodeur _ Tiger Pop Ten

Solid alt/rock from under the radar singer/songwriter.

**Cold Cave _ Cherish The Light Years

Wesley Eisold (American Nightmare) and co bring a hardcore approach to synth pop.

Daft Punk _ Tron: Legacy Reconfigured

Remixes of the hit soundtrack from Glitch Mob, M83, Crystal Method, Oakenfold, more.

Ray Davies _ See My Friends

Kinks singer works with Springsteen, Metallica, Bon Jovi, Lucinda Williams, and Mumford & Sons for an eclectic whole.

FM Static _ My Brain Says Stop But My Head Says Go

Hip-hop influenced Christian pop/punk from Toronto.

Hollywood Undead _ American Tragedy

"Postapocalyptic crunk rock."

Hot Tuna _ Steady As She Goes

Classic American blues from Jefferson Airplane spin-off.

Ill Bill & Vinne Paz _ Heavy Metal Kings

Underground rap’s darkest sound like they belong together.

Jim Jones _ Capo

Jim's signature style, simple rhymes, slick beats.

J Rocc _ Some Cold Rock Stuff

Ecclectic collection of lo-fi instrumentals.

The Kills _ Blood Pressures

Highly anticipated new album lives up to the hype.

Kingdom Come _ Rendered Waters

German power metal vets have been making albums consistently since ’88.

Mandisa _ What If We Were Real

Very cheesey Christian pop.

**Maritime _ Human Hearts

Catchy indie/pop featuring members of genre legends The Promise Ring and The Dismemberment Plan. Check out “Paraphernalia” on youtube.

Mint Condition _ 7…

Quality, varied R&B via St Paul, MN.

**Raveonettes _ Raven In The Grave

Pretty, dark reverb drenched rock.

Brian Robertson _ Diamonds and Dirt

Thin Lizzy Guitarist is still making 70's music.

Robbie Robertson _ How To Become Clairvoyant

Bluesy, sexy guitar tunes from The Band guitar legend. See “When The Night Was Young,” “The Right Mistake.”

Scattered Trees _ Sympathy

Emo/pop.

Sharks _ The Joys of Living 2008-2010

Fun, high-energy rock from veteran Brits.

The Smithereens _ 2011

60’s influenced power-pop via NJ.

**recommended

______________________New Releases 3.29.2011

Amon Amarth _ Surtur Rising

Apocalyptic concept album from Swedish death metal vets.

Becoming The Archetype _ Celestial Completion

Christian progressive death metal.

**Bibio _ Mind Bokeh

Funky experimental pop from British producer Stephen Wilkinson. See "Pretentious," "Anything New."

Boxer Rebellion _ Cold Still

Successful UK act aim for the US charts with hazy pop-rock.

Britney Spears _ Femme Fatale

Ahh Britney..more undeniable pop tunes.

**Broken Bells _ Meyrin Fields EP

James Mercer and Danger Mouse remind us why their first album together was so huge.

Emery _ We Do What We Want

Christian metal/screamo.

Erland & The Carnival _ Nightingale

Brit folk rock led by the Verve’s Simon Tong.

Funeral Party _ The Golden Age of Knowhere

Clever rock band from Cali features glistening guitars and catchy keyboards. The strained vocals might be too dramatic for some.

Gangpol & Mit _ The 1000 Softcore Tourist People Club

Inventive electro. See "Otsuki Sama," "The Softcore People Club."

The Haunted _ Unseen

Swedish metal featuring members of the legendary At The Gates.

**Heidi Spencer & The Rare Birds _ Under Streetlight Glow

Sparse, intricate folk. See "Go To France," "Tried and True."

Hunx And His Punx _ Too Young To Be In Love

Unique 60’s styled power pop tunes with a gay twist.

The Jeff Healey Band _ Get Me Some

Dated American rock.

Josh T Pearson _ Last of the Country Gentleman

Critically acclaimed Texas songwriter's first record in ten years.

Los Lonely Boys _ Rockpango

New classic rock. Only $3.99 on amazon.

Marillion _ Live From Cadogan Hall [2CD]

British classic rock vets pull from their extensive career on this 21-song set.

Mars Classroom _ New Theory of Everything

Silly nasal alt/rock.

The Mountain Goats _ All Eternals Deck

Eccentric acoustic storytelling.

Obits _ Moody, Standard And Poor

Solid American indie/garage band would benefit from a few more hooks.

**The Pains of Being Pure at Heart _ Belong

Blog sweethearts, make their best, biggest, most accessible album yet. See “Belong,” “Even In Dreams,” “Too Tough.”

Peter Bjorn and John _ Gimme Some

Quality Swedish popsters strip down and simplify.

Radiohead _ The King of Limbs [CD]

Officially released, although if you wanted it you had it last month.

Rory Block _ Shake ‘Em On Down: A Tribute To Mississippi Fred McDowell

Great blues singer/guitarist shows off her classic style.

Snoop Dogg _ Doggumentary

Snoop shows that he's still as funky and nasty as ever, who cares if he's pushing 40.

The Sounds _ Something To Die For

Swedish indie/pop rockers get digitized and aim to take over the world.

Ten After Two _ Truth Is…

Progressive hardcore with bursts of melody.

We Are Defiance _ Trust In Few

More hardcore with dashes of screamo.

Whitesnake _ Forevermore

Time changes everything. Except Whitesnake.

Within Temptation _ The Unforgiving

Dutch symphonic metal fronted by Sharon den Adel.

Wiz Khalifa _ Rolling Papers

The pride of Pittsburgh vies with Snoop for the title of most stoned rapper.

Yelle _ Safari Disco Club

Fun, French electro tunes. See “C’est Pas Une Vie,” “J’ai Bu.”

**recommended

_________________New Releases 3.22.2011

Acid House Kings _ Music Sounds Better With You
Anticipated album from charming Swedish pop outfit lives up to the hype. RIYL Belle & Sebastian.
Aggrolites _ Rugged Road
Roots reggae band from LA comes close to making a great record.
Agnostic Front _ My Life My Way
On the hardcore punk outfit's 15th album they sound as hard as ever.
Art of Dying _ Vices And Virtues
Cringe-worthy mod rock.
Richard Ashcroft _ United Nations of Sound
Verve frontman maintains a familiar sound but with a new backing cast. See "This Thing Called Life."
Baby Bash _ Bashtown
Nu-school club R&B.
Bobby V _ Fly On The Wall
Bedroom R&B.
Joe Bonamassa _ Dust Bowl
American guitar prodigy plays classic, smoky blues.
Born Of Osiris _ The Discovery
Deathcore via Palatine, Illinois.
Edwyn Collins _ Losing Sleep
Veteran UK producer returns with his first record since a major 2005 brain hemmorage.
**CunninLynguists _ Oneirology
One of underground hip-hop's best groups, not to be missed. See "My Habit," "Get Ignorant."
**DJ Deadeye _ Substance Abuse
Producer's guest list reads like a who's who of the underground on this impressive 20-track effort.
Duran Duran _ All You Need Is Now
Electro-pop stalwarts craft quality songs but could use more of a modern edge.
Egyptrixx _ Bible Eyes
Inventive, fun electro doesnt sound like anything you've heard.
Green Day _ Awesome as F**k [Live]
High energy set of songs taken mostly from the band's last two albums.
Gucci Mane _ The Return of Mr Zone 6
Somehow its even harder to take Gucci Mane seriously with that huge ice cream cone tattoo on his face.
Horseshoe Gang _ Firing Squad
Cali rap collective known as the West Coast Slaughterhouse.
Jennifer Hudson _ I Remember Me
Suprisingly decent pop/R&B via American Idol.
Josh Kelley _ Georgia Clay
Straightforward pop/country.
Ke$ha _ Dance Commander
Pop's most annoying new fixture gets remixed.
Keren Ann _ 101
Prolific, worldly songstress plays nostalgic, airy pop.
Panic! At The Disco _ Vices & Virtues
Fall Out Boy proteges return two members lighter to follow up 2008's questionable "Pretty. Odd."
Pet Shop Boys _ The Most Incredible Thing: Original Score
One of the world's best selling groups does their first ballet.
**Pharoahe Monch _ W.A.R.
Embattled Queens rapper retains his complexity, gets a boost from a serious guest list. See "Calculated Amalgamation," "W.A.R."
Protest The Hero _ Scurrilous
Skull pounding mix of hair and real metal.
Saliva _ Under Your Skin
Rap-rock continues. Unfortunately.
Tommy Shaw _ The Great Divide
The infamous Styx guitarist tries bluegrass with mixed results.
Soundgarden _ Live on I5
90's flannel heroes prove they can still rock, impressive in the fact that it exists.
The Strokes _ Angles
Highly anticipated and highly disappointing effort from the gods of indie cool. Great review here from nymag- Easy Listening.
Tesseract _ One

Ultra-produced prog metal; a metal 30 Seconds To Mars?
Yellowcard _ When You're Through Thinking, Say Yes

Yellowcard returns with more of their fast paced, upbeat pop-punk after a two year break.
Zion I & Grouch _ Heroes in the Healing of the Nation

Bay-Area rappers follow up 2006's hit Heroes in the City of Dope.

**recommended