Sunset Rubdown - Dragonslayer

I'm pretty much a sucker for anything Wolf Parade-related. Even when it's a new Sunset Rubdown album called Dragonslayer that sounds like it should contain "hot metal licks" and band members in drag and KISS make-up. Regardless, Dragonslayer is due out on June 23rd and is Sunset Rubdown's fourth album. Spencer Krug's voice sounds better than ever, especially when its coupled with fellow SR member, Camilla Wynne Ingr, on the slow-burning opening track "Silver Moons." The angular guitar riffs of "Idiot Heart" follow, as does twinkley percussion and Krug's biting lyrics ("I said I love you / But I hate this city"). Again, its Ingr's backing vocals on this track as well that add a hidden depth to the song. It's definitely one of the standouts on the album.

Elsewhere on Dragonslayer, Krug and Co. give me a shout-out on "Apollo and the Buffalo and Anna Anna Anna Oh" (okay, just kidding), repetitive drum taps, guitar feedback, and a washed-out organ-laced chorus make "Black Swan" into one of the hidden gems on the album, and the prog-rock of "Dragon's Lair" closes the album on a epic note. Also, you're not going crazy, "Paper Lace" is indeed a revamped version of the track by the same name that appears on Swan Lake's new album, Enemy Mine. As a whole, Dragonslayer seems like a more dense "rock" album than 2007's Random Spirit Lover, which was a bit more spraweling and loose of a record. Where Random Spirit Lover sounded like an indie rock waltz or carnival, Dragonslayer is tighter and more concise, packing as much of a punch as possible into just eight tracks. Some people may prefer the looser style of older SR records, but there is no denying the fact that Dragonslayer contains some of the most memorable SR songs to date.

DOWNLOAD: Link Removed Per Label Request [Jagjaguwar]
Recommended Tracks: "Idiot Heart," "Black Swan," "You Go on Ahead (Trumpet Trumpet II)," "Dragon's Lair."

Foreign Born - Person To Person

Foreign Born are one of those Los Angeles blog buzz bands that often gets lumped into categories with Cold War Kids and Giant Drag, when the only thing they really have in common with either of those bands is that they've toured together. Their new album, Person To Person, is due out on June 23rd, and seems to feature the same melange of folkish indie-pop that popularized their debut, On The Wing Now. There aren't any bad songs, per se, but there's also not much that stands out. Some of the few songs that did catch my attention was the old-timey, alt-country romp "That Old Sun," the handclap-laden hooks of "Winter Games," and the eccentric percussion and warm organ melodies of "It Grew On You." Overall, Person To Person seems to be recycling the melodies that made Foreign Born a buzz band in the first place, instead of broadening their musical mindset. Given the choice, I'd rather listen to their debut than an album full of rehashed hooks.

DOWNLOAD: Link Removed Per Label Request [Secretly Canadian]
Recommended Tracks: "That Old Sun," "Winter Games," "Early Warnings," "It Grew On You."

The Antlers - Hospice

In honor of The Antlers announcing their signing to Frenchkiss Records today, I thought I would post their newest album, Hospice. It's being reissued on Frenchkiss on June 16th, but for now we have the self-released version to tide us over. Before they were signed, The Antlers were pretty much destined for success. They're from Brooklyn and have that anthemic indie rock sound that makes bloggers wet themselves and fans gasp outloud. And rightfully so, because Hospice is a fantastic album. Things get started off calmly and gradually, before all hell breaks loose on the second track, "Sylvia," with brooding guitars, plaintive cries, and wailing trumpets. This song sets the pace for the rest of the album, which nicely balances ambient instrumentals with chaotic free-for-alls. Other standout songs include the melody-shifting "Atrophy," the wonderful pop shuffle and lyrics of "Bear," and the handclap and percussion happy "Two." Don't sleep on Hospice like I did these past few months, this album is definitely one of the year's best.

DOWNLOAD: The Antlers - Hospice [Self Released]
Recommended Tracks: "Sylvia," "Bear," "Two," "Shiva," "Wake."

Wilco - Wilco (The Album)

A camel and a birthday cake on their album artwork. A weird self-titled(ish) album title. I guess sometimes even your dad's favorite band needs to poke fun at themselves. On their seventh full length, Wilco (The Album), the Chicago elder statesmen return to the studio-based sound of Yankee Hotel Foxtrot and A Ghost Is Born, leaving behind the live concert feel of their last album, Sky Blue Sky. Opener "Wilco the Song" finds Jeff Tweedy and Co. in fine form, singing about putting on headphones and being a "sonic shoulder for you to cry on." Wilco is now singing about Wilco. This shit just got meta, kids. Next up is "Deeper Down," which is reminiscent of Foxtrot-era Wilco (is that singing saw, I hear?), but also sounds like a lost Elliott Smith track, with its soft acoustic touch and introspective lyrics about a boxer. Elsewhere, the bouncy piano chords of "Bull Black Nova" (oddly enough) sounds like Spoon and the long-awaited Feist duet, "You And I," is as indietastic and wonderful as you predicted it would be. Wilco starts fading halfway through ("You Never Know" and "Country Disappeared" didn't do much for me), but luckily things pick up again with optimistic cries of "I'll Fight" and the alt-country pomp of "Sunny Feeling." Wilco is an excellent return to the band's accomplished studio sound and is overall a more concise record than Sky Blue Sky. It's not flawless like Foxtrot or A Ghost Is Born, but it's still Wilco doing Wilco the best that they can, with their tongues planted a bit more firmly in cheek this time around.

DOWNLOAD: Wilco - Wilco (The Album) [Nonesuch]
Recommended Tracks: "One Wing," "Bull Black Nova," "You And I," "I'll Fight," "Sunny Feeling."

Jeremy Enigk - OK Bear

I haven't been the biggest fan of Jeremy Enigk's solo work (although I love Sunny Day Real Estate to death). When I heard that his fifth solo release, OK Bear, was supposed to be reminiscent of SDRE with a more stripped-down rock sound (as opposed to his previous orchestral-heavy albums), I figured I'd give him another shot. While it's certainly no Diary, OK Bear isn't half bad. Fuzzy guitars drench "Late of Camera" in a shoegaze swell, handclaps mix comfortably with chiming chords on "State of Mind," and the unexpectant horn section will get your head nodding on "Sandwich Time." Overall, OK Bear won't change your life, but it's definitely worth a download for any fans of Enigk's solo work. Come on, he titled a song "Sandwich Time," that alone should make you want to download this album.

DOWNLOAD: Jeremy Enigk - OK Bear [Lewis Hollow]
Recommended Tracks: "Late of Camera," "Life's Too Short," "Sandwich Time," "Restart."

Clues - Clues

I know this record leaked about a month ago, but I was too foolishly caught up in other leaks to listen to it back then. How stupid of me, really, because it's a great album. Formed by Alden Penner (The Unicorns) and Brendan Reed (Arcade Fire, Think About Life), Clues aren't so much a "super group" as they are a band that is bff's with all your other favorite bands. Their self-titled debut (due out on May 19th) straddles the line between anxious post-punk and experimental art-rock. Jittery guitar lines carry the weight of "Haarp," while Penner's urgent vocals coupled with Man Man-esque campy horns and percussion stir things up on "Approach The Throne." Penner is also adept at making his voice sound as creepy as possible, as is evidenced by the Arcade-Fire-on-hallucinogens track, "In The Dream." Although most of you have probably been listening to this album for a month now, if you haven't taken the time to download it yet, don't be an idiot like me and make sure you get into Clues right now.

DOWNLOAD: Clues - Clues [Constellation]
Recommended Tracks: "Haarp," "Approach The Throne," "You Have My Eyes Now," "Cave Mouth."

Apostle of Hustle - Eats Darkness

Although they've been around since 2001, Eats Darkness is only the third album by Canadians Apostle Of Hustle. But when you're also the lead guitarist for Broken Social Scene as Apostle Of Hustle frontman Andrew Whiteman is, it's tough to find time to record your own band's albums. Due out on May 19th, Eats Darkness combines Whiteman's love for world music textures with his knack for writing catchy pop songs. The album opens memorably with zippy, interweaving guitars and African-sounding percussion on "Eazy Speaks," and continues to go straight for the jugular with double-time beats and poppy female vocals on "Soul Unwind." Of all the side project-ish bands that members of Broken Social Scene contribute to on their downtime, Apostle Of Hustle have always been one of my favorites due to their ability to come up with some of the catchiest hooks ever. Even if they're being serious, Apostle Of Hustle albums never fail to sound fun, making it near impossible to not nod your head along to the beat. Other highlights on Eats Darkness include the breezy melodies and handclaps of "Xerses," and the driving riffs and bass grooves of "How To Defeat A More Powerful Enemy." Overall, Eats Darkness is another great effort from an incredibly underrated band.

DOWNLOAD: Apostle of Hustle - Eats Darkness [Arts & Crafts]
Recommended Tracks: "Eazy Speaks," "Soul Unwind," "Xerses," "How To Defeat A More Powerful Enemy."

Sonic Youth - The Eternal

Although it only leaked at 128 kbps so far, I couldn't resist posting the new Sonic Youth album, The Eternal. Unlike some Sonic Youth fans that loathe their post 2000's material and live for their older stuff, I actually enjoy most of Sonic Youth's lengthy discography (old and new). After taking a few days to let it sink it, I've come to the conclusion that The Eternal is nothing short of greatness. Starting off with the one-two punch of the Kim Gordon-led "Sacred Trickster" and the stabbing riffs and breathy vocals (courtesy of both Thurston Moore and Gordon) on "Anti-Orgasm," Sonic Youth clearly do not give a shit that they are all older than (or approaching) fifty years old, because they continue to remain fresh-sounding and put out some of the best music you've ever heard. Musically-speaking, The Eternal is pretty similar to 2006's Rather Ripped, in that it's not the sprawling Sonic Youth of the '80s and '90s at play here (well, save for the epic nine-minute plus closing track, "Massage The History"). Each track is fairly concise, focused largely on a verse-chorus-verse structure, with a good helping of that signature experimental guitar work that Moore and guitarist Lee Ranaldo are known for.

While diehard fans of the older Sonic Youth sound may not immediately embrace the terse side of the band, I can't imagine why anyone would try and fight against falling in love with such brilliant music. Don't take my word for it though, listen to the mounting tension and snakey guitars on "What We Know," or the snotty "whoa oh's" and "yeah yeah's" of "Thunderclap (For Bobby Pyn)," or the nine minutes of almost bluesy-sounding guitar riffs on "Massage The History." When it comes down to it, you have to give Sonic Youth credit for their ability to release album after album of relevant music. There's not that many bands that have been around for almost thirty years that can still pull that off. The Eternal is an excellent step forward for their discography and a must-have download for any and all fans.

DOWNLOAD: Sonic Youth - The Eternal [Matador]
Recommended Tracks: "Sacred Trickster," "Anti-Orgasm," "Antenna," "What We Know," "Thunderclap (For Bobby Pyn)," "Massage The History."

Cass McCombs - Catacombs

My computer problems from last week are officially over with and I'm back with a blogging vengance, kids. First off, the new album from singer/songwriter Cass McCombs, entitled Catacombs. Kind of rolls off the tongue, doesn't it? Due out on June 1st, Catacombs comes off a bit slower than McCombs' past albums that focused more on quirky melodic pop and sly lyrics. There's a lovely duet with Karen Black ("Dreams-Come-True-Girl"), brooding alt-country twang ("You Saved My Life"), and Beatles-reminiscent pop of "Harmonia." Overall, McCombs seems to have rediscovered a love for folk and alt-country, as most of Catacombs floats by at a breezy pace. Although that may seem like a good thing, a few of the tracks are a bit forgettable. Catacombs would be a far more memorable album if McCombs slid a few of those pop gems he's known for writing in the middle of the tracklisting instead.

DOWNLOAD: Cass McCombs - Catacombs [Domino]
Recommended Tracks: "You Saved My Life," "Harmonia," "Lionkiller Got Married."