August Music Preview

August is certainly shaping up to be fairly quiet, quality-wise. Maybe a few diamonds will pop up but we're more than likely looking at a cubic zirconium month. Check it:

8/7
Architecture In Helsinki/ Places Like This – Based on their first two releases, if you’re a fan of twee indie pop look no further. Architecture In Helsinki (great band name, yeah?) is putting out an album just for you. For the rest of us… it might be good. Maybe.

Architecture In Helsinki On MySpace Music

New Tracks:
Entire Record Streaming As Of This Writing

Okkervil River/ The Stage Names – Okkervil River’s last release, Black Sheep Boy, was a critical darling (read: overhyped to a large degree) in 2005. Will their latest be just as fawned over or will it face an inevitable backlash? Does anyone really care?

Okkervil River On MySpace Music

New Tracks:
None

8/14
Eisley/ Combinations – Texas’s Eisley (formerly named Moss Eisley before fears that soulless hack George Lucas would step in and put the legal kibosh on it) are back with their sophomore release and are probably the closest current representation of the unfairly forgotten early ‘90’s dream pop genre. Their debut, Room Noises, had more than a few shining moments so it should be interesting to see if they’ve been able to expand upon that promise.

Eisley On MySpace Music

New Tracks:
“Invasion”
“Many Funerals” (Partial Track)
“A Sight To Behold” (Partial Track)

8/21
Earlimart/ Mentor Tormentor – Are you a fan of Elliott Smith but are bummed out about the fact that he’s, you know, dead? Check out Earlimart who have the ghostly vocals of Smith down pat but balance it out with more of a produced indie electronic sound. They got a little airplay back in 2003 on the basis of their single “We Drink On The Job” and haven’t received much since, but are worth at least a listen or two.

Earlimart On MySpace Music

New Tracks:
“Answers And Questions”
“Nevermind The Phonecalls”
“Don’t Think About Me”

M.I.A./ Kala – While definitely not for everyone, M.I.A.’s debut, Arular, was a genre mash-up that combined electronica, rap, dancehall, and a host of other elements into an entirely unique musical experience. Recommended as a late summertime experience for adventurous listeners.

M.I.A. On MySpace Music

New Tracks:
“Boyz”
“Bird Flu”

Minus The Bear/ Planet Of Ice – If only this band would get a new singer… they’d be phenomenal. As tight musically as you’ll find, Minus The Bear is nonetheless saddled with perhaps the most ordinary vocalist in indie rock. Maybe they were smart and turned down singer Jake Snider’s mic during recording. We'll see.

Minus The Bear On MySpace Music

New Tracks:
“Throwin’ Shapes”
“Dr. L’Ling”

The New Pornographers/ Challengers – After releases by members Neko Case and Dan Bejar (under the both the Destroyer moniker and with new group Swan Lake) in 2006, they reunite like Voltron with the rest of their Canadian indie rock royalty for the fourth New Pornographers release. Expect to see this on almost every best of list at the end of the year even if it doesn’t exactly deserve it.

The New Pornographers On MySpace Music

New Tracks:
“My Rights Versus Yours”

THE DIRTYWHIRL'S PICK FOR THE BEST OF AUGUST
Rilo Kiley/ Under The Blacklight – After stepping out on her own with last year’s Rabbit Fur Coat, Jenny Lewis is back with Rilo Kiley in what could be the album that breaks them into the mainstream. They’re definitely taking a poppier approach with lead single “The Moneymaker,” but the video does feature porn stars, so they’re not totally in the mainstream yet. And that’s the way we likes it.

Rilo Kiley On MySpace Music

New Tracks:
“The Moneymaker”

Kanye West/ Graduation – Some reports say this album could get pushed to September but until we see conclusive evidence to that effect, we’re leaving it here. Apparently going for a futuristic approach by using more synths and setting the album in the year 2087, Kanye is proving even more ambitious than on his past records. And even more pretentious since he’s now billing himself in his videos as “Mr. West.” A more self-important Kanye West -- is that even possible?

Kanye West On MySpace Music

New Tracks:
“Stronger”

8/28
Ben Harper/ Lifelines – Ben Harper took a sharp nosedive with his last release, Both Sides Of The Gun. This can’t possibly be worse, can it? Can it?!

Ben Harper On MySpace Music

New Tracks:
“In The Colors”

Liars/ Liars – Liars alternate moments of pure genius (“Mr. You’re On Fire, Mr.; Loose Nuts On The Veladrome) with unlistenable wankery (almost everything else they’ve ever done). Maybe their latest, self-titled release will fall somewhere in the middle.

Liars On MySpace Music

New Tracks:
“Plaster Casts Of Everything”
“Protection”
“Freak Out”
“Sailing To Byzantium”

Nelly/ TBA – Doesn’t matter what you call the record, Nelly. It’s still gonna suck. Hard.

Nelly On MySpace Music

New Tracks:
You’re kidding, right?