popwreckoning

I’ve listened to Beirut’s  The Rip Tide several times through and I still feel as if I don’t have a strong opinion about it. I’ve enjoyed every listen, but it’s just not sticking with me and I can’t decide if it’s my own fault or the album’s. It’s good. I don’t have anything negative to say. But then again: it’s good – and that’s about all I can think to say. The Rip Tide is a solid, mediocre album that didn’t live up to  the fantasies I had constructed in my head after so many years of no new releases. Beirut evokes many happy memories and nostalgic feelings for me and the new album seems to have lost a little of the band’s old magic. With all of that said, it’s still an enjoyable album and you should definitely give it a listen. If anything, please prove me wrong and tell me it hits home with you. Because right now it’s just not quite sticking with me, and I really want it to.

“Santa Fe” is perhaps the most upbeat and poppy songs on the album, unlike some of the other eight songs on this short and sweet album that take a little time to unfold. Patience is rewarded though, because after several listens the other songs really come alive. Maybe it’s a reflection of the harsh winter weather surrounding the time of the recording, but it has a slower pace as a whole. “Goshen,” with lines about “never finding home,” is moody and dramatic but springs to life once the snare drum kicks in and gets the listener ready for the wailing trumpets. On “Payne’s Bay,” the sharp trumpets stick around and the album plugs on. I’m finally finding myself tapping my toes. “Headstrong” feels like the peak of the album and the songs become a little less memorable from there on out.

Beirut’s previous albums have seemed a little less focused and maybe that’s how I prefer them. The Rip Tide is only nine songs and a little more than a half-hour, and it is obvious that this is a tightly packed group of songs. Each number in the collection carries weight, and repeat listens slowly opens each of them up. “Port Of Call” showcases Zach Condon using his ukulele as a driving melody, and the title track sways gently just like its names suggests.

All of these elements come together and form a cohesive album, but I’m left craving more. Where some people would see a sign of maturity in this shorter, yet more cohesive album, I’m left craving more wild-and-free. Give it your own listen and see what you think.

Tracklisting:

1. A Candle’s Fire
2. Santa Fe
3. East Harlem
4. Goshen
5. Payne’s Bay
6. The Rip Tide
7. Vagabond
8. The Peacock
9. Port of Call

http://beirutband.com/

Portland band (by way of Alaska) Portugal. The Man are set to release their major label LP In The Mountain In The Cloud July 19th on Atlantic Records. Stream the entire album at KCRW here.

Tracklist:

1. So American
2. Floating (Time Isn’t Working My Side)
3. Got It All (This Can’t Be Living Now)
4. Senseless
5. Head Is a Flame (Cool With It)
6. You Carried Us (Share With Me The Sun)
7. Everything You See (Kids Count Hallelujahs)
8. All Your Light (Times Like These)
9. Once Was One
10. Share With Me The Sun
11. Sleep Forever

For more information (and to purchase the album this Tuesday) please visit: www.portugaltheman.com

Beirut has announced its first album in four years, titled The Rip Tide, set for release August 30. The album will feature “East Harlem” and “Goshen” which appear on the band’s new limited edition single out now.

You can hear a stream of “East Harlem” here: www.soundcloud.com/revolver-usa/beirut-east-harlem

The Rip Tide will be released internationally as well as independently on Pompeii Records (via Revolver in the US), a label started and wholly owned by Beirut’s Zach Condon with no large label affiliation as to keep total creative control.

The band is playing a select amount of US dates before the release of The Rip Tide, with more to be announced:

Wed. June 8 — Austin, TX @ ACL Live w/ Twin Sister
Fri. June 10 — New Orleans, LA @ Republic w/ Twin Sister
Sun. June 12 — Manchester, TN @ Bonnaroo
Tue. June 14 — Washington, DC @ Black Cat w/ Twin Sister
Fri. June 17 — Brooklyn, NY @ Northside Fest @ McCarren Park w/ Sharon Van Etten

www.beirutband.com

You know those Target commercials? The summery ones that feature flowing floral skirts, sprinklers and lemonade stands? I know you know which ones I’m talking about. The Sleepy Rebels’ new album Yellow Tree is basically the soundtrack to those commercials. I’m not kidding. When I turned it on, I feel like the sun became brighter outside and the sky became bluer.

Not that it’s a bad thing. It is almost summer, after all, so it’s the perfect soundtrack to a day at the beach or a long car ride through the woods, with sunlight peaking through the trees. Okay, I’ll stop using sunlight analogies.

But seriously, once I got to the second track, “Let’s Take the Day Off,” I got a lot of Simon and Garfunkel vibes, only in this instance, Garfunkel is female.  Sleepy Rebels’ harmonies are pleasant and easy to listen to without being cliché or overly cheesy (think Colbie Caillat, that’s some cheese right there).

The first single “Unbelievable” is so delightful, heavy on the hand claps and trumpets, and highlights Erica Driscoll’s comforting soft voice along with her brother Bruce and bandmate Jeremy Adelman’s multi-instrumental talents. Later on the in the album, particularly on the last track “Something,” not only do we get some Simon and Garfunkel hints, but that song reminds me of early Belle and Sebastian, and that’s never a bad thing.

Not only do we get some lovely acoustic guitar throughout the album, but plenty more strings – including mandolin, banjo, violin, viola, cello, and possibly some ukulele – and I caught a bit of French horn and ocarina on “Day Off” and a flute on “Elegy.”

A flute. Really.

Let me elaborate a bit on “Elegy” – it’s such a beautiful ballad that’s reminiscent of Shakespearean tragedies. I can just picture a man sauntering around on a stage in tights and puffy sleeves swooning over a princess or something. It’s definitely something we haven’t heard much of since….well…Shakespearean times.

“Beautiful” and “We’ll Wake the World Up” are also easy flowing ballads, “Crystal Ball” is a slightly bluesy track with slide guitar, “Shoot the Breeze” is another one of the Target commercial songs, or maybe one for fabric softener. Either way, it’s bright and sunny. I’m repeating myself, aren’t I?

Well I think you get my point, but I’ll just end on this – the New York trio Sleepy Rebels leaves no room for pessimism on their latest album Yellow Tree. It’s the perfect soundtrack to summer, so I suggest you get it now while the weather is still lovely. Simple as that.

Track listing:

1. To the Hollow
2. Let’s Take the Day off
3. Unbelievable
4. You Can Make the Sunrise
5. You’re the One Thing
6. Better Day
7. The Language of You
8. Elegy
9. Beautiful
10. We’ll Wake the World Up
11. Take it Easy
12. Only One
13. Crystal Ball
14. Shoot the Breeze
15. Castles Out of Sand
16. Something

http://www.sleepyrebels.com/

Exactly 1 year after a manic sold-out show at Brooklyn’s Music Hall of Williamsburg, English electropop / dance trio Friendly Fires have announced details of a forthcoming mix CD to be released through Rough Trade Records. The CD is one of a humorously-titled series called Bugged Out Presents Suck My Deck that has welcomed dance music acts / DJs such as Simian Mobile Disco and Brodinski to provide similar mixes. The Friendly Fires edition includes New York’s Phenomenal Handclap Band and Scandinavian disco-pop duo Lindstrom and Christabelle. While the album won’t be released until September 27, you can pre-order it now on Rough Trade’s website here.

In addition to 18 tracks hand-picked by the band from other artists, the compilation includes “Stay Here,” a collaboration with Toronto’s Azari & III. The tune will make its radio debut today on DJ Annie Mac‘s Radio1 show tonight from 7 to 9 PM GMT (that’s 2 to 4 PM ET). No worries if you miss it today, it will available for 7 days after broadcast on the BBC iPlayer.

Friendly Fires have been previewing other new tracks while on the European festival circuit this summer. Their yet-to-be-titled sophomore album is due sometime in 2011, according to various media reports. Track titles include “Running Away” and “True Love”, and the band have divulged that the new release will feature the Brazilian cuíca (commonly used in samba music) and the African kalimba.

Mix CD tracklisting:
01. The Egyptian Lover – Freak-A-Holic
02. Bot’Ox – Bearded Lady Motorcycle Show
03. The Phenomenal Handclap Band – You’ll Disappear (Munk Remix)
04. Tom Trago – Lost In The Streets of NYC (Boris Werner Lost In Malta Remix)
05. Ryan Crosson – Metro Bunker (Original Mix)
06. Lindstrom and Christabelle – Baby Can’t Stop (Aeroplane Remix)
07. Rebotini – 777 (Discodeine Remix)
08. Tensnake – Coma Cat
09. Munk – La Musica (Azari & III Remix)
10. Friendly Fires and Azari & III – Stay Here
11. Redshape – Dog Day
12. The 2 Bears – Be Strong
13. Butch – No Worries
14. George Kranz – Din Daa Daa
15. Jody “Fingers” Finch – Jack Your Big Booty (BHQ No Acid Vocal)
16. BDI – City & Industry
17. Alan Fitzpatrick – Green Light
18. Boo Williams – Mortal Trance
19. Round Two – New Day (Club Vocal Mix)

Thumbnail Photo: Mary Chang

Friendly Fires: website | myspace | Friendly Fires review | Remix Monday: “Skeleton Boy” | @ Black Cat | @ Dot to Dot Festival | interview with pt. 1, pt. 2, pt. 3 | Mercury Prize Nominations Announced | New Video on MTV, To Play Jimmy Kimmel and Winter Nylon Tour, Release Expanded Version of Debut Album | @ Lollapalooza 2009 | @ le poisson rouge | @ Music Hall of Williamsburg | on Jimmy Kimmel | Remix Monday: “Paris” | @ Paradise | Friendly Fires / Holy Ghost! – 12″ Split Single