My Top 5 New Releases :: The Weeks of March 16 and March 23

1. Sing Elliott Smith :: Seth Avett & Jessica Lea Mayfield

Three-Sentence Review: Elliott Smith is one of my all-time favorite artists, and his songs mean a great deal to me, so giving a listen to an album of covers of his songs is something I both looked forward to, and was apprehensive about, as it is hard sometimes to see and/or hear reinterpretations of art that you love (think movies of your favorite book). That said, the first single that was released became a quick new favorite of mine, and I am quite happy to say that this entire album is the same, easily my favorite new release of the last two weeks, with songs on here that will now find their place among my all-time favorite cover songs. These versions are so haunting, chill-inducing actually, raw and beautiful.

Initial Favorite Track(s): Baby Britain, Between the Bars, Twilight and Memory Lane

Rating (1-5 Stars): 5+

Between the Bars (live)

About the cover album

2. Goon :: Tobias Jesso, Jr. 

Three-Sentence Review: A few weeks ago a co-worker of mine came running in my office raving about a new song he just heard and that I had to hear, too. The song was How Could You Babe, one of the tracks off of this fantastic new album. I love the seventies singer-songwriter feel to this album, a style I have always been so fond of. I can hear some Elton John, some George Harrison, some Paul McCartney, some ELO (especially Crocodile Tears), with a little something else that is a little more edgy, a little more indie, a little more now; a post-modern piano man with strong inspirational ties to the seventies, hell yeah!

Initial Favorite Track(s): How Could You Babe, Hollywood, Crocodile Tears and Leaving L.A.

Rating (1-5 Stars): 5+

How Could You Babe

3. Chaos & the Calm :: James Bay

Three-Sentence Review: It was back in the late Summer of 2013 when I first heard James Bay and his music grabbed hold of me. I am excited to see him getting the airplay and attention he deserves, and this album, it is sure worth all that airplay and attention, it is easily one of my favorites so far this year. I love the soulful, bittersweet, growl in his voice, the incredible guitar work, and how the songs sink in and stay once you’ve listened to them.

Initial Favorite Track(s): Let It Go, Collide and Incomplete

Rating (1-5 Stars): 5

Let It Go (live)

4. Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit :: Courtney Barnett

Three-Sentence Review: Witty and thought-provoking sung storytelling, this album caught be completely by surprise, in the best way. At first glance (listen), the stories are very slice of life, but on the second or third play you start hearing the complexities to these life snapshots, the layers to these people and moments, and the real stories start to take shape, and at times, all that is set to catchy beats make this album hard to resist. There is something very 90’s Liz Phair meets Pavement about this album to me.

Initial Favorite Track(s): Elevator Operator, Pedestrian at Best, An Illustration of Loneliness (Sleepless in New York) and Depreston

Rating (1-5 Stars): 5

Pedestrian at Best

5. Can’t Deny My Love (single) :: Brandon Flowers

Three-Sentence Review: So deliciously 80’s. I cannot stop listening to this new single, and hope there is more (soon please!) to come. And, no, my everlasting crush on Brandon Flowers, and my love of the 80’s, are not the only reasons I’m obsessing over this song, I swear.

Initial Favorite Track(s): N/A (single)

Rating (1-5 Stars): 5

Can’t Deny My Love

Can’t Deny My Love (live on Jimmy Fallon, 3/24/15)