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Saturday, March 31, 2007

4 for the weekend, vol.2

The National will be making a triumphant return to the indie-pop ring when they release Boxer on May 22. "Fake Empire" has been making its way around many blogs these past few weeks, giving hopeful fans a taste of what's to come. It took me quite some time to warm to The National, even with all the heaps of praise Alligator received in 2005, but the more I listen, the more I fall under their charms. This is destined to be one of the top songs of 2007 for me.

The National, "Fake Empire"

The National: official | Myspace | more mp3s | buy The National at Insound



Tori Amos, everybody's favourite Cornflake Girl, is just about set to release American Doll Posse on May 1. First single "Big Wheel" sounds like a slice of American Southern blues/rock, which is definitely new territory for Amos. Still, her distinctive voice and signature tinkling ivories clearly distinguish this from your run-of-the-mill barroom blues band. Lyrics feature alcohol, rain, and, um, big wheels. You read into it what you will.

Tori Amos, "Big Wheel"


Tori Amos: official | Myspace | more mp3s | buy Tori Amos at Insound


Benjy Ferree came to my attention via my fellow bloggers (although I'm not quite sure which blog it came from), and other the fact that he's from D.C. and was once David Lynch's babysitter, I know little else about him, except that he makes the kind of country-fied pop that makes my heart skip and my eyes twinkle. Leaving The Nest was released late last year, so if it fell through the cracks during your Christmas shopping, do yourself a favour and check it out now.

Benjy Ferree, "In the Countryside"

Benjy Ferree: official | Myspace | more mp3s | buy Benjy Ferree at Insound



Last but by no means least, Wilco have already revealed their latest, Sky Blue Sky, via streaming audio, from which this sample comes from. Like The National, Wilco were another band that, try as I might, I just didn't take a fancy to, until I heard their work with Billy Bragg on the Woody Guthrie tribute(?) albums Marmaid Avenue 1 & 2. If you've never heard them, do yourself a favour and pick them up (I prefer 1 to 2 but that's just me). Since it's teh weekend, may I also suggest you kick back and relax in front of the tube with a couple of great Wilco-related DVDs: the first is the making-of Yankee Hotel Foxtrot documentary, I Am Trying To Break Your Heart; the second is the making-of Mermaid Avenue documentary, Man in the Sand. Sky Blue Sky is out May 15, by the way.

Wilco, "Impossible Germany"

Wilco: official | Myspace | more mp3s | buy Wilco at Insound
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