Three Fresh Albums To Start The Summer

By Lewis Corson | May 8, 2010 at 11:04 pm | Arts & Culture, Life | 0 comments | |

This spring has been one of the best in recent memory for new music.  This season is loaded with big releases.  If you’ve been disappointed with what 2010 has offered thus far, get ready to change your mind.  Here’s a taste:

The Radio Dept.

Clinging to a Scheme

I can confidently say that Clinging to a Scheme is an album for any occasion –with the exception of a  12′ x 10′ dorm room dance party (usually calls for Jay-Z’s “Empire State of Mind“). Clinging to a Scheme is The Radio Dept.’s first album in over four years and their second studio release in seven. Much of the band’s anonymity in the indie and popular music world can be attributed to their low output rate. Regardless, none of that anonymity has dampened emphatic response from critics for this excellent contribution to the Swedish band’s discography.

The sound could best be described as minimalist dream-pop. The band skillfully produces a short album with dynamic songs, each meandering through an arrangement of tempos and effects within the short breadth of three to four minutes.  Each song harnesses an individual and particular groove, percussion, effects and samples. “Heaven’s on Fire” begins with a quote from Thurston Moore of Sonic Youth discussing his desire to “destroy the bogus capitalist process that is destroying youth culture” only to launch into an up-tempo love song backed by high-pitched synth and horns.  Genius.  From there, the album surprises again, transitioning into a down-trodden track, “Domestic Scene.” Cling to a Scheme is a unique album that is well worth a listen for anyone with thirty minutes to spare.

Key tracks: “Heaven’s on Fire,” “Never Follow Suit”

The National

High Violet

I would be lying if I said that I didn’t think this album was important enough to indie music fans to download (questionable legality aside) prior to its May 11 release. With the most bizarre crew of members since Van Halen, The National is composed of one set of twin brothers, another set of brothers who are a year or two apart in age, and a lead singer all hailing from Cincinnati. The band relocated to the hipster paradise of Brooklyn, New York where each of them worked for a measly salary while recording over the weekends in an attempt to attract the attention of small-time labels. After seven struggling years, The National finally broke through with Alligator (2005) followed by Boxer (2007).

The band is back after a generally misunderstood attempt at The Virginia EP in 2008 with their newest effort High Violet. After a few preliminary listens to the album, it’s fair to say that lead singer Matt Berninger has once again poured his heart and soul into the record. Nicholas Dawidoff from The New York Times Magazine commented on the album:

“[it's story of] a man who isn’t getting any younger, mostly wants to be a good father and husband and employee and friend – and might be happy, but for all that resistance he thinks he keeps it tamped in his own head. He used to be the Great White Hope, the hero of his own box-size living room….[he thinks] about clearing out of the Silver City and going back to Ohio where life is simpler – until [he] gets there and remember[s] why [he] left.”

In “Afraid of Everyone,” the second single from High Violet, we hear Berninger, mumbling like the Tom Waits of our generation. He accepts that he has seen his dreams and aspirations fall by the wayside as he has grown older. But now there are no longer any “drugs to sort it out.” High Violet may not be the cheeriest album to come out this spring but Berninger’s witty self-deprecation and insightful introspection more than make up for it.

Key tracks: “Bloodbuzz Ohio,” “Terrible Love”

Gil Scott-Heron

I’m New Here

Gil Scott-Heron, wowing listeners since 1970,  has done so again with his most recently released album I’m New Here, produced by XL Recordings founder and chief Richard Russell. Scott-Heron pioneered a movement around what became known as proto-rap. With his unique style, he combines traditional spoken word with funk and soul. This style has gone on to influence hip-hop artists like Common and Nas. He also has an infamous criminal record, mostly drug-possession charges, for which he has served over four years of prison time.

Needless to say, I’m New Here is not an album to listen to while sipping on margaritas in the sun. Scott-Heron has used the album as a confessional. He expresses regret and acceptance of his past missteps. The soul legend croons over tracks that blend blues and ambiance on “Me and the Devil” and “New York is Killing Me (featuring Nas).” For Scott-Herron, Death is  a means of escape from the dolor and oppression of urban life. A large part of the album features Scott-Heron’s spoken word talents as he discusses “the ruins of another black man’s life” and him “coming from, what they called, a broken home.” Kanye West’s “Flashing Lights” beat echoing in the background. A listen of I’m New Here is an eye-opening and mentally draining experience. It’s an old man reflecting on the darker portions of his life with a defiant and proud solemnity. We may not have many points of reference as privileged college students, but one listen to Scott-Heron’s comeback album provides us with some insight into the lives of a legendary African-American artists.

Key tracks: “On Coming From A Broken Home (Pt. 1),” “Where Did The Night Go”