Pop
Erin McCarley – Love, Save the Empty (released Jan. 6)
The name Erin McCarley may not ring a bell, but viewers of TV shows like “Kyle XY,” “One Tree Hill” and “Grey’s Anatomy” have likely already heard the silky-smooth vocal prowess of the 29-year old singer/songwriter.
Her first single from the new album “Pony (It’s OK)” was available for free on iTunes and the hype surrounding the album suggests that McCarley’s name may start ringing bells in the very near future.
Erin McCarley on myspace.com
My Dear Disco – Dancethink Music (released Jan. 13)
Few current bands embrace dance music. Even fewer would dare put the word “disco” in their name.
Michigan-based My Dear Disco embraces dance beats and cheesy keyboards sounds to shape their butt-shaking, groove heavy songs. Their live shows have earned the group a small, but devoted following. The band will appear at the hippie-heavy Wakarusa Music Festival this summer in Arkansas along with bands like Sound Tribe Sector 9 and the Digable Planets.
My Dear Disco on myspace.com
Rock
Derek Trucks Band – Already Free (released Jan. 13)
Rock and Roll runs in Derek Trucks veins.
His uncle Butch Trucks helped found The Allman Brothers Band, one of the seminal forces in what is now called Southern Rock. Derek now finds himself a full member of the Allmans as well as an accomplished and respected solo artist.
The Derek Trucks Band blends a Chicago Blues attitude with jazz-level chops. The resulting concoction sounds like finely polished classic soul.
The new album treads on familiar ground but the songs are good and the musicianship is top notch.
That’s what happens when music is all in the family.
Derek Trucks Band on myspace.com
http://www.myspace.com/thederektrucksband
Animal Collective – Merriweather Post Pavillion (released Jan. 20)
Animal Collective is not a run-of-the-mill garage band.
The band’s sound could perhaps best be described as cosmically melodic and utterly apocalyptic. Needless to say, you won’t be hearing this band on your local top 40’s station anytime soon.
I like trying to name the genre the band plays. I think I have settled on digital art music, but each listen cracks open a new wormhole to explore.
Merriweather Post Pavillion feels like a landmark album. The songs melt into each other and hypnotize the listener with bleeps and blips of all make and model, while the melodies sway, rise and fall. Every note seems to float.
I understand that not everyone will get this, but I do think everyone should give it a shot. Those who dismiss it could possibly miss out on a once in a generation album.
Animal Collective at Rhapsody
Or, the Whale – Light Poles and Pine (released Jan. 20)
Or, the Whale takes their name from the classic novel Moby Dick and the band’s esthetic harkens back to a more literary time – before digital databases and 24-hour news cycles. This band conjures up images of musicians on front porches in the middle of summer.
Light Poles and Pine has been available on the band’s myspace.com page for some time, but will see a wide release Jan. 20. The songs are soulful and earthy. Sweetly blended harmonies over familiar sounding chord progressions recall Robbie Robertson and the boys in The Band kicking around at Big Pink.
The band hopes to finish up their second album later this year, according to the official website.
Or, the Whale on myspace.com