We have our first ever, two time Record of the Week honoree and his name is James Blackshaw. His 2009 album, The Glass Bead Game, was our first ever Record of the Week after the great website redesign of last year. This time it’s his fantastic new album, All Is Falling, that gets the call for Record of the Week.
If you are not familiar with James Blackshaw’s work, he is a 20-something year old guitar prodigy who’s work was deeply rooted in the American Primitivism styling of John Fahey, Robbie Basho and Leo Kottke. As he has continued to put out albums, he’s found himself more and more, composing piano pieces as well as string arrangements to surround his very intricate acoustic guitar work.
With his new album he’s decided to pick up the electric guitar and you can see influence from Phillip Glass to Sandy Bull and comparisons to more modern acts such as Peter Broderick and even Nico Muhly. Instead of song titles, the tracks are listed as parts, giving off the idea that this album is one long piece broken into movements. There isn’t much of a break in the album until the final movement, which also happens to be the longest on the album.
All in all, another absolutely fine effort from James Blackshaw. It’s not often an album comes out and we already eagerly await what he’s going to do next, but with Blackshaw’s musical evolution, we can’t help but be excited what he’s got in store for the future.
Listen to “Part 2″ from James Blackshaw’s All Is Falling
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Honorable Mentions
Christian Mistress – Agony & Opium (20 Buck Spin)
Our honorable mention could have very well of been Record of the Week as well. It’s refreshing when a record comes around these days and you can only describe it with two words: heavy metal. Christian Mistress’ debut album, Agony & Opium, is six tracks of metal played the way the it should be played. Hearkening back to the sounds of Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, and maybe even Megadeth, this album is an absolute for any fan of NWOBHM.
Listen to “Split Minute” from Christian Mistress’ Agony & Opium
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Wavves – King of the Beach (Fat Possum)
Best Coast – Crazy For You (Mexican Summer)
Jaill – That’s How We Burn (Sub Pop)
Grizzly Bear’s Daniel Rossen,alongside Fred Nicolaus, returns with side project, Department of Eagles. This time around, we’re treated to sketches of what ultimately became their debut album, In Ear Park. There are songs on here that you aren’t exactly sure why they weren’t used as they sound like they would have been right at home on a Grizzly Bear album. All in all, it’s a great snapshot of a band that we unfortunately won’t hear much from as Grizzly Bear is full steam ahead for the time being.
Brad Rose has been performing under the North Sea moniker for some time now and his sound has evolved with each release. And he certainly puts out releases as I think this is his 26th full length. He has ventured into the darker realm of music the past year, calling to mind Throbbing Gristle or Whitehouse. Certainly not a noise record, this dark ambient record is one of the most disorienting and frightening albums you’ll hear in some time and is damn near perfect.
Integrity has returned for what is probably it’s 100th different line-up but Dwid is still the creative force behind the band. Every time I see there is a new line-up, I go into the album with zero expectations. After all, Integrity 2000 did happen. Ugh. Well, The Blackest Curse was a huge surprise as the solo’s that were former guitarist Aaron Melnick’s specialty, are there in spades and the influential Cleveland metalcore band’s spirit remains intact. Killer album.
The new, vinyl only EP, from store favorite Kurt Vile is a bridge between his excellent full length that came out last year, Childish Prodigy, and his upcoming full length coming this Fall. The songs on here range from upbeat acoustic folk numbers, such as the opening track “Ocean City”, to some of his trademark, long playing, lo-fi sounds on the track “Invisibility Nonexistant”. All in all, another great effort from our favorite weirdo in music.
Damien Jurado have been putting out records for what seems like forever now, and he is showing no signs of slowing down. This time around he has enlisted fellow labelmate, Richard Swift, to handle production and we have to consider it an all around success. Much more hopeful sounding from the usual sad-bastard stylings of Jurado, this is one of his finest efforts in years.
The fourth full length from one of my favorite Type Records artists, the Alps return with Le Voyage. Bringing to mind the sort of kosmische sounds of Popul Vuh and Cluster, the Alps have gone towards a bit more of an organic sound with this record which harkens back to the bands roots of being part of the Jewelled Antler collective. Absolutely essential for any fan of psychedelic rock.
