Breaking Records! - The Black Keys - Attack & Release

The Black Keys have a new CD coming out on April 1st. I have been a big fan of The Black Keys since I first heard their album Thickfreakness in 2003. In 2006 they put out an album (Magic Potion) and an EP (Chulahoma) that both placed among my favorite albums of 2006.

The Black Keys are a two-piece blues rock duo from Akron, OH. They are often compared to The White Stripes, but I feel like they are much dirtier, funkier and a lot less experimental (in this case, that's a good thing). They have released 4 albums and 2 EPs since 2002.

Now they are back and they are bringing with them the mastermind producer behind The Grey Album, Gnarls Barkley and The Gorillaz 2nd album, Demon Days.

This also appears to mark the first time anyone has played on a Black Keys album that isn't drummer Patrick Carney or guitarist/vocalist Daniel Auerbach. Specifically, Patrick's uncle Ralph Carney who has played various instruments (but mostly sax and clarinet) on half a dozen Tom Waits CDs as well as the B-52's and other projects. Also joining them is the amazing Marc Ribot who has also played with Tom Waits a lot, as well as John Zorn, Medeski, Martin and Wood and Elvis Costello along with his own fantastic group, Marc Ribot y Los Cubanos Postizos.

Well, the first single from Attack & Release has been released. This is Strange Times.

New CD Releases - 2008.02.05

New CD Releases
2008.02.05

Pick Of The Week:

Paul Weller - Wild Wood Deluxe



I haven't heard this actual disc yet, but I've probably heard all the tracks on various bootlegs. This is worth the price of admission just for the Portishead remix of Wild Wood.


Adele - 19



Hmmm...I thought this was out domestically today, but it looks like it's only out in the UK. I'm sure it'll get here eventually. I found most of this album pretty boring. Mostly quiet, mellow soul songs. However, the 2nd track, "Best For Last" is pretty damn amazing.


Sheryl Crow - Detours



Crystal Method - Drive



Hot Chip - Made In The Dark



Jack Johnson - Sleep Through The Static



Lenny Kravitz - It Is Time For a Love Revolution



Nada Surf - Lucky

New DVD Releases - 2008.02.05

New DVD Releases
2008.02.05

Pick of the Week:


Assassination of Jesse James



2 Days In Paris



Across The Universe



Blind Dating



Blonde and Blonder



Brave One




Descent



Elizabeth - The Golden Age



Feast Of Love



Great World Of Sound




I started watching this one and was really enjoying it, but I haven't had a chance to pick it pack up yet. Sure to be worth a rental, just on the first 20 minutes.

Weirdsville

Monthly Favorites - January 2008.

DVDs

#1

Zodiac - The Director's Cut (2-DVD Version)



#2

Right At Your Door



#3

The Real Dirt On Farmer John



#4

Eagle Vs. Shark



#5

Shoot Em Up




CDs

#1

Dub Trio - Another Sound Is Dying




#2

This Will Destroy You - S/T




#3

Vampire Weekend - S/T




#4

Drive By Truckers - Brighter Than Creation's Dark




#5

Dengue Fever - Venus On Earth

New CD Release - 2008.01.29

New CD Releases
2008.01.29

Pick Of The Week:

Dub Trio - Another Sound Is Dying



Another fantastic CD from the dub/rock/metal/funk instrumental band.

Beck - Odelay (Deluxe)



If you're a Beck completist like me, there's only two tracks you won't have.

Joe Jackson - Rain



Completely boring and worthless.

Louis XIV - Slick Dogs and Ponies



Shelby Lynne - Just A Little Lovin'



Mars Volta - The Bedlam in Goliath



Sons and Daughters - This Gift



Vampire Weekend - Vampire Weekend



This band has gotten a LOT of hype, and I find it completely worthy of it.

Chris Walla - Field Manual



This is one of the dude from Death Cab For Cutie

Xiu Xiu - Women As Lovers

New DVD Releases - 2008.01.29

New DVD Releases
2008.01.29

Pick Of The Week:

Right At Your Door



Great little independent film about a terrorist attack in L.A. This film was at Sundance is 2007 and had a small theatrical release.

Bordertown


Coma



Documentary about brain injury patients coming out of their comas.

Comebacks



Invasion



I was extremely bored with this. I didn't really finish it, I just fast forwarded through it.

Ira & Abby



For a romantic comedy, this was actually pretty entertaining.

King Of California


A passable film. Nothing particularly worth recommending in this one.

King Of Kong



I couldn't get into this the way a lot of people seem to. An entertaining watch, but nothing spectacular.

Ladron Que Roba a Ladron



The Nines



I heard from people that loved or hated this. There's some interesting stuff, but not really worth recommending.

Quiet City & Dance Party, USA



I saw Dance Party, USA at the Chicago Underground Film Festival. While I absolutely hated the main character and a decent amount of the dialogue, Aaron Katz's cinematography is very interesting and I'm looking forward to checking out his second film, Quiet City.

Rocket Science



I only lasted about 30 minutes before I shut this off. Whenever people complain that Little Miss Sunshine and Juno being quirky to be quirky, this is what they're really talking about.