July 3, 2009 - The Austin Chronicle

WATERLOO RECOMMENDSGREAT NEW MUSIC AT GREAT PRICES & OUR 100% GUARANTEETORTOISEBeacons of Ancestorship (Thrill Jockey)Their first new record in over five years. Tortoise havebeen expanding the definition of rock music for over fifteenyears. "Beacons" gives nods to techno, punk, electro,lo-fi noise, cut up beats, heavily processed synths, andmournful, elegiac dirges..LP Available$13.99 CDMATT & KIMGRAND (Fader)MATT & KIM are the real retro deal! While their upbeatdancepop is modern, their ethic is straight outta the early'80s. They tour constantly, eschew clubs for warehouses andbasements, and even encourage crowd surfing. Matt & Kimare a keyboard-driven power pop duo based out of Brooklyn,New York.$9.99 CD LP AVAILABLETHE MINUS 5Killingsworth (Yep Roc)A recording worthy of the murders committed during itsgenesis? Perhaps. Incoherent yarns mostly told aftermidnight by highway hobos in and around Portland,Oregon? Surely. Killingsworth features an incarnation ofThe Minus 5 including apparatus support poles McOi,Peter Buck (R.E.M.) and John Moen (Decemberists)$13.99CD.WE WERE PROMISED JETPACKSThese Four Walls (Fat Cat)Like fellow Scotsmen Frightened Rabbit and The TwilightSad, We Were Promised Jetpacks bring emotional intensityto the forefront in their immensely appealing rock anthems.Adding nimble, driving rhythms and bristling tension to themix, they unfold their songs into effortless-seeming chorusesimbued with romanticism and pop sensibility.$12.99 CDNEAL E. BOYDMy American Dream (Decca)Capturing the hearts of millions on "America's Got Talent,"Neal makes the transition from television star to bona fiderecording artist with his first collection of personal and movingsongs. Delivered with passion, conviction and incrediblerange, My American Dream captures the heart and soul ofthis singer who has became an unlikely hero to many..$13.99 CDWILCOThe Album (Nonesuch)Wilco (the album) combines the intimacy of its previous studiodisc, Sky Blue Sky (2007), with the experimentation of AGhostIs Born (2004) in a set that boasts strong melodies andgorgeous, often unabashedly pop arrangements.$13.99 CD LP AvailableDINOSAUR JR.The Farm (Jagjaguwar)"Farm" is proof that this band continues to deliver. At timeswholly 70s guitar-epic, at times perfect for sitting by a babblingbrook with Joni and Neil, "Farm" encompasses DinosaurJr.'s signature palette soaring and distorted guitar,unshakable hooks, honey-rich melodies songs that get intoyour head and, bouncing around happily, stay there.$13.99 CD LP AvailableCEUVagarosa (Six Degrees)Beautifully simple melodies, sophisticated complexity ofarrangements, wide-ranging musical references, and thegeneral warmth and attractiveness of her songwriting areall proof of Ceu’s unique talent.$13.99 CDDIANE BIRCHBible Belt (S-Curve)The daughter of a preacher, living between Zimbabwe,South Africa and Australia, before settling in Portland,Oregon, Diane Birch absorbed a unique and very cosmopolitanperspective on life and rapidly cultivated a very individualstyle that defies categorization. The buzz is building asMusic Week announced, "Diane has a voice and songwritingability that will connect with truly global audiences."$8.99 CDPHENOMENAL HANDCLAP BANDPhenomenal Handclap Band (Friendly Fire)Faeturing musicians from TV On The Radio, Jon Spencer BluesExplosion and Amy Winehouse's backing band The Dap Kings,all of whom contribute their individual talents to make for avery exciting whole. Their sound is an anthemic, dancefloor-orientedblend of Progressive Rock, Disco, Electro and '60s Soulwith sprinklings of Hip Hop-styled orchestral breakbeats andmoody, Synth-soaked and heavy hooks.$11.99 CDCLUTCHStrange Cousins from the West (Weathermaker)The first new Clutch studio release in over two years. StrangeCousin's From The West is the band's 9th studio effort, andsecond with producer J. Robbins. It's the first original studiorelease on the band's self-owned label, Weathermaker Music$12.99 CDCOME IN AND LISTEN TO THIS MONTH’S RECOMMENDATIONS CULLED FROMHUNDREDS OF NEW RELEASES. WE FULLY GUARANTEE YOU’LL BE SATISFIED OREXCHANGE FOR EQUAL VALUE MERCHANDISE. PLUS, AS ALWAYS, YOU’REWELCOME TO LISTEN TO ANYTHING IN STOCK!SALE ENDS 7-29-2009 WHERE MUSIC STILL MATTERSMOBYWait For Me (Mute)Liberated from the pressures of trying to please himselfat the same time as the industry, in making Wait For MeMoby decided to forego the expensive studios, state-ofthe-artequipment, big name guest artists, and phalanxesof graphic designers and image consultants that havecharacterized some of his previous albums.LP Available$12.99 CDDigital Downloadsnow available atWaterlooRecords.comLEVON HELMElectric Dirt (Vanguard)Electric Dirt again finds Levon steeped in tradition in hisconnection to the land and those who live by it, but thisrecord goes deeper and wider, incorporating gospel, bluesand soul elements in a bracing collection of originals andcarefully chosen outside songs.$13.99 CDSUNSET RUBDOWNDragonslayer (Jagjaguwar)On Sunset Rubdown’s third full-length the musicianship isunassisted by studio magic, and the songs are left to justifyfor themselves their own screwy pop-rock existence. DoubleLP contains digital download coupon for free MP3s of the fullalbum.LP Available$12.99 CDPATTERSON HOODMurdering Oscar (Ruth St.)2009 sophomore solo album from the leader of the Drive-ByTruckers. The album was produced by Hood and long-timeDBT producer David Barbe (Sugar). Most of his DBT bandmates join him on the album as well as Don Chambers, WillJohnson and Scott Danbom from Centro-matic/South SanGabriel.$12.99 CDSPINNERETTESpinnerette (Anthem)Debut album from former Distillers front woman BrodyDalle. Also including bandmate Tony Bevilacqua and ex-RedHot Chilli Peppers and Queens of the Stone Age membersJack Irons and Alain Johannes, this is a mature, experiencedPunk Rock record with strong melodies and Pop flourishes,which is reminescent of bands such as Siouxsie and theBanshees, Eagles of Death Metal and the Pixies.$11.99 CDLURAEclipse (Four Quarters)Lura takes a loving, soulful look at the diverse range of hercountry's musical heritage, the different Cape Verdean genresfrom coladera to morna to funana and beyond. Full ofverve and energy, but also with some ingenious touches,her voice again soars to a new level.$13.99 CDSWEETBACK SISTERSChicken Ain’t Chicken (Signature )This young group of stellar Brooklyn-based musiciansperforms an incredible array of traditional old-time &honky tonk rock music reminiscent of the 1940's & 50's.Complete with hot licks and sweet girl-on-girl harmonies,they're sure to warm the heart of all you modern daycowboys and girls.$13.99 CDPUBLIC ENEMIES SOUNDTRACKElliot Goldenthal (Decca)Soundtrack includes six tracks by Academy and Golden GlobeAward winning composer Elliot Goldenthal and 8 interpretationsof blues and jazz standards. The highlight of the soundtrackis a a newly recorded version of the standard "Bye, Bye,Blackbird" sung by the incomparable Diana Krall.$13.99 CDDAVY KNOWLES & BACK DOOR SLAMComing Up For Air (Blix Street)After a brief break from two years of non-stop touring, DavyKnowles and Back Door Slam are back with a new albumComing Up For Air, a smorgasbord of rockers and acousticballads, includes an extraordinary bonus track duet withJonatha Brooke. The album is built around nine Davy originals(two co-written with Peter Frampton).$13.99 CDa u s t i n c h r o n i c l e . c o m JULY 3, 2009 T H E A U S T I N C H R O N I C L E 5