Advance Copy

Through legitimate means (I actually paid for them already), I have obtained and listened to advance copies of highly anticipated new releases by Okkervil River, The New Pornographers, and Stars.  Each of these albums were leaked in the previous month and I mostly resisted downloading them, but each of the artists decided that since the albums were out there already, why not give fans a way to legitimately purchase and listen to their works instead of waiting for official release dates weeks or months after the leaks appeared.  I think this is an excellent move that helps to deflect a major complaint of "illegal" downloaders - that they can't resist downloading an advance copy of a highly anticipated release, and that when it comes out in reality, it feels anti-climactic to purchase a hard copy of an album, especially if you didn't really like it or were already tired of it.  So this is a really cool way to get the downloads immediately and then get the hard copy a few weeks or months later, but with the purchase already made.  The only downside is that I can't post any of the great new songs I'm listening to, because (a) the labels would make me take them down immediately, and (b) that defeats the whole purpose of paying for advance copies.

So here are the approved release tracks, some of which have already been posted on my site anyway.  But have a listen...

• Download The New Pornographers - "Myriad Harbor".mp3
• Purchase "Challengers"
  
  • I'm absolutely loving Challengers.  It's my favorite New Pornographers release to date (admittedly I was never much a fan of anything but the Dan Bejar tracks before).  "Adventures in Solitude" is absolutely gorgeous, while "All the Old Showstoppers", "Go Places" and the epic "Unguided" have found their way onto my iPod repeat list all month.  In addition, there's hardly a weak track in the bunch.  The only downside is the three Bejar tracks are not as brilliant as I'd hoped, but are still quite good.

• Download Stars - "Take me to the Riot".mp3
• Purchase "In Our Bedroom After the War"
  
  • I'm not entirely positive what to make of Stars and the new album.  Previous release, Set Yourself on Fire, which I thought I loved, had one absolutely wonderful track "Your Ex-Lover is Dead" and very little else that I actually loved.  The remix album that came out earlier this year was hit and miss.  And I've never even heard much of their earlier album material on Nightsongs and Heart.  So on the bright side, I really like the new album.  On the downside, nothing has stood out like "Your Ex-Lover is Dead."  But I think this is cohesive and very strong release that goes off in original and unexpected directions musically. 
  • There is an unfortunate song or two, including one in which Torquill actually sounds like he's channeling Michael Jackson ("The Ghost of Geonva Heights"), which is rather disturbing.  And later he's channeling Antony from Antony & the Johnsons ("Barricade"), which I guess is interesting, but still a little unsettling.  But otherwise, it's pretty excellent.  And the male/female interplay on songs like "Midnight Coward" and "Personal" is rather great.  Other standouts include the closing title track "In Our Bedroom after the War", "The Night Starts Here", and "Take Me to the Riot".

• Download Okkervil River - "Our Life is Not a Movie or Maybe".mp3
• Pre-order "The Stage Names" and download the full album today at Jagjaguwar
  • Umm... what?  Well, I wasn't expecting this.  A rather extreme departure from their incredible songs immersed in death and darkness, this new album actually starts off with a trio of borderline "sunny" songs, including a third track "A Hand to Take Hold of the Scene" that actually uses a tamborine and sounds like it would fit in the Spoon canon.  Seriously.  Hence, the what?  But you know, I absolutely love the new album.  Nothing can maybe compare with Okkervil's amazing Black Sheep Boy collection, but that doesn't mean Will Sheff needed to go back and repeat what he's already done.  He branches out so dramatically that it's a little jarring at first.  Is that even his voice singing on amazing second track "Unless It's Kicks"?  But I can't stop listening to the album.  So that's a good sign.
  • Opening track is the brilliant "Our Life Is Not a Movie", which may actually be better here than in previous versions.  Then comes the rollicking "Unless It's Kicks" which is sort of an upbeat, pop version of "For Real" if that makes any sense.  The Spoon-esque track follows, and then the only truly downbeat tracks "Savannah Smiles" and "A Girl in Port" surround the wonderful "Plus Ones".  The closing three tracks are bombastic pop/rock tunes, with only the glorious "Title Track"s moody moments providing a sense of old school Okkervil River a la "A Glow" or "A Stone" or "A King and a Queen."  The final track is a play on an old sea shanty that is either a risky failure or another wonderful moment.  I can't quite decide.
  • Long story short, this is not the expected Okkervil River, nor what I necessarily wanted out of the them, but it's still great and maybe among the best albums of the year.
• Here's some tracks not from the new album because no one can ever get enough of Okkervil and I want you to pre-order the album above.
• Download Okkervil River - "Love to a Monster".mp3
• Download Okkervil River - "Westfall (live)".mp3
• Download Okkervil River - "Red (live)".mp3

Comments

[wayne]

What I have heard of Challengers I really love, it's nice that they have tried to stretch out a bit. I can't wait to hear the album in full. I have listened to the Okkervil River a lot, and I agree it is not BSB but it is still a great album. Will has never sung better, nor has he ever written a catchier song then Unless It's Kicks. And the closing 2 tracks are stunning. I haven't heard the Stars album, I think I will wait until the official release date.

[Bill]

I agree, the more I listen to the Okkervil album, I'm loving it, even though it's a big departure, and Will's voice is certainly different and probably better, even if a little jarring. I definitely think this will be in my top 5 at the end of the year.

[Enough Already]

How many more top cyclists have to get kicked out before you stop writing/reporting on the Tour de Cheaters?