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New Releases For The Week Of July 08, 2007
Edited by Jonathan Cohen
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Extending Their Brand
In the grand tradition of the Olsen twins and Disney juggernauts "High School Musical" and "Hannah Montana," a marketing blitz that pushes branded entertainment to the max is on tap for Aly & AJ's new Hollywood Records album, "Insomniatic," due this week.
The teen siblings, whose real names are Alyson Renae and Amanda Joy Michalka, are also stretching their music. Aly describes the collection as "experimental," with a few songs featuring "piano-driven, wall-of-sound, epic productions." The album marks a "big departure" for the duo, AJ adds, yet retains "flavors" from their debut album, "Into the Rush."
Aly & AJ's new, immediate brand partners include Post Honey-Comb cereal, MTV, Wal-Mart and Samsung. Brands like these are surely responding to the ways Aly & AJ have established strong ties with their audience, as well as to the success of "Into the Rush."
All this activity, including the expansion of their sound, is "helping to push our career and brand forward," AJ says. In the process, the duo do not want to alienate any fans. "It's important to not stray from our core," she says. "There is a fine line between being creative as artists and being respectful of fans. We take that fine line seriously."
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Corgan's Comeback
"Is everyone afraid? Has everyone changed?," Billy Corgan sings on "Doomsday Clock," a big, loud rocker in the vein of "Geek U.S.A." from "Siamese Dream." It's the first song on his band Smashing Pumpkins' first album in seven years, "Zeitgeist," due this week via Martha's Music/Reprise.
The set is frontloaded with songs of this ilk, hearkening back to the grunge era with detuned guitars and pounding drums on tracks such as the Modern Rock chart hit "Tarantula," "Orchid" and "7 Shades of Black."
A more nuanced, less abrasive approach is evident on "Never Lost," which has vibraphone and organ tucked into the mix, while "For God and Country" is a bass-driven tune with shades of Depeche Mode-style synth-rock. The album closes with the mostly synth-powered "Pomp and Circumstance," as Corgan's multi-tracked vocals take on an angelic effect.
The Pumpkins, which now feature lone original members Corgan and drummer Jimmy Chamberlin, are on tour throughout the summer in support of the album.
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Almost Famous
Late-blooming indie rock band Spoon had its biggest success five albums into a decade-plus career with 2005's "Gimme Fiction," and an energized fan base is already teed up for "Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga," due this week via Merge.
The album serves as a bit of a crash course for those still discovering the band. Through 10 songs and 36 minutes, "Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga" plays out like a condensed primer on the band's history. Opener "Don't Make Me a Target" delivers the choppy guitar/keyboard minimalism that has been Spoon's trademark, while "You Got Yr. Cherry Bomb" and "Finer Feelings" are effortless slices of retro, soul-tinged pop.
"We just wanted it to be the most hardcore, solid Spoon record we could make," frontman Britt Daniel says. "We had some other songs, but I just felt like these 10 songs were hit after hit."
The band's gradual build has attracted the attention of many an outside label, but Daniel is not easily swayed. "We were approached heavily by some heavy hitters who did not walk delicately," Daniel says. "All it boils down to is this: I still think Merge is the best situation for us. I like the guerrilla aspect of eight people in an office building in North Carolina putting out your record. It feels real."
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'Love' Is All Around
Interpol doesn't stray far from the formula that helped its first two Matador albums sell more than 1 million copies combined on the new "Our Love To Admire," due this week via Capitol. First single "The Heinrich Maneuver" is a peppy kiss-off to an ex-love now residing on the opposite coast and is No. 13 this week on Billboard's Modern Rock chart.
The band is on familiar footing with tracks like the tense "No I in Threesome" ("Maybe it's time we give something new a try," frontman Paul Banks sings) and the relentless "Mammoth," which are loaded with Daniel Kessler's simple, repeated guitar riffs and Carlos D's powerful bass underpinnings.
There are some new sonic experiments; the album begins with the funereal, nearly six-minute "Pioneer to the Falls," featuring Jim Morrison-esque crooning from Banks, and wraps with another unusually ambient piece, "The Lighthouse." Hints of soul creep in on the spaced-out "Rest My Chemistry" ("I've slept for two days / I've bathed in nothing but sweat," Banks sings) and "Pace Is the Trick."
Interpol begins a North American tour July 19 in Rochester, N.Y., followed by international festival dates through late August.
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Additional titles hitting stores this week include:
The first new studio album in 14 years from Australian rock outfit Crowded House, "Time on Earth" (ATO).
A new album from veteran rock duo They Might Be Giants, "The Else" (Idlewild/Rounder).
Of-the-moment producer Mark Ronson's "Version" (RCA), with guest turns from Amy Winehouse and Lily Allen.
Gypsy rock outfit Gogol Bordello's "Super Taranta" (Side One Dummy).
A two-disc set of rare tracks from late U.K. singer/songwriter Nick Drake, "Family Tree" (Tsnuami Label Group).
The Sub Pop debut from comedian Patton Oswalt, "Werewolves and Lollipops."
New albums from punk acts both new (Against Me, "New Wave," Sire) and old (Bad Religion, "New Maps of Hell," Epitaph).
German electronica artist Ulrich Schnauss' "Goodbye" (Domino).
The latest New West releases from former Drive-By Truckers guitarist Jason Isbell ("Sirens of the Ditch") and the reunited Buffalo Tom ("Three Easy Pieces").
New York-based singer/songwriter Jesse Harris' "Feel" (Velour).
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Atlanta rapper T.I. tries a little bit of everything on his new album, "T.I. vs. T.I.P.," due this week via Grand Hustle/Atlantic. The set features guest turns by Eminem, Nelly, Jay-Z and Busta Rhymes as well as production from Timbaland, Scott Storch, Mannie Fresh, Wyclef Jean and Just Blaze. On it, T.I. raps both as himself and as his alter ego, T.I.P.
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Kelly Rowland's new album, "Ms. Kelly," was originally due in 2006. "It was dragging too much," Rowland recalls of listening to what she terms the album's "first draft."
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After scrapping the original May 29 release date, Velvet Revolver returns this week with its second RCA album, "Libertad." First single "She Builds Quick Machines" has already become a fast hit on Billboard's rock charts.
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