New Music: Liars, The Besnard Lakes, Pavement & More

There are a crap-ton of great new albums that just came out today...we're talking double digit number of releases that may be worth your time (and at least a few I KNOW are worth your time). Here are the ones that I can definitely recommend.

The Besnard Lakes - The Besnard Lakes Are The Roaring Night

The Canadian band responsible for my second favorite album of 2007 are back with their sophomore effort. Not to minimize what this band does (they do it extremely well) but if you liked the first record, there is a good chance you'll like this one too. The wall-of-sound rock meets boy-girl indie pop is something that The Besnard Lakes now have down to a science. The highlight of the album is also one of the best songs so far of 2010 in 'Albatross'.



Liars - Sisterworld

I already posted the fantastic video for the first single off Liars new album Sisterworld a few weeks ago. The Brooklyn bands album leaked a long time ago but gets an official release today. As much press as Liars have seem to have gotten for their past couple of albums, I never actually checked them out until Sisterworld. It's got a very industrial feel to much of it and the tone of the album is pretty dark throughout. If you like your rock and roll strange, I suggest you check out the new Liars album. If you're like me, you'll soon be tracking down their back catalog.



Frightened Rabbit - The Winter of Mixed Drinks

You don't need to read that Frightened Rabbit are from Scotland if you've ever heard any of their songs. If you can get past singer Scott Hutchison's thick Scottish accent, you're in for a real treat. Frightened Rabbit could best be described as indie folk but definitely leaning towards the pop side of the spectrum. The music here is fantastic and the lyrics are top notch as well. I've mentioned before how lyrics rarely stand out to me, so that's a high compliment coming from me




Ted Leo & The Pharmacists - The Brutalist Bricks

Many, many shitty pop punks bands have been killing whatever commercial appeal is left in the genre of punk rock. Fortunately there is still Ted Leo & The Pharmacists, who have not only managed to become the torch bearer for what is still good about mainstream punk but managed to do it without losing a bit of integrity. I can't say enough good things about Ted Leo, and this new album just solidifies the fact that he and his band can't seem to do any wrong.




Pavement - Quarantine The Past

I'm not usually a big fan of Greatest Hits albums, but c'mon, it's Pavement. They've certainly got the back catalog to support such an album and it's no surprise that every track on this comp is a gem. There is a bad side to this album, for me at least. I've been so damn excited about scoring tickets to the Pavement show in KC and spinning this album over and over and then realizing that the concert is still six months away. Boo.






Another notable release from today is the new album Echo from The Morning Benders. That one is so good though that it will get it's own post tomorrow or Thursday. Here's a few other albums that are worth checking out that all came out today as well:

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club - Beat The Devil's Tattoo
jj - jj n3
Titus Andronicus - The Monitor
Gorillaz - Plastic Beach

-Matt