New Music – Travis, will.i.am, Kanye West, Deathcab for Cutie, Smashing Pumpkins and The Killers

By On 11/09/2008 · 29 Comments · In Uncategorized

Travis, Ode to J. Smith -Â  Before there was Coldplay, before there was Keane there was Travis. This Scottish band has been recording melodic and eclectic Britpop since the mid-90s. They were huge in the UK for a time, but unlike the bands they influenced, have only managed cult status here in the US. The band’s latest–guitar-oriented and harder than past efforts–is downright psychedelic in spots. My favorites: The fuzzy guitar-driven “Something Anything”, the infectious banjo and ticky tacky beat of “Last Words,” and “Song of Self.” I can’t get that bass line out of my head. Amazon iTunes

Only one album caught my fancy this week, so I thought I’d talk about a few new singles.

Deathcab for Cutie – Though the subject matter can be dark and creepy (“I Will Follow You Into the Dark”, “I Will Possess Your Heart”) I’m inevitably drawn to the intricate and clever storytelling of these songs, no matter what the subject matter. Lately I’ve been listening to the bittersweet, “Cath”, the jew single from Narrow Stairs. I also really liked the single before that, the jaunty “No Sunlight.” It’s pop at it’s well-constructed best.   I don’t have this album yet, but I may have to add it to my collection. Amazon

The Smashing Pumpkins – The Pumpkins have a new single this week. “G.L.O.W” is OK, but nothing out of the ordinary. I’m partial to the Pumpkin’s songs with big lush production, like “Tonight, Tonight” or “Thirty-three”. Amazon

The Killers – Spaceman – If you didn’t like The Killers’ last single “Human” you probably aren’t going to like “Spaceman” either.  I happen to like both. Synthesizers make me happy!

will.i.am – A New Day – Did anybody see will.i.am (typing that is a pain in the ass) interviewed on CNN election night? Those “holograms” were freaky and really hokey. “A New Day” is will.i.am’s Reggae-fied ode to president-elect, Barack Obama. He premiered the song on Oprah. You can check out the celeb-filled video after the jump.

Kanye West – Heartless – The sudden death of his beloved mother left Kanye heartbroken. So, it’s no wonder his latest single “Heartless” is cold, sad, and brilliant.

What are you listening to this week?

You tubes and stuff after the jump…

Listen to an mp3 of “Heartless” HERE.

Travis: Song to Self:

Travis: Something Anything

will.i.am – It’s a New Day

Death Cab for Cutie – Cath

Death Cab for Cutie – No Sunlight

No Sunlight

 
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  • http://widyatarina.wordpress.com widz

    will.i.am (gah, it is a pain to type that name lol)’s “It’s a New Day” is really catchy, I’ve got it stuck in my head..

    and I like Kanye’s “Heartless”..but I don’t know whether everyone will like it..I think the response is going to be like his previous single, “Love Lockdown”..
    love it or hate it.

  • http://www.myspace.com/swood1104 Sarah

    I listened to the 30 second clip of Kanye’s “Heartless” last week on iTunes, and liked it a lot better than “Love Lockdown.” I got an iTunes giftcard for my birthday, so I just may have to get that track soon.

    There’s a live version of Sara Bareilles singing “(Sittin on the) Dock of the Bay” that I bought this week. I can’t find a video of it on youtube, but I really like this version. I’d say definitely to check it out if you like her music. :)

  • star

    Butch Walker has a new album out this Tuesday, and the entire thing can be streamed on his imeem page.

    I still hope Butch collaborates with Kelly Clarkson someday!!

  • canadiandcfan

    Right now, I’m crazy for the Twilight Soundtrack. Maybe because I just finished rereading the books over in anticipation for the movie release on the 21st, but its a great soundtrack.

    i think its dark, edgy and perfectly representative of the book.

    another song thats dance-y and incredibly infectious?
    Cry for You- September (I’m a little partial to the US remix, but all are great!)
    makes me want to get up and dance, no matter where I am.. a little dangerous ;)

    all the twilight info:
    http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001ED7C58?ie=UTF8&tag=stepheniemeye-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B001ED7C58

  • cruzceleste

    à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“Something Anything” by Travis…
    Now this is an awesome song… since the other side, Travis somehow lost some of his apeal to me… but this songs is alls kind of awesome… even the video is really cool…

    I still haven ´t listen to the rest of the album, I guess I will now…

  • Dr. Tracey

    I love Travis and I was looking forward to this new CD.
    My favorites so far are Something Anything and Last Words.

  • cheese

    I have everything Travis has done previously, but I’m not sure I’m loving the new album. I downloaded “Something Anything” though.

    I just downloaded Low vs. Diamond’s self-titled album. Love it! Here’s their single, “Heart Attack.” (the video might not appeal to everyone, lol)

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oyqFx8DAKcY

    I love “Spaceman” and “Human” and can’t wait to get my Killers CD on 11/25.

  • leome

    If you didnà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t like The Killersà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ last single à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“Humanà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬  you probably arenà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t going to like à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“Spacemanà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬  either.

    I did not like Human and still don’t, but I’m really liking Spaceman. It reminds me so much of Belle and Sebastian (and that’s only a good thing).

    Late in the game but I’m now discovering Brandi Carlile. The Story was one of the songs of my summer but I didn’t care to listen to the rest of the album. I decided to do it now, and her album – The Story – is my new music of the moment.

  • elisad

    HAHAHA… those holograms are so weird. CNN is funny.

    I just listened to Travis’ new album today(I need the right mood for a new album), it’s great. Love Twilight’s OST, especially the Blue Foundation song. Paramore is the new Evanescence right? I know they’re very hot right now but the first song I heard from them was a cover of My Hero, I thought that wasn’t better than David’s and passed.

  • itsalleternal

    It’s from 1995, but I’ve been listening to this a lot the last week…

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pn-dOvFTq2A

  • http://www.myspace.com/swood1104 Sarah

    Paramore is fabulous. LOVE them. Here are some videos:

    Misery Business

    That’s What You Get

    Decode

  • star

    My favorite Paramore song is “When It Rains.”

    I haven’t bought the Twilight soundtrack yet, but I’m really excited about the movie. (I already got my tickets :laugh_tb: .) I did hear Robert Pattinson’s song. I wasn’t crazy about it; maybe I’d appreciate it more if I was in a depressed mood or something. OMG HE IS REALLY REALLY RIDICULOUSLY GOOD-LOOKING THOUGH.

    “Never Think” by RPattz

  • http://myspace.com/saltwatercures pj

    I love “Love Lockdown.” Is there a way to listen to “Heartless” besides iTunes? I still haven’t looked into fixing my external hard drive where I park all my music.

    Love Travis, Death Cab… I need to check out the new stuff. Haven’t have time.

    Sarah, check out Q-Tip’s (from Tribe Called Quest) new song “Life is Better” feat Norah Jones. I think you’ll like it.

    I listened to the Sara Bareillis version of “Sitting on the Dock of the Bay.” Nice.

  • cheese

    I did not like Human and still donà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t, but Ià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢m really liking Spaceman. It reminds me so much of Belle and Sebastian (and thatà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s only a good thing).

    Hmm, I didn’t really make the connection between Spaceman and Belle and Sebastian, but you’re kind of right. Meanwhile, I keep looking at their page on iTunes willing their upcoming BBC Sessions album to appear, so I finally checked the release date – 11/18!

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CYZPTTgMGCk

  • star

    The Killers cover “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun.” Hee!!

    I didn’t even know “Spaceman” was out until yesterday. I love it!

    What’s with this trend of artists releasing multiple singles to iTunes in the weeks leading up to their album releases, anyway? I feel like Taylor Swift’s entire record is out already…

  • http://myspace.com/saltwatercures pj

    Thanks for the Killers cover of “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun”, Star. I liked it.. Kica LOVED it. She came running and tried to stick her face on the screen. :)

  • dancingqueen

    This week, I’m spinning Seal, Susan Tedeschi, Brett Dennen, a Dutch artist named Sarah Connor, and Shontelle (similar to Rihanna, but a bit more reggae).

    It took me awhile to warm up to “Love Lockdown”, but, I like it . I’ll probably get Kanye’s CD. The 3 I’m most looking forward to, coming in December, are Anthony Hamilton, Brandy & Common.

  • hardkandy

    I love Travis’ new album! They are awesome.

    And it’s not new music but I’ve been digging through my mountain of mp3′s and I’ve been listening to lots of Belle And Sebastian, Green Day and Live the past week.

    And I’ve been listening to lots of Boyce Avenue too, just something about acoustic renditions of popular songs, I can’t stop spinning them =)

  • elisad

    LOL, Boyce Avenue! A friend floves them.

  • hardkandy

    LOL, Boyce Avenue! A friend floves them.

    I don’t want to like them coz I feel like they’re just riding on the popularity of the original singers of the songs they cover, but I can’t help it. Acoustic renditions win me over, anytime.

    I have to listen to their original stuff though. They have an album out as per my understanding.

  • elisad

    I really like acoustic covers of pop songs, I have so many versions of Umbrella LOL. Yeah they have…albums on iTunes. (But…but I still think the best one is Rihanna’s, on AMA.)

  • http://myspace.com/saltwatercures pj

    I really like acoustic covers of pop songs, I have so many versions of Umbrella LOL.

    Me too. Check out Cat Power’s “The Covers Album.”

    Here’s a sample.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CbMeAOTPJzM

    So beautiful and haunting.

  • http://myspace.com/girlgeek mj

    You can listen to “Heartless” HERE.

    Thanks for posting in this thread guys. I love it. There’s a whole big world music out there, if you know what I mean. :) .

  • elisad

    Oh I forgot…Both Jason Mraz(Nov. 18) and Linkin Park(Nov. 25) are releasing live DVDs. I love that more than album(from those who can sing live of course…)

  • http://widyatarina.wordpress.com widz

    And Ià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ve been listening to lots of Boyce Avenue too, just something about acoustic renditions of popular songs, I canà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t stop spinning them =)

    I flove their covers..but haven’t listened to their originals..
    And have you guys listened to Alex Cornell’s Billie Jean and No One? I flove them..Btw, before anyone asks I don’t know whether Alex is related to Chris Cornell..haha LOL.

    Boyce Avenue n Alex Cornell are both on YouTube and you can download Alex Cornell’s mp3 from his Facebook page free…:D

  • Hazehel

    One album I got recently – Goldfrapp’s Seventh Tree which was released earlier in the year. This on the album is one I like the best, not sure about the others -

    Goldfrapp – Clowns
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kS1CW_kiXUI

  • http://www.youtube.com/user/iamthepurplewalrus purplesmile

    What are you listening to this week?

    Other than Sweet Medicine (heh!) and Josiah’s EP (I love iTunes gift cards!), I am still on Justin Nozuka’s Holly and James M’s new CD (which isn’t so bad, after all) and have been sampling some Rachael Yamagata.

    Jason Mraz(Nov. 18)…releasing live DVD

    What? How could I miss this? Or is this the Highline ballroom affair?

    Hey there, hardkandy. I somehow knew you would be in this thread, as usual. Heh. ;)

  • elisad

    ^
    Yeah that’s it~

  • star

    I was just browsing iTunes, and I noticed the track called “Here Comes The…” on the new Butch Walker album features P!nk. So check it out if you’re a fan of hers! ;)