"Traditions are imploding and exploding everywhere—everything is coming together, for better or worse, and we can no longer pretend we're all living in different worlds because we're on different continents." —Philip Glass
New Music From Bat For Lashes, Philip Glass, Sword, and More
New music releases for the week of 10-23-2012
Web2Carz Senior Writer
Published: October 23rd, 2012
E
ven though we can't seem to stop listening to "Gangnam Style" on repeat while watching Police Academy 6: City Under Siege with the sound turned down (it's spooky how well the two work together—try it), we managed to pull ourselves away long enough to consider this week's batch of new releases. But rest assured, once we're done we'll be right back to listening to Psy while pretending to sing along in Korean.
 |
Bat For Lashes / The Haunted Man (Capitol) THEY SAY: Third album from British singer/songwriter Natasha Khan, who records under the name Bat For Lashes. WE SAY: Bat For Lashes' sound gets a little more sparse than on previous albums, which puts Natasha Khan's voice more front and center. She clearly doesn't mind being more exposed, as evidenced by the album cover, and the result just reinforces her strengths as a singer and a songwriter. |
|
 |
Peter Gabriel / So (25th Anniversary Deluxe Edition) (EMI) THEY SAY: Deluxe edition of Peter Gabriel's breakthrough solo album, featuring two discs of live material. WE SAY: In their never-ending battle to get people to buy physical media, record companies are pulling out all the stops on these lavish reissues. You can opt for the regular old deluxe edition of Peter Gabriel's 1986 commercial-breakthrough (yes, we know that was 26 years ago, but why quibble over years?) which has the newly remastered album, plus two discs of live recordings for $20, or you can shell out $100 for the "Immersion Box." This super-duper-deluxe edition features the aforementioned discs, plus a CD that demonstrates the evolution of each of the album's tracks from demo to completion, two DVDs of previously unreleased live footage, a DVD documentary, a vinyl edition of the album, and a 12" single with two unreleased tracks. At only $100 its a relative bargain. |
|
 |
Philip Glass / Rework: Philip Glass Remixes (Orange Mountain Music) THEY SAY: Double-disc collection featuring various electronic artists remixing the work of minimalist composer Philip Glass. WE SAY: It says something about just how truly minimal the work of Philip Glass is that, when given the electronic-remix treatment, it actually becomes more complex through the addition of extra beats. Featuring remixes by Beck, Amon Tobin, Cornelius, Pantha Du Prince, Johann Johannson, and others, some of which fully transform the source material, others which simply give it a dance beat. For the most part these remixes prove that when it comes to Glass, less is—in fact—more. |
|
 |
Taylor Swift / Red (Big Machine) THEY SAY: Fourth album from the pop-country music superstar, featuring the smash hit "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together." WE SAY: On Red, Taylor Swift's transformation from nominal country singer to all-out pop star is complete. There isn't much depth to her music, but for catchy disposable pop, Red is hard to beat. Like fast food value meal, this is music that goes down easy and makes you feel slightly remorseful after. Put it this way, Taylor came through Nashville—home to George Jones, Willie Nelson, Hank Williams, and countless other world-class talents—and her greatest musical influence is Shania Twain. |
|
 |
The Sword / Apocryphon (Razor & Tie) THEY SAY: Fourth album from Texas-based stoner rock band The Sword. WE SAY: Ever since the breakup of Kyuss, The Sword have been the standard-bearers of Sabbath-influenced sludge rock. They retain the spirit of 1970s hard rock without sounding like a tribute band. Apocryphone is the band's best effort to date, proving you don't have to go to a Black Sabbath reunion show to hear what good heavy rock sounds like. |
