RegnYouth Back in Action

After nearly a month MIA, one of the better MP3 Blogs, RegnYouth, is back in a big way. I think dude posted a good 30 albums in the last two days. He's got a truckload of 2007 releases worth a listen:

Radiohead: In Rainbows
Tuung: Good Arrows
Kanye West: Graduation
Beirut: Flying Cup Club
Fiery Furnaces: Widow City
Jens Lekman: Night Falls of Kortedala
Band of Horses: Cease to Begin
Sunset Rubdown: Random Spirit Lover
The Go! Team: Proof of Youth
Enon: Grass Geysers, Carbon Clouds

Roundup / 20 Worst Songs Ever

First up, you gotta love this collection of the 20 Worst Pop Songs ever recorded. Sure, that's a highly debatable topic, but there are at least 3-4 that I would include on my list. Noticeably absent: "Life is a Highway" by Tom Cochrane (formerly of the Canada band Red Rider, who had a decidedly under appreciated hit with the song "Lunatic Fringe"). That song is quicksand of the mind, but you know what's worse? Snow's "Informer." Both would make my list.

Aside from that, here are a few links I found lying about for discs worth checking out, if you haven't already.

Ween: La Cucaracha
Blitzen Trapper: Wild Mountain Nation
Mastodon: Leviathan
GZA: Liquid Swords
The Hold Steady: Live at Fingerprints EP
Midlake: The Trials of Van Occupanther
Justice: (cross)
Beach Boys: Pet Sounds

New Stuff & Some Led Zeppelin

Here's the new EP from Midlake. If you haven't checked out last year's Trials of Van Occupanther, do yourself a big favor. This new releases features an acoustic take on that album's first cut, plus a couple of leftovers. Word is the band is currently writing and recording the follow-up, which is said to have same 70s rock approach.

Midlake: Oak and Julian EP

If you liked the last Band of Horses, this new album is more of the same. You can definitely hear the presence of all the new members (the last disc was mostly Ben Bridwell and one other guy, who since has left the band... I think). I predict Pitchfork giving this one a 7.5 rating. I'll give a 6 so far.

Band of Horses: Cease to Begin

Here's an all acoustic version (!) of the new Okkervil River release. I didn't even know this existed. Haven't heard this yet, but if you like the new album -- and you should -- this one is worth grabbing for curiosity sake.

Okkervil River: The Stage Names (acoustic version)

Need I say anything else: Best Zeppelin album ever: Houses of the Holy. You be the judge.

The full Led Zeppelin discography.

I posted this one a few months ago, but I wanted to bring it back up since it's probably still the best slice of dance music to get released this year. Just dirty, nasty, bloody disco.

Justice: †

The Hits Don't Stop

With the exception of the Jack White EP, all of this stuff is new or pre-new, so be sure to give it a listen. The one song I've heard from the new Prefuse 73 disc sounds like a return to form after a couple of sub-par (in my opinion) recent outings. Beirut should be an interesting listen at all, for anyone who loved the more developed full-band sound on the recent Lon Gisland EP.

I also posted the new Common, as I figure some of you folks might be interested in hearing that. I just can't get over the fact that Common refers to himself as a "socially-conscious love artist." I mean jesus, talk about over-indulgent self-awareness. Where do people come up with shit like this?

Beirut: The Flying Club Cup
Jack White: Cold Mountain EP
Liars: self-titled (2007)
Prefuse 73: Preperations
Common: Finding Forever
Los Campesinos: Sticking Fingers Into Sockets EP

Essentials

Click on each cover for the corresponding All Music Guide review.

LINKS:
Television: Marquee Moon
Miles Davis: Kind of Blue
The Beatles: Abbey Road
Daft Punk: Homework

Friday Roundup

Here's a bunch of links I gathered from the furthest reaches of the information superhighway, including a bunch of highly anticipated new releases that just hit. I'm especially stoked to check out the new Rogue Wave and Jens Lekman discs when I get home this evening.

NEW:
Rogue Wave: Asleep at Heaven's Gate (2)
Jens Lekman: Night Falls over Kortedala
High On Fire: Death is Communion
Okkervil River: The Stage Names
Iron & Wine: Shepherd's Dog (+ 2 others)
Chromeo: Fancy Footwork

RECENT & CLASSIC:
Of Montreal: Hissing Fauna Are You the Destroyer
Bob Dylan: Blood on the Tracks
Traveling Wilburys: Volume 1
Beirut: Lon Gisland EP
Pinback: (self-tited)
The Stone Roses: (self-titled)
Art Brut: Bang, Bang, Rock'n Roll
M.Ward: Transistor Radio

Odds & Ends for Friday

Here are a few discs I found via other blogs that might be of interest.




LINKS:
Sonic Youth: Daydream Nation
Architecture in Helsinki: Places Like This
Sepultura: Best Of...
T.Rex: Electric Warrior

Roundup

Hello readers -- I'm still here. Sorry, I've been away from the house quite a bit over the last few weeks and haven't had much time to scour for content to post on this mother. Here are a couple of quick links you will hopefully enjoy.



The Jayhawks: Hollywood Town Hall -- Say what you will about Uncle Tupelo, Old 97s, etc -- to me the Jayhawks release of Hollywood was the true watershed moment / tipping point in the whole alt-country movement of the early 90s. This album is an instant classic, and a must-own for any fans of striaght-ahead rock music.



The Thrills: Teenager -- new one from this Irish via Southern Cali band, sounds like most of their other stuff. That means if half excellent and half shite.




Flaming Lips - The Soft Bulletin -- Posting this just in case. You should have this album by now, and if not, then shame on you. Third best album of the 90s? Maybe.

A bunch more:
Ugly Cassanova: Sharpen Your Teeth
Pavement - Slanted and Enchanted
The Smiths: Meat is Murder
Grizzly Bear: Yellow House