It's just past mid-January, but in terms of what will eventually be known as "The Year in Music," 2009 begins this week. It's the first big new release date of the year on Tuesday, boasting releases from some familiar names-- some among today's best and brightest, in fact. Releases from Andrew Bird, Animal Collective, Bon Iver, A.C. Newman, and Antony & the Johnsons all drop this week, and we'll hear from all of them on the Sunday night edition of In House.
Noble Beast is the eighth full-length release from Andrew Bird, who one might call a singer-songwriter though the label hardly begins to sum him up. His second release for the Fat Possum label steps back a bit from the occasionally electronic textures of 2007's Armchair Apocrypha, relying on a more organic mix of his unorthodox violin playing, heady lyrics, and good old fashioned whistling. The result is a fresh and shimmering collection of songs from an artist who is quickly showing himself to be a visionary of sorts, albeit an unlikely one. Andrew Bird comes to Portland's Roseland Theater with a full band on February 21st.
Stream:Useless Creatures (Included with the deluxe version of Noble Beast)
Also out this week is the second solo effort from New Pornographers co-honcho A.C. Newman, generally referred to as "Carl" while fronting that band. Get Guilty is the follow-up to the rather outstanding The Slow Wonder (an album that, hard to believe, was released five years ago already). Maybe true to his debut's title given that space, but more likely kept plenty busy by his Canadian supergroup, Newman's solo work isn't a grand departure from his New Pornographers output, with catchy, hook-filled songs riding along on melodies inspired by power pop's golden years. Newman comes to Portland's Doug Fir on February 22nd.
MP3: A.C. Newman, from Get Guilty-
"Submarines of Stockholm"
It's a generally eclectic assortment of acts on stages this week, including The Meat Puppets, who bypass Portland for Eugene's WOW Hall, but tab locals The Shaky Hands to open for them on several upcoming dates.
Speaking of shaky, the Meat Puppets' future was once that at best with the Brothers Kirkwood dealing with a host of issues. Cris Kirkwood, in particular, has weathered his share of stormy events, including a well-publicized heroin addiction and the overdose death of his wife, and a bizarre run-in with a post office security guard that left him shot in the back and in prison. Following his release in 2006, the Kirkwoods announced plans for a regrouping of sorts and began work on a new album, their eleventh, called Rise to Your Knees and released in 2007.
Elsewhere this week X offshoots The Knitters come to Dante's on Wednesday night, along with Dead Rock West and Power of County. We're not sure if there's something new from them in the works or not, but The Knitters changed their status as a one-off act by releasing a follow-up in 2005 roughly twenty years after their debut. As for the lineup, think a slightly dustier X, including John Doe, Exene Cervenka, DJ Bonebrake, Dave Alvin, and Johnny Ray Bartel.
Also, Minneapolis-based Tapes n' Tapes play Wednesday at the Doug Fir; The Walkmen and Beach House play the Wonder Ballroom on Friday; and Los Lobos plays an acoustic show at the Aladdin Theater, also Friday. Keep it tuned to the 24/7 stream throughout the week for our daily concert calendars.
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