This week’s albums ft Joanna Newsom, The Knife and Frightened Rabbit

Howdy!

‘Tis the first of March, and what a bumper first of March it is, albums-wise. SO ON WITH THE SHOW.

Joanna Newsom - Have One On Me

THOSE NICE FOLKS AT MPR HAVE A STREAM HERE. NO LOVELY WIDGET. SORRY.

It probably says much about the esteem held for the fragrant la Newsom that there was nary an eyebrow raised when she announced a triple disc follow up to the already ‘quite ambitious’ Ys. And here it is, and it’s good, yeah. Well, I’ve only listened to the first five hours or so, but still.

The Knife in collaboration with Mt Sims and planningtorock - Tomorrow, in a Year

Bunch of European oddballs and exiles attempt to tell entire story of creation via medium of monolithically bleak hour and a half of dissonant electronic noises.

Frightened Rabbit - The Winter of Mixed Drinks

THIS TIME YOU’LL HAVE TO HEAD TO MYSPACE FOR A BUTCHERS.

More soaring blub rock from the band who are the answer to any general knowledge question starting ‘which Selkirk band...’. Drink pints, hug your besht mate, listen on repeat and weep manfully. Even if you’re a lady. ESPECIALLY if you’re a lady.

Blood Red Shoes - Fire Like This

Formed some time around the Great Depression, Blood Red Shoes were originally signed by Sean’s great grandfather, tipped for success in 1952, but only finally released their debut album Box of Secrets in 2008, to which the world responded with a faintly hostile “is THAT it?”. Then they wrote this and it was much better and we’re all happy.

Polar Bear - Peepers

We end the day’s streams on an upbeat note. Remember 2005? No, me either, but I do dimly recall the sneers directed at Polar Bear’s presence on the Mercury Prize shortlist. THEY’RE JUST THE TOKEN JAZZ BAND, quoth the indie establishment, incuriously. But with Peepers the jazz discrimination seems to have finally ended, possibly thanks to Seb Rochford’s comforting mane, possibly just because they’re really, y’know, good.

ALSO OUT TODAY

Air Formation - Nothing To Wish For (Nothing To Lose)

Alphabeat - The Beat Is

Archie Bronson Outfit - Coconut

Cliffordandcalix - Lost Foundling

Errors - Come Down With Me

Ellie Goulding - Lights

The Kissaway Trail - Sleep Mountain

My Brightest Diamond - Shark Remixes

Sambassadeur - European

So So Modern - Crude Futures

These Monsters - Call Me Dragon

Tunng - And Then We Saw Land

Two Door Cinema Club - Tourist History

VoicesVoices - Origins