New Music Monday: Brian Wilson, Matt and Kim, The Mountain Goats, and More!

Happy Monday music maniacs! Like new stuff? Great! You’ve come to the right place. Each week all sorts of audiolicious goodies are unleashed onto the masses and this is where they come to be judged. I’ll tell ya what’s good, what’s bad, and what’s a waste of your time. Thanks for stopping by!

The Big News!

First things first – I’m taking next week off so you’re going to have to go somewhere else if you want info on the new, um, Reba McEntire record, Love Somebody. There’s also a new Calexico record, so that should be good. Also, I’m really late this week, and really pressed for time, so I’m gonna make this one quick. And, I plan on resurrecting the whole Worst Album Art of All Time series that I did when this whole shebang was still called 8CN when I get back, so that’s something else to look forward to, I suppose.
Ok, so the BIG news this week is the release of ex/current/ex/current Beach Boy, the great enigma of rock and roll, Brian Wilson’s stupidly titled new album No Pier Pressure. There was a time when this was supposed to be a collaboration with legendary legend Jeff Beck, but that all fizzled out. Instead it features guests like She and Him, Kacey Musgraves, and a few Beach Boys without the last name Wilson. Yahoo Music says the record “offers ample reason to celebrate the extended solo career that has followed his Beach Boys’ journey”. Me, I’m not buying it, haven’t been sold on any of Wilson’s stuff lately. For instance, the song below sounds half finished, like it’s missing something. These guys mail it in.

Tricky Dicky 

Ex-Red Hot Chili Pepper guitarist John Frusciante unveils his first full length under the moniker Trickfinger this week.

The Fun Couple

New Matt and Kim means someone’s gonna be shakin’ dey ass. Have fun!

Failed Novelists

There’s a new album by The Mountain Goats being released this week. It’s about wrestling. I once called John Darnielle a “failed novelist” in a review. The editor did not agree and I had to beg him to keep the accusation in the review. It was a petty fight, but I feel a bit vindicated by this Consequence of Sound review of the new record Beat the Champ: “Darnielle has always been a storyteller first and a musician second”. The Mountain Goats are still about the most important band of the last twenty years or so, and  you should definitely check this new one out.

Metal Mania

Sort of metal sort of not next big thing Royal Thunder unleash their highly anticipated sophomore effort Crooked Doors this week. It’s a doozy, and highly recommended.

My Recommendation

Sounds like this new record from the UK’s The Waterboys is an instant classic. It’s called Modern Blues and it’s getting released in the US this week.

RIP

Two notable rock and roll deaths this week. Condolences to the family of John Renbourne from the British experi-folk outfit Pentangle. who died of a heart attack on March 26. He was 70.

Equally sad news from the Lynard Skynard camp this week, as original drummer Bob Burns was killed in a car wreck on April 3. He was 64.

Next Week

Like I said, I’m out of town next week, but I’ll be back in two weeks with a little new Alabama Shakes action!