. . .and I haven't really even thought of discussing them on my blog yet, but I have wanted to say something.

The first is Andrew Bird's Break it Yourself. I got the super sweet deluxe edition and man, it is gorgeous. Heavy double vinyl, buncha artsy fartsy packaging, hand numbered — beautiful. Haven't watched the DVD yet, but the album is just incredible. I can't say right now where it stands in the bigger picture of his catalogue, but it feels like he is more unique than ever on this album. The subtle creativity is what's really great about it. Just the atmospheres that he creates in his songs are something unfamiliar and fresh, but masked behind the guise of a sort of roots rock presentation. His lyrics are a little less dense this time and the songs are all the better for it. Really into it. Been playing it a lot.

The other is Poor Moon's Illusion EP. This is Christian (bass) and Casey (keyboards) from Fleet Foxes. Sub Pop was giving it away on digital for about a day or two. Not sure why it's gone now (they're back to offering the 'People In Her Mind' digital single for free; go here: http://www.subpop.com/artists/poor_moon — requires an email address), but I'll still be buying the vinyl when it comes out. I am glad that I was able to get it, because now I will have a reference point when I go see them in a couple weeks. Anyway, it's really good, but short! It has a very Buffalo Springfield, late 60's roots rock sound to it that I of course love. It does exactly what an EP is supposed to do: present a snapshot of a band doing its strengths in as little time as possible. And that's what's great about it: only at sixteen minutes short, it feels very cohesive and creates a wonderfully eerie atmosphere. I guess it will inevitably invite comparisons to Fleet Foxes and while there are some harmonies about, its really a much more concise overall presentation (but I will admit that there are shades of similarities). Tuneful and moody, with a great layered approach (especially on 'Anyplace' and 'People In Her Mind') and book-ended by two sparse acoustic numbers, creating a really solid listen. I was excited as hell after just hearing 'People In Her Mind' a month ago, but now I'm just kind of shocked at how good this thing actually is.

Good ones, I say.

~Austin

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