My Inland Empire

Well I started off with three albums and it just grew throughout the day so here's six albums I think everyone should give a couple of spins too in the next couple of days.


Annuals - Be He Me

Yes I know this is a repost but I was shocked that only 52 people have downloaded this absolutely amazing album, it's a travesty! I woke up this morning and put on my Annuals t-shirt (my only band t-shirt) and listened to them on the boat to the beach, and just renewed my love of them. I've only seen them twice, Glasto and McCarren Pool NYC, and both times they were playing outdoors, but still they were electric, three drummers really add something to it, it's just a pity the drums aren't so prominent in the album. For a general description of Annuals, think Arcade Fire but better and spunkier, by the way I love Arcade Fire.
Extremely Recommended





Joanna Newsom - The Milk-Eyed Mender

If you've frequented certain music sites in the past year you wouldn't have missed the spectacular reviews for Joanna Newsom's Ys album. Well I think this album is so much better than Ys, Ys is good but M-EM is brilliant. Newsom is a classically trained harpist who mixes folk and bluegrass into indie rock, kind of. Its a wonderfully sweet and beautiful album, almost fairy-tale like. I'm seeing her at the Royal Albert Hall this September and really am so excited, last time she apparently played Ys through with an Orchestra and for the second half played with her band most of this album.
Essential






Devandra Banhart - Rejoicing in The Hands

New Weird America's figure head is Banhart, this prolific folkster makes off-track slightly loopy but unselfconscious poetic music. His tenor voice and edgy, angular guitar superbly portray Banharts imagination to the listener. An utterly hypnotic album which draws you in from start to finish.
Extremely Recommended





Four Tet - DJ-Kicks

This also got played on the way back from the beach and was a last minute up. Four Tet, Kieran Hebden, started out as a break from post-rock band Fridge, with Adem as well, and evolved into a highly respected DJ. In this album he mixes seamlessly Electronica, Syclops, into Soul, Curtis Mayfield, into Indie Pop, Sterolab, into Animal Collective into Hip-Hop, Group Home. It's an amazing album and definitely his best mix album and just shows how amazing and eclectic he is.
Essential





The World/Inferno Friendship Society - Red-Eyed Soul

With possibly one of the more unintelligible names for a band I've seen, this Cabaret art-punk collective have brought out their most accessible album with it's most danceable and pop-py tunes. Infectious and fun with the keyboardist from The Hold Steady among their ranks.






Toumani Diabate's Symmetric Orchestra - Boulevard de l'Independence

The self taught Kora Genius from Mali's latest album yet again showcases his amazing talent. An internationally respected artist who has played all over the world.

Yes, I've rather run out of steam now.