This week's new release is all the way from Germany, an acoustic collection with bonus live content, some blues, and a couple compilations. I got a lot of music added in this week, so, on with the show. This week I'm starting up something new - linking directly to a Discogs page with the album in question (where possible, often the bonus tracks aren't officially eligible for the database) so one can see album covers, and other info.
New Releases:
Eisbrecher - Die Hölle Muss Warten
Label: Metropolis Records
Released: 2/14 2012
Genre: Industrial, Industrial Rock, Neue Deutsche Härte
Discogs - Die Hölle Muss Warten US release
For the last couple of years Metropolis has been bringing Eisbrecher's albums over to the US, which is good. One of the many German industrial rock bands that Americans will immediately recognize as the same style of Rammstein. And as much as I like Rammstein they're on the bottom of the pile of bands in this arena. Eisbrecher is very much near the top, formed when one of the members of Megaherz left that band. They aren't as outright heavy and hard as others, which is part of what I like. The oscillate between a crunchy metal sound and a darkwave dance sound. The latest, Hell Must Wait, is no exception, opening with Tanz Mit Mir (there may be a rule about all German bands having to title a song this at some point), it delivers a few heavy punches before calming down and settling into a nice groove. Every album they put out just keeps getting better (though I missed one and have to go back and pick it up).
Recently Released:
Free Dominguez - Unearth (plus bonus Live tracks)
Label: self released
Released: February 2012
Genre: Soft Rock, Rock
Discogs - Unearth
Free Dominguez is the lead singer of Kidneythieves, an industrial/hard rock/darkwave duo. Her solo material is of a decidedly different bent. Soft rock music, most of it just guitar and her singing. Free's voice is easy, flows nicely. She doesn't croon, shout, or attempt to make lighter music sound heavier. It's all very good, very relaxing, very smooth. Most of the tracks on this release are from her previous solo effort, but there's also some newer recordings, and one song specifically for this release. The music spans a great deal of time, and subject matter, but it's all very consistent, very strong.
The live set is available as part of a special order of the album, a three part Acoustic Live set from NYC, on December 29, 2011. It's only available digitally from her website and as part of a package with Unearth. You can hear that it's a rather small intimate setting, and a good clean recording. It's hard to tell if it's from the soundboard and the audience can be heard through the mic, or if it's recorded separately. There's no actual track listing, but she's clear enough you should be able to pick out the songs easily. Very much worth the extra few dollars over buying the CD alone.
Moombah-Thong The New Wave Vol. 2
Label: none (moombah-thong.tubmlr.com)
Released: February 2012
Genre: Moombahton
Moombah! Bass! stripped out of a lot of mid-range noise, not even bothering with breaks and drops sometimes, slowed down house music, often with Latin pieces generously laid over it. Moombahton is one of those extremely dancey genres that can easily make a club night out that much more. Not nearly as fast as the normal pop-dance, industrial, and other club cuts, Moombahton still comes hard and low, and this compilation put out by a bunch of producers is no exception (don't visit their tumblr at work, it's NSFW due to posts always coming with a pantie, or thong, shot. Very clever). The compilation flows extremely well, each song fits next to the other perfectly, a real DJ got a hold of this, not just any old producer. You could put this on and not even worry about it for an hour.
Adding To The Collection:
Joe Bonamassa - The Ballad Of John Henry
Label: J+R Adventures
Released: 2009
Genre: Blues, Blues-Rock
Discogs - The Ballad Of John Henry US release
The Ballad Of John Henry is pretty much an American standard classic song, or tale rather. Because there are literally dozens of variations on it. Most of them retell the folk story of John Henry vs the steam hammer. But not all, like the opening track here, which is about a man who doesn't want to end up the same as John, dying by the hammer. After that the album rolls on into Bonamassa's solid blues style. Heavily guitar driven, with Joe's unique voice over it. He even does a solid cover of Tom Waits' Jockey Full Of Bourbon. Fun fact on Waits songs: even when the song is a completely unique cover, you can hear Wait's cadence behind it, Joe does a good job of not mangling this. An excellent album, good, loud blues rock. If you're a fan of the Black Keys, you'll want to be a fan of Joe too.
Electroswing III
Label: Wagram Records
Released: 2010
Genre: Electroswing
Discogs - Electroswing III
In the US it's just easier to get the compilations, and usually a little cheaper too. This is the fourth compilation of the genre I've picked up, the last of the big ones currently out, and the third in this series. This one, unlike the first two, is much more coherent. The songs fit together better. Instead of simply a collection of tracks taken almost at random, someone took a moment to make this compilation flow. And it's got some really really good tracks on it to. The now obligatory Caravan Palace ends the album. Movits! makes an appearance, as does Tape Five (twice!) - both standards on the scene. But a few new names popped up that had me checking around for decently priced imports. In-Grid who is a French pop-star that apparently decided to go full swing for at least one album. Dirty Honkers, a three piece based out of Berlin (but from Israel, Canada, and France). So, with a bunch of compilations under my belt, now it's time to dig around and see if I can't get this stuff in the US...
Next Week:
A bunch of digital EPs I've had hanging around my hard drive looking lost and wanting into the playlist, more blues, some psychobilly, and rumba from the Congo, and some Synth-Pop out of Canada.
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