I am so in love with some of this week’s new releases, I want to lavish them with gifts, give them a pedicure and make sweet, sweet love to them. There is no doubt that at least one of these albums will be present in my future “Best of 2010” list. Fasten your seatbelts and, remember, I called dibs.
Serge Gainsbourg‘s daughter has certainly grown up to be quite the fine young artist. She teamed up with Beck on this absolute stunner of an album. While you can definitely hear his influence, it isn’t overpowering to the point of not being distinctly Charlotte. She’s like a more French, more seductive St. Vincent. This album is already on my hot tamale train.
These indie pop darlings make beautiful dreamy music. The Baltimore duo’s sounds have an uncanny ability to be slow, smooth and yet, not boring.
My obsession with Ms. Griffin goes back to 1995 when I was interning at a local cable station and a song of hers came up every now and then over neighborhood announcements. She is, without a doubt, one of the best songwriters of the last 50 years (don’t take my word for it, ask the musical nerds over at NPR and see what they say). This tiny, red-headed lady can play guitar with the best of them and has one of the biggest voices filled with soul and passion. In my eyes she can do no wrong; I don’t even care if this is a more religious album than I’m used to. If you really want to treat your ears, start with her 1996 work, Living with Ghosts.
It’s been a while since we last heard from Corinne, who unfortunately had to cope with the tragic loss of her husband after a drug overdose. She has channeled the grieving process into this album , which seems like a worthy catharsis.
This is a great debut EP from bluesy-folksy out musician Daphne Willis. Not only does she have a great sound — she also happens to have a kind spirit, as I’ve been lucky enough to experience first hand.
Honorable mentions are new releases from Basia Bulat, Aziz Ansari‘s comedy album, The Magnetic Fields, Barry Manilow, Maysa and Simian Mobile Disco‘s “Cruel Intentions” remixes, featuring Beth Ditto.
