The start of autumn has brought with it a tremendous flood of anticipated new music releases. The list includes great new albums by Iron & Wine, Joni Mitchell and Chaka Khan. But before we get into them, let's catch up with a couple stellar releases from earlier this month — from indie faves Animal Collective and songwriter-producer Joe Henry.
Former Baltimore kids Animal Collective, whose members have spread all over the world over the course of the psychedelic folk band's indie scene rise during the last few years, follows up their terrific Feels (Fat Cat, 2005) studio release with this month's Strawberry Jam (Domino). Recorded in the Arizona desert, the album's tunes sound twisted, deranged, beautiful and euphoric — at the same time.
Extraordinary sound-and-songsmith Joe Henry's latest studio album, Civilians (Anti) is one of his best yet. Henry, who has produced records for Solomon Burke, Bettye Lavette and Allen Toussaint/Elvis Costello, delivers a set of pensive, sparse and post 9/11-charged songs. The album, released on Sept. 11 of this year, is an advancement of sorts, says Henry. "I feel like I'm moving forward with Civilians," says Henry. "I wouldn't say that it came together effortlessly, but this record certainly feels as if it happened the way it was supposed to."
Iron & Wine, the Floridian singer, songwriter and guitarist Sam Beam's ongoing project, returns with The Shepherd's Dog (Sub Pop), a spooky collection that hums with lyricism and strange guitars. Beam, who appeared at the House of Blues a couple years ago, continues his run of masterful songwriting, gorgeous sounds and hushed atmospheres. There's also some key differences. Like the funk-fueled "Wolves (Song of the Shepherd's Dog)."
Check back soon for other new release reviews, including Khan's Funk This (Sony BMG), Joni Mitchell's return with Shine (Hear Music), Mark Knopler's Kill to Get Crimson (Universal/Mercury) and Bettye Lavette's Scene of the Crime (Anti).