"Mine Smell Like Honey" & "Helplessness Blues"

Two very special links to end the month. First, the new song of the awaited comeback from Fleet Foxes, "Helplessness Blues" -you also have a download option if you prefer-.

http://soundcloud.com/bella-union/fleet-foxes-helplessness-blues







And, as an exclusive -European fans cannot watch it yet-, the official video of "Mine Smell Like Honey" the first single from "Collapse Into Now". R.E.M. is back!! The bad news is that the band has no intention of touring this time...

http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid60485628001?bckey=AQ~~,AAAAABumiUU~,CmZu1qzq0Nw3UXXcjNZT7puzP-7CIsu7&bclid=60491244001&bctid=771902824001
(sorry for the long link, but as I said it's an unofficial source)

"The King is Dead", long life to The Decemberists

The King is Dead- The Decemberists


To me, "The Hazards of Love", was the first failure from a band with an almost inmaculate career. The album went too far, making the Portland group dangerously approaching into "progressive rock" territory. So "The King is Dead" is refreshing in its immediacy and lightness. Welcome back hooks, welcome back choruses to sing out loud. Welcome back melodies.

Their sixth record flows easily during its 40 minutes. On the gently and soaring ballads -"Rise to Me" and the two hymns "January and June"-, Colin Meloy reaches disarming climaxes with simple melodies and his voice joined by Gillian Welch. And on the strongest folk-rock songs, Peter's Buck contribution emerges to give The Decemberists the impulse to deliver the two masterpieces of the album. The joyful jangle of "Calamity Song" and the thunderous guitars of "Down by the Water", bring us back to R.E.M's glorious past, and places both tunes among the greatest of the band's catalogue.

It might not be as unique and special as "Picaresque" was, and it may have a couple of  "minor" songs-, but overall "The King is Dead" is a magnificient record, and proves the alt.country/americana "touch" fits pretty well to The Decemberists, who in return, have never sounded so confident and joyful. Long life to The Decemberists. Long life to the new "King" -who is the surprising number one album at the U.S Billboard ranks right now-.

SCORE: 7.5/10

Playlisting: rediscovering The Divine Comedy

For the first playlist, a very special and personal one. Lately, and for the best reason one can imagine, I've been rediscovering Neil Hannon's music. So here's a sort of best of.

1. National Express
2. I Like
3. Come Home Billy Bird
4. Love What You Do
5. Everybody Knows (Except You)
6. A Lady of Certain Age
7. At the Indie Disco
8. Becoming More Like Alfie
9. Perfect Lovesong
10. Our Mutual Friend
11. The Pop Singer's Fear of the Pollen Count
12. Mother Dear
13. Songs of Love
14. Absent Friends
15. Tonight we Fly

Here's the SPOTIFY LINK

PS- Dedicated to Ms. Jum. For the many songs I hope we'll share...

"Roscoe", the loneliness of a politician

Roscoe
Powerful and really addictive. Albany's universe of politics, power, addictions and corruption is as attractive as challenging to read. It can be a bit confusing with so many names and references, but they are all serving the purpose of portraying a period of time and the very human obsessions of the main characters. Kennedy's prose is full of rythm and makes the reading a pleasure. An excellent novel. An another fine example of the wisdom of Libros del Asteroide, keeping the good job with their choices. 

SCORE: 7,75/10