Austinist Music Preview: New Release Tuesday

Last weekend was pretty intense show-wise, if you're like us, you're ready to crawl in bed with your headphones and listen to something new from End of an Ear or Waterloo's new release wall. Well, here's what you've got to choose from:

The Decemberists The Crane Wife (Capital)

Already being described as the album of the year in some circles, Crane Wife marks the Portland-based Decemberists' major label debut with themes familiar to the band's long-time listeners. Meloy has adapted themes from Odds Bodkins' Japanese folk tale to create an album full of emotion and hardly a sign of major label bowing. Songs over ten minutes long, damsels/daggers, and literary references that pre-date Sedaris make this record the perfect partner for long afternoon strolls through falling leaves - in post Civil War Virginia.

The Decemberists Official
The Decemberists MySpace
Sample tracks and buy Crane Wife @ Waterloo Online

The Killers Sam's Town (Island)

Killers frontman Brandon Flowers has been hailing Sam's Town as "one of the best albums of the last 20 years" for months, but even all that good-lookin' jive hasn't sparked much interest in this release, aside from the laughter-accompanied Jager shots we took last weekend, pondering which album will be skewered harder at Pitchfork: Jet or Killers (we've since come to find out that the Jet review will be hard to top). Regardless of the hype (or lack thereof), Sam's Town is not without its moments: they've traded eye-liner for beards (a sign of seriousness in musicians) and tongue-in-cheek savvy for grandeur, and at times, they almost pull it off.

The Killers Official
The Killers MySpace
Killers Interview and Discussion About Sam's Town (YouTube)
Sample tracks from Sam's Town and buy it @ Waterloo Online

Beck The Information (Interscope)

Nigel Goodrich (womb of Radiohead's wall of sound) is once again behind the boards, but we've been told that The Information isn't as disorderly as Guero. As the title suggests, the album is a sort of commentary on data overload and life in 21st century America, and though that might sound like a description of an art project your little sister is working on, it does bring the theme back around to Goodrich's Ok Computer and the age of information. Beeps, blimps, samples, loops and voices pervade the sonic droning and dub reverb in Beck's hazy middle-ground between comfort and discomfort admist his overload. As an added nod to the 00's appropriate psychedelic Jonestown-esque themes across other '06 releases (Espers, Grizzly Bear, Pink Mountaintops), Devendra Banhart makes an apperance in the bonus DVD, decked out in drag and carrying a giant comb. Look for other appearances by Spike Jonze, Dave Eggers, and a video for "Cellphone's Dead" by theme-friendly director Michael Gondry (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind).

Beck Official
Beck MySpace
Clips from the DVD: "This Girl", "1000 BPM", "No Complaints", "Movie Theme" (YouTube)
Sample tracks from The Information and buy @ Waterloo Online

Lindsey Buckingham Under the Skin (Reprise)

Fleetwood Mac guitarist and vocalist Lindsey Buckingham has continued to write monumental rock songs despite settling down with kids, getting off the coke and shaving the beard (bring it back Lindsey, bring it back), but unfortunately, the hipster set has yet to fully appreciate the finger-picking wizard's contributions to almost everything they're listening to now. Although Under the Skin isn't as strong as his unreleased Gift of Screws, several tracks from Gift appear as different versions of themselves on the new one, and these are the highlights. Drumless and stripped down, Buckingham's studio-worshipping ways still shine through, as echoing guitars bounce off of layered vocals and big, big sounds. Highly recommended if you've never been able to get your hands on Gift of Screws, or if you wish it was 1975 and you have five minutes of Lindsey's time.

Lindsey Buckingham Official
Lindsey Buckingham Montage featuring "I Am Waiting" from Under the Skin (YouTube)
Sample tracks and buy @ Waterloo Online