![SXSW Announces a Couple Hundred More Showcasing Bands for 2010 [Lots of Austin Bands in the Mix]](http://austinist.com/assets_c/2009/11/sxsw2010-music-thumb-110x110-460952.jpg)
SXSW Announces a Couple Hundred More Showcasing Bands for 2010 [Lots of Austin Bands in the Mix]
![Preview: Legs Against Arms EP Release [Club de Ville / Saturday]](http://austinist.com/assets_c/2009/11/deville_28nov2009_250-thumb-110x110-460659.jpg)
Preview: Legs Against Arms EP Release [Club de Ville / Saturday]
Pecan Street Project Gets $10.4 Million Stimulus Grant
Schieffer's Out of Gov Race
Storm Warning: Neko Case to Hit Antone's Tonight
What's more appealing than a beautiful girl singing Tom Waits songs? For some, nothing. Though much has been said (and speculated about) regarding Miss Johansson's decision to record an album of Tom Waits covers (well, there is one original tune on there, but you wouldn't be able to pick it out if you weren't at all familiar with Waits), the actual reviews are pretty much split down the middle.
Let's slow down for a second, though. Two years ago, Johansson was approached to record an album with Atco/Rhino. She agreed, and then began considering what she might do. She realized she wanted to sing “I Never Talk To Strangers.” Then she decided that all she wanted to do was covers. Waits covers. She hired TV on the Radio's David Andrew Sitek to produce for her because a) he knew a ton of talented musicians he wanted to bring on board (David Bowie, Yeah Yeah Yeahs guitarist Nick Zinner) and b) he told her he wanted the album to sound like "Tinkerbell on cough syrup." What resulted was exactly that, and the mixed reviews Wherever I Lay My Head is getting are a reflection of his success. On the one hand, many are totally charmed by her lower register's ethereal interpretations of Waits' grouchy grumbles. On the other, there's a bit of preciousness and unbelievability to her delivery: are we really supposed to believe this darling lady is slinging red rice and beans and kickin' it with street musicians in NOLA? Despite her best attempts at an album that focuses as much on the collaboration between her and Sitek, the arrangements and the production, Johansson has little more than a Precious Moments collectible on her hands.
When Johansson sang at Coachella with Jesus and Mary Chain last year, it wasn't (just) because she was a singer, it was because she was a celebrity singer. It was special only because it wasn't a nameless, faceless backup singer that no one remembered the next day. Yet, a simple guest appearance with an indie rock supergroup was little more than street cred for Johansson and novelty for the rest of us. Did anyone really remember her performance the next day? Her record has a similar effect. Tom Waits songs + pretty girl, great voice [should] = awesome. Listening to the songs, however, it becomes clear that two awesome things coming together don't necessarily yield those results. Sean Fennessey gets it right: "This album is sort of like if the 25-man roster of the New York Mets came to my office and rapped the Pharcyde’s “She Said” at me. Two things I love dearly coming together - and it’s not quite right."
Will Oldham is one of the most prolific songwriters of our time. Thankfully, he doesn't suffer from Robert Pollard Syndrome, falling prey to quantity over quality woes. Though he's released a handful of things since 2006 (demos and cover songs), Lie Down is technically the follow up to 2006's The Letting Go. And though Oldham is ever-increasing his status as sad country boy turned philosopher/songwriter, he never misses an opportunity to remind us of his sense of humor, appearing in Kanye West videos and films about being a "human doormat".
On Lie Down in the Light, we find Oldham softly ringing in the plateau of his career. No matter what he produces, his legions of followers will listen attentively. And despite some releases that seemed a little shambled or rushed (see: the demos and covers released since 2006), Lie Down asserts itself as a carefully curated masterpiece. Mixed by Lamchop prodigy Mark Nevers, and featuring female duet harmonies from Ashley Webber, the record showcases a Will Oldham that's forgetful of his more primitive studio days, relishing the subtle joys of pristine layers and gentle, non-invasive production. No drum kits to be found, but with the help of Shahzad Izmaily (percussion, slaps, claps, piano, banjo, guitar and "row of wrenches"), each song blooms into its own work of art. You Remind Me of Something (the Glory Goes)" is a highlight, but all of the songs exude a certain lightness and carefree reveling in the newfound milk and honey. Old school fans beware: this is an unusually blithe release for Oldham, but here are some moments of darkness lurking, too. Don't be afraid.
"So, Everyone" (demo)
Bonnie 'Prince' Bill MySpace
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3 Doors Down: 3 Doors Down
Abigail Washburn: Abigail Washburn
Annihilation Time: Tales of The Ancient Age
Ateleia and Benjamin Curtis: Baghdad Batterie [vinyl]
B-52's: Wild Planet (reissue)
The Band of Heathens: The Band of Heathens
Bearfoot: Follow Me
Beatallica: All You Need Is Blood
Blackstrap: Steal My Horses and Run
Blackstrap: Steal My Horses and Run [vinyl]
Bonnie "Prince" Billy: Lie Down In the Light
Bonnie "Prince" Billy: Lie Down In the Light [vinyl]
Bun B: II Trill
Carolina Liar: Coming To Terms
Collections of Colonies of Bees: Six Guitars [vinyl]
The Cure: Cure One Single
Curt Smith (Tears for Fears): Halfway, Pleased
Cut Copy: Lights and Music (import single)
Cut Copy: Lights and Music (import single) [vinyl]
Daniela Cotton: Rare Child
Dare: Belief/Beneath the Shining Water
Devendra Banhart: Smokey Rolls Down Thunder Canyon (reissue) [vinyl]
Donna Summer: Crayons
Douglas Armour: The Light of a Golden Day, The Arms of the Night
Douglas Armour: The Light of a Golden Day, The Arms of the Night [vinyl]
Dresden Dolls: No, Virginia...
E for Explosion: Reinventing the Heartbeat
Eric Hutchinson: Sounds Like This
Explorers Club: Freedom Wind
Explorers Club: Freedom Wind [vinyl]
Felix da Housecat: Global Underground 34 Milan
The Flobots: Fight With Tools
The Foxboro Hot Tubs: Stop Drop And Roll
Free Kitten: Inherit
French Kicks: Swimming
George Jones: The Hits Then Till Now (box set)
Indian Jewelry: Free Gold!
Islands: Arm's Way
Jeremy Jay: A Place Where We Could Go
Jim O'Rourke: Tamper (reissue)
Joan of Arc: Boo Human
Joan of Arc: Boo Human [vinyl]
John Williams: Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
Justice: Dvno (import single)
Killing Joke: Fire Dances (limited 2-disc edition) [vinyl]
Killing Joke: FRevelations (limited 2-disc edition) [vinyl]
Love Psychedelico: This Is Love Psychedelico
Mason Jennings: In the Ever
Mason Jennings: In the Ever [vinyl]
Mates of State: Re-Arrange Us
Mudhoney: Lucky Ones
Mudhoney: Lucky Ones [vinyl]
Mudhoney: Superfuzz Bigmuff (remastered with bonus disc)
Music Go Music: Light of Love
Nicolai Dunger: Sjunger Edith Sodergran (import)
Okay: Huggable Dust
Orchestra Baobab: Made in Dakar
Osaka Popstar: Rock'em O-Sock'em Live! EP
Retribution Gospel Choir: Retribution Gospel Choir
Scarlett Johansson: Anywhere I Lay My Head
Sonny Landreth: From the Reach
Steve Fisk & Ben Gibbard: Kurt Cobain: About a Son (soundtrack) [vinyl]
Sybris: Into The Trees
The Takeover UK: It's All Happening EP
Thea Gilmore: Liejacker (import)
Thee Oh Sees: The Master's Bedroom Is Worth Spending a Night In [vinyl]
Ting Tings: We Started Nothing
Ting Tings: We Started Nothing [vinyl]
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers: Greatest Hits (remastered with bonus tracks)
Trees: Light's Bane
Various Artists: A-Square (Of Course): The Story of Michigan's Legendary A-Square Records (import)
Various Artists: Impala Eardrums: A Radium Sampler [vinyl]
The Velvet Underground: The Velvet Underground (reissue) [vinyl]
The Velvet Underground & Nico: The Velvet Underground & Nico (reissue) [vinyl]
The Velvet Underground: White Light/White Heat (reissue) [vinyl]
VSS: Nervous Circuits
Wedding Present: El Rey
Windsor for the Derby: How We Lost
Windsor for the Derby: How We Lost [vinyl]
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paige
i lurv your reviews, but this is one of my faves
because you raised your eyebrows not only with a gentleness, but also a nod to the mets
Wow, thanks for adding the complete list of new releases! I just had a flashback to the Texas Showlist.... ah....