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New Music Tuesday 3.19.13

New Music Tuesday 470

Several significant albums released today. I wanted to point out the ones I recommend you check out. There are even more than these I'm checking out but don't know well enough to recommend for you. This week I'm struggling to choose which to buy. I want all of these, and maybe a couple more. A good problem to have!

Low: The Invisible Way | One of my favorite bands with what sounds like is another great album. Highly recommend you check Low out. Many good reviews too.

Justin Timberlake: The 20/20 Experience | Before you roll your eyes, Pitchfork gives it 8.4/10. I think JT has been making some of the best, coolest, most fun pop music around...and that was 7 years ago. Now finally with a new album, we get one of the most interesting, engaging, funny, and talented performers of our time with fresh lungs and sounds. Enjoy!

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club: Specter at the Feast | $5 right now. A bit of return to form to earlier albums I really loved. Paste: 8/10. I think this is a band often overlooked and who should have a wider appeal.

Phosophorescent: Muchacho | Getting great reviews. Pitchfork 8.8/10. I heard this streaming free and really liked it and will be picking it up.

Anais Mitchell & Jefferson Hamer: Child Ballads | Not "ballads for children," but Celtic & British ballads compiled by Francis James Child. You'll struggle to find an album more thoroughly beautiful this week.

Stornoway: Tales from Terra Firma | Wonderful acoustic, folksy sounds. Very interested in this one.

Woodkid: The Golden Age | Fascinating sounds, from haunting vocals and to a visual quality to the music. It's engaging. Reminds me of Antony & the Johnsons as well as my album of the year a couple of years ago, The Poison Tree.

Les Miserables Soundtrack (Deluxe Edition) | If you can't stop singing it (see: my wife and daughter), this 42 track double album is the whole dealio. A must for lovers of the film/musical.

Some Lists | Best Albums of 2011

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Some year-end lists of the best albums of 2011 are coming out. Some are right up my alley and some challenge, uh, my alley. Best of lists aren't only good to compare your own favorites, but to discover albums you may not have found otherwise. I'm already listening to a couple of albums I would have ignored if not for showing up on a respected list. Check some of these out (several compiled by the excellent Stereogum).

Brandi Carlile Live at Benaroya Hall

One of my favorite singer-songwriters, Brandi Carlile, has a new live album coming out. Here it is streaming in full exclusively at Paste. We've seen Brandi live in concert twice and this album captures her live show beautifully.