New Music to Abound In Spring, Summer

This year will be a great year for music. Well, for me, anyway. I am eagerly awaiting Ben Folds' new album, Songs for Silverman, due out April 26th. His new single, "Landed" (click to listen) is worth a listen or two. One of my favorite bands, Guster will be releasing their new album sometime this summer. They've been posting semi-daily updates of their album's creation progress in their studio journal. As always, it's an entertaining read. I think even the Barenaked Ladies will be releasing something new this year as well.

I haven't been impressed with a lot of the stuff that has been released recently. I've been listening to new bands in order to expand and broaden my musical tastes. I recently picked up Snow Patrol's album, Final Straw, because I had heard how great it was. It didn't live up to the hype. Some of the songs ("Run," "Spitting Games") are amazing. Most of the other songs on the disc sound like filler songs. I was let down.

I also began listening to The Postal Service and The Shins. Both are amazing. These guys make real pop music. Not the kind that Britney makes. I will warn you about The Shins, though. You might not like their music at first. They will grow on you. I'm glad Sub Pop realizes this and has some of their songs available to download. Check out The Shins' "So Says I" and "Kissing the Lipless" from their album Chutes Too Narrow. Also, download The Postal Services' "Such Great Heights" and "The District Sleeps Alone Tonight" from Give Up. If the links don't work, go HERE for THE SHINS and HERE for THE POSTAL SERVICE.