Friday means the start of the weekend and album release day. Every week, there’s a new crop of music releases vying for your attentio,n so think of this new feature, which will boast capsule reviews and purchase links, as a way to sift through all the noise. This week’s offerings include Marlon Williams’ self-titled debut, Mavis Staples’ “Livin’ On A High Note,” Wild Nothing’s “Life of Pause” and Jack Garratt’s “Phase.”
Marlon Williams, “Marlon Williams”
Marlon Williams is a 25-year-old singer-songwriter from New Zealand who makes Americana better than most Americans. His debut self-titled record is an absolute stunner, showcasing his incredible croon, which echoes both the haunted tone of Timber Timbre and the buoyancy of Paul McCartney and the Everly Brothers. It’s a self-consciously retro affair throughout its nine songs, but Williams’ sepia-toned renderings of classic genres feel fresh and rejuvenated when performed by such a singular talent. He’ll be coming to Chicago in June on tour with Iron & Wine’s Sam Beam and songwriter Jesca Hoop, and, no hyperbole, he might upstage the two at Thalia Hall. Buy here.
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Mavis Staples, “Livin’ On A High Note”
This isn’t so much a review of Mavis Staples’ new album, “Livin’ On A High Note,” as it is a glowing rave about how iconic and endearing her career has been. From her time with the Staples Singers to her late-career work with Jeff Tweedy, no one has displayed as much vitality as the 76-year-old Chicago singer. Her latest album, “Livin’ On A High Note,” finds her joyfully looking back on her storied career and life with collaborations with M. Ward, Benjamin Booker, Neko Case, Bon Iver and more. Buy here.
Wild Nothing, “Life of Pause”
Wild Nothing frontman and songwriter Jack Tatum told Spin in an interview, “Listening to my first record is so embarrassing to me. I was so young. I can’t really relate anymore.” For fans of the now L.A.-based dream pop artist, that statement comes as a shock. 2010’s “Gemini” was a gorgeous, nostalgic shoegaze-indebted rock record with some of my favorite songs of the decade (“Live in Dreams,” “Summer Holiday,” “Chinatown”) and with even more so on its sleeker follow-up, “Nocturne,” which is still one of my favorite albums of 2012. While you can obviously relate to Tatum for feeling embarrassed about his earlier work (I will never, ever revisit the first things I ever wrote professionally), you can also see how his tastes evolved and his songwriting got sharper on “Life of Pause.” It’s a gorgeous record, full of everything from dreamy, layered textures of “Reichpop,” the post-punk stomp of “To Know You” and the shimmering closer “Love Underneath My Thumb.” He’s got his most sophisticated and pretty release yet. Buy here.
Jack Garratt, “Phase”
It’s always fascinating seeing the reactions American music critics have about U.K. exports. For instance, people like me tend to be skeptical about artists buzzing over there (see: Stateside press reactions to Young Fathers, Alt-J, Jungle, etc), but I have no concerns about the multi-talented pop artist (and recent RedEye cover star) Jack Garratt. My only qualm about his new album, “Phase,” is that previously-released material takes up more of the tracklist than the new stuff. That’s perfect for new fans, though, and listening to a collection of songs that encompasses his entire career is a rewarding and thrilling listen. While he won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, his talent isn’t up for debate. Recommended tracks: “Breathe Life,” “The Love You’re Given” and “Coalesce.” Buy here.
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