New Music Friday: Alanis Morissette, Beach Slang, And More
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- If today's endless parade of Halloween costumes that you need explained to you wasn't enough to make you feel old, perhaps take a spin through today's New Music Friday.
It's been twenty years since Alanis Morissette first sang about doing unspeakable things in a theater and having way too many spoons, and today she celebrates with the release of Jagged Little Pill: Collector's Edition. Wow right? It seems like just yesterday we were driving home from "Clueless" and cranking "You Oughta Know" on the radio. All these years later it's still a perfect album filled with angst, wisdom, and hits for days. The Collector's Edition features a fully remastered version of the album, an acoustic version, a 1995 concert from London, and a set of demos from the Jagged era.
If your musical memory dates back beyond Morissette, maybe you would prefer today's 45th anniversary edition of The Velvet Underground's Loaded. The Loaded: Re-Loaded 45th Anniversary Edition is packed with seventy-five tracks including remastered versions, mono versions, and demo versions. There's also a couple live shows included – a set from Max's Kansas City and one from the long-gone Second Fret in Philadelphia. The Second Fret show, which was at 1902 Sansom Street, is barely listenable. It sounds as though it was recorded from someone's jacket pocket in the back of the room, but it's something right?
"But wait a minute old man. Not only do I know who Mal is from Descendants, none of this makes me feel old because it's before my time" said the youth.
But wait! Time is coming for you too young one. Today is also the release of the 10th anniversary edition of Juturna, the first album from Doylestown's own Circa Survive. How you like that Charizard? This special release from Anthony Green and company comes equipped with demo's and B sides.
So here we are. Time passes, but it's cool to get a different look at a couple landmark albums. Meanwhile back in 2015 there's a couple new albums from bands we might be explaining to kids one day.
The music world today is buzzing about another Philadelphia band, getting praise like "Album Of The Week" from Stereogum and being called "2015's Best Most Sincere Rock Band" by Grantland. They are Beach Slang and their debut The Things We Do To Find People That Feel Like Us is a sneering, thumping homage to The Replacements. It's no secret they are fans of the legendary "Bastards Of Young" band and the influence is worn front and center – custom built faster and louder for today.
Also out is Return To The Moon, the debut album from El Vy. The band is the side project of The National's Matt Berninger and his pal from Memomena and Ramona Falls Brent Knopf. El Vy is more playful then anything we've heard from The National in a while and Berninger toggles between the abstract and personal lyrically – all backed by a mostly more simplistic synth. "I'm The Man To Be" is one of the lead singles and possibly the most fun you can have listening to music this year. In total Return To The Moon has some spots that are brighter than others but is a great listen and a new shade of awesome for Matt Berninger.
Enjoy your bubblegum and your trick or treating this weekend. If you need me I'll be playing with pogs and listening to Alanis' "You Learn" on loop.
