Local Music Blog: What's New at Kiss the Sky— Nov. 8 Releases

Remember when the impending Christmas season meant a plethora of exciting new releases? In yet another sign of just how much the music industry has changed, things on the KTS new-release front will shortly be slowing down.

But as far as the week of Nov. 8 goes, it was another banner week for new and not-so-new music alike.

We’ll start with Atlas Sound, the ongoing solo project by Deerhunter frontman Bradford Cox. Call it noise rock, shoegaze, or atmospheric punk, his third offering, Parallax, is just plain good music.

Cox is one of those rare musical chameleons who somehow manages to pleasantly surprise the listener with each new album. You’re really rooting for him to repeat some of those past success formulas, but then you like his latest effort so much you’re glad he forged ahead.

I have yet to be disappointed by a Deerhunter or Atlas Sound album and Parallax leaves that streak intact. Despite being his most accessible effort, this album is so good, I may have to adjust my 2011 top 20 list .

So head down to to get this one, because I highly recommend it.

Now we have three EPs and, as Meatloaf once plaintively proposed, “two out of three ain’t bad.”

Brian Eno is a certifiable musical genius who delves into sonic exploration unlike any other artist. Whether it’s Roxy Music, his solo efforts or another amazing production effort (see Coldplay and U2), almost anything bearing his name tends to turn out to be worthwhile.

But sadly, Panic Of Looking, a six-song EP of leftovers from his previous collaboration with poet Rick Holland, Drums Between the Bells, misses the mark. The music isn’t bad, but the plodding and repetitive vocals by Eno and various other artists just don’t work.

As it was with Small Craft on a Milk Sea, Eno’s music works far better when he lets it stands on its own. But because I can’t bear to give any Eno effort the dreaded “avoid” rating, we’ll settle on the middling, “only if you’re a fan.”

Our next EP is So Outta Reach, consisting of six songs that didn’t make it on to Kurt Vile’s amazing March album, Smoke Ring for My Halo.

I get nervous whenever we discuss this leftovers phenomenon and even more nervous when the artist insists you buy the album twice by only issuing a subsequent “deluxe CD edition.” Ah! But in this case, I gotta give Vile credit for offering those extra six cuts on a vinyl EP (or as a separate download).

As usual, Vile’s low-fi, roots, indie rock sensibilities never seem to disappoint me. So Outta Reach is the kind of stuff that makes you want to lay back in you La-Z-Boy and take it in. I highly recommend this one—especially on vinyl.

Our last EP is the Decemberist's Long Live the King, containing six dour songs that didn’t quite make in onto The King is Dead. While that album was almost straight-ahead rock 'n' roll, this one’s a bit folky and acoustic in nature.

Though this follow-up EP is much better than most major artists’ A-track lists, nothing really stands out either. Once again, I like the fact you can pick this one up on vinyl and The King is Dead easily scores a recommended rating.

And now the one I’ve been waiting for. Our latest remastered reissue, the release that’s had me on the edge of my seat, the one I’ve been dreaming of nightly—Pink Floyd’s magnificent ode to group founder Syd Barrett, Wish You Were Here.

Don’t get me wrong, I love Dark Side of the Moon, but WYWH has no parallel in the Pink Floyd pantheon. The title track is one of the very first songs I learned to play on guitar.

As it was with DSOtM, this reissue comes in three flavors—the remastered CD only (which has been out for awhile), a two-CD “experience version, and of course, the option I chose, a $130 five CD/DVD “immersion” box set that includes all sorts of Pink Floyd memorabilia.

We’ve previously discussed just how good these remasters sound and, like it was with the DSOtM immersion set, you ain’t heard Wish You Were Here until you’ve heard it on blu-ray audio only.

Who can listen to David Gilmour sing these lyrics without thinking about the one that got away?

How I wish, how I wish you were here.
We're just two lost souls
Swimming in a fish bowl,
Year after year,
Running over the same old ground.
What have we found?
The same old fears.
Wish you were here.

Who can listen to that title track without finally understanding Roger Waters’ and Gilmour’s longing for their long-lost leader. I may be a sucker for a deluxe box set, but this one clearly is a must-have.

Like I said, next week, things slow down considerably. In fact, all the new releases are old music. We have the reissue remaster of the Who’s Quadrophenia, REM’s greatest hits swansong with three new tracks, a Sigur Ros live album, a Tegan and Sara live album, and if we have time, we’ll get to Aurora musician extraordinaire, Noah Gabriel’s latest efforts.

Until then, you’ll probably find me at Kiss the Sky trying to convince Mike that Pink Floyd is one of the greatest groups to ever grace the annals of rock ‘n' roll.