Local Music Blog: What's New at Kiss the Sky—Oct. 11 Releases

Things slowed down quite a bit on the new release front this week at KTS. We only have three: Jane’s, Addiction, M83 and an interesting offer from an artist I was previously unfamiliar with, My Brightest Diamond.

Considering their renown, it’s hard to believe The Great Escape Artist is only the fourth offering from Lollapalooza founder Perry Farrell and his crew and the first Jane’s Addiction album since 2003’s Strays. And I just can’t understand why this great piece of music is getting universally panned.

Maybe that’s the inevitable fate of a band whose first two albums successfully stretched the envelope so far. Maybe that’s what happens when you stray from the non-formula formula that once made you so successful. Maybe that’s what happens when you change your lineup more often than the White Sox.

As for me, I love this solid album. And given the great results, I have no problem with Jane’s Addiction taking a turn from alternative to wall of sound rock ‘n' roll. There really isn’t a clunker in the 10-song bunch, and that’s really saying something in the day of the single-song download.

I give The Great Escape Artist a hearty “highly recommended.”

Next we have M83’s double disc set, Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming. This French “dream pop” group, named after the scientific notation for a distant galaxy, is headed up by Anthony Gonzalez and his brother Yann who does most of the composition.

However you slice it, this guitar-, synth- and drum-driven music really works. A bold venture, Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming is almost operatic in scope with rising crescendos and much more subtle parts. The songs somehow beckon and draw you in until you don’t even realize you’re just perfectly still and listening to the music.

If you’re the adventurous type, I’d issue another highly recommended rating. But even if you’re not, it might be worth your while to give it a shot. I recommend this album.

And last, we have My Brightest Diamond, which is essentially a pseudonym for singer-songwriter Shara Worden. Her delightful third album, All Things Unwind, employs violins, a bass clarinet, flutes and an organ to create a musical tapestry that falls somewhere between the 1940s and 2011. And Ms. Worden’s interestingly inflected vocals make it even more fascinating.

I will happily recommend All Things Unwind if for no other reason than I haven’t heard anything quite like it.

Last week I said we’d talk about the Smiths remastered reissue box set, but apparently Mr. Morrissey and his group of malcontents don’t sell nearly as well these days so didn’t bring it in. We may get to that one later.

Next week! Tom Waits, Coldplay, Deer Tick and Thomas Dolby (Yes! The blinded me with science guy!).

Until then, you’ll probably find me lurking in the vinyl section at .