[I will let the rest of the Internets fill you in on the new albums by OK Go (recommended) and Vampire Weekend (not). Here are some releases of L.A. interest, some of which I’m late to catch up to:]
Jason Boesel, “Hustler’s Son”(Team Love) – The last of his Rilo Kiley bandmates to bust out with a solo project, drummer-by-day Boesel steers his ship into the safe, genteel waters of Americana, West Coast style. Despite his admirable resume, production by Jonathan Wilson and guest turns by Nik Freitas and Benmont Tench (among others), “Hustler’s Son” (released today) sounds more like a shuffle than a hustle. Boesel is far too amiable and limited a narrator for these snapshots of ostensible longing and heartache; if you’ve heard Conor Oberst’s band play his song “I Got the Reason #1” live, you’ll know what I mean.
||| Live: Boesel, co-headlining with Dawes, plays the Troubadour on March 11.
Bleu, “A Watched Pot” (Artist Garage) – There are a lot of guys like William James “Bleu” McAuley III around town – purveyors of traditional power-pop who can make children of the ’50s and ’60s swoon, author songs for deep-pocketed artists and prick the ears of music-supervisor types – but not many who can wring as much emotion out of verse-chorus-verse. The impeccably (perhaps to a fault) produced album, Bleu’s first since 2003, was recorded in 2005 and finally released last summer. As if on a sugar high, it fairly sways with melodies built on the singer’s pristine tenor. The Section Quartet and Andy Sturmer (Jellyfish) are among the contributors. I swear I heard “No Such Thing As Love” in 1972, but the liner notes tell me Bleu wrote it. I’ll take his word for it. Recommended.
In 10 Or Fewer Words
Angus Khan, “Black Leather Soul”(Nickel and Dime) – “Underground biker metal supergroup?” Whatever. It’s tasty old-school sleaze rock. Recommended (if that’s your thing).
Sh*tting Glitter, “Open for Business”(Decadrisco) – Band name second-most likely to induce spit-take. (Winner: Evangenitals.)
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