New Music on iTunes 2008-09-09 15:34:20

Tuesdays are big in entertainmentville: Not only do all the new DVD releases hit Netflix, but new music also pours into stores, including iTunes. So I take a spin through each week's iTunes music releases and pick out some albums and tracks worthy of a download. Here are today's selections:

My heroes: The Gym Class Heroes' new album is a little less edgy than previous LPs (sounds like they've started to enter Black Eyed Peas territory) but I'm still digging it. Probably not worth downloading the whole thing but their duet with Estelle, "Guilty as Charged" is great and I love that Busta Rhymes shows up on "Peace Sign/Index Down"!

Just a little bit country: Well, J Simp's first country album has arrived and the reviews are lukewarm. Idolator has a helpful round-up of reviews but even the Houston Chronicle described it as "mostly generic Nashville flavor." From what I've heard so far I wouldn't say it's bad, just not great. The song "Remember That" contains some powerful vocals and it's clear her heart and soul are in it when she belts the lyrics to "Might As Well Be Making Love." It's mostly when she has some Dixie Chick-like girl power oomph behind her lyrics that she's at her best, and has me (more or less) sold on her country transformation.

Two more good ones up next so read more.

Reflections on being in a band: The new Okervill River album is pretty great. So I downloaded the whole thing. I adore the gritty, crooning vocals of Will Sheff and am enjoying the diversity of these new songs. For example, "Singer Songwriter" sounds like a great traditional rock song, whereas "Pop Lie" sounds very new wave complete with claps. I've talked about "Lost Coastlines" before, but it's worth a reminder to download it because it's so good (it's one of my jogging songs!).

Cocktail party: I read that this new Calexico album was meant as a "travelogue about a Los Angeles scribe on a road trip during the recent Writers Guild strike" which is neato, but it's so pretty and atmospheric I keep thinking this is exactly what I'd put on in the background of a dinner party. The Latin flavor in "Inspiracion" is quirky and fun and "House of Valparaiso" is gorgeous.