The xx
Coexist (Young Turks, out now)

Generally, the point of this site is for me to put people on to what I’m listening to, but for this post, my goal is to stick up for one of the best new bands in years and thumb my nose at the critics who are stupidly criticizing their new album. After lapping up universal plaudits for their spectacular debut LP, the South London trio are facing an unfair, altogether predictable backlash from the American online press, generally accusing the group of sounding to much like itself. When Fleet Foxes, The National, and Arcade Fire built on their signature styles, they were lionized for crafting distinctive sounds, but for some reason when The xx does it, they are accused of lacking vision, bravery, and versatility.

The truth is, when you’ve found a sound this unique, breathtaking, and penetrating, you should do everything in your power to explore it further, and I’m damn glad they did. Coexist has everything that xx did — the arresting vulnerability, the seductive vocals, the delicately beautiful arraignments — with improved songwriting and production. Though it doesn’t feel quite as seminal as their debut (“You always remember your first time”), it’s an incredible statement from one of the best bands in the world (yeah, I said it), and I have a feeling that, in time, it could even surpass their debut. Now there’s nothing left to do, but sit back, listen, enjoy, and wait for the detractors to clean the egg off their faces. Don’t buy the hate; this is still one of the absolute best albums of the year.

Hottest Jams (so far): “Unfold,” “Missing,” “Swept Away”

“Unfold”

“Missing”

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“Swept Away”

[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/61486309″ iframe=”true” /]

Flying Lotus
“Until the Quiet Comes” a Short Film By Kahlil Joseph
With music from Until The Quiet Comes (Warp, out 10/2)

Today’s Hot Jam of the Day isn’t really a jam at all, but when Flying Lotus releases any glimpses of new music, it qualifies. Accompanied by some arresting visuals courtesy of rising filmaker Kahlil Joseph, we get tastes of three new evocative FlyLo (né Steven Elliot) tracks. All three feature his signature impossibly layered arraignments, lush melodies, and spot-on drum patterns. They also all feature soulful, accesible vocal parts (one of which is by the great Erykah Badu). Though Elliot has worked with plenty of singers, it’s a bit surprising that all three tracks feature vocalists, as he has generally used them sparingly on his previous LPs. That said, a lot of my favorite of his tracks have singing, so I’m not mad if that’s the case. Either way, all three cuts serve as reminders that nobody does it quite like FlyLo. Don’t be surprised if Until the Quiet Comes is one of the albums of the year.

Angel Olsen
“Acrobat”
Halfway Home (Bathetic, out 09/04)

Angel Olsen’s breathtaking debut LP is the kind of album that you dream of finding buried in some dusty cardboard box in the attic of your grandparent’s house. A beautiful, seminal folk LP from the late 50’s that somehow everybody else missed but you discovered. It, of course, isn’t, but it sure feels like it is. Halfway Home is the follow-up to St. Louis-bred, Chicago-based folk singer’s debut cassette (yes, they still make those), Strange Cacti, and it has more than realized the potential that she showed on that release. Olsen is both a powerhouse and delicate vocalist and her full-throated delivery is disarming and arresting. One of the most fascinating voices in new folk, Halfway House is a must-hear for anyone who dug Laura Marling’s new album or one of Joni Mitchell’s timeless, old ones. Brilliant.