eMUSIC ROUND TWENTY-SIX

I'm well past due for telling you what I grabbed from eMusic in my last download period; in fact, I'm already close to 2 weeks into the newest period (haven't grabbed anything yet, though). So, here's what I picked up in March...

She & Him/Volume One - This is the collaboration between Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward and you know what? It works. Deschanel is front and center on the vocals with only a couple songs that Ward sings on as well. But his production and guitar is stellar throughout and Deschanel has written some solid 60s-type pop songs.

Destroyer/Trouble In Dreams - You know, I still don't quite know what to make of Destroyer. I like the band but I'm not sure what it is about them. Sure, the music is solid in a classic-rock vein but the lyrics can be very obtuse. Then again, I don't know that meaning is especially important to Dan Bejar. Maybe he's just going for that feeling and this album has a number of tracks that give you something in the feeling department.

Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks/Real Emotional Trash - The latest album from the former Pavement frontman and this time around Janet Weiss (formerly of Sleater-Kinney) is pounding the drums. It's a good album and one I want to talk about more in the future.

Nick Lowe/Jesus of Cool (Reissue) - Pretty much what it says, a reissue of the classic Nick Lowe album with a bunch of bonus tracks. Power pop goodies.

Headlights/Some Racing, Some Stopping - This is more modern pop music, quiet and pretty in places. I've only listened twice, so I don't have a ton of insight. I can tell you the last song, "January," is awesome.