New and Noteworthy: The Go! Team, Smith Westerns, PJ Harvey, R.E.M., Cut Copy, The Decemberists

Time to open a new chapter. 2011. I saw somewhere they're calling it "The Lev". I find that a bit generic, although I'm at a loss for something better. In Spanish it's "dos mil once". I'm kinda digging that and may start muttering the term after a night of Hobgoblins. So, since the year has started, I've been peaking around seeing what's new, what's noteworthy, what sounds good for "dos mil once". Here's the January addition of "New and Noteworthy" some tracks by old stalwarts and a couple up and comers. There is a good chance you'll be hearing more from these bands as the year rolls on.

The Go! Team-"Buy Nothing Day"

The Go! Team's first single from "Rolling Blackouts" dropping on February 1st is...how do I put it in one word...delightful. Bethany Cosentino of Best Coast stops in and delivers vocals and the chorus is just so sweet you want to take it out for coffee after the show. I usually think of a huge mish-mash of sounds when it comes to The Go! Team. But the lads from Brighton seem to be crafting their melodies a lot tighter and catchier on "Buy Nothing Day" and it makes me giddy to see what else they've come up with on "Rolling Blackouts". Shall see.
station to station rating 1-10 (10 being highest)
JHO: 9
Bobby C: 2
  The Go! Team - Buy Nothing Day by thegoteam

Smith Westerns-"Weekend"

The first single from the much anticipated sophomore album, "Dye It Blonde", from Chicago's Smith Westerns. If that guitar you hear reminds you of T. Rex or early 70's glam rock, there's a lot more where that came from. You can check out the album on NPR's first listen but the official release is slated for next Tuesday. It's definitely worth checking out.
station to station rating 1-10 (10 being highest)
JHO: 9
Bobby C: 6
  Smith Westerns - Weekend by forcefieldpr 

PJ Harvey-"Written On The Forehead"

Let's call it numero eight for Polly Jean Harvey as she releases "Let England Shake" on February 15th here in the States. For a one on one interview with Harvey, click here for Pitchfork's recent conversation with her about the new album and some of her inspirations in preparation for her new album. And/Or listen to the ethereal samples that keep "Written On The Forehead" floating just above your head below.
station to station rating 1-10 (10 being highest)
JHO: 8

R.E.M.-"It Happened Today"

Mike Mills had recently told Rolling Stone that the band's 15th release "Collapse Into Now" reminds him of the band's 1992 classic "Automatic For The People". "The songs go from one type into another really easily and it all seems to fit as a piece," Mills says. "It makes sense as a whole the same way that Automatic For The People did." Take a listen to "It Happened Today" from the album due out officially March 8th via Warner Bros. and see if you feel any "Nightswimming" vibe going. Eddie Vedder and Joel Gibb guest star on this song.
station to station rating 1-10 (10 being highest)

JHO: 7
Bobby C: 7
  R.E.M. - It Happened Today (Feat. Eddie Vedder) by weallwantsome1 

Cut Copy-"Take Me Over"

The latest single from Australian electropop outfit Cut Copy sounds very reminiscent of a latter day Fleetwood Mac single that I am too lazy to go back and find the title to right now. But you know the song, and this is upbeat grandeur. Their third proper album, "Zonoscope", is due out February 8th and will contain "Take Me Over".
station to station rating 1-10 (10 being highest)
JHO: 6
Bobby C: 4
  Cut Copy - Take Me Over by cutcopymusic 

The Decemberists-"Down By The Water"?

Speaking of R.E.M., lead singer of the Decemeberists, Colin Meloy, has said that R.E.M. is a huge influence on their new album coming out on January 18th titled "The King Is Dead". Its first single "Down By The Water" sure sounds like they are following a bit of a more Americana, jangly guitar feel than the English folk themed songs we're used to hearing from them. Oh, and Peter Buck guests stars on the new album.
station to station rating 1-10 (10 being highest)
JHO: 8
Bobby C: 8.5 (happy for the change, their other stuff was getting on my nerves)

  The Decemberists - Down By The Water by SubNoise.es 

Source: http://www.jhostation.com/2011/01/new-and-noteworthy-go-team-smith.html

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