New Music Tuesday II

So I am currently streaming Active Child's new release, mostly because I downloaded a free track of theirs off of Amazon and I wanted to see if the rest of the CD is any good. Amazon raved about it, but eh, not so sure yet.  I can't say that I am a big fan of it, though.

What I did like and I am not ashamed of it: Kelly Clarkson's new track Mr. Know It All. She has an infectious voice, and her music is always fun. I am not ashamed that she (and Daughtery) are the two artist I've purchased from American Idol.

AA Bondy's Believers did catch my ear this morning, though. I just love NPR Music's streams, particular the album previews. And here's a great description:

But the new Believers, out Sept. 13, sounds more fleshed-out: Less nakedly fatalistic than its predecessors, it also finds Bondy reasserting himself as a bandleader. This isn't singer-songwriter fare, but rather a full band in fine form, crafting evocative songs with a fully realized sense of place to them.

In languid ballads like "Skull & Bones" and "Down in the Fire (Lost Sea)," the place Bondy evokes still seems located somewhere near oblivion. But the music that surrounds him this time around chimes subtly and warmly — even majestically.

I also like the new Blind Pilot album quite a bit. Very fun.