MySBLT Vol. 2: Alberta Cross, Real Estate, Jack White and more!

by Taylor Roberts in Album Reviews, Celebrity News, Indie Release Highlights, Industry News, New Releases, News, Record Hunting, Reviews, What's New, bands to watch

In this issue of Music You Should Be Listening To:

We’ll take a wondrous musical journey with New York based band, Alberta Cross. I’ll discuss their September release Broken Side of Time, as well as their recent set in the Daytrotter studios.  In one word… Amazing!

We’ve also got some big news this week including not one but two upcoming releases from New Jerseys own, Real Estate. In the next 30 days the band will release their highly anticipated debut album as well as a brand new EP.  Jack White is also making headlines as he gears up for a new project featuring one very unlikely pairing. He’ll put his producing skills to the test as he once again teams up with a rock and roll icon.

Finally, I’ll let you in on the upcoming schedule for MySBLT. On the docket we have the first in a series of interviews with up-and-coming bands as well as a few concert reviews. Big things, they are a-coming!

I have to admit, I was a little behind the times when I finally discovered the New York band, Alberta Cross. My first exposure was hearing the song “Low Man” in a season two episode of Californication. (Duchovny is SO dreamy!) I was instantly sucked in to lead man Petter Ericson Stakee’s brilliant voice and melancholy lyrics.  It took me a while to track down AC’s self recorded mini-album The Thief and the Heartbreaker and was dying to hear more. So thank goodness September 21^st, 2009 rolled around as the band released their first full length LP, Broken Side of Time on Ark Recordings. The album puts a new definition on blending rock, blues and gospel and is absolutely mesmerizing. Alberta Cross has recently been pulling comparisons to early Kings of Leon and Neil Young. But if you really want to hear Alberta Cross in all their glory, you have to check out their set from the Daytrotter Studies, recorded November 10^th. The stripped down live set brings out the pain in Stakee’s voice and puts a new spin on some of their best tunes. A definite bonus to the Daytrotter set is the unreleased track “White Sand”. The heavy beats and supporting piano are haunting and gives us a sign of what’s next for this up-and-coming band. Alberta Cross is a definite recommendation and may be included when I discuss the best of 2009 later in December. You can pick up the album Broken Side of Time at Princeton Record Exchange and check out the Daytrotter session at Daytrotter.com.

On the news front, New Jersey band Real Estate is all ready for a big end to the year. Tuesday, November 17^th, marks the bands release of the long awaited self-titled debut album. It’s going to be released on the Woodsist label and if the buzz is any warning, it should fly off the shelves. I can’t believe it has been nearly six months since I first heard rumors of this album and I can’t wait to get my grubby little hands on it. So then the question becomes, what do you do when you drop your debut album in November? If you’re the boys from Real Estate, you send out a brand spanking new EP in December! Reality will be released on Mexican Summer December 18^th and features the song “Younger Than Yesterday”, streaming now on Pitchfork.com. Two new discs in two months… Impressive!  I’ll be sure to let you know what I think of the Jersey Shore products as soon as I get my copy from the Princeton Record Exchange.

In other news, as if Jack White isn’t busy enough, he just finalized his next project. Fresh off his tour with The Dead Weather, Jack is headed back into the studio. Only this time he’s not in front of the mic, he’s behind the mixing board. Are you ready for the twist? 72 year old, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Wanda Jackson has asked Mr. White to produce her next LP. The album, yet to be named, is hopefully due out sometime in 2010. Jackson’s last album from 2003, Heart Trouble, reminded us all why she has been around for more than 50 years and featured an unbelievable duet with Elvis Costello. When asked how the project compares to when White produced Loretta Lynn’s 2004 album, Van Lear Rose, Jackson replied, “He (White) didn’t have her do anything different…he told me he’s gonna stretch me some…” I can’t wait to see what they have in mind! Stay tuned!

Finally, on the home front here at MySBLT, our first in a series of interviews with up-and-coming music acts has been added to the schedule. December 1st, I will be interviewing Los Angeles band The Local Natives. We’ll talk about their music, plans for 2010 and their current tour with Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes. Hopefully you’ve had the chance to check out one of their shows as the finish up a swing through the east coast the week of November 17^th. I am so excited to speak with the band about their tunes and I want to thank the Local Natives in advance for the opportunity. You can check out new tracks from the yet to be released debut Gorilla Manor on their Myspace page.

In addition to the interview, I’ll also be reviewing the Local Natives December 1^st show from Boulder, Colorado. It is just the beginning of show reviews as we also have scheduled a review of the current Brand New and Manchester Orchestra tour. The January show is a reschedule here in the Mile High city from an October date that was cancelled due to illness.

For updates on the MySBLT series, music reviews, concerts and interviews become a fan on the official Facebook page. Just search MySBLT and click “become a fan”. You can also follow us on Twitter @MySBLT. As always leave comments and feedback, let me know how you like MySBLT and what you think I should be listening to.

Love peace and chicken grease.