You're used to hearing great new music on OpenAir and this week is no exception. Stay tuned to OpenAir, new music from Colorado Public Radio, to hear the latest from The National, Shannon & the Clams, and Gypsy & the Cat.
By: Scott Carney
The National – Trouble Will Find Me
"For the 12 years we’ve been making records, we’ve always been trying to prove something, and avoid being labeled as dad rock, or depressing,” remarks The National frontman Matt Berninger about the band’s sixth full-length LP Trouble Will Find Me. “This time around, we didn’t care…when we took the pressure off, the songs became really fun.” This self-assured attitude resonates throughout the new album, adding a lively immediacy to songs like “Don’t Swallow The Cap” and “Fireproof.” Featuring guest appearances from Sufjan Stevens, Annie Clark, and Sharon Van Etten, Trouble Will Find Me sparkles with inventive energy, and confirms The National’s status as one of the most consistently enjoyable bands in indie rock.
Highlight track: “Don’t Swallow The Cap"
Shannon and the Clams – Dreams in the Rat House
Oakland-based trio Shannon and the Clams return with Dreams in the Rat House, their first full-length album for Hardly Art. Combining lo-fi rock aesthetics with doo wop-inspired vocals, Dreams in the Rat House is a lovingly constructed pastiche of various genres of the 1960s, simultaneously sounding fresh and familiar. Though certainly paying homage to the past, the album rumbles with a modern ferocity, reveling in the sweet spot where girl groups meet the garage.
Highlight track – “Rip Van Winkle”
Gypsy and the Cat – The Late Blue
Australian duo Gypsy and the Cat follow up their critically acclaimed debut Gilgamesh with The Late Blue, self-released on their own Alsatian Music label. Reminiscent of MGMT or STRFKR, the duo craft bouncy, breezy folk pop that seems custom made for the coming summer months.
Highlight track – “Only in December”
