The biggest NRT in a while brings reissues of Leonard Cohen's first three albums, Songs of Leonard Cohen, Songs from a Room and Songs of Love and Hate (buy it). I'd say that all are must-haves, and the first one is on some higher plane of necessity. You need this album, and the Greatest Hits really doesn't count. Admittedly, mid-spring is an odd time to reissue these transcendently gloomy, bracing, hyper-real albums - couldn't they wait until some snowy winter midnight? - but go for it anyway. For those who already own, the bonus tracks look meager, unfortunately.Elsewhere, Smog becomes Bill Callahan with Woke on a Whaleheart (buy it), and while Stylus seems to think Neil Michael Hagerty's ruined the thing, I'm nevertheless excited to hear it. Even the New York Times has chimed in, which just goes to show what dating a harpist will do for your career that umpteen brilliant albums won't. And speaking of that, Joanna Newsom returns with the EP And the Ys Street Band (buy it), featuring one new song and two reworkings of old ones, including favorite "Clam, Crab, Cockle, Cowrie" from The Milk Eyed Mender.
The Blow's Poor Aim: Love Songs (buy it) gets the reissue treatment with bonus remixes, and this is a fun, fun disc, with more pop sensibilities than Paper Television.
Stay tuned for even more new releases this evening...
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