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Now Spinning – Pearl Jam “Backspacer”

Pearl Jam returns with “Backspacer,” its first album of new material since 2006’s self-titled release “Pearl Jam.” It’s great to hear this band again. While it can be debated that Pearl Jam never achieved the level of success we thought they would when they exploded onto the scene with the 1991 classic “Ten,” there is no question that the band has stayed true to itself and its sound, and is lead by one of the all-time great voices in rock. Eddie Vedder sounds as good as ever, especially on the album’s fifth track “Just Breathe” which sounds like it could also have had a home on his remarkable “Into the Wild” soundtrack. With “Backspacer,” Pearl Jam is indeed back. Check it out.

Now Spinning - Imogen Heap

Our resident DJ, BRAINWASH AND ABHORRENT JEST, is turning us on to the techno-mellow sounds of Ellipse, the new release from Frou Frou chanteuse Imogen Heap (or HOPE ENIGMA for those of you still playing the Anagram game.) Tracks like "First Train Home" and "Wait it Out" show an evolution to her sound while "Canvas" is closer to the experimental dazzle of her earlier release, Speak for Yourself. Check her out.

Rock Me, Amadeus – Phoenix

Our man Brendan is the Minister of Music at The Boathouse, and he’s turned us on to the new album from the French rock band Phoenix. Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix is chock full of catchy, radio-friendly confections like “1901”, “Lasso,” and the opening track “Lisztomania.” Frontman Thomas Mars sings it all in English, but his sentiments and the band’s breezy sound is universal. If you want to get ahead of the curve on the next wave of relevant pop music, check this one out on iTunes or visit the band’s site here.

Mat Kearney – City of Black & White

Stop by our home base at The Boathouse and you may just hear this terrific new album providing the soundtrack to another day of creativity. Kearney is a Nashville-based singer/songwriter, but don’t expect a twang. Kearney takes his Chris Martin-style voice for a ride through funky backbeats, smooth guitars and soulful melodies on songs like “Closer to Love” and “All I Have.” Check it out.

Good Winter Music – Bon Iver

This is a gem of an album. The New York Times called For Emma, Forever Ago “irresistible,” and the reviewers on iTunes are raving about its poetic beauty. Bon Iver (pronounced: bohn eevair; French for "good winter" and spelled wrong on purpose) is basically musician Justin Vernon who recorded this intimate collection over the course of a winter at his father’s hunting cabin, deep in the Wisconsin woods. And it shows. You feel like you’re in the room as he sings “Skinny Love,” an exceptional track. Check it out.

Why So Grumpy, Neil? – Fork in the Road

We love Neil Young. Great musician. Belongs on the Mt. Rushmore of singer-songwriters. But it seems like Neil has a bee in his bonnet about Apple, the iPod and iTunes. Did they ruin the music business? Is Apple evil? Maybe. Maybe it was the Internet. But Apple didn’t invent MP3 players or file sharing. They just made it better. And the last we checked, no one steals music from iTunes. The record industry thrived for decades because you had to buy the whole disc to get the one or two hits on the disc. Now you don’t. No more moving the needle. No more fast-forwarding. We love you, Neil. Great video. Check it out.

Melodic Gossipmonger – Ray LaMontagne

This is what we’re spinning at the Boathouse this week and it’s a gem. Ray LaMontagne’s third album Gossip in the Grain “touches upon a range of styles and musical settings– spanning pastoral folk, railroad blues, front porch country, and plangent balladry.” One iTunes reviewer says he “writes like Dylan, sounds like Cocker, plays like James Taylor and has the soul of Otis Redding.” That’s pretty good company. Listen to his ode to Meg White. The girl had to swoon. Check it out.

Kelly Coveny & Michael Maxwell – From There to Here

A wonderful debut from two of our favorite artists and people, From There to Here is a stripped-down surprise full of rich melodies and emotive lyrics. If an autumnal drive up the New England coastline had a soundtrack, this would be it. Check it out on iTunes.

The Frames: The Cost

Anthemic Irish rockers The Frames' latest effort is nothing if not consistent. The ever-present swell and release of emotion turns the album into a rollercoaster through the human spirit. The constant rise and fall of the songs would be exhausting if handled by a lesser band, but in the hands of the veteran quintet led by the tortured vocals of Glen Hansard, it sparkles.  http://music.ign.com/articles/769/769711p1.html

The Good, The Bad And The Queen

After achieving Nineties stardom with Blur, Damon Albarn settled into a head-down, hardworking life of adventurous projects like Gorillaz and his new band, the Good, the Bad and the Queen. The group is an odd mix, to say the least: Clash bassist Paul Simonon, Verve guitarist Simon Tong and Africa 70 drummer Tony Allen, plus the production of Danger Mouse. The eclectic elements combine for dark, muted balladry a la Syd Barrett or the Beatles' White Album, with a touch of dub. http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews