Leak Peek [Steady, National, LCD]

Roundup of Upcoming May Leaks

The Hold Steady  |  Heaven Is Whenever  |  May 4th

Stereogum's Premature Evaluation. "Heaven Is Whenever isn’t a bad album, but it’s also not a great album. (It’s OK to be disappointed.)"

• We'll have to see about this evaluation. They are highly critical of The Hold Steady, who are recently searching for a new sound after the departure of the Keyboardist Franz Nicolay, who was a major influence on their "stadium rock" sound that defined their first 4 albums. 
• I have listened to the album, I do not believe that it quite possibly is better than what Stereogum is predicting, besides, they aren't pitchfork, but who wants to be anyways.

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The National  |  High Violet  |  May 11th

Stereogum is all over these leaks aren't they. Here is their Premature Evaluation. "Like the band that created it, it’s an album that’s built to last."

• Please take notice that the leak of this album occurred on 4/19/10 and the Premature Evaluation was posted on 4/20/10, that means that this album was listened to and analyzed in about 24 hours. 
• They seem to praise this album because it is by the National and their enduring sound. 
• Yes, from what we've heard there is a certain tone on High Violet that wasn't there on Boxer, agreed.

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TSURURADIO is back with a bang and is buzzing their approval. "It patiently takes you up, down, & over from start to finish.."

• Valid points on the growth of the band are described to a T. That how it happened for me and I'm sure many more.
• With the hype of this one and supposed awesomeness it contains it does seem like we will see them amongst the big names in music after High Violet.
• I've been saying it for a while now, The National is the next Coldplay.
• Starbucks - YES. Soccer Moms - Probably Not.

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We All Want Someone To Shout For took the time to do a Live Blogging of the album, wrapped up with a summary. "I don’t know how many bands out there takes so much time and effort to give us such a complete album."

• Will mentions that he is using a leak with crappy quality to assess the album, good. Means that the others are using the same as well.
• Shows expresses his feelings on each song, though tries not to say anything too bad about the album.

After I found my way to a leak of High Violet, I immediately turned away because of the poor quality of the beginning of each song. Unless The National is taking a lo-fi approach to their latest, which is not the case, I am going to hold off on this one until I can appreciate it in quality. However it would be cool to hear WAVVES in hi-fi and The National in lo-fi. I hope these evaluations were not from the terrible quality leak I  got my hands on.

*The album will officially begin streaming on the 23rd on the NY Times website, be ready for that*

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LCD Soundsystem  |  This Is Happening  |  May 18th

Stereogum's Premature Evaluation - "Murphy’s shown again he can find endless permutations in what, admittedly, seemed like a pretty rigid formula all those years ago."

• PRAISE PRAISE PRAISE PRAISE PRAISE
• Though Stereogum is highly critical of The Hold Steady's new project, they fail to make bold claims of greatest or failure in this one. Taking a middle road as to not turn people off. 
• DANCE DANCE DANCE DANCE DANCE. 
• It's all about dancing and summer and how This Is Happening will fit right it, which it will.

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There Goes The Fear - "LCD Soundsystem have recorded some fantastic tracks for This is Happening."


I'm a big fan of this album, I am declining comment on it because I will be sure to say a few words or 300 about it when it comes out, for now I'll write about the slave trade and jazz history. I will, however, say that "I Can Change" is my new favorite song. I am not going to say 'of all time' but 'of 2010' wouldn't be a stretch by any means, I love it.