CD Picks of the Week

Of the hundreds of CDs released this week (715, according to All Music Guide), here are my picks...



Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes
This five-piece from Seattle is one of my absolute favorite new bands (along with Bon Iver and Islands) of '08. With CSN&Y harmonies. Like their labelmates, Band of Horses, they're a spiritual descendant of early My Morning Jacket with soaring melodies and vocals that sound like they're recorded in a grain silo. They add CSN&Y harmonies to boot. - Listen here.

William F. Gibbs - My Fellow Sophisticates
The hooks come with baroque ornamentation on this debut that was original and eclectic enough to cut through the dozens of singer/songwriters that come across my desk. The South Carolinian is all over the musical map, but it's an interesting trip. - Listen here.

Aimee Mann - @#%&*! Smilers
She's shed the electric guitars, but it still rocks. A full review is coming later today—in the meantime here's my interview with Aimee Mann from May. Listen here.