Andrew Bird, Yellow Ostrich, Bowerbirds [week's Top Releases]

This week is definitely crowded with excellent releases, most importantly the great new LP from Andrew Bird. Several amazing bands are also releasing milestone third albums, while Yellow Ostrich are reinventing themselves and St. Lucia drops an excellent debut EP. There’s simply so much great music this week, it was impossible to suggest them all here (sorry Dinowalrus, Ava Luna, Now,Now)!

Andrew Bird’s (@andrewbird) Break It Yourself may be his career defining moment. The album pushes Bird beyond his usual mastery of smart, orchestral, pop music. It’s still whimsical with plenty of violins and whistling, but Break It Yourself contains music that is as appropriate for background filler as it is for quiet, introspective listening through a really great pair of headphones. Recorded in Bird’s own barn located in western Illinois, his seventh album as a solo artist proves that he has no intention of slowing down, and that he only gets better with time.

Tuck the Darkness In – Bowerbirds // Buy

During the recording of Bowerbirds’ (@thebowerbirds) third album, The Clearing, Beth Tacular and Phil Moore had to deal with some pretty heavy emotional issues. Tacular almost died due to a mysterious illness and the real-life couple split up and got back together during the production process. After reconciling, they stole away to a remote cabin (a la Bon Iver) in their home state of North Carolina to complete the project. The result is a grower album calling upon the influences of Fleet Foxes, Bob Dylan, and Leonard Cohen – peppered with moments of true beauty.

Boomerang – Miniature Tigers // Buy

Miniature Tigers (@miniaturetigers) may have the cutest name in indie rock, but don’t let that fool you into thinking the band is all bubblegum. While Mia Pharaoh, the third full-length release from the Brooklyn-based band has a major pop influence, the sweet tunes conceal some pretty cheeky lyrics (a track titled “Sex On The Regular” comes to mind). Sing-along songs like “Boomerang” and “Easy As All That” make for the perfect soundtrack for your early spring.

Heavy Metal – White Rabbits // Buy

White Rabbits (@white_rabbits) are also releasing their third LP today. Milk Famous may be a guitar-driven album, but the band still places their signature emphasis on percussion and melodies, easily lending themselves to harmonic ornamentation. It’s energetic and a bit harder — more metal than the band’s previous releases.

The Shakedown – Yellow Ostrich // Buy

Yellow Ostrich’s (@yellowostrich) second release is quite literally coming from a different band. The debut full-length The Mistress consisted of tracks that singer/songwriter Alex Schaaf wrote and tracked all by himself, but Strange Land is the first album that presents Yellow Ostrich as a group, including drummer Michael Tapper and multi-instrumentalist Jon Natchez. Naturally, this somewhat new approach to recording allows the band to showcase the musicianship of its members in a much more detailed way, resulting in an album that is very different from its predecessor, but no less enthralling.

We Got It Wrong – St. Lucia // Buy

The St. Lucia EP is one of the most promising releases from a new artist so far this year. Undoubtedly drenched in 1980s synth and pop sensibilities, the retro songs are still very fresh and easy to fall in love with. Floating high on extremely successful appearances at CMJ 2011 and a Pianos residency last month, St. Lucia (@stlucianewyork) plays shows that are high-energy dance parties with an impossible to ignore, infectious enthusiasm. This debut EP is the perfect way to keep fans satiated in-between gigs.