What's On Will's iPad: September 2013 Edition

Here are some newer releases that have been dominating the ol' iPad of late.  Please leave a comment and let me know what you like and also, more importantly, what you're listening to these days.  I'm always in the market for new tunes.

The following four records are getting lots of spins recently:

Volcano Choir: Repave

Justin Vernon and Collections of Colonies of Bees come together for a great release of multi-instrumental songwriting and lush soundscapes.  Fans of Vernon's most famous group, Bon Iver, will find Volcano Choir hits closer to what they may be used to, rather than Vernon's earlier record this year with The Shouting Matches, (which was a straight-ahead blues rock album that I happen to love). The album functions wonderfully as a whole piece and is a diverse listen throughout.

The Generationals: Heza

While this record's been out since April, I have really been getting into it of late, in large part to the frequent radio play they are getting from 88.9 Radio Milwaukee.  This whole album is catchy indie-pop rock form the New Orleans duo.  "Put a Light On" is an infectious, stand out track.  Be forewarned, click on the video below and you'll have the melodic hook of this tune stuck in your head all day.

Okkervil River: The Silver Gymnasium

I am a huge fan of Will Sheff's narrative storytelling songwriting, and he and his bandmates really deliver on The Silver Gymnasium, an album which I'll say is their strongest effort since 2009's, The Stand Ins.  I'm not sure if I agree with the critics who classify this as "stadium rock," as I cannot envision Okkervil River selling out the Pabst Theater, let along a stadium, but certainly think that Sheff at times ventures into more guitar driven pounding choruses not unlike earlier Bruce Springsteen tracks.

Hanni El Khatib- Head in the Dirt

The Dan Auerbach produced sophomore effort from Hanni El Khatib is a rocking disc, filled with guitar heavy hooks and bluesy jams.  On the single, "Skinny Little Girl," El Khatib almost sounds like Auerbach himself on vocals.  If you like more recent Black Keys releases, you'll likely enjoy this as well.