Quickie Roundup of Recent Music

As I've been out of action for a little while, I wanted to fling a few little reviews out there for everyone to try and catch up. Therefore, no anger with my lack of detail in the reviews here as they are all intended to be good and short summations of recent records I have heard.

Joanna Newsom - Ys
A genuine artistic statement from a talent seemingly to be reckoned with. This is something quite special indeed, a quasi-classical set of compositions pregnant with beauty, honesty, intensity and originality. A truly maverick record to be compared with the finest work of Kate Bush and Patti Smith yet occupying a musical plateau all its own. Immense
Key Tracks: 'Sawdust & Diamonds', 'Cosmia'
Platt Rating: 9.7/10

Tom Waits - Orphans: Bawlers, Brawlers & Bastards
Another album of breathtaking individuality with a maverick spirit that can't be emulated. 54 songs of barreling steam-blues, heartbroken lamentations and bottleneck stomps that barely misses its mark on any occasions. All that and 'Road To Peace', his first explicit protest song about the Iraq war that as personal, intuitive and brilliant as the best work of Dylan.
Key Tracks: 'Road To Peace', 'Bottom Of The World', 'On The Road'
Platt Rating: 9.4/10

Jarvis - Jarvis
First solo record by Pulp frontman which starts with three utterly useless, wasteful tracks and then springs into life with a host of brilliant, darkly knowing songs. On a few, he resembles a loungier version of old bandmate (an current session guitarist) Richard Hawley although this never scales the heights of his breathtaking Coles Corner from last year.
Key Tracks: 'Tonight', 'Baby's Coming Back To Me'
Platt Rating: 6.7/10

The Hold Steady - Boys And Girls In America
So deeply in thrall to the spirit of early Springsteen are these gents, you want their pummeling bar band anthems to succeed so much but they just never quite seem to detail their songs with the same lightness of touch to keep them falling the wrong side of the bar. Still, the conviction with which they play, the relative eclecticism and overall catchiness make this a pretty enjoyable if forgettable record.
Key Tracks: 'You Can Make Him Like You', 'Stuck Between Stations', 'First Night'
Platt Rating: 6.1/10

M. Ward - Post-War
Another album of understated alt-country poetry with a sense of songcraft that his peers struggle to reach. A little political certainly, but more about the personal moments that pepper the songs. A lovely, varied little record that sneaks up on you with a powerful emotional punch.
Key Tracks: 'Requiem', 'Post-War', 'Poison Cup'
Platt Rating: 8.4/10

Yo La Tengo - I'm Not Afraid And I Will Beat Your Ass
These indie veterans seem to get better every year with their last, Summer Sun, a lovely trip to be taken on indeed. This feels definitive, containing as it does 'The Story Of...', a song that seems to encapsulate an entire career as premier indie godheads in 10 elegant, elegiac minutes.
Key Tracks: 'The Story Of...', 'Pass The Hatchet', 'I Should've Known Better'
Platt Rating: 8.5/10

Bonnie 'Prince' Billy - The Letting Go
I don't want to offend, but the vast majority of Will Oldham's back catalogue isn't really that good. Sure, there are a couple of stunning moments and, as Bonnie 'Prince' Billy, he hasn't gone wrong, but I've never been all that in love with his various projects. This though, is stunning. The humanity of his music has never been in doubt and, after the underwhelming Tortoise collaboration, this is a saving grace. Beautiful, ethereal sadness.
Key Tracks: 'Cursed Sleep', 'Then The Letting Go', 'I Called You Back'
Platt Rating: 8.0/10

Amy Winehouse - Back To Black
She may have gone mental/spent the last two years taking a shitload of drugs, but goddamn this woman can sing. Sometimes she over sasses it but she has such control, such discipline over her voice that its tough not to at least enjoy some of this record.
Key Tracks: 'Rehab', 'Me & Mr. Jones (Fuckery)'
Platt Rating: 7.0/10

The Killers - Sam's Town
So much resting on this, and it looks to have done the job at moving them up a league to full-on stadium filling rock gods. For me though, while there are moments that fill me with anthemic joy, this just isn't good enough to really grab me. The bombast is there, but the rest of it just never quite arrives. There seems to be a deficit in their emotional attatchment to the songs, they seem to be one step removed at all times. Overall, just not quite good enough to convince me this is what I need.
Key Tracks: 'When You Were Young', 'Bones', 'Sam's Town'
Platt Rating: 6.0/10

The Long Blondes - Someone To Drive You Home
There is a great album trying to get out here. A record filled with blistering moments of sugar-pop nastiness and a radiant sense of melody, drive and skill. But, while 'Lust In The Movies' and 'Madame Ray' both fulfil the job of being the 'Hanging On The Telephone' and 'Echo Beach' of this year, the rest never quite makes it. Bloody close and marks for potential though.
Key Tracks: 'Madame Ray', 'Lust In The Movies'
Platt Rating: 6.1/10

SO THATS ME UP TO DATE ON THOSE, SO NOW I CAN PUSH ON WITH REVIEWING SOME NEW RECORDS SO LOOK FORWARD TO SOME WHEN I CAN AFFORD SOME.