ELI "PAPERBOY" REED - Come and Get It

This is Eli's third full-length album and his first for the Capitol label. He's from the Boston area, but you probably wouldn't know it from listening to his music. His style is soul music and he'll have you wondering if Come and Get It isn't really a forgotten Stax/Motown record. At the same time, it sounds fresh and new. This is a fantastic album. Kick out the jams with "Explosion", take some advice with "Come and Get It", enjoy the horns and harmonies on "Tell Me What I Want To Hear". Whatever you do, you should enjoy this album.

www.myspace.com/elipaperboyreed
www.elipaperboyreed.com

COLD WAR KIDS - Behave Yourself

Savvy Slacker Sounds readers may recall that in 2008, I reviewed the latest album by the Cold War Kids, Loyalty To Loyalty. If you don't remember, I will sum up the review: I did not like that release from these four boys from Fullerton, California.

Fast forward a little over a year; I find myself with a copy of the Cold War Kids' latest EP, Behave Yourself. I decide to give it a shot because it's just a tad over 14 minutes in length; I might as well throw it on while I do some chores. I don't know if my taste has changed since that last album review, or if they have just gotten a lot better, but I find this to be a decent release. Many of the same points I raised on that last review appear again on this one but in a different context; they are strengths instead of weaknesses.

The sound on here is one of soulful, indie rock. It seems like Nathan Willett has gotten comfortable with the sound of his own singing voice and is no longer trying to ape Thom Yorke (he still sounds like the dude from Ghostland Observatory, but not in an annoying way). He injects emotion into his words and when he sings, "Lord, have mercy on me!" in "Sermons," it sounds like he means it. While listening to this EP, I feel like the CWK have turned into a less-Southern, more soul-influenced version of the Kings of Leon. Surely that will be to their benefit as the Kings are currently on top of the music world, and the songs on this EP are better than the songs on the Kings' last release, Only By The Night.

It's good to give bands second chances; they just might surprise you with how much they've grown into their sound.

www.myspace.com/coldwarkids
www.coldwarkids.com

FITZ AND THE TANTRUMS - Songs For A Breakup, Volume 1

Born in France but raised in Los Angeles, here comes Fitz (and the Tantrums). This EP of 5 songs is said to have been recorded in Fitz's living room using only one microphone and written about an ex-girlfriend. The sound is one of poppy soul with a retro vibe that recalls the 60's heyday of soul. Even the album cover is made to look like it's old. It's a cool record and the songs are put together nicely.

www.myspace.com/fitzsoulmusic

Catfish Haven - Devastator

Rock with soul/blues influences from the Chicago power trio of George Hunter (vocals/guitar), Miguel Castillo (bass), and Ryan Farnham (drums). This is their second full-length. I can definitely dig a band that sounds like this, they know how to rock. As an aside, I saw them open for The Hold Steady in 2006 and they had a touring guitarist with them who was still learning the songs. He would leave the stage at times for short intervals, presumably to snort cocaine or have sex with groupies. Good times.

www.myspace.com/catfishhaven
www.catfishhaven.com

Jamie Lidell - Jim

This is the third full-length release for the Brit who has frequently been touted as the new King of Soul. He's certainly got soulful, rhythm and blues influences in his sound. Some music sites list his sound as electronic, but aside from a few electronic bits in the backing music of his songs, he owes a greater debt in his sound on this album to an artist such as Stevie Wonder, than Squarepusher. Personally, I rather enjoyed this album. There are a few slower songs that don't mesh as well with the rest, but a track like "Out of My System" more than makes up for it, and will probably stick in your head for a long time after you hear it.

www.myspace.com/jamielidell
www.jamielidell.com