In The iPod: Portishead, Elvis, and R.E.M.

I recently acquired three albums by artists who have been around for a while, but all three seem to have been more or less successful with their latest products of inspiration.

Portishhead made a couple of interesting atmospheric trip-hop albums about 10 years ago, Dummy and Portishead. Their follow up, Third, is heavily influenced by that electric, atmospheric sound that is most effect as background music for me. I’m not sure there are any other bands that still fall under the “trip-hop” moniker and it seems Portishead was never comfortable with this label, but it is an interesting listen and can be classified as a success.

I was excited to hear that Elvis Costello and the Imposter’s new album, Momofuku, was recorded with Jenny Lewis of Rilo Kiley (she has become one of my favorite artists with her band, solo, and projects like this and The Postal Service). It turns out that most of her presence is limited to background vocals, which is OK, since the material is quite strong. It isn’t among my favorites, but it sis a solid album. It is impressive that Costello can continue to make music of consequence.

I have to admit that I was much more suspect about the new R.E.M. album Accelerate, which many people have cited as a return to classic form. Although I won’t go that far, I will admit it is one of the better post-Life’s Rich Pageant albums. I agree with the guys at Flowering Toilet about R.E.M. (check out this post with two downloads from “So Much Younger Then” a classic bootleg from 1981), they were a defining band of my youth that slipped into mediocrity early on and haven’t really risen out of that designation in my opinion. Again, that being said this is one of their better efforts in some time.