Well, I went on and on about Elliott Smith's New Moon last week preview style, so this week I will just say... "Hooray, it's here!" New Moon also came out on vinyl today, which I much prefer (so many times you have to wait for the vinyl release, like Arcade Fire this week!).

Bjork is back in top form with her release Volta. I haven't always been the biggest fan, but this record seems a bit more "music for the masses" than some of her more experimental/self-indulgent releases.

Lavender Diamond has a new record out today AND will be doing an in store at the Capitol Hill Sonic Boom tonight at 11PM. The record is sweet and has really great drawings. I bet if you buy one you can get it signed at the in-store!!

Mary Timony Band The Shapes We Make... Well, you had me at Mary Timony, but the new backing band adds a nice full sound and this too seems a bit less "wacky" than some of her releases (although her quirky band The Spells (with Carrie Brownstein of Sleater-Kinney) and their release Age of Backwards was quirky and great). This record is lighter-hearted and perfect for summer release. I've listened to it twice in a row this morning already (which almost never happens) making this my pick o’ the week!

Here's the rest!

ARCADE FIRE, Neon Bible (on vinyl)
BJORK, Volta
BONE THUGS N HARMONY, Strength & Royalty
THE CLIENTELE, God Save the Clientele
DJ JAZZY JEFF, Return of the Magnificent
SAGE FRANCIS, Human The Death Dance
LISA GERARD, The Silver Tree
GREAT LAKE SWIMMERS, Ongiara
LAVENDAR DIAMOND, Imagine our Love
THE MARY TIMONY BAND, The Shapes We Make
MAXIMO PARK, Our Earthly Pleasures
MELT BANANA, Bambi's Dilema
PAGE FRANCIS, ...And The Family Telephone
THE SEA & CAKE, Everybody
ELLIOTT SMITH, New Moon
BASEMENT, Illicit Hugs And Playground Thugs
DALE WATSON, Little Darlin' Sessions
IKE REILLY ASSASSINATION, We Belong To The Staggering Evening
JAMES BLOOD ULMER, Bad Blood In The City: The Piety Street Sessions
JIMMY LAFAVE, Cimarron Manifesto
JOHN PHILLIPS, Jack O' Diamonds ( unreleased second album)
KEREN ANN, self-titled
RICHARD SHINDELL, South Of Delia
SERENA RYDER, If Your Memory Serves You Well
SHANNON WRIGHT, Let In The Light