DC December 13 New Release Recap

Slim pickin's for a mid-December release schedule today -- how things have changed in the (formerly) mighty music biz. It is the holidays, yes? Still, some worthwhile choices including the live CD/DVD package from Josh Ritter, the moody and naked piano ballad versions of 80's hits from Amelia Warner -- aka Slow Moving Millie -- in the U.K. and the pop/folk debut from Portland-ia trio The Lower 48. Also on tap: the new Jonsi soundtrack to We Bought A Zoo, the latest from Kevin Hearn of The Barenaked Ladies (due 12/20) and more retro-harmonied pop fluff from England's The Puppini Sisters (12/26 UK). Check 'em out below...

Josh Ritter - Live at The Iveagh Gardens - New York singer/songwriter's burgeoning U.K. fan base is out in force on this performance recorded on a rainy July evening at Dublin's Iveagh Gardens during Ritter's 2010 tour for his So Runs The World Away studio album..released earlier this year in Europe, the package includes the 21-song concert on DVD and double CD and features Ritter and his fine touring outfit The Royal City Band...more DC (streams, videos, details)

Slow Moving Millie - Renditions (U.K. only) - Reworking 80's Brit pop songs as stripped piano ballads is hardly a novel idea but  Amelia Warner brings her own spin to the unadorned covers concept. Warner, who garnered her new moniker when friends remarked that her music had something of an underwhelming delivery, has already gotten something of head start recently when a London department store chose her version of The Smiths "Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want" as their oh-so-subtle theme song for the holiday buying season...more DC

The Lower 48 - Where All Maps End - Songwriters and sweet harmonizers Ben Braden and Sarah Parson along with percussionist Nicholas Sadler, all Minneapolis natives who migrated west to Portland, form the budding alt/folk triumverate . Their new debut album is delightfully all over the, err, map, as 60's styled twee folk/pop melodies and intertwined vocal interplay bump up against the random odd instrumental detour -- witness the impeccable and totally unpredictable "Into the Woods" or the wonderful "Interlude 1"...more DC

Other releases of note:

Charlotte Gainsbourg - Stage Whisper (Live/Studio) (12/13)
Jonsi - We Bought A Zoo Soundtrack (12/13)
Kevin Hearn - Cloud Maintenance (12/20)
The Puppini Sisters - Hollywood (12/26 UK)