Draft Board for 6/17/08: Feeder, The Hold Steady

Here’s what’s new in stores & worth your time this week:

Feeder, Silent Cry
This is the 6th studio album from my favorite criminally underrated British rock band, and it’s nice to hear Feeder back at the top of their game. Their last studio album, Pushing The Senses, was a plodding disappointment, overloaded with balladry and generally straying from the punkier formula that yielded hit (British) singles like “Buck Rogers” and “Come Back Around.” I just got my pre-ordered import copy in the mail today, and I’m very pleased with the results so far: the energy level is up, the guitars have a vibrant crunch to them, and their knack for catchy hooks and melodies is completely intact. It’s big, anthemic British rock at its best, and the Deluxe Edition disc has 2 bonus tracks, making it worth the upgrade. The only way to get it is to import it from Amazon.co.uk, so to give you a taste, here’s “Miss You,” which was a free download from the band’s website a few weeks back — hope you dig:

Download: Feeder, “Miss You” (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Update 6/18: Digital distribution does it again! The deluxe, bonus-track-sporting edition of Silent Cry and an EP for first single “We Are The People” popped unexpectedly into the US iTunes Store. Very cool! I’m happy to stand corrected.

The Hold Steady, “Stay Positive”
I lurved The Hold Steady’s last meaty, Springsteen-y album, Boys and Girls in America, and have been patiently waiting for this follow-up since it was officially announced a few months ago. As a treat for those who can’t wait for the physical release in July (and probably to combat leaks), the band has made Stay Positive available now, exclusively through iTunes. Normally I’d take the leap, but I’ve read that they’re going to tack on some bonus tracks to the disc when it hits stores next month, so, being a sucker for bonus material, I wait. Don’t let me stop you, though — from what I’ve heard so far, it’s good stuff. Grab it at (duh) iTunes.