Team Love & Saddle Creek

I have mixed feelings about Jenny Lewis and Rilo Kiley (someone innocently asked me the other day "Do you like Rilo Kiley?" and they got a diatribe in response).  I had heard several months ago that she'd decided to be indie again by releasing a solo record on Team Love.  I won't rant about that, but I do find it very interesting that Warner Bros. is allowing her to release it on another label.  And I do like the name of the album, Rabbit Fur Coat, because it makes me feel nostalgic for the one I wore when I was little (hey, I was 8 then - I don't wear fur now).

Speaking of Rilo and nostalgia, I traded in some CDs at Amoeba last week and got, among other things, the Spend An Evening With Saddle Creek DVD.  The DVD focuses on the fascinating history of Saddle Creek including the organic growth of the label and the interconnectedness of all the artists.  With such a small, tight-knit roster, it's amazing what unique successes each band has had individually.  The vision and integrity of the core bands and employees is inspiring, especially since they've been rewarded for doing things on their own terms.   (OK, and it's kinda fun to see people that I know on film.)

In other Saddle Creek news, Sef sent me a care package that included the new Criteria CD When We Break.  I love their first record en garde so much that I couldn't wait to hear the follow up.  So far it's not quite living up to my en garde obsession, because the lyrics seem a little too self-referential and the dynamics aren't quite there, but I need to spend more time with it.  Either way, I'm excited to see them at Great American on 10/16.

In other Team Love news, when I saw David Dondero at the Jackpine/Alejandro Escovedo show, he told me that they're putting out his record in October.  He'd just gotten the advances that day and didn't have one with him, so unfortunately I haven't heard it yet.  Also coming out on Team Love in October is Craig Wedren's solo record Lapland which is uncharacteristically mellow and understated (as far as STT and Baby go), but it still has Craig's gorgeous voice, phrasing and melodies.  Download the devastating "Fifteen Minutes Late" from the new record or listen to 4 tracks on Craig's myspace page.

In a sort of related note, Tralala is playing at the Hemlock tonight.  Tralala is basically Tilly and the Wall (sans tap dancer) in sound and style:

  Tralala vs. Tilly and the Wall 

Download Tralala's "The Girls Say" [via Stereogum] or buy the record.

Listen to songs from Tilly and the Wall's Wild Like Children and read my review.