Monday, June 18, 2012

Now Streaming: New CDs from Smashing Pumpkins, Hacienda, Kate Miller-Heidke, & More

The '90s may be long gone, but Smashing Pumpkins are back with a new album, "Oceania," and it's one of the new releases available for online streaming this week. While the band has been gone, it's been influencing a number of younger musicians (which can be heard most clearly in Silversun Pickups). And frontman Billy Corgan has worked on a number of projects, including a previous Pumpkins reunion.

Listen to Smashing Pumpkins' new "Oceania" at Spinner this week.

So how does "Oceania" measure up against classic Pumpkins works of the past? Greg Kot of the Chicago Tribune says in his review that it "adds up to Corgan's best work since the '90s."

What else is streaming this week? Kate Miller-Heidke (famous for "Are You Ready?," a hit that was also used in commercials for the New York Lottery) is back with her new album, "Nightflight." The San Antonio band Hacienda (which opened for The Duke Spirit last Saturday at Highline Ballroom), is streaming its new album, "Shakedown," which they created with help from Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys.

There's "The Tarnished Gold," the first album in more than a decade by the band Beachwood Sparks. And for jazz fans, the prolific Henry Threadgill and his current band Zooid are back with a new release that's streaming this week. (You'll find some background on the album and on Threadgill here from NPR, and from a story they did on him in 2010.)

As always, the Spinner and AOL Music websites offer many more selections than those listed here; visit the links below to browse all the choices.

NPR First Listen:
"The Tarnished Gold" by Beachwood Sparks
"Tomorrow Sunny / The Revelry, Spp" by Henry Threadgill Zooid

Spinner.com's Listening Party:
"Oceania" by Smashing Pumpkins
"Rhythm and Repose" by Glen Hansard
"Carry the Fire" by Delta Rae
"Tightrope Walker" by Maren Parusel
"New Look" by New Look
"Shakedown" by Hacienda

AOL Music Listening Party: 
"Nightflight" by Kate Miller-Heidke
"California" EP by Tamar Kaprelian


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