I’ve mulled over this for like a week and a half now. I’ve put it off as long as I possibly could. It’s finally time to name a Record of the Week for September 22nd. It’s just that, there are so many records that should have that honor. First off, how could a collaboration between Bon Iver and Collections of Colonies of Bees, aptly named Volcano Choir, NOT be Record of the Week? How could the new Castanets record, which coincidentally is THE BEST Castanets record, not be Record of the Week. Then there is the new EP from Pains of Being Pure at Heart which is just excellent. Le Loup threw us for quite the loop(HA) and put out an absolutely outstanding album that brings forth the best moments from recent Grizzly Bear, Animal Collective and Fleet Foxes discs. New albums from Owen, Girls, Múm, Twilight Sad, Times New Viking. These are allllllll excellent albums. Maybe the obvious choice would be Monsters of Folk where Conor Oberst of Bright Eyes, M. Ward, Jim James of My Morning Jacket have teamed up to make an album. The choice after all was said and done though was…

J. Tillman’s A Year in the Kingdom is a testament that you can be as prolific as you want to be and still release killer album after killer album. Better known as the drummer of Fleet Foxes and one of their best backing vocalists, J. Tillman’s albums always stand on their own without bringing his pedigree up.

J Tillman’s solo stuff would appeal to the fan of Iron & Wine, Bon Iver, or Nick Drake. Hushed vocals over acoustic guitar but the backing instrumentation helps this release even more. Hammered dulcimer, banjo, recorder and very great string arrangements. There is a bit of that Fleet Foxes vocal harmonies as evidenced early on in the record with “Crosswinds.”

“Crosswinds” is definitely an album highlight along with “Earthly Bodies,” which has a very early Iron & Wine feel to it. Sort of around that Our Endless Numbered Days material where it was still stripped down but had some interesting instrumentation to it.

In short, if you liked Fleet Foxes, you’ll love this. If you like Iron & Wine, Nick Drake, Bon Iver, chances are you’ll like this as well. It takes a damn good record to stand out over the rest of the other records this week, and that’s just what this is. It’s also $9.97 at the store for the next month!

"Crosswinds" from J. Tillman's 2009 album Year in the Kingdom

"Earthly Bodies" from J. Tillman's 2009 album Year in the Kingdom

Honorable mentions for September 22nd Record of the Week:

• Castanets - Texas Rose, the Thaw & the Beasts (Asthmatic Kitty)
  "Down the Line, Love" from Castanets's 2009 album Texas Rose, the Thaw & the Beasts
• Volcano Choir – Unmap (Jagjaguwar)
  "Island, IS" from Volcano Choir's 2009 album Unmap
• Le Loup – Family (Hardly Art)
  "Forgive Me" from Le Loup's 2009 album Family