12.24.07
The Bon Mots
FORTY DAYS AND FORTY NIGHTS WITH THE BON MOTS- (MELLIFLUID)- Back in 2003 a little known Chicago band released a terrific debut record called LE MAIN DRAG and those of us who heard it flipped out. Rock in a classic sense (if you think the 1980’s releases on New Zealand’s Flying Nun Records were classic…I do). Well, it’s now 2007 and the same Chicago band have returned with another fantastic record and I’m happy to report no sophomore slump here! I guess the biggest influence I hear is The Byrds but if the Byrds were updated to the 00’s Chicago (after having already kicked Crosby out). The opener, “Walk to California” was ok, not their best but after that they rattle off a string of classic selections like the gently beaming “Past or Present” to the 9 miles high whump of “On her Telephone’ to the jarring “Reasons, Dear” san on and on. Songwriters Eric Chial and Mike Coy seem to be dueling each other, trying to see who can write the better song and it’s that kind of tension that usually breaks bands up but so far it has seem to only make The Bon Mots stronger. Chial has the odd songs on the record while Coy handles the even ones. Go one, give it a listen and try and pick who’s better. I say they’re dead even! www.thebonmots.com

12.24.07
Mick Harvey
TWO OF DIAMONDS- (MUTE)- In addition to being Nick Cave’s right hand man, this Aussie has also worked his magic on records by Robert Forster, PJ Harvey, and Scott Walker . This is the 2nd record full of covers for Cave’s secret weapon (Harvey’s 2005 record, ONE MAN’S TREASURE, was full of HAUNTING covers as well). Well, I believe 10 of these 12 songs are covers and Harvey does an amazing job of making these songs his own. Namely “Sad Dark Eyes” (originally done by 60’s Aussie band The Loved Ones) and the gorgeous piano ballad, “No Doubt.” Later on he does a playful, bouncy cover of Mano Negra’s “Out of Time Man” and tackles an obscure PJ Harvey tune called “Slow-Motion-Movie-Star.”, both to equal aplomb. I also really enjoyed the two originals on here, “Blue Arrows’ and the deeply moving “Little Star.” Not sure if he will ever be a household name (and something tells me that is not what he’s aiming for) but with records like this Harvey has already carved out a name for himself among many of today’s most respected musicians and he deserves as much respect as any of them. www.mute.com

12.24.07
Okkervil River
THE STAGE NAMES-- (JAGJAGUWAR)- Like a brilliant/cockeyed leader of a ship lost out at sea, Will Sheff and his hairy brethren start their journey with “Our Life is not a Movie or Maybe” and end it with the Beach Boys-inspired/inflected “John Allyn Smith Sails” (diving into “Sloop John B”). Along the way “Unless it’s Kicks’ get the crowd revved up in the best way. It starts with a simple garage riff then slowly other instruments start joining in (Sheff’s voice, drums, a maraca, etc.) while “A Girl in Port” is the most beautiful song I have heard this year and “Savannah Smiles’ could be considered twee pop if it was done by any band other than Okkervil River. Elsewhere Sheff is spouting off about “100 luftbaloons and 97 tears” and if any other vocalist in rock said that you’d wanna call em’ a smarmy dick but with Sheff you just call him a genius one more time. After a bit o’ deliberation I have found my favorite record of the year…or maybe it found me. Either way, I can’t stop listening. www.jagjaguwar.com

12.24.07
Revisions
REVISED OBSERVATIONS- (DIRTNAP)-Basically the work of 2 guys, Douglas Burns and Husayn Sayer, these ex-Observers and Red Don ‘s members have stripped things down to rocks bare essentials. To be honest I wish The Observers would have stuck around longer than one minute…they released one fine, dark record (like “BENEATH THE SHADOWS-era T.S.O.L.” as Ken Dirtnap used to say) but hey, stuff happens , right. Apparently, at the behest of an old bandmate (Colin Grigson), Burns would occasionally perform acoustic sets and dug it so much he decided to carry on. Like Even in Blackouts before them, Revisions create songs that crackle with crackling punk energy (but minus the jokey stuff of E.I.B.). Both “Lead Pill” and “Useless Information’ will make a few mix tapes around here while just like the title implies, “On the Lam” is a furious mix of punk aggression and paranoia and “Out of Reach” is the one that gets the crowd all hepped up (minus the pills) with handclaps and a cool, shuffling beat . Recorded by the in-demand guy Pat Kearns (Exploding Hearts, etc.). Curious to catch these guys live (and see if they utilize the piano, violin or cello that is on the record) and it’ll be nice to leave the ear plugs home for a night. www.dirtnaprecs.com

12.17.07
The Pubes
PEAT SOUNDS- (ROADHOUSE TUNES)- This is good old-fashioned hardcore like I have not heard in a long while. The band has a sense of humor (the record title is an…umm…..homage to Beach Boys PET SOUNDS) and reminded me of bands both new(The Briefs) and old (T.S.O.L.) Mario Viele’s guitars are kicked into overdrive for nearly the whole record (14 songs in 23 minutes…like an old Circle Jerks record or somethin’) and in Peat Henry they have a vocalist who could beat Johnny Rotten at his own game (“Ever feel like you’ve been cheated?”). “Built My Dancin’ Feet”, “Wolf Oo-lo” and “Sweet Pea” are a few of my faves here and the guy who did the cover art deserves some serious kudos too. The best thing to come out of St Louie since Drunks w/ Guns (or Sex Robots)? www.roadhousetunes.com

12.17.07
Sleeper Car
LOVE AND ANXIETY- (SELF-RELEASED)- Anyone who knows me knows that I am a sucker for pedal steel and even more of a sucker for a pedal steel player with a cool name (ie: Sneaky Pete, Farmer Dave, etc.). Well, in Sleeper Car it’s Tie-Die Charlie plus they have a violin player in the rock format (bonus points for that). Thus Chicago bunch take their cues from the American Folkways catalog and with lovely harmonies (led by guitarist/vocalist Michael Musikantow) and plenty of hooks. From Woody Guthrie to The Byrds up to current masters like Son Volt the band seems to have their heads screwed on tight and the world by the balls. Only 6 songs here and all of em’ good (My faves are “I Won’t Break Down” and “Anti Climactic Girl”). A perfect introduction. www.sleepercarband.com

12.17.07
Warm In The Wake
AMERICAN PRHISTORIC-- (LIVE WIRE)- A lovely mix of acoustic guitars, analog synths and dreamy vocals from this Atlanta bunch and I have to tell you, I went from not liking this record to sorta liking it to loving it in the past 10 minutes. Leader Chris Rowell is onto something here…in the same ballpark as Band of Horses, Mercury Rev and The Flaming Lips but still unique enough to stand in a different line. “Pawn Shop Heart” is an epic, cosmic rocker that swirls and sways and ends before you want it to while the title track is epic in a different way as it soars n’ swoops and never quite lands on terra firma. “She’d never Seen It” is like the Feelies fighting The Byrds on angel dust or peyote or lots of pot. Ok, after I finish this review I’m going to call up every human being I know and tell them to buy this record. Now go wait for your call! www.livewirerecordings.net

12.17.07
The Yarrows
PLUM- (EMPYREAN)-The Yarrows are four guys from my old stomping grounds of New Jersey who apparently formed in an abandoned lodge surrounded by acres of woods (like maybe where they used to take people to shoot them in THE SOPRANOS??). They create hazy epics and not sure how much more detail I can go into other than they are a rock band but not very loud (but they play guitars, bass and drums and have a vocalist). I guess if you needed a real ballpark reference point I might say Band of Horses but that’s not totally accurate either. To my ears the guitars usually sound pretty and the melodies strong. They have really good harmonies too. For further proof check out “You’re Cruel” or “May” (which reminded me of The Band). Sometimes the songs go one for a bit too long (5 of the 10 songs are each over 5 minutes long) but really that is a minor quibble as PLUM is a fantastic record. You should really go buy it. www.empyreanrecords.com

12.10.07
Jule Brown
SOLDIER IN THE 9TH- (ENABLER)- Jule Brown (aka Jennyanykind’s Mark Holland) is back with more of the low-endy folky blues that he has perfected on his last several records (including last year’s awesome SMOKE NSD MIRRORS). Taking his biggest cue from Blues great Charley Patton (as well as Bob Dylan…you can tell it in the vocals) Brown and his motley crew (which includes help from his brother Michael on bass as well as Dean Wareham on guitar and Britta Phillips on umm…clavinova??!!) amble and shuffle on ace songs such as the raw “Stop What You’re Doin’”, the Kinks-y “Those Were the Days” the poppier , smooth-as-silk title track. I hear more organs this time around but the sound is basically the same as on other J.B. record and while SOLDIER IN THE 9TH is a terrific record from start to finish I still have to call SMOME AND MIRRORS as my favorite J.B. record. If you’re a newby though you’d be just fine starting anywhere in his catalog. Dive in and discover one of the best songwriters in America. www.enablerrecords.com

12.10.07
Fireflies
GOODNIGHT STARS, GOODNIGHT MOON- (LAVENDER/MUSIC IS MY GIRLFRIEND)- Absolutely wonderful, gentle soft pop (ala Galaxie 500 or The Cat’s Miaow) from a Chicago guy named Lisle Mitnik. Each song tells a poignant story whether hearing fireworks (on the amazing “We Heard the Fireworks”) or the jitters when speaking to a girl for the first time (on “The Pull”). Mitnik has created a gentle record that’s as comfortable as walking through a New England forest on a crisp Autumn day as Winter is approaching. A few of the guitar parts on here, as well as the vocals, really reminded me a lot of that first Galaxie 500 record (which is fine by me, I wish more records sounded like that one !). He a adds a bit of Left Banke grace on “Summer has Gone” and I must say that there is not one dog amongst these 11 songs. If this guy needs some encouragement to write more songs then I’ll write a million of these reviews! www.myspace.com/fireflies

12.10.07
The Owls
DAUGHTERS AND SUNS- (MAGIC MARKER)- Their mini-lp from 2004 (OUR HOPES AND DREAMS) was a nice slice of bucolic pop but on DAUGHTERS AND SUNS this Mpls, MN quartet sound more confident and it shows in the strength of the songs. The band features 3 songwriters (2 of them, Brian Tighe and Allison LaBonne were in The Hang Ups and The Legendary Jim Ruiz Group respectively…drummer John Jerry rounds out the lineup ) and while I think they could have picked a better song to lead the record off than the minorchord-ed “The Way On” (not a bad song but not a leadoff track) the band then gets on the right on the path on the very 70’s singer-songwriter “Yellow Flowers.”One of the record’s best tracks, “Welcome to Monday”, has some tasty lead guitar and some of the prettiest “bah buh bah bah bah’s” I’ve heard in ages while “Peppermint Patty” had some harmonies to die for. The curvy, swirling “Apocalypse” twists and turns down a lonely road and “Isaac Bashevis Singer” is a charming tune about the Yiddish novelist. Not sure at this point of The Owls are still a side project or the main concern for these folks but let’s hope it’s the latter as DAUGHTERS AND SUNS is too good of a record for them to not wanna make another one. www.magicmarkerrecords.com

12.10.07
The Silent Boys
ONE STEP CLOSER- (WALRUS)-There’s low key then there’s LOW KEY then there’s….well, off the radar. Unfortunately the Silent Boys are pretty much off the radar (except for those of us on the indie pop list) which is a damn shame as they are so good at what they do. What is it that they do, you ask? Transport us back to a bygone era called the 80’s when labels like Postcard, Factory and Sarah (and bands like Orange Juice, The Field Mice and, of course, Joy Division…who are not exactly what you’d call jangly) brought us some of the best low-key jangle pop that any music scene has ever produced. This is this Virginia bands 3rd record and is definitely their best. Leader Wallace Dietz’s songwriting has gotten more confident and with his sturdy rhythm section (including longtime Virginia mainstay John Morand on drums) the melody flows and ONE STEP CLOSER is filled with one good song after another. “St. Paul’s Letter” has that guitar that speaks the language of love while “Love Will Keep us Together (I.C. Was here)” is an homage to (big influences on The Silent Boys) Joy Division and dance-worthy “Love Struck” nimbly peeks its head in and out of closed doors. While the rest of the world is vying for my space and you tube time the Silent Boys seem content to bask in their own little world and to me that’s perfect. www.silentboys.com

12.03.07
The State Of Samuel
HERE COME THE FLOODS- (TOTAL GAYLORD/HUMBLEBEE)- More of that terrific pop from , where else? Sweden ! T.S.O.S. is a trio led by Samuel Petersson and this is record #2 from them (as much as I like this I really need to find their debut, MUTINY ON MERCURY). There is not much guitar on the record, the songs are led by some organ , drums and , of course, Samuel’s vocals but regardless of who or what is up front the songs have a knack for finding a hook that tickles that sweet spot of your brain. My favorite songs here are the pure pop ones like the awesome “Always Under the Gun”, the softer “The Birds and Bats”, “Square Roots” and the Beatles-ish “Cotton Island.” The band even has a few forays into more crunchy power-pop which is good but as I said, I dig the pure pop sound of the mentioned songs. This is one of those cds I’m really glad someone took the time out to send me (and I can’t say that about every cd that comes in my po box). www.totalgaylordrecords.com www.humblebeerecordings.com

12.03.07
Greg Summerlin
ALL DONE IN GOOD TIME- (SUPERPHONIC)- Bouncy, joyful pop from a former member of alt-country favorites The Quinsonics. Travelling to Minneapolis, like so many before him have, Summerlin recorded with Mpls guru, Ed Ackerson and the results are a sunny pop record. Let me add a caveat here, the melodies are sunny but the song topics aren’t always sunny as tunes like “Unlucky in Love” or the heavier “Redemption.” The occasional female vocals will pop in for some terrific call and response vocals (like on the super “Just Listen Tonight”). With Ackerson at the helm (and adding guitars, bass, keyboards and percussion) Summerlin has made a quality record that is brimming with confidence. Hopefully this is just the beginning of a long solo career. Hopefully Just a side note that the label here is Summerlin’s as well (he has already released a John P. Strohm record and has others in the pipeline). www.superphonicrecords.com

12.03.07
Stuart Valentine
SUMMER'S WINTER DAY- (VALENTINE MUSIC)- Stuart Valentine’s debut cd from a few years ago, MELODY’S TRUE, was a terrific slice of classic pop in the tradition of the masters (Beach Boys, Zombies, Left Banke, etc) as well as more recent stuff ( stuff on labels like Sarah, Creation, Matinee, etc.) and SUMMER’S WINTER DAY is at least as good,. Maybe better. Valentine sounds more confident on this record and the melodies ring truer and freer. He was a member of both The Outcrowd (which is led by Matt Hollywood, ex- Brian Jonestown Massacre) and Richmond Fontaine but I think I like this more than either of them. “Now or Never” is perfect on a gorgeous spring day while “Wish I Could Remember Your Name” starts out as a simple acoustic tune then dives into epic beauty with some wild guitar leads and fx all over the place. “Never Change’ sounds like prime Go-Betweens and if you haven’t; already guessed, this sorta low-key pop is right up my alley. Not sure what you’re into but this gets a big thumbs up from me. www.stuartvalentine.net

12.03.07
Watoo Watoo
LA FUITE- (LETTERBOX)-Ex-Parisians (who now live in Bordeaux), W.W. is Michael, who plays all of the instruments and Pascale , who coos her beautiful pipes. Though this is only their 3rd full-length they seem to have been bouncing around the indie scene forever as I’ve seen their name on lots of comps. LA FUITE is full of sophisticated 60’s pop , some with orchestral arrangements (my favorites on here) and some with a bossa nova feel and even a few funky numbers too (“Ipb” being one). Being from France it would seem that ladies man Serge Gainesbourg would be an influence and he certainly is. The one electronic tune could have been dropped (“Decembre”) but otherwise, LA FUITE is impossible not to like, unless of course you only dig like Mudvayne and Tool or something. Man, that’s just wrong. www.letterboxrecords.com

11.26.07
Nord Express
LOVELAND 1995-2005- (PEAPOD)- The duo of Robert and Ron released a few records on the Slumberland label back in the mid-90-‘s before hanging up their instruments. The only thing is…they never hung up their instruments. As the title implies, these songs were recorded between the decade of ’05-’05 and this is a collection of tracks from 3 unreleased eps and if you dig the soft n’ supple pop of the Cat’s Miaow, The Feelies, Galaxie 500 or Yo la Tengo then you’ll be ok with this. Robert strums the guitar while Ron taps the drums (and both sing) and the gentle wisdom that emanates from cuts like “Follow & I Shall Flee”, “Gem You Sold” and “Tripleplay” will melt your heart in an instant. All that and they had the good taste to cover both The Wedding Present and Jesse Garon & the Desperadoes. Really glad to see these guys still (occasionally) recording music together. www.peapodrecordings.com

11.26.07
Pants Yell!
ALISON STATTON- (SOFT ABUSE)- A new record by these guys seems to come at the best of times…..just as i.ve fully listened to their last one and am jonesing for a new one. Well, here it is ! This Cambridge, MA trio (who have named their record after a Young Marble Giants member) keep honing their pop sound into something a bit more…uh…..sophisticated. Don’t get me wrong, they’re not Belle & Sebastian (who I love) but they have honed their craft and have a style all of their own. The opener “More Purple” reminded me of Wash, DC’s smooth posters Aden while the suave pop of “Tried to be Good” was pure Pale Fountains (love those horns). Vocalist Andrew Churchman has a high reedy voice and this woulda been perfect on the Postcard records label had he been writing songs in the early 80’s (and not been in elementary school). Something tells me these guys could play a pop fest, biker bar, Bar Mitzvah or a gutter punk show and win the crowd over at every one of them. Now that’s a feat , my friends. www.softabuse.com

11.26.07
The Resonars
NONETHELESS BLUE- (GET HIP)- 4th record from these peyote-munchin’ gobblers outs Arizona…actually, I say “these’ but it’s only one guy, Matt Rendon. The guy sounds totally authentic like he just stepped out of the Sunset Strip circa 1967 as the jangle sound brings to mind mostly The Byrds (with a bit of Curt Boettcher’s The Millennium tossed in for good measure) . The vintage-sounding tunes come at you, one right after the other, with hooks galore and smooth vocals harmonies . Put your ear to tunes like “Whatever You Want”, “Places You Have Been”, the more rockin’ “No Problem at All”, or the snappy/suave “If Darkeness Comes too Fast.” Rendon is a fantastic songwriter and this being the first time I’ve heard his stuff I now need to check out this other records and now. www.gethip.com

11.26.07
Stevie Tombstone
DEVILS GAME- (SAUSTEX MEDIA)-New collection featuring tunes from Stevie’s SECOND HAND SIN (13 tunes) and ACOUSTICA (4 tunes) cds……17 tunes in all and (there;’ some odd n’ sods on here (including a brilliant cover of Johnny Cash’s “Folsom Prison Blues”). While I had never heard his music before now, after hearing this, I wanna find all I can out there. Tombstone is a fantastic songwriter who dives head on into straight country, blues and some gospel too and he has a voice that is pure soul and grit. The spare tunes here , like the title track, “Breaking Me Down” and “Blade” showcase Tombstone’s soulful voice while the songs with fuller instrumentation add bit of violin (“Dark Shines Through”) and some pedal steel too (“Same Old Tune”). I think if this guy was ever looking for a touring partner he has one here in Portland in the form of Mike Damron (ex- I Can Lick Any S.O.B. in the House) who is another heart-on-the-sleeve guy writing some great music (just like Tombstone). Also, I dare anyone out there to find someone with a better side of sideburns than Tombstone. Go on…I dare ya’! www.saustexmedia.com

11.19.07
Steve Goldberg and the Arch Enemies
S/T- (SELF RELEASED)- Terrific orchestrated pop from a guy who turned this record in as a senior project and he got an A. There is a laundry list of players (most from the Carnegie Mellon University School of Music) and it all adds up to a heavenly bubble bath of baroque pop that I can soak in for hours and hours. Remember, I’m the guy back in 1994 who wouldn’t shut up about the Cardinal record and this bringing back those same fuzzy feelings. For fans of Cardinal, The Left Banke, early Bee Gees, The Zombies and the like. While the songs are seriously orchestrated some of the lyrics are quite goofy ( they have one song about wanting to be a cyborg) and they have one of the best promo shots ever (2 of the band members on the shoulders of the other two and getting ready to star chicken fighting). Now after giving this several thorough listens I’m really bummed about missing these guys in Portland a few weeks ago. www.stevegoldbergmusic.com

11.19.07
Ham 1
THE CAPTAIN'S TABLE- (ORANGE TWIN)- Ok, I dug this guy Jim Willingham’s debut cd from last year and now he’s back to offer us a 2nd dose and not sure if his students are driving him to drink or what (he’s a teacher) but Willingham has come up with his 2nd batch of highly listenable songs. This thing is all over the map, from lo-fi coughs to the whole Barnun n’ Bailey trip to something that reminded me of a Man or Astroman? outtake. “Methmouth’ sounds like a somber (drunk ) salute to a lost friend …well, at least until the spacey part kicks in then you’re not sure what to think while you can almost dance to “Hare Lipped Bust.” I think Ennio Morricone is a big influence too so having said all of that Jim, I’m gonna call your Principal and demand a raise for you. How ‘bout that? Side note note; I have never seen a picture of Willingham but for some reason I picture him having really bushy red hair, a beard and glasses. Don’t ask me where that came from because I have no idea. www.orangetwin.com

11.19.07
Dan Kwas
A LIFE TOO LONG FORGOTTEN- (FLYING SCOOTER RECORDINGS)- I didn’t recognize the name until I read a bit into the press sheet and realized that this is the same Dan Kwas who front Milwaukee’s The Sidewalks all those years ago ( Hyped2Death put out a great retrospective of the band last year) . He hung up his guitar, bounced around the country, got began life as a newspaper editor, got married, had a family and then realized that music was in his blood so he went back to it. Smart move as the songs on A LIFE TOO LONG FORGOTTEN are strong and you’d think this was the work of a guy who never spent any time away from music. Both the leadoff track ,“Just Passing Through”, and “The Tenacity Song” are bouncy ( the former with some great keyboards) while my favorite song on the record, “Winds of Change”, add some tension to the proceedings (the song chronicles a broken relationship). Elsewhere the 6 minute plus “Back Where I Began” tells a story of a man’s return to his roots while the hooky “Cold, Cold Kisses” sounds like prime Old 97’s (I hear bits of Bob Dylan and The Jayhawks here as well). I hope Kwas has more songs inside of that head of his because of so, I want to hear them. www.dankwas.com

11.19.07
The Lovetones
AXIOM- (TEE PEE)-Truly enjoyed their debut (BE WHAT YOU WANT) and missed record number two (MEDITATIONS)and here we are at their third installment. From the past (The Byrds) to the current (Teenage fan Club) and everything in between (Rain Parade, The Chills, The La’s, etc.) Matt Tow and his unkempt Aussie band mates have taken a big gulp of the past and let it pour out into 10 gorgeous songs complete with twinkling melodies, lush harmonies and swirl of not only all of the normal instrumentation but the added bonus of mellotrons, brass, strings, sitar and yes folks, a bozouki (I thought only Damon & Naomi used these ??). The pillowy cloud of “Pieces of Me”, the baroque opening of “Everybody Hides Away” , the jangle of “Say You Will”, the positively dreamy (that ends up majestic and sweeping) “Ordinary Lives’ to the heavenly, elegiac closer “Alone” AXIOM adds up to a record that hearkens back to the 60’s but sounds as current as anything you’re likely to hear on any modern radio station. It might not change your life but it could seriously brighten your day. www.teepeerecords.com

11.05.07
The Condors
WAIT FOR IT- (RANK OUTSIDER)- Yeah! This So. Cal. foursome have retained the two most important things that they learned about rock and roll back in first grade; one, it has to be retain n that sense of fun that rock can seem to lose from time to time and two, put as many hooks that you can cram into a song and then put in a few more ! Taking their cues from everyone from Cheap Trick to The Knack to The Replacements to contemporaries like Tsar And The Lolas, this things starts out in 4th gear and remains there for the whole record. The first tune, “Waiting Half the Night’ is full of fist-pumping goodness as is the hilarious “I Don’t Want a Girl Who’s Been with Jack.” “Carnival of Fools” is a but darker but no less melodic. More anthems appear on the 2nd half of the record (“Something better Coming Soon”, “Wake Up”, etc.). Two things of note is that this is Pat Todd’s (Lazy Cowgirls) new label and they get some keyboard help from Brady Bunch alum Robbie Rist (who I think has played in every L.A. power pop record) . Also, I had no idea that leader/songwriter pat “Pooch” DiPuccio is the same Pooch from FLIPSIDE zine all those years ago! Why didn’t he release a record years ago?? The Condors rule! www.rankoutsiderrecords.com

11.05.07
The Fairer Sex
TWO CAN WIN- (IONIK)- My first glanced at Ionik Records was the fine cd by The Spectacular Fantastic last year so when this package came Ionik was hoping for more S.F. Not surwe what happened but when the cd plopped out of the padded manila envelope , just judging by the name (and the grainy photo on the press sheet) I was expecting some bad emo but this is quite pleasant pop with strummy guitars and a general sense of careless abandon one used to feel when getting the girl’s number was the most important thing on your mind. Had these guys existed in san Francisco in the late 90’s they would have been on every bull with The Aislers Set and The Fairways and wowed the fans at the S.F. Pop Fests. As it is now with songs like “(The Conception of) Isabelle Flowers’ and “Penny” they should be wowing ‘em in Lawrence, KS ( the band’s hometown). I hear bits of The Feelies, Belle & Sebastian, The Lucksmiths, and a few other faves. Nice to be knocked back a bit when I wasn’t expecting too much.www.ionikrecords.com

11.05.07
Fast Computers
HEART GEOMETRY- (SELF-RELEASED)-Portland bunch who (thankfully) raise a giant middle finger top the rawk scene and are carving out their own niche’ in our fair city . It is one that includes fancy clothes, Serge Gainesbourg and ABBA records, expensive booze, framed Stereolab posters on the wall and, oh…and plenty of terrific songs. Peter and Jennifer are the core of the band and are getting heaps of good press and with good reason, tunes like “Math Predictions”, “Designs”, “Lives of the Stars” an at least a few others. There’s even the occasional ballad for the long makeout session (“How many Times” ). From what I’ve heard they seem to be a pretty formidable unit on stage as well . There’s so many bands here in Portland (and so many good ones at that) that I seem to take a lot of them for granted. Fast Computer are onto something and I, for one, wanna go along for this ride. www.thefastcomputers.com

11.05.07
Fishboy
HOW WE TRIED TO SAVE THE LONE STAR STATE WITH THE POWER OF ROCK N’ ROLL- (HHBTM)-Wow, that record title is quite a mouthful. Anywho, like a lot of Texans they apparently love their state. Denton is the home of this band, led by the enigmatic Eric Michener. Apparently he started recording in high school and now at the ripe old age of…..i dunno, maybe 24, he has continued the project and gotten a few friends to join in. The songs are short, choppy, fuzzy and fun ! The band sounds like one of the few bands who are able to translate their live energy onto record and if you dig the sounds of early Of Montreal or any of Colin Clary’s bands (or his solo stuff) then this will be your new favorite band. I’d drop a 10-spot to hear them play “Taqueria Girl.” Apparently this guy Michener has written a ton of songs and if they’re all as good as this batch then we’ll all have to start listening a lot more closely. www.hhbtm.com

10.29.07
Bodies of Water
EARS WILL POP AND EYES WILL BLINK- (SELF-RELEASED)- Bodies of Water are an odd bunch….you can tell that just by looking at the cover of the cd. A grainy, sorta-color photo with the 4 of them sitting in what looks like a living room of a house. The guys are wearing rumpled suits and the 2 gals are wearing, well, either bathrobes or expensive dresses (another person tried to sneak into the photo but didn’t quite make it…oh, and there’s a dog in there too!). Anywho, odd or not , this L.A. is giving that city something to be proud of, they are a rock/pop band but not in so much of a traditional sense . Occasionally all 4 of them sing and it sounds just heavenly and then other times they are all merrily bashing away on their instruments like they just learned how to play them (which maybe they did). The amazing “I Guess I’ll Forget the Sound” ends up on some other planet with only the prettiest voice being heard while “Doves Circled the Sky’ adds a bit o’ gallop to the proceedings (I heard a bit of Calexico). The whole record is full of neat surprises…..give it a listen. Go on…and if David, Meredith, Kyle and Jessie ever show up in your town be nice to them. Give ‘em food, shelter and even gifts. They deserve it. www.bodiesofwater.net

10.29.07
The Busy Signals
S/T- (DIRTNAP)- The Busy Signals just seem like they would be from Chicago. Now, I’m saying that without ever having been to the Windy City (thought I did get invited once: when John Mohr, the vocalist/guitarist for Am. Rep rockers Tar invited me to his wedding…..man, I almost made it). To me Chicago is this big, rough, blue collar city and the forces that be there say your guitars must sound a certain way and if they don’t…well, the forces that be make you move! Naked Raygun, The Effigies and Big Black were all allowed to stay and The Busy Signals (no relation to the home-recorded electronic indiepop beatbox dude) are allowed to stay. The reason is cos’ this 12 song record trims any and all of the fat and just cranks out good punked up power pop and a nice rate (no fat but plenty of protein and carbs). The songs blur by quickly , I like the female vocalist, the guitar are something you can sink your teeth into, the rhythm section is rock solid and there’s hooks all over the flippin’ place ! What more do you need really? This record is the reason I loved my Buzzcocks and Briefs records. The whole record is good but first off check out “Plastic Girl”, “Tell Me”, “Matter of Time” and their cover of “Oh-Oh” (originally done by The Limit). The band is in good company on the Dirtnap label. www.dirtnaprecs.com

10.29.07
California Snow Story
CLOSE TO THE OCEAN- (LETTERBOX)-Scotland’s C.S.S. released a wonderful ep on Shelflife Records a few years back (2002’s ONE GOOD SUMMER ep) and then ….nothing, until now. Now sure exactly what the band leader David Skirving had been doing in the interim (though I do remember hearing that David, one of the founding members of Camera Obscura, was quite ill and a few of the other band members skirted off to other bands, namely the Hermit Crabs and All My Friends) . The band is now essentially pared down to a duo with David being joined by a vocalist named Sandra Belda Martinez (2 other folks help on drums and keyboards). The songs are more gentle and less jangly than the EP and it did take ms a few plays to get into but get into it I did. The gentle “Begin Again” starts thing off sounding like a prime Field Mice song while the next song, the Sandra-sung “My Life is Only a Daydream” is a bit peppier (as is the fantastic “Suddenly Everything Happens”). “Future Perfect’ adds a bit of bossa nova sound to the proceedings and they tuck two of the best songs near the end of the record; “Wishing Well” and “You Set the Scene” (not a Love cover). Suffice it to say if you dig the sound of labels like Sarah , Sunday or Matinee ( the first 2 listed are long defunct) then C.S.S. will feel like a favorite old blanket that you cannot do without. www.letterboxrecords.com

10.29.07
The Choir Practice
S/T- (MINT)-You almost think this is going to be like a Polyphonic Spree of some sort, lots of folks singing choir-type songs, on the back cover they aren’t wearing robes but are all dressed in white in a Christmas photo but this band seems to have much less of a schtick than the Spree. First off , there; 12 of them (not 24) and they all sing and play odd bits of percussion and if I’m not mistaken the band was started by Coco Culbertson who then, one by one ,began recruiting members (including Larissa from P:ano) and The Choir Practice was born! T.C.P. seem like the kind of band that would have been formed out of some 60’s utopian community, no bad vibes, all good. Like if The Partridge Family had driven their bus out into Laurel Canyon in 1967, picked up half-dozen more recruits and then just driven off into the sunset where all there is is LEAVE IT TO BEAVER reruns and Jujubees (with tongues planted firmly in cheek) . Oh, and the songs are great too ! On “Red Fox” they ask us all to take off our clothes (ok, I’m naked right now) and on “Pretty’ they are seriously dissing some shallow guy who wanted a Ginger or Mary Anne instead of a Mrs. Howell (“he wanted someone pretty…”). If you were smart you’d drop what you’re doing right now, quit your job and your life and move up to Vancouver and join The Choir Practice. I’m doing it…you with me? www.mintrecs.com

10.22.07
The Bongos
DRUMS ALONG THE HUDSON- (COOKING VINYL)- The Bongos were one of those bands I had always heard of but had never actually heard. I certainly wasn’t going to listen to them back in the early-mid 80’s when hardcore punk ruled my life (my loss) . Leader Richard Barone was a name I seemed to always read about in the mags and, after finally listening to the cd I realized they seemed to bounce out of Hoboken, Nj with some interesting ideas and along with bands like Let’s Active and the dB’s ushered in a jangly pop scene amongst all of the noisemakers. This sweet reissue contains their debut record (DRUMS ALONG THE HUDSON) as well as an unreleased early single, a few songs from a live gig in London (w/ fans/friends….Throbbing Gristle) , a few tunes from their first recorded gig and then, finally, a song they recorded (this year) with uber fan, Moby. Some of the live stuff is ok but man, the DRUMS ALONG THE HUDSON record is fantastic and I can’t believe it took me to 2007 to actually hear it (almost embarrassed to say that ) . The jittery opener “In the Congo” is a rush of jangly 6-strign energy while “The Bulrushes’ (the song they redid with Moby) is darker and moodier but no less engaging as well as “Clay Midgets” and that is just the first 3 songs. For whatever my opinion is worth , the guy who waited over 20 years to listen to it , I can say that DRUMS ALONG THE HUDSON should be on the shelf in any music lovers home. www.cookingvinylusa.com

10.22.07
The Groop
S/T- (SUNDAZED)- If you want to hear some obscure ,baroque 60’s pop leave it to Sundazed to reissue it. The Groop were a late 60’s band that was , in a way, manufactured (like The Monkees) which isn’t to say that their debut record ( and only one) isn’t a near masterpiece of dreamy melodies and breathtaking harmonies. In much the same way that The Free Design, The Carpenters, The Cowsills and even the Mamas and the Papas touched our soft rock side , this 2 man/2 women band were able to melt hearts with a collective sigh. The story apparently begins with L.A. record guru Richard Adler who was managing Sergio Mendes and Brazil ’66 when he met The Groop’s vocalist, Susan Musmanno and the rest, as they say , is history. The other band members were friends with someone or were suggested and it appears that most of these songs were recorded in 2 sessions, May 20, 1969 and May 27, 1969 and the songs are fabulous. The record opens with “A Famous Myth” which includes all of the uplifting ,soaring qualities of a 5th Dimension song with strings, horns and those heavenly vocals (the song was also a single for the Bell Records label) then goes right into the equally sublime (and awkwardly titled ) “I Try to Think of you When I Can” and right into the bouncy “The Continental.” This cd includes the record 12 tracks and most written by a young songwriter named Jeffrey Comanor and hey, lookeee there …one tune was even written by my beloved Joey Stec and Sandy Salisbury (from The Millenium ) !! Apparently the band did a disastrous tour of Spain in the Summer of 1969 and called it quit shortly after that. If you ,however, like the music of the above mentioned bands then this is something you really need to hear. Really enjoyed the liner notes by indie popster (and music aficionado) Keith D’Arcy too.www.sundazed.com

10.22.07
Sebadoh
THE FREED MAN- (DOMINO)-Ok, back in the day I was , and still am, a huge Dinosaur fan (I still hate saying Dinosaur Junior !) but I was always curious to hear the Lou songs tacked onto the end of the records. They were always the weird ones (and Lou was a bit weird himself) but no matter whether he was mumbling about unrequited love of screaming that no one likes him I was always interested . Sebadoh began as the duo of Lou Barlow and his pal, Eric Gaffney and when this first Sebadoh record came out I could not stop listening to it. It was like nothing i had ever heard before. Some guy and his buddy recording songs in their house (an girlfriend’s dorm room as I read in the liner notes…which is where the record title came from , Friedman Dorm at Smith College) on a Tascam 4-track recorder , lots of tape hiss, some samples from old tv commercials and some seriously good songs. And here it is, nearly 20 years after first hearing it (with the lo-fi genre being beaten to death ) it still sounds unique and fresh. A few of my favorites here are “True Hardcore” (where Lou’s voice cracks) , “Soulmate” (where Lou questions whether he is gay or not), Eric’s Byrds-like “Julienne” , the radio channel switching “Amherst Hanging House” (which sounds like the same riff a “Temporary Dream” off WEED FORRESTIN ) and a cover of The Beatles “Yellow Submarine.” They have also added some redone tracks from the record as well as their song from the Sonic Life split 7”, their side of the Magic Ribbons box set and , most importantly, the songs from their incredibly rare ASSHOLE 7” that Vertical Records released (that I have not put on my turntable in years). Not sure what else to say, if you have read this far and not been scared off yet then you know, you need this reissue. I mean, come on, what other band chose to record their cat snoring?!! Pure genius I tells ya’! www.dominorecordco.us

10.22.07
Smokey And His Sister
S/T- (SUNDAZED)-Looking like some lost Bob Dylan treasure of a record, Smokey and his Sister record was apparently recorded nearly 40 years ago but sat shelved until now. The duo of Larry “Smokey” Mims and his sister Vicki were raised in Cincinnati, Ohio and Smokey decided he wanted to become a musician after meeting Dylan himself in Cincinnati in 1965. Then next year he packed his bags and headed to NYC with his sister following not too far behind. After playing all of the Greenwich Village folk houses they were signed first to Columbia Records and then Warner Bros. From what I understand the Warners record is incredibly difficult to find while this, as mentioned previously, had been unreleased in Columbia’s vaults until now (apparently Clive Davis wasn’t into it and killed the project). This is dreamy, mysterious folk music with haunting strings and horns/woodwinds here and there. Things open with the gorgeous, baroque “Losin” while elsewhere is the haunting “In a Dream of Silent Seas (you can find me )” , the swaying “A Simple Cameo”, and two versions of the gentle “A Far Better Thing.” 13 songs in all and once hearing it you’ll wonder why anyone would keep these lovely songs unreleased for so many years. Vicki passed away in 2006 while Smokey has been m.i.a. Smokey , wherever you are, thanks for these 13 pearls of beauty. Now, let’ see if that rare Warner Bros record can get the reissue treatment. www.sundazed.com

10.15.07
Augie March
MOO, YOU BLOODY CHOIR- (JIVE)- Hard to believe that as good as this Aussie band’s songs are how they simply cannot get noticed over here (and this is record #3 ). Their previous record STRANGE BIRD,, the first one I heard , was full of the sort of hazy, emotional, swelling rock that most bands would kill for and this new one is even better. MOO, … shows band leader Glenn Richards in fine form creating the sort of epic tunes that his fellow Aussies Died Pretty used to do back when Bush #1 was still in office (you haven’t lived until you’ve heard Died Pretty’s FREE DIRT record) . The opener “One Crowded Hour” swoops and sways while the almost bouncy “The Cold Acre” sends shimmering waves of guitar and piano cascading down your back. The gorgeous, countrified “Mother Greer” is one of the best songs I’ve heard this year and on “Thin Captain Crackers’ the band shows they have a sense of humor with it’s laid-back n’ loose feel . “Bottle Baby’ is where Richards’ does his best Dylan imitation (he does a few of those on this record) and the next-to-last, 7 minute “Clockwork” will have you exhausted by the songs end. If the intelligent sounds of bands like Mercury Rev or The Decemberists turns your crank then MOO, YOU BLOODY CHOIR will be a most pleasant surprise. www.augiemarch.com

10.15.07
Band Of Horses
CEASE TO BEGIN- (SUB POP)- Seattle seemed to me to be the perfect home for the occasionally gorgeous, misty music of Band of Horses but it calls Seattle home no more. Leader Ben Bridwell and his bandmates decided to split for back east to South Carolina to be closer to family and long-time friends. Though the songs were written back east, this record, like the bands’ 2006 debut, was recorded at Avast Studios in Seattle (by Phil Ek) , and not much has changed from the bands stunning debut, EVERYTHING ALL THE TIME. If it sounds like that record part deux….well, it is. All of those major guitar chords and reverb-soaked vocals that draped themselves over the debut’s songs are back and sound at least as good as said debut, maybe better. The record’s opener, “Is There a Ghost” , starts things off with Bridwell creaking “I could sleep, I could sleee-eep. When I lived alone, is there a ghost in my house” as the guitars swell and aim for the crescendo that never comes while Bridwell repeats those words over and over again. That crescendo does come on “Ode to LRC’ with its major chords erupting into huge hooks. Elsewhere, a Beach Boys influence shows up in a that banged-up piano sound on “The General Specific” and fizzle out in the shoegazer interlude, “Lamb on the Lam (in the city).” They nail the soft/loud dynamic better than anyone these days and Bridwell’s vocals have never sounded more vulnerable. Plus they have a song called “Detlef Schrempf”, ummm….how cool is that? www.subpop.com

10.15.07
The Capstan Shafts
ENVIRON MAIDEN- (RAINBOW QUARTZ)-I have had a cd by this guy for a few years now (one on the Kittridge label) that I keep looking at but never played it. Well, when ENVIRON MAIDEN came and I noticed it was on the Rainbow Quartz label then I stood up and took notice. The Capstan Shafts is the work on one guy, Dean Wells. He calls Lyndonville, VT home and apparently, since 1999 has released …well, I dunno how many but a lot of self-released cds (ok, press release says 17 since 2002 but I have heard it might be more). ENVIRON MAIDEN has 29 songs, ok, I will call them fuzzy pop nuggets. They bump into each other and smile and each song is barely over a minute long and on occasion they might hit the 2 minute mark but never much longer. This is music for folks like me who love pop hooks but have no attention span. It reminds me mostly of GBV when Bob is in a good mood and tunes like “One of Us Should be Further Away”, “The Ballad of Kid Butane”, “The Complete History of Greenland”, and “Right on the Malthus” are unbelievably tasty an put him in the same ballpark as some of the indie hall of famers (Pollard, Lou Barlow, a few of the Elephant 6-ers). Kudos to Rainbow Quartz for giving this guy the bigger audience he deserves. www.rainbowquartz.com

10.15.07
Grand Champeen
DIAL T FOR THIS- (IMWT)- Nice n’ sturdy rawk from this Austin, TX The thing about Austin is that bands doing this sort of p[op-roc are a dime a dozen and to really stand out in that music-soaked town you’ve gotta have the hooks n’ chops and Grand Champeen has it in spades. Leader “Carol” Channing Lewis must’ve listened to some Kinks and ELO records in his day cos’ the guy, like other Texans Rhett Miller and Brent Best , can pull a hook out of a hat but for more contemporary stuff he was taking notes when The Replacements came to town too (and he maybe took in a few Paul Westerberg solo gigs too . Not everything here hits the mark but out of these 13 songs the good to average ratio is titled way to the former. Plus, in bassist/pianist Alex Livingstone, Lewis has a songwriting foil who can whip up as many hooks as he can. They spit gold on “Wounded Eye” , “Cities on the Plain”, Nice of You to Join Us” , Gonna be the Death of Me” and at least a few others. As the band has had a trail of labels behind them maybe they have found a happy home on the Portland-based In Music We Trust (a fine label run by the hard-working Alex Steininger). www.inmusicwetrust.com

10.08.07
Boat
LET'S DRAG OUR FEET- (MAGIC MARKER)- I think it’s about time that folks started noticing the little label that could, Magic Marker Records . In the past few years this Portland label has been consistently releasing some amazing records by bands like The Faintest Ideas, Walker Kong, New Zealand legends The Bats and this hard-working Seattle, trio, Boat. I thought their debut cd , SONGS THAT YOU MIGHT NOT LIKE (great title) was a decent to good slice of sloppy indie rock (something this band is proud of…the sloppy part) but on LET’S DRAG… the band takes a huge leap forward with better production/arrangements and , more importantly stronger songwriting. One listen to “(I’m a ) Donkey for Your Love” should put a smile on your ugly mug and if it doesn’t well then, you are checking out the wrong website here my friend. “Illustrate the History” is more of that clangy n’ chiming pop with off-kilter backing vocals and a general sense of fun all the way around (plus I met the singer/guitarist Dave at a wedding a few weeks ago and he was a stand-up guy ). Look here you bitter ol’ bastard, Boat is here to stay so you’d better get used to it. As my dad used to say, if you can’t beat em’, join em’. www.magicmarkerrecords.com

10.08.07
Breezy Porticos
THESE RECORD HIGHS- (BEST FRIENDS)- Ok, this is the 2nd Breezy’s record I have heard, the first one being their previous release, KEEP IS CRISP, from a few years ago. But then I realized something, I wasn’t sure what a portico was. I used to be an English teacher and pride myself on my vocabulary but this was one word that escaped my grasp sop I had to look it up and this is what I found: a structure consisting of a roof supported by columns or piers, usually attached to a building as a porch. Ok, now that that is out of the way time to reviews the cd. This Denver trio like Boat above, seem to take a rather nonchalant approach to writing songs (though the BP’s songs are less sloppy and more pop than Boat) and the record it really hard not to like. Main guy Andy Falconetti knows just when to drop in a trumpet part (or is that a trombone??) on the wonderful “Olivetti” , just like the June Brides used to do. “Vichy Sun” is a jangly rocker that must warm those Denverites bones when they begin dancing to it at gigs . And what do ya know, they even do a remake of one of their own tunes, “Crayola Sunset” (from their debut 7”). Yeah, I like these Breezy Porticos. www.bestfriendsrecords.com

10.08.07
The Sammies
S/T- (MO RISEN)-Damn, no press release….too bad cos’ I like this. The vocalist sounds like Richard Butler (from the Psychedelic Furs) or perhaps a bit of Bryan Ferry, but I think the band hails from Charlotte, North Carolina (well, that’s where the label is from, anyway). Plus one of the dude’s in the band looks like a scruffier version Joey Tribbiani (“How you doin’?”) . Dig the guitar sound …these guys have it. The band makes a bold statement on the first 3 tracks where they come out of the gate and immediately hit you with some classic hooks and seriously good songs (that lead at the beginning of “For John” could melt a heart) . On track four ,”Caretaker”, is where they begin a bit of riff-rawk and then they add some synth on the 5th song, “She Died.” For the rest of the record the band goes back and forth between jangling pop rockers and straight up rockers (not unlike Nada Surf). Vocalist/guitarist Frank Backgammon has a cool name and a great set of pipes, a bit raspy with just the right amount of attitude while the rest of the band backs him up perfectly with strong chops. I don’t see the west coast mentioned for upcoming gigs on the bands my space page but hopefully that will change soon. www.morisen.com

10.08.07
the Sharp Things
A MOVEABLE FEAST- (BAR NONE)- When indie rock bands began adding symphonic elements to their proceedings no one was happier than me (and if anyone was happier then I have not met them). For me I think it began with the Cardinal record in 1994 and has grown since then. I first heard the Sharp Things debut on an Italian cassette label several years and now, on their 3rd record, leader (and Joe Pesci lookalike) Perry Serpa has made his grandest statement yet (well, Serpa and his 9 other band members, but he is the ringleader). This time out he has enlisted the help of the New York Symphonic Ensemble (ok, they sound professional/important to me !) and the songs take off and soar to higher places than they ever have before. “Through With Love” is an indie waltz complete with the rises and dips of a waltz dancer while “An Ocean Part Deux’ is a bit moodier but no less melodic. The swaying “Cruel Things” is where Serpa shows us his best Marvin Gaye and he sounds marvelous. If an Americanized version of Neil Hannon’s The Divine Comedy is what you’re after then The Sharp Things more than deliver the goods. I’ll bet record #4 moves mountains. www.thesharpthings.com

10.01.07
Jason Anderson
TONIGHT- (ECA)- If I’m not mistaken this is the same guy that released that record on k a few years ago (though it makes no mention of it on the one sheet I have ) but I do believe it is the same guy and even if it isn’t, we will assume it is. That record was full of quiet/ brooding sad sap tunes and on TONIGHT , Anderson, has, well…gotten happy. Whomever first described this as a “poor man’s Springsteen and his E St. Band” was right on the money. From the honking sax to the handclaps all over to the general “good time” vibe Anderson and his cronies have made if nothing else, a fun record (but it is oh so much more ) . On the opener, “Tonight”, Anderson and his room full of friends shout the song title over and over again as the sax player is blasting away . Same with the next tune, “July 4th, 2004” , tho’ this song has a bit more melody but again more horns and handclaps. He slows thing down on “On Vacation” as it’s long intro has some lovely piano and moodier sax as Andersons wistful vocals don’t come until a few minutes in, it totally works though. The other 5 songs , save for “So Long”, are in the more raucous category and after hearing this I’m now dying to see the guy live (and apparently this guy basically lives on the road…I guess all he does is pretty much tour ). TONIGHT is a total hoot! www.ecarecords.com

10.01.07
The Dead C.
VAIN, ERUDITE, STUPID: SELECTED WORKS: 1987-2005 - (BA DA BING)-
Mind-bending, revelatory comp. from this influential New Zealand band (“leader” Bruce Russell was in charge of the X-Pressway label, the band also included ex-Verlaines guy Robbie Yeats on drums and Michael Morley on other guitar…or bass ) that collects all kinds gunk from their storied career. Until reading the liner notes (by Tom ”Siltbreeze” Lax, Seymour Glass (editor of the defunct BANANAFISH) and Nick Cain along with track notes from Bruce Russell) I had no idea just disliked (ok, despised) these guys were in their native country. The music isn’t …uh…pleasant and not normally the type of thing I review or even like, but I got turned into these guys fairly early on by Tom lax and I have dug them ever since. I had a bunch of this stuff on 7” and 12” that I stupidly sold so I could eat back in college but this is a generous 2-cd collection that brings out some of their best work including “Helen Said This” from an early Siltbreeze 7” plus a cut (“Mighty”) from their FORCED EXPOSURE single and the amazing “Maggot” from the EUSA KILLS lp (that Flying Nun released in 1990). The stuff is chronological so disc one is from 1988-1994 and disc 2 from 1994 til’ 2003. Can you believe that I sold the stuff so I could eat….imagine that, eating food over listening to a Dead C. record. Yeah, I was an idiot back then. www.badabingrecords.com

10.01.07
Tenderhooks
VIDALIA- (ROCK SNOB)-This shaggy bunch hail s from, Knoxville, TN and I had never heard of them before this came tumbling out of my po box a few weeks ago. One thing is for sure, they have a love of some serious songwriter from the south. Everyone from Michael Stipe to Gram Parsons to Alex Chilton to maybe even the Windbreakers dudes (Bobby Sutliff and Tim Lee) too though the opener, “Kid Stuff” , the guitars get all tangled up and veer off into Dream Syndicate territory (first lp where axeman Karl Precoda wrote a new guitar language). Bassist/vocalist Emily Robinson sounds lovely singing on track 2, “Mouthful of Rain” while the title track winds over hill and dale with some terrific melodies and dynamic changes. Even when the tone it down a bit, like on the bucolic “Quarter of a Century’ the band still hits a winning combination of subtle (and not so ) hooks and solid songwriting. At just over a half hour the band also abides by the daggerboy credo of “less is more.” If you’re the kind of person who wishes that Wilco would go back to their Uncle Tupelo roots then VIDALIA just might be what you’re looking for. www.rocksnobrecords.com

10.01.07
Velcro Stars
HIROSHIMA'S REVENGE- (HHBTM/ GRAND PALACE)- Well, they sure as heck do not skimp on the packaging on this one. It’s a cool, silk-screened cardboard fold-over with a pull-out that has all kinds of cool artwork on it. The 5-piece, led by guitarists/vocalists Shane Spresser and Keith Pratt, hail from Murfreesboro, TN which, from what I gather, is turning into a little hotspot for music or at least that is what I’ve read (have never been to that fine state). The Velcro Stars, like a lot of other bands on the HHBTM label, either call Athens, GA and it’s whimsical musical spirit home (ie: Elephant 6) or don’t live there but still have the spirit. This band would fit right in with the whole Of Montreal (earlier stuff), Masters of the Hemisphere, Kincaid, Apples in Stereo (who are/were not from Athens but sorta spearheaded that whole sound) and HIROSHIMA’S REVENGE is full of sprightly melodies , what sounds like a gazillion instruments and just basically smiles and good vibes all the way around. Track #2, which is the title track, bounces along like a dog after a good leak on a fire hydrant as does the even sunnier, “All That I Do.” The band seems to know where they want to go and how they wanna accomplish that and if I can offer any advice to them is to take the Tenderhooks approach (see above review) and trim things down next time from 15 songs to about 10 or 11 , trim the fat so to speak. Otherwise, HIROSHIMA’S REVENGE could be a pop lover’s best friend. www.hhbtm.com www.grandpalace.us

09.24.07
Every Gentle Air
PT. 2- (THE RECORD MACHINE)- I could just tell this was gonna be good…….Mansfield, OH (which has apparently been rated as one of the 5 ugliest cities in the country) duo of Nathan and Ryan create mini masterpieces out of busted kazoos, old Tupperware and whatever the hell else they have lying around the house. Oh, wait, an old oil pan too. All of that (and a flock of friends helping out ) gives PART 2 a most organic , disjointed pop feel and as far as I’m concerned Nathan and Ryan should be hoisted up on people’s shoulders and paraded throughout the streets of Mansfield (that would make the city a bit less ugly, no ?) . That and be given a ticker tape parade too and if any of this doesn’t happen what is wrong with you people ??!! Since this record is called Part 2 I think it’s pretty mandatory that I hear Part 1 and if I’ve got to go to Mansfield, Ohio to find a copy then by god I’ll do it. www.therecordmachine.net

09.24.07
Donny Hue And The Colors
FOLKMOTE- (THE KORA RECORDS)-Pretty much everything I have received from this totally low-key label I have really liked (especially the Meredith Bragg stuff) and here is something else. I had never heard of this cat, Donny Hue, before but he sounds like he’s making a splash in Washington, DC where he used to reside (Donny is now in NYC while the rest of his bandmates are in DC). Along with his band, The Colors (which apparently has some members of Meredith Bragg’s band as well as the Washington Social Club) like to get a bit out there on their debut, FOLKMOTE. You’ve probably read it in reviews before but it does conjure up the memories of some of the better Elephant 6 bands, mainly Olivia Tremor Control and a bit like Neutral Milk Hotel and a dash of Of Montreal. I like the just-waking-up intro to “Piano Dream” while “Real Long Time” has some of that great banged-up piano that I love and “Humming with the Flower Birds” is as lovely a song as its title. The other 8 songs are no slouches either. Dive into the world of Donny and come up with a smile on your face. www.thekorarecords.com

09.24.07
The Krinkles 3
THE MORDORLORFF COLLECTION- (MORDORLORFF)-There is a handful of bands out there (ok, so more than a handful) who admit to liking bands like The Knack and Cheap Trick and have no problem wearing skinny ties or powder blue jackets or wear their hair in styles that might be a bit of out of date. The Krinkles, a Chicago area band, are one of those bands. However , in addition to The Knack and the ‘Trick (both of whom I love) they also have plenty of Kinks and Big Star records in their collections (ok, that line was just to appease the hipsters). On THE MORDORLORFF COLLECTION the band cranks the amps up to 11 and lets the melodies rip as guitarist/vocalists Dan “The Fox” Edwards and Henry Krinkle must’ve guzzled plenty of Jolt Cola prior to record as did the rock-solid rhythm section of Jerry on bass and Matty on drums,. Apparently the band took a bit of a hiatus but you wouldn’t know it as tunes like “Dirty Girl” , “Best Friend” , “I Want You” and “Today is the Day” are all rip-roaring rockers with hooks a plenty. Nothin’ real fancy here folks, just good pop/rtock tunes played with heart and plenty of energy. www.myspace.com/thekrinkles

09.24.07
Young Galaxy
S/T- (ARTS & CRAFTS)- Except for Broken Social Scene (who I don’t like) the Arts & Crafts label is all winners as far as I’m concerned. Not sure why I let this sit in the shrinkwrap for so long. I had read good things about this Canadian duo (plus I really like the cover art which is usually a factor in how long it takes me to wanna listen t something) but this sat in a big box of promos for quite some time. Well, it is Friday September 21, 2007u and I finally busted it open and played it and I liked what I heard. The band is essentially the duo f Stephen Ramsay and Catherine McCandless but there are plenty of players on here (including The Dears Murray Lightburn and Memphis Chris Seligman) have really hit on something here, the song bend , sway and swerve and sometimes break wide open . If you have heard the old Sarah Records band (now reformed) Secret Shine then you’ll have a reference point on where this bunch are aimed at. Cuts like the dreamy “No Matter How Hard You Try” , the gorgeous “Lazy Religion” or the bucolic, mostly acoustic “Wailing Wall” will suck you into this band’s seductive vortex. As the open road in the front cover indicates, the possibilities are endless and Young Galaxy are willing to explore. www.arts-crafts.ca

09.17.07
King Louie and the Loose Diamonds
MEMPHIS TREAT- (EMPTY)- Kept hearing about this guy King Louie (Louie Bankston), how he was an early member of the Exploding Hearts and how he wrote (or co-wrote) most of their good songs. I asked a record store clerk here in town once why he was no longer in the band and he said “Basically he was too drunk to be in the band anymore.” Well, now there’s some sobering words. Apparently they recorded most of this at Easley Studios in Memphis (and mixed by Jim Dickinson) but then the studio burnt down…but the master tapes were fine ! Anywho, on MEMPHIS TREET Louie has assembled a fine greased n’ grizzled cast of miscreants including members of The Oblivions, Tearjerkers, Kajun SS and the like and here he goes from fuzzy power pop (ala Exploding Hearts) on tunes like “Gypsy Switch” (which is a reworking of the Exploding Hearts “Shattered (You Left Me)” ) and “Negative Contact’ to more spare, chicken bone rock on tunes like “Girl in the Holler” , “Wheelbarrow Whiz’ and the title track. Not sure if Louie has sobered up these days or what but MEMPHIS TREET shows a man of (mostly) clear mind and there’s enough hooks on here to keep a pop loser like myself happy for weeks. www.emptyrecords.com

09.17.07
The Mabuses
MABUSED!- (MAGPIE )-OK, I can’t get too excited about The Mabuses returning cos’ I had never heard of them in the first place. The band is apparently led by the elusive Kim Fahy who has worked with The Jesus and Mary Chain and a few cats from, the House of Love (he also had a previous band called The Assassins…ok, never heard of them either). He and his international pals (with members from the U.K,, Germany and France) have whipped up some groovy psych-pop here akin to something that the Apples in Stereo or their zonked-out, defunct pals the Olivia Tremor Control used to do back when the Advil seemed a bit stronger. Both the opener “Dark Star’ and “Seasider” are catchier than psoriasis while a few of the other tunes slip off into never never land (“Sugarland” sounds like some tossed-off Robyn Hitchcock outtake). Still, MABUSED! is an impressive collection of off-kilter pop that any band would be proud to call their own. And the packaging is quite impressive as well (wonder how much out of pocket Fahy is for this project?). Go on, get mabused and I mean now. www.themabuses.com

09.17.07
Ray's Vast Basement
STARVATION UNDER ORANGE TREES- (HOWELL'S TRANSMITTER)- Jon Bernson wrote a clutch of songs here dedicated to the genius of John Steinbeck . Although most of STARVATION UNDER…. Was written for the Actor’s Theatre production of OF MICE AND MEN some of the 14 songs on here were inspired by other Steinbeck tome (TORTILLA FLAT, CANNERY ROW, GRAPES OF WRATH). With a cast that includes Portland’s own Nate Query and Larry Crane, Bernson and his cast have cobbled together a bunch of songs that hold together just fine even though duct tape and twine are doing the holding. I like the more spare, mostly acoustic ditties the best, cuts like “Not Just Mine” and “How Through Sacrifice, Danny’s Friends Gave a Party.” Was thinking of how it reminded me a bit of the Michael Zapruder record that this label released a year (at least in terms of ambitiousness) or so back and then realized that Zapruder was one of the contributors to this record. Also in the same ballpark at M. Ward and that’s not a bad place to be at all. Cover art reminded me something that the Stone Roses would have done back in their prime. www.howellstransmitter.com

09.17.07
A Shoreline Dream
COASTAL- (LATE WEEKNIGHT)- Still have not had a chance to listen to this band’s debut, 2006’s AVOIDING THE CONSEQUENCES which is sitting in a big box of cds. I actually thought this was a new cd by the band Coastal (Words on Music Records) but then inspected it a bit more closely and realized it is the new 4 song ep by A.S.D, a trio from Denver, CO led by Ryan Policky (Erik Jeffries plays guitar , Enoch Torraca manhandles the bass and they have a new drummer, Jennifer Burns, who didn’t play on this record) . The first song is the soaring , fuzz-laden “Ukraine” sounding like an old U.K. post-punk tune from the 1980’s while “The Barrier’ mashes and swirls with dirgey guitars and tape loops of voices coming on from as few angles. “New York”, not unlike the opening cut, does some soaring nosedives and then gets the plane ready for landing after some air swirling. The record ends with the haunting “Afershocking”, sounding like Prime Pale Saints with flanged guitars and moody keyboards while Policky’s vocals are offering up ever secret in the universe. You’d better be listening. www.ashorelinedream.com

09.10.07
1888
HONEY, I'D KILL...- (CLAY GARDEN )- Don’t remember a whole lot coming out of Norfolk, Virginia , at least not in recent years. I think Avail are/were from there and perhaps Gwar too (ok, the first time I saw them in a small club in Philly in about 1988 I loved it ) too but not many others. I think this came in a package from the fine Planting Seeds records so I had a feeling I’d dig it and sure enough, I do. This trio, led by the songwriters Brad Rosenberg and Daniel Driskell ( Rosenberg wrote 8 of the tunes while Driskell write 3) and they each have a distinct style. Rosenberg goes for a more wigged-out Feelies-esque feel with meandering guitar leads leading up to killer climaxes while Driskell seems to be the more laid back one with a love of acoustic guitars and possibly George Harrison records (I recently got the cd reissue of ALL THINGS MUST PASS and have been playing the heck out of it!) . For me Driskell’s gentle “In Yo