na: junior boys, trouble books
So much to cover that we’re flying through things a bit, and leaving out a ton. Errors, omissions, corrections and opinions to follow in the comments. PS: Make sure to check out the Trouble Books record mentioned below. Total fan.
Junior Boys, Begone Dull Care: It’s spotty. This is definitely a record where picking and choosing will pay off. Alex has spent more time with this record than I have, but definitely don’t overlook the second song, “Work.” Major jam.
The Hold Steady, A Positive Rage: Hey, it’s a Hold Steady live album. Not my favoritest of bands.
Cymbals Eat Guitars, Why There Are Mountains: Lotsa buzz on this one, and props must go to tlmcula, the man who discovered the Rural Alberta Advantage, who sent us this band a couple of months ago as an eMusic Selects nominee. I’ll be honest: I didn’t like it, and truth be told, I still don’t. But I am in an increasingly growing minority. Gets lots of Modest Mouse/Pavement/’90s indie comparisons, but I don’t hear it.
Superchunk, Leaves in the Gutter: Superchunk are one of the few ’90s indie bands that I never got with. New EP is exciting, though. (I had thought they had broken up!)
Various Artists, SCORE! 20 Years of Merge Records: Everyone going nuts over the big names on Dark Was the Night should peep this, too: Death Cab, Ryan Adams, Okkervil, etc., all covering classic Merge. Apples in Stereo covering Neutral Milk Hotel, for instance.
Trouble Books, The United Colors of Trouble Books: Probably my favorite record to go up this week. Have no idea who these kids are, but totally awesome Pinback/American Analog Set/Microphones girlfriend jams. Know what I mean? There is a 100000% chance you will hear “Night of the Pelican Street Sweeper” on my next EVR show. Major.
The Veils, Sun Gangs: Joe has been majorly going to bat for this one. I’m skeptical, but am going to finally give it a spin today.
Youth Group, The Night Is Ours: Normally I hate stuff like this. Relatively normal rock played with sensitivity and a heavy emphasis on lyrics. But their last record had two songs I very much liked — “On a String” and “Catching and Killing” — and even just one from this record to add to that list would make me happy.
Telekinesis, Telekinesis!: Another Joe jam. Very poppy, and the samples sound nice. Let’s give it a B.
Micachu, Jewellry: All the blog buzz. And SXSW buzz, too. A lot of unexpected people have professed love for this record, and just as many who I would expect to be into it have professed a lack of love for it. Me? I have yet to hear a note.
Betty Padgett, Betty Padgett: Fun disco/reggae/soul/R&B record from the late ’70s reissued by Light in the Attic. For its time honestly fairly mediocre, but that age’s aesthetic and style just sound so right today, don’t they?
Buraka Som Sistema, Black Diamond: M.I.A. guests on this, and her oeuvre serves as the blueprint for the rest here. Big fierce beats meet Third World sounds.
Casiotone for the Painfully Alone, Vs Children: It’s totally a new Casiotone record.
Wow. Lots of music, so few downloads.
Definitely check “Coast of Carolina” from that Telekinesis record, if you’re cherry picking. One of my faves of the year.
I definitely back the Cymbals Eat Guitars record. And I downloaded the Troubled Books on a whim this morning–nice to see it get props here because I’m totally digging it. Like, a lot.
what happened to the “metric” that was listed as arriving 4/7? was it the thing showing up on metric’s page that is. .. not metric? (or at least not emily haines etc. metric.)
just wondering. they have a new album coming out and it would be great to have it on emusic.
tlr3, the release date for that album is next tuesday, the 14th. we had gotten the wrong date.
is the new thermals lp coming?
the new one by malajube, labyrinthes!
Oh, the Veils, yes, I saved downloads for that, so happy so very happy. And it’s as beautiful as I was hoping, fantastic! Yancey I insist you give the Veils more of a chance.
Thanks for the shout out Yancey. But, you got my user name wrong again.
I’m excited about the new release of the Dananananaykroyd album. Good-humored Glaswegian band with two drummers. RIYL the Fall and/or Ponytail.
Listen to “Black Wax” on their myspace: http://www.myspace.com/dananananaykroyd
The Veils record is a creeper, first listen I was indifferent to it. I put the album in a recently added play list and I had to keep checking which songs were blowing me away. The Veils, every time.