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Dead Milkmen – The King in Yellow (self-released)
Please see my full review here.
Pete Donnelly – When You Come Home (self-released)
Please see my full review here.
DJ Stereofaith and Nadastrom — Mad Decent Worldwide Radio #59 – Salad Days (self-released)
Those who may only know the name “Mad Decent” as the name of the record label run by Diplo and as the name of his series of block parties held here in Philadelphia may be surprised at the contents of some of these podcasts, like this fantastic mix of punk rock that spans from the late ’70s up until the late ’90s but focuses on the ’80s. You can listen to it here.
D.Y.S. – “Unloaded”
The third release in the digital-only D.Y.S. singles series is the best of the bunch so far. Musically, it’s another bruising anthem in the vein of “Wild Card”, the first release in this series, and vocally Dave Smalley touches upon the style of his vocals on Dag Nasty‘s last album, 2002’s Minority of One.
Nada Surf – The Stars are Indifferent to Astronomy (Barsuk)
Four years after 2008’s Lucky, their last album of original songs (2010’s excellent If I Had a Hi-Fi is a covers album), Nada Surf are back with their 7th album. Happily, this strays not one iota from the power-pop formula they pretty much perfected on Lucky. If there’s a difference here, it’s that unlike Lucky, this doesn’t have an absolute killer standout track along with the lines of “Whose Authority” or “See Those Bones”. The first single “Waiting for Something” comes close, though, and all ten of these songs are winners.
The Standard Fare – Out of Sight Out of Town (Melodic)
This one almost snuck right by me as I saw it on a release list a few weeks ago. With fond memories of 2010’s excellent The Noyelle Beat, I was really looking forward to this one. Though not as immediate and more somber in tone (the album’s title and much of its lyrical content seems to concern being apart geographically from a lover; “Darth Vader” is a plea from singer Emma Cooper to a lover indicating that though she’s leaving for a time period, she’ll return) and in lyrical content than the peppy vibe of much of The Noyelle Beat, this is a band that’s maturing in front of our eyes. Most of the time they really nail it, like on the one-two punch of the interestingly-titled “051107” followed by “Suitcase”. Sometimes, though, one wishes for slightly more hooks here. Still, stick with those as it’s rewarding.
Michael T. Fournier – Hidden Wheel (Three Rooms Press, 2011)
Fournier, the author of the 33 1/3 series book on The Minutemen’s monumental Double Nickels on the Dime, is back with his first novel and like many of its characters, it’s unique. Futuristic (at times bordering on science fiction), but yet looking back at the past and critiquing the present, this book’s cast of characters (from former punks to chess prodigies to a dominatrix and a graffiti artist) and its narrative (switching between characters) resembles Jennifer Egan‘s A Visit from the Goon Squad. Underneath it all, it asks important questions about technology and its role in our lives. If I have a complaint, it’s that at times it’s a bit hard to read because of the rambling style one of the character speaks in, but that’s a minor complaint. And yes, the title is a Rites of Spring reference!
The Lost Patrol – Rocket Surgery (self-released)
The Lost Patrol’s newest album Rocket Surgery features the same mix of early ’90s shoegaze, early ’80s post-punk (singer Mollie Israel will never fail, on at least one song per album, to remind me of Siouxsie), surf riffs and Ennio Morricone spaghetti-western soundtrack music that also characterized their two prior albums (2008’s Midnight Matinee and 2010’s Dark Matter). In other words, this is more of the same goodness, though I’m starting to think that this one may be the best of the bunch.
tUnEyArDs – Who Kill (4 AD)
I’ll admit that the weird spelling and hype put me off from listening to this until about a month ago. I’ll be blunt. That was a mistake as this is a great album that deserves all the accolades it’s been getting lately. What I wish Dirty Projectors would’ve sounded like, Merrill Garbus pulls off a record that’s experimental and arty, but yet unlike some music of this sort really easy on the ears, groove-oriented, danceable and fun. Oh and she has an amazing voice, too.
La Sera – “Please Be My Third Eye”
Check out the excellent new video from a great song on the forthcoming second La Sera album Sees the Light here.
