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Imperial Teen - Feel The Sound

Imperial Teen - Feel The Sound (Merge)

7 February 2012

Hey, can you feel it, the way it sways you, the hum in your chest?

Mitch Ryder The Promise

Mitch Ryder – The Promise (Michigan Broadcasting Corporation)

7 February 2012

Ultimately, the question for American fans is: can his voice still cut it?

Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra – The West Will Rise Again (Ruined City Birdsong Combos)

6 February 2012

Shifting back away from the heavier rock of their latest LP, this release delivers some mostly excellent results.

Sharon Van Etten - Tramp (Jagjaguwar)

4 February 2012

Despite the numerous guest stars, make no mistake. This is very much a Sharon Van Etten album.

Ed Vallance Volcano

Ed Vallance – Volcano (Proof)

4 February 2012

The songs don’t so much soar as swirl, but with a grounded center that emphasizes hooks over atmosphere.

Cate Le Bon - CYRK

Cate Le Bon - CYRK (Control Group)

2 February 2012

The most notable Le Bon in music since Simon. His last name was pure fashion; Cate might not consider herself The Good, but she certainly comes across as musically devout.

London Diehards There's Lies, Damn Lies and There's... Rock 'N' Roll Disgrace

The London Diehards - There's Lies, Damn Lies and There's... LP (Rock 'N' Roll Disgrace)

2 February 2012

After whetting my appetite with the strong Great Britain 7“EP, The London Diehards have delivered a full-length that displays their brute strength in all its boot-kicking glory.

Infernal Overdrive Last Rays of the Dying Sun

Infernal Overdrive – Last Rays of the Dying Sun (Small Stone)

2 February 2012

Somewhere in the middle of Thin Lizzy and Iron Maiden, if you will.

The Lemonheads - Hotel Sessions (Hall of Records)

1 February 2012

A collection of on-the-road demos for The Lemonheads’ underrated Come On Feel The Lemonheads highlights the magic that is Evan Dando.

pacificUV – Weekends (Mazarine)

30 January 2012

The album is supposed to evoke the feeling of the end of a relationship. And since it is not as fun as the start led me to believe, I guess that makes sense.

Roger Glover and the Guilty Party - "If Life Was Easy" (Eagle)

28 January 2012

Those expecting the high-octane hard rock of Deep Purple from Roger Glover’s fifth solo album will be surprised, but not disappointed.

Various Artists - The Lemon Tape (Kinnta/Hobo Cult)

27 January 2012

Every time I think I’ve plumbed the depths of this city’s wellsprings of great music, something like cassette labels Kinnta and Hobo Cult pop out, all explosions and rainbows with a whole batch of amazing.

Pete Donnelly - When You Come Home (self-released)

27 January 2012

Though there are light r’n‘b touches on a few of these songs, this is ultimately a singer-songwriter album and a great one at that.

The Dead Milkmen - The King in Yellow (self-released)

27 January 2012

Clearly this is an album made by 40 somethings instead of 20 somethings.

Komodo - Shadow Dance (Sambal)

27 January 2012

Shape Shifter is truly a jewel in the craft of Komodo’s (nee Matthew Burton) oeuvre. Originally known as Subluna, Burton’s established a global reputation for roof-raising live sets and enjoys a local rep for nurturing an aspect of the dubstep/bass scene since it’s inception into the Canadian east coast scene.

Dr. Dog - Be The Void (Anti-)

27 January 2012

Philadelphia-based Dr. Dog’s sixth album finds the band at their most mature-sounding, leaping far beyond their previous work.

Young Jesus — Home (Self-Released)

26 January 2012

In our jaded times, Young Jesus proves that Home can be where the heart is.

Poor Lily

Poor Lily - Poor Lily (Poor Lily)

25 January 2012

Some people like their punk rock to look a certain way and sound a certain way. That’s fine, don’t waste your time here.

The Strange Boys - Live Music (Matador Records)

25 January 2012

Austin, Texas rockers The Strange Boys tone down the garage, turn up the piano, and make a wonderful little retro-pop record.

Lacuna Coil – Dark Adrenaline (Century Media)

23 January 2012

The album is good on the whole but the band’s celestial aura is fading.

Guided by Voices - Let's Go Eat the Factory (Guided by Voices, Inc./Fire)

21 January 2012

Though others may disagree, I think that this album is a mix of good and not so good.

Gordon Withers - The Joy Formidable on Cello (self-released)

21 January 2012

This is exactly what it says it is.

Shahman - Who Am I? 7" (Concession)

20 January 2012

Identical twins from Ottawa, Rob and Peter Johnson wove a heavy duty tapestry on this tasty little four song 7” EP as Shahman. Occupying and interstitial space between math-y and slow paced Shellac dream-time and burned out early Mogwai post-rock, the corona of cathartic but eloquent screaming and metallic breaks in each song drive this boat over the proverbial mountain.

The American Devices - The American Devices (Grenadine)

20 January 2012

This exhaustive compendium of prolific punk weirdness documents 25 years of uncompromisingly off kilter songs by The American Devices.

Zun Zun Egui - Katang (Bella Union)

20 January 2012

Bristol-based band’s debut album is something out of this world. No, really.

Wrath of Typhon Avenger Eleventh Key

Wrath of Typhon - "Avenger" EP (Eleventh Key)

18 January 2012

Applying old-school business sense to the modern music market, this EP is available as a free downloadable single of sorts through Eleventh Key to promote Wrath of Typhon’s full-length, Speak from the Fire.

Neverever - Shake-A-Baby (Slumberland Records)

18 January 2012

Neverever’s new EP will come into your life for a brief moment, then fly away, leaving you heartbroken but all the richer for having experienced it.

Buck Satan & The 666 Shooters – Bikers Welcome! Ladies Drink Free (13th Planet)

17 January 2012

Al Jourgensen’s country alter ego has delivered his best non-Ministry effort in ages.

The Devil's Blood The Thousandfold Epicentre

The Devil’s Blood – The Thousandfold Epicentre (Metal Blade)

17 January 2012

Who knew Black Widow‘s 1970 occult rock LP Sacrifice would become such a sacred text?

Richard McGraw – “Popular Music” (independent)

16 January 2012

McGraw has described the process of making this album of covers as “the art of selling out,” and he makes admirable work of it. The song selection for Popular Music runs the gamut from guilty pleasure to hidden treasure, with surprising depth and personality.

The Compulsions Beat the Devil

The Compulsions – Beat the Devil (self-released)

15 January 2012

Leader Rob Carlyle‘s long-simmering brainchild boasts all the sex, sin and sleaze we’d expect from the purveyors of the song “Big Fat Sexy Mama.”

The Left Banke - Walk Away Renee/Pretty Ballerina (Sundazed)

14 January 2012

This album belongs in the same conversation as other classics of the genre and time period like Love’s Forever Changes and The Zombies’ Odessey and Oracle.

John Henry West - Door Bolted Shut (Ebullition)

14 January 2012

This collection is like manna from heaven for fans of this amazing, chaotic, passionate post-hardcore band.

The Raveonettes - Rarities/B-Sides (Columbia/Vice)

14 January 2012

An embarrassment of riches, this limited-edition collection plays not only a great outtakes album, but like one of their best albums period.

'Jon Burrows' – “Elvis Found Alive” (Highway 61 Entertainment/MVD)

13 January 2012

This lighthearted collection of fresh material from the “living” King of Rock and Roll plays it mostly straight, but it’s not hard to tell that those involved have their tongues planted firmly in cheek.

Moholy-Nagy - Like Mirage (Temporary Residence)

13 January 2012

Three founding members of space-rockers Tarentel reform and release a satisfying collection of mellow, tranquil music.

Gene Clark White Light

Gene Clark – reissues (Sundazed)

13 January 2012

We finally get domestic versions of Clark’s early albums, and they provide a clear argument that Clark should be as venerated as any better-known name of his generation.

The Brains Drunk Not Dead Stomp

The Brains - Drunk Not Dead (Stomp)

11 January 2012

Rather than pigeonhole themselves with boring clichés, Canada’s Brains are more a punk rock band with a rockabilly edge.

The Silent League - Of Stars and Other Somebodys (File 13)

11 January 2012

This jazz-minded Mercury Rev side project’s second album finally sees a domestic release. Better late than never…

Dixie Witch Let It Roll

Dixie Witch – Let It Roll (Small Stone)

11 January 2012

It’s always nice when a band goes the extra mile and decides to compose songs instead of stringing together riffs.

The Big Pink – Future This (4AD)

10 January 2012

While not nearly as bombastically poppy as their debut, there are still moments of big fun but also some surprisingly poignant moments worth experiencing.

Mike Viola Electro De Perfecto

Mike Viola – Electro De Perfecto (Good Morning Monkey/Hornblow)

9 January 2012

Like a lot of artists who put a ton of hard work into making it look easy, Viola is a master of subterfuge.

Crank Sturgeon Mashacoustic Love Earth Music

Crank Sturgeon - Mashacoustic (Love Earth Music)

6 January 2012
It may not be the easiest thing to listen to, but there’s a certain silly fun traipsing through all the squelch and static that makes the painful frequencies all the more endearing.
Meyerman - Who Do You Think You Are?

Meyerman - Who Do You Think You Are? (Pretty Decent)

6 January 2012

2011, and power-pop is taking over.

Animation - Asiento

Animation - Asiento (Rare Noise)

6 January 2012

A concert remake of Miles Davis’s seminal fusion album Bitches Brew.

Gregory Scott Slay - Horsethief Beats (Communicating Vessels)

6 January 2012

Gregory Scott Slay—the former drummer of Remy Zero—did not let Cystic Fibrosis stand in the way of his final musical statement.

Kieran Hebden/Steve Reid/Mats Gustafsson -- Live at the South Bank (Smalltown Superjazz)

4 January 2012

The Hebden/Reid collaboration came to an end with the death of Steve Reid, but this two-disc document excellently serves its purpose as final testament.

Raekwon – Unexpected Victory (H2O)

3 January 2012

Victory? I don’t know. But definitely not defeat.

Greg Macpherson 2

Greg MacPherson: Disintegration Blues (Disintegration Records)

30 December 2011

Six albums and over a decade into his career, Winnipeg guitarist/singer/song-writer/ activist/Disintegration Records boss Greg MacPherson is refusing to let up.