What, no “I Die, You Die?” No “Crowd of Drifters” (Dr. Death version)? No “If I Were a Rich Man?”

Germany’s Dawn Band is one of those groups who love so many iterations of music that the members couldn’t decide on a single direction, and thus head off in several at once.

If this was an EP of the first five songs, it would be magic. However…

The power of Holy Joy in the form of two singles…

There are so many shoegazey bands at this point that I don’t feel like I have any room for more in my life. Well, let me squeeze I Break Horses in somewhere because Hearts is wonderful.

Screaming Trees’ final recordings have been unearthed and given a proper release, highlighting the final statements of a once-fine band.

One could easily, and justifiably, make the argument that it’s impossible to condense Patti Smith‘s visionary 35+ year career onto one disk.

The Spanish Donkey are a prime example of everything that can be wrong with improvisational music.

The "summer fun" record gets a distinctly 21st century treatment on this Chicago husband/wife team's debut EP.

It’s strangely refreshing to hear the apocalypse transmitted with such haunting beauty.

Love hurts. Love scars. Love wounds and marks any heart not tough or strong enough to take a lot of pain.

Whether, as I was, you’re wary of the dubstep thing, or you’re completely new to the genre and need a good place to start, this compilation is for you.

These songs are downright sleazy blasts of orgiastic frenzy packed with B-movie samples, grinding rhythms and blasphemous lyrics.

Chicago trio Ornery Little Darlings’ full-length debut is definitely an interesting listen. Nearly every song evokes a different influence. The album is so diverse that it borders on identity crisis.

Singer Toke Nisted makes the most of his resemblance to Rod the Mod, as the rest of the band channels the 60s European obsession with Motown and Stax through its rock & roll wringer.

Their music could almost be called no wave, as it consists of improvised punk rock explosions and noise, but instead of looking to the past, Ultrabunny are about the present tense, here and now.

Cymbals Eat Guitars’ sophomore album is an even more challenging, rewarding, and enjoyable listen than their debut.

Simply put, this is noise at its absolute best and a perfect starting point for anybody who’s been curious about the genre but too afraid to ask.

The same words are often used, but they’ve never been more true. The title track to Marvin Gaye’s masterful protest album is as relevant today as it was when it was written. This set treats the landmark album with the respect it warrants.

This album has a beautiful cover and beautiful contents, in these uncertain times I can’t recommend it enough…

If you’re out record-hunting and you come across this little ditty, pick it up. It’s well worth a few of the bucks in your pocket.

It’s hard to believe that Icky Mettle, the debut LP from indie rock heroes Archers of Loaf, is nearly 20 years old.

Well, the cover art is pretty cool. If only the music matched…

This collection of twelve songs, culled from a theatrical folk concert first staged in 2009, is all interiority and bed-ridden body-pondering, rarely suggesting a dramatic component and cohering beautifully without it.

As an EP, this 12” would have been better off as a 7” split of the NASA tracks.

For his first digital-only release, head Barbarellatone Robbie Quine presents what is quite possibly his best album to date.

This is powerful music that is as much Damaged-era Black Flag, early Doom and Gauze as it is Gang Green and Jerry’s Kids.

One piece. Forty-seven minutes. The latest album by young minimalist composer Nicholas Szczepanik isn’t as monotonous as it might seem.

While they lacked the garage punk punch of the Reatards and some of Jay Reatard’s quirky catchiness, Jay’s next best band had some gems too.

This album may be more a collection of tracks from the past five years than a cohesive unit, but it maintains a consistency that proves CB have no plans to call it quits anytime soon.

This Midwest pop-rock staple, which introduced the power ballads “Keep On Lovin’ You” and “Take it on the Run,” is 30 years old.

These thoughts are presented as a companion to the recent review by Michael Toland.

Like the work of David Sylvian, No-Man or Mark Hollis, A Scarcity of Miracles requires patience and multiple exposures to truly appreciate.

Quite honestly, this entire EP sounds like a Bad Company LP being played at 45 rpm, and since I’ve never been much of a fan of Bad Company, I’m not much of a fan of this record.

For what’s essentially a compilation, there’s an amazing consistency here, as if all the songs were recorded in one burst of creative urgency.

It’s one thing to use Stereolab as a reference/influence, but to just swipe chord-change for chord-change is simply unforgivable.

Don’t let the Rolling Stones album art reference fool you, this EP by hoe-down kings and queens of Montreal, Lake of Stew is more “down home” than 2000 light years from it.

Blasting outta dank basements and crusty nooks of Montreal, Tightrope is a snappy, heavy and tight fist of fury, their self titled 7” packed with breakneck speed limblifters.

Crabe is a band that is always pushing their edge while enticing the listener through tongue-in-cheek humour that skeins the album, a welcome release valve or contrast to the almost frightening display of pure musicianship and warped edge-defining songwriting.

Cryin’, Dyin’ and Fourth of Julyin’ ‘s triumph is not only the obviously skilled musicians that crafted this bad-ass masterpiece, but in how it captures the vivid spirit of the blissfully druggy but focused ferality of rock and roll, drawing deep from the dark inheritance of that northwestern nook of Louisiana.

A brilliant, dank and essential album that achieves the pinnacle of what Sourvein has been able to give to the world: the sheer essence of heavy music, shorn of pretentious fuckery that weakens the broth like long solos or overproduction.

Sure it’s a lot of self-indulgent uber-musicianship that seems to glorify dexterity over song-craft at times, but it’s also a lot of fun if you have a sense of humor that allows you to appreciate cheesy music like Emerson, Lake & Palmer.

Prolific Canadian minimalist Kyle Bobby Dunn presents his latest album, a meditative work that serves as a soothing balm against restlessness and heat.

Clouds Echo in Blue from Choir guitarist Derri Daugherty is an elegant collection of evocative, heavenly tones, tailor made for admirers of ambient instrumental projects such as those by ex-Cocteau Twins guitarist Robin Guthrie, Hammock and Riceboy Sleeps.

This is surf-punk mixed with some psych and even new wave influences.

Last of the Good Ol’ Days, the third record from the Latebirds, is further proof that a term like “Americana” refers more to genre than country of origin.

London Diehards are more what you’d expect from a skinhead oi punk band. The songs are solid, catchy and melodic, with tough British vocals and football chant choruses.

This French self-titled debut blends elements of house music, old techno and classic disco with an overall italo feel to produce engaging, intelligent electronic dance music that goes beyond the typical 4/4 club banality.

Equally comfortable with rocking roll, folk ramble and country snap, the quintet has its style down well enough that it can concentrate on songs.