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Sharon Van Etten – Tramp (Jagjaguwar)
Honest, sleepy-eyed indie rock. Her fourth LP, at her bravest and most ambitious. Her voice is incredible, her lyrics, like “the world was shitty then” and “serpents in my mind looking for your crimes” are just as mesmerizing.
No Statik – No Hospice 7” (Prank)
Dirty, fast hardcore punk of the Antischism and Nausea variety. Last year I was floored by their LP “We All Die In The End”, and this continues on that path. Old Disassociate meets Mankind? after a terrible accident.
The Feelies – Here Before (Bar/None)
Nothing but classic Feelies. It’s comforting and inspiring to know that these guys still want to write creative upbeat songs, given the current state of independent music and the general shittiness that comes with aging. Played this once, and while I did three different people asked me who it was. Incredible recording to boot.
Grouper & Ilyas Ahmed – Visitor EP (Social Music)
A rewarding collaboration between these two drone artists. Interested to see what else they produce. Released through record & tape club run by the good folks at Social Music
Minority Unit – C.F.M. 7” (6131 Records)
L.A. HC band. Exactly how it should be – under a minute long and played by angry, underage kids. Strange delight at the end of side B: a song that sounds exactly like Floorpunch, but has a Sensefield breakdown.
Cat Le Bon – Cyrk (Control Group)
Light-duty indie rock with female vocals. Lots of energy and style, critics keep saying Nico (not seein’ it) but still highly original and slick. Le Bon is originally from West Wales, her biography mentions that she was inspired to leave home and create music by her father’s extensive record collection (Sonics, VU) and by a “constant stream of dead animals” found lying around her family farm.
Undergang – Indhentet af Døden (Me Saco Un Ojo Records)
Stumbled onto this. Saw the name Undergang and kind of chuckled to myself, assuming this portmanteau of Underdog and Our Gang was some kind of European hardcore band, a super-*Chain Of Strength* if you will. I was then bitch slapped by reality after discovering that there are two European bands called Undergang. I couldn’t believe it. How was this possible? Turns out, the first Undergang is what you might expect, lots of short songs about toxic waste and skateboarding. Decent thrash, but generally nothing to lose sleep over. But. The other Undergang is actually an amazing death metal band from Copenhagen that sounds like Ripping Corpse, Obituary and early C.O.C. I was shocked, in the weirdest, best way possible. Like Bo Diddley says: you can’t judge a book by it’s cover. Not even when you’ve seen the movie.
Bauhaus – This Is For When… (Vinyl 180)
Don’t know how I missed this when it came out in 2009, but it happens. Amazing live set from the Hammersmith Odeon in November 1981, remastered from the original tapes. LP packing has to be seen to be believed, and that’s just one of the reasons why this band rules. No detail is too small, nothing is spared musically or aesthetically. Always amazed at this band’s ability to deliver the goods, no idea how they manage to pull off live versions of complex, measured songs like “Terror Couple Kill Colonel” and “Mask”.
Neurosis – Souls At Zero (Neurot)
Remastered. CD version has demos of “Souls at Zero”, “Zero” and a live version of “Cleanse III”. LP reissue comes out on Valentines Day (how fitting) on Relapse Records as a double LP on 180 gram vinyl. Still as mind crushing as the first time you heard it.
Led Zeppelin – Alternate Mixes (bootleg)
Impressive collection of songs culled from unheard studio sessions. Includes two previously unreleased songs, a winding blues instrumental called “Jennings Farm Blues” and “Feel So Bad, Fixin’ To Die, That’s Alright, Mama”, where a distorted and tremolo’d Robert Plant improvises over the meanest slide guitar ever. We’re so used to hearing these songs arranged with every guitar and vocal nuance in place that it’s kind of alarming when you hear some of these takes. Includes a slew of instrumental versions of songs from ?IV? as well as two of my favorite Zep tunes, “Out On The Tiles” and “Celebration Day”.
