Thirteen song LP, hypnotic dark-psychedelica influenced by both eastern tones and western tempos. Easily one of my favorite current bands around (in the top ten for sure), still out there pioneering, touring and writing songs like the 1990’s never happened. Thankfully. Somewhere between their pulsating rhythms and their highly visual lyrics is this kind of melodic, juicy-filled center, which is never actually exposed or revealed. I love how this band incorporates sounds and textures, and I suppose that juicy center could be influenced by both mid-period Rolling Stones and Neu, along with a slew of understated rock heroes from the same period. The results of this sound experiment are excellent and hypnotic.

Seven song LP of heart-pounding hc punk. It’s hard to produce original hardcore without aping some tired style or sounding cheesy, but these guys manage to do both and do it with real class. The music is heavy and frantic at the same time, with a wall-of-guitars ala Tragedy or Negative Approach. Material is held together with an urgent rhythm section that really pushes along the tempo, which can be as fast as Koro or as slow and plodding as Amebix. Very good shit.

Single from the forthcoming self-titled LP, due out on Jan 21st. The LP took over a year to complete and was mixed by Nigel Godrich and Flood. I’ve heard a few of the songs (mostly from live recordings) and so far I really like what I’ve heard, builds on top of the direction they were headed a few years ago. A+ vocals.

Sludge metal doom rock from Salt Lake City, debut two song EP. Ex-members of Black Sleep of Kali, Subrosa along with current members of Dwellers and Top Dead Celebrity. Incredible stuff here, these guys really know how to translate their sound onto record. I say that because this may be the loudest band in America, although that theory is untested. Pretty sure they have an LP coming out soon. Not sure what’s happening with that, but this band rips. There are pieces of early Melvins here, shades of Corrosion of Conformity and of course plenty of heeaaavy duty stoner rock riffs. http://oxcross.bandcamp.com

Complete discography CD of this third wave New York hardcore band, (I think) almost everything they recorded. Total early 90’s Burn, Collapse and Quicksand worship, which is never a bad thing. But in all fairness they have their own unique spin on that crushing sound, one that is fluid and at time can be very moving and inspirational. Love this band. So glad to have this material on CD finally.

Incredible split with three songs from each band, culled from 1981 recordings. Both of these bands were incredible especially early on in their careers. There is nothing like that first time you really sit and listen to “Pagan Icons” by Saccharine Trust. If you’re open minded enough, it may change the way you think about punk and about song structure. Sometimes you hear dunderheads poo-poo American hardcore, laughing at the silly art while claiming that the music is nothing but artless tough guy trash. Obviously those folks have never heard of either of these bands. Too bad for them. Also: cover art by Raymond Pettibon.

BOC is one of those bands I always hear people talking about, see their stuff in print and I was never really too motivated to check them out. Can’t explain why, they just didn’t grab me. But recently I heard their “Campfire Headphase” record from 2005 and was sufficiently pleased with the results. Basically this duo makes expansive post rock with keyboards and synths, it is “themed” in the way that the records as soundtracks to movies that don’t really exist. The songs are well written and you can’t argue with that. Some are snippets of ideas, others are extended pieces that remind me of shoegaze textures or experimental studio effects with careful attention to detail and tone. As a film buff and a soundtrack nerd, I can definitely get behind that. My only complaint, really, is that it could be more minimal. Just saying. Some interesting techniques and layering effects though. It’s like KLF for Americans.

Two song EP. Girls and boys playing fast punk. Just like dogs and cats living together, mass hysteria, etc.

Minimal acoustic / electric ambient recording projects from Seawworthy, who lives in Sydney Australia and Taylor Deupree, who hails from New York. Great work here, lovely recording to boot. Been on a serious minimal kick lately, maybe because it’s the time of year when music (and it’s accompanying emotions) can be so crass and so out of our control. Case in point: radio stations that play nothing but Christmas songs. What I look for in ambient music is hard to verbalize, yet I know it when I hear it. Wood, Winter, Hollow is acoustic-organic but it’s also riddled with noise: crunching, distant bells, water flowing, an old music box, drops of rain hitting metal or concrete. Powerful stuff.

Found a copy of this Dutch pop / new wave record I’ve been looking for. It’s their second LP, somewhat demented and misguided at times but has it’s moments. Kinda love the drummer and his sound on this record. Sort of strange chanting lyrics, horns and thick synths make this really unique. Not sure if this is classified as ska or rock but it doesn’t really matter. I have no idea what the hell they’re saying and that’s probably a good thing.