Dave Heaton: May 28, 2006

1. Darling New Neighbors – Every Day Is Saturday Night (I Eat)

   A nicely unconventional version of country-folk-rock; feels like a laidback but constantly surprising sort of party.

2. Lionel Richie – Can’t Slow Down (Motown)

   OK, I’m not sure if I’d call this a ‘good’ album, even, but the other day I picked up a bunch of LPs that my neighbor was getting rid of, and I keep putting this one on, just for kicks. An endless source of questions – like why does he sing the verses of “All Night Long” with a fake Caribbean accent?

3. Camera Obscura – Let’s Get Out of This Country (Merge)

   Will this remarkable third album get people to finally stop wrongly referring to Camera Obscura as a Belle and Sebastian soundalike, ignoring the ample influence of old-time pop and country that has driven all of their records?

4. Ghostface Killah – Fishscale (Def Jam)

   Still sounds to me like one of the best hip-hop albums I’ve heard in years. His storytelling sense is acute and eccentric, the beats are sharp, and the production often hearkens back to classic soul sounds in a real comforting way.

5. Microesfera – Negative (Static)

   Minimalist techno from Argentina – surprisingly rich, complex, and moving (physically and emotionally).

6. Robin Guthrie – Continental (Darla)

   Gorgeous and quite diverse new instrumental ambient album from the Cocteau Twins co-founder.

7. Frankie Avalon – Italian Market Festival (Philadelphia) – May 20, 2006

   A one-man ‘oldies’ station, playing snippets of his songs and everyone else’s (everyone else’s hits from the time being more lasting than his own). Quite the entertaining showman, if nothing more.

8. The Lucksmiths – Staring at the Sky (Matinee)

   I can’t stop listening to the Lucksmiths, some of the best songwriters ever, in my book. This one’s been my choice lately (meaning this week).

9. New Grenada – Modern Problems (Contraphonic)

   A down-and-dirty, explosive rock album with a strong pop undercurrent. Very enjoyable.

10. Phil Collins – No Jacket Required (Virgin)

    That’s right, another of my neighbor’s LPs. I keep trying (successfully, I might add) to get “Sussido” stuck in my wife’s head. Fun, fun…