Dusting off some stuff and mixing it in with the new.
Tennis – Cape Dory (Fat Possum)
Indie revival pop that is sonically somewhere between Camera Obscura and Best Coast but maybe even more radio-friendly. The lack of heavy reverb is refreshing.
Vic Chesnutt – Silver Lake (New West)
Vocally, this is my favorite Chesnutt album and “I’m Through,” is maybe his most under appreciated gem. Thanks to Cowboy Junkies‘ Demons Chesnutt cover album for getting this American treasure back into my rotation.
Ride – Nowhere (Creation/Rhino)
With the Shoegaze revival in full effect, it made sense to trace back the roots. I stopped tracing when I reached the new vinyl remaster of this classic.
Mark Lanegan – The Winding Sheet (Sub Pop)
A friend of mine actually asked if I was a Mark Lanegan fan. Uh, yeah! Big time! This, his solo debut, was my first recommendation. A definite and purposeful departure from his Screaming Trees output, this album is the first great use of his amazing baritone.
Wipers – Is This Real? (Jackpot)
Got the remastered vinyl new for six dollars. Can’t beat that. Jackpot Records indeed.
Lorelei – “The Bitter Air,” 7” (Slumberland)
This was the finest release in Slumberland’s history before the debut of The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart. The worst thing that could have happened to Lorelei occurred with the departure of vocalist Gina Yi. The band lost their irresistible innocent sound.
Oasis- Standing On The Shoulders Of Giants (Epic)
I don’t know why this album got such a bad wrap (unless one just doesn’t like Oasis, which I can understand). It is probably the most consistent effort in Oasis’ catalog. Something called out to me to get this out of mothballs and I’m glad.
Iron & Wine – Kiss Each Other Clean (Warner Bros.)
I must say that this album threw me for a loop at first because it is so vastly different from their previous output. But it’s my favorite full-length of Sam Beam & co. since 2004’s Our Endless Numbered Days.
Apache Beat – “Knives,” from Last Chants (Babylon)
I just can’t stop playing this song. It gets me through traffic and general driving malaise.
Sleepy Sun – Fever (ATP)
Just found this in my car (it had been in there for 6 months) and hadn’t listened to it until this week. I really wish I would have remembered it before now. There’s some very good harmonies here.
