Yeah Yeah Yeahs Show Your Bones (Interscope)
After a few listens, this is my early candidate for album of the year so far. On this, their 2nd full-length, Yeah Yeah Yeahs manage to progress nicely into more melodic, ‘80s college rock (some songs remind me of NEW ORDER and THE CURE) territory without losing their edge or perhaps their greatest asset, their sense of urgency. Of course because it isn’t as hard-edged as their debut and their early EPs, it will alienate some old fans, but mark my word, I think this album will be huge and if anything, it’ll win them a ton of new fans.
The Dictators – Go Girl Crazy (Epic)
I’ve been listening to this one at least once a day for almost 2 weeks straight now. What a fantastic record! It’s not only the missing link between BLUE OYSTER CULT and THE RAMONES, but it was a huge influence on The Ramones (for its directness and simplicity in a time of indulgence and excess) as well as THE BEASTIE BOYS’ Licensed to Ill (for its humor) and New York hardcore band MURPHY’S LAW (for just how unmistakably Noo Yawk this record is). For all of those reasons and more, I give this record my highest possible recommendation.
Liars – Drum’s Not Dead (Mute)
It’s interesting that this record has gotten such good reviews so far (including a 9.0 in Pitchfork) considering that their 2nd album (from which this is a very logical progression) was so universally lambasted by the closed-minded dimwits at Rolling Stone and Spin (not to mention much of the indie community). Regardless, I’m glad that this time the critics seem to recognize a good thing when they hear it. Along with the much different and way more accessible YEAH YEAH YEAHS, it’s great to hear bands from the Williamsburg class of 2001 push themselves and continue to make relevant, challenging music while outgrowing (but not totally abandoning, at least in the Yeah Yeah Yeahs’ case) their dance-punk and scuzz-rock/blues-punk sounds, respectively.
Rob Dickinson – Fresh Wine for the Horses (Sanctuary)
It’s a shame that this record is decried by some of the CATHERINE WHEEL faithful as an adult contemporary (yeah right) sell-out for the COLDPLAY market when the reality is that while there’s nothing on here that rivals the buzz, howl and distortion of the 1st few Catherine Wheel records, melodically some of the songs on here are quite similar to early Catherine Wheel compositions like “I Want to Touch You” and on one song, you can hear late-period TALK TALK in its bones, so the influence of producer and virtual Catherine Wheel member TIM FRIESE-GREENE is there as well.
Ignore the awful cover and you’re in for a treat. What was that old expression again about a book and its cover?
Belle and Sebastian “Song for Sunshine”
This almost universally decried song from their new album The Life Pursuit absolutely rules. There, I just had to get that off my chest!
Strange Reaction
I stumbled across this awesome mp3 blog the other day and since then, I’ve downloaded lots of out-of-print and very hard-to-find (for a reasonable price, at least) ‘80s hardcore punk records by the likes of NECROS and ZERO BOYS as well as BAD RELIGION’s
Into the Unknown (as bad as its reputation, but the other stuff I downloaded is great), some SCREAMERS demos (there’s some rare late’ 70s stuff on there, too) and Volume 1 of the legendary Midwestern hardcore compilation
The Master Tape. I’d never heard most of that stuff before and in some cases had been looking for it for years.
Strange ReactionBroken Flowers®
Although this movie has a “what the f&%k” ending destined to confuse and frustrate just about everyone who sees it, it’s still a poignant and very well-written document of an aging bachelor’s struggle to come to terms with his love life by going on a journey inspired by a letter regarding a 19 year-old son who he may or may not have. This is one of JIM JARMUSCH’s finest films and one of BILL MURRAY’s finest roles. It’s actually a better manifestation of his recent “serious” side than the much better appreciated but lesser Lost in Translation.
Sparks – Hello Young Lovers (In the Red)
Several weeks after getting this, I’m still listening to it intently and songs like “Perfume”, “Rock Rock Rock” and “The Very Next Fight” are growing on me and revealing newfound layers with every listen.
The Birthday Party – Mutiny/The Bad Seed EP collection (Buddha)
This great early ‘80s band’s output is simply some of the most brutal, savage, terrifying and pummeling rock and roll to have ever been captured on tape. I prefer 1982’s masterpiece Junkyard, but I think this is an easier entry point for neophytes, especially those only familiar with NICK CAVE’s solo work and his records with THE BAD SEEDS.
TV on the Radio – untitled forthcoming 2nd album (Interscope)
Well the new TV on the Radio album leaked to the internet within the last week and after a few cursory listens, it seems less experimental and more straight forward rock than their debut. Apparently it isn’t the final mix, but many are saying that it’s actually the finished product. Only time will tell and furthermore, they’ve become the latest indie band to sign to a major label, choosing Interscope to release this album in the U.S. while they’ll remain on 4AD in the rest of the world.
