Pointed Sticks – Raw Power Pop (self-released)
This shows up as “Pointed Sticks Live” when I import it into iTunes, but either title should tell you what you’re in for here. This is absolutely recommended for any fans of this great Vancouver band. I haven’t had a chance to see them since they’ve reunited in the last few years, so I have to recreate the experience vicariously via this live compilation (which seems to be from both shows in Brooklyn as well as Japan). All the classics are here, ranging from “Somebody’s Mom” to “Marching Song” to “Waiting for the Real Thing”. If you’ve never heard this band, starting with Perfect Youth and Waiting for the Real Thing, a singles, demos and outtakes comp that along with Perfect Youth was recently reissued by JOEY SHITHEAD’s Sudden Death label. For fans, though, this will be a real treat.
You can find more information about this release here. For the record, I don’t normally link to downloads of material that’s in print (for obvious reasons), but I can’t seem to find any info on this release from either their MySpace page or their official site. You can try contacting them to see if you can still get the disc as it’s unclear if it’s still in print. Plus, one of the band members commented and didn’t seem to have a problem with a download of this being available on that great site.
The Pains of Being Pure at Heart and Parallelograms – “Kurt Cobain’s Cardigan” b/w “1,2,3,Go!”/”Pop the Bubbles” EP (Atomic Beat)
I downloaded this out-of-print split 7” to hear the song from the incredible indie-pop band The Pains of Being Pure at Heart. Although you know that any song called “Kurt Cobain’s Cardigan” will be a winner (and it is), at this point Pains were still a bit less developed than they are now. As such, the two songs on the B-side from a band I’d been previously unfamiliar with (The Parallelograms, although the math-inclined name made me smile even before I heard them) are the real standouts here. It’s just great indie-pop. Check it out here.
Neko Case – Middle Cyclone (Anti)
Neko Case’s long-awaited new full-length (her first since 2006’s Fox Confessor Brings the Flood) moves her even further away from her alt-country beginnings and into slightly more mainstream “indie” or even AAA territory. Fear not, though. My hunch is that if you liked her previous few albums, you’ll like this. And yes, the last track is 32 minutes long. I’m just wondering how she’ll fit it on the vinyl version once the album is released. All I’ll say about it is that I like it, but I fully expect it to piss people off much like WILCO’s “Less than You Think” did on their 2004 album A Ghost Is Born.
The Decemberists – “The Rake’s Song”
The first snippet I’ve heard from their forthcoming The Hazards of Love sounds like it picks up where 2006’s wonderful The Crane Wife left off. In fact, the drums sound like ‘70s or early ‘80s arena rock, which is odd for them, but otherwise I really like this song. I can’t wait to hear the album.
The Undertones – An Anthology (Union Square/Salvo/Ardeck U.K.)
I’ll defer to JACK RABID’s review of this on his Top 10 list from last week.
Mark E. Smith and Ed Blaney – Smith and Blaney (Voiceprint)
My initial impression of this is that it’s much more similar to 2007’s VON SUDENFED record (which featured Smith collaborating with MOUSE ON MARS) than to the last few Fall albums. I haven’t thought much of the last few Fall albums, so in this case that’s a good thing.
The Rifles – The Great Escape (679 Recordings)
I don’t agree that this is a better record than their debut No Love Lost, but I am enjoying it thus far. It’s mod-pop that gets frequent comparisons to THE JAM and the like as well as more modern bands like THE CRIBS, but honestly they remind me of a slicker, more radio-friendly (well, in the U.K. at least) LEN PRICE 3.
Yeah Yeah Yeahs – It’s Blitz! (Interscope)
I was hoping for a return to form after 2006’s good but not great Show Your Bones. Unfortunately, this moves them even further away from their roots. Much further. At times, this sounds like a late ‘90s MADONNA album. Oh well. I have nothing against them trying to expand their audience, but I’m just not feeling it at all.
Brandon Halpin – Dear Catastrophe Waitress (Villard, 2007)
I listed this book on last week’s list. I liked it so much that since then, I re-read it again (right after finishing it the first time). I don’t remember the last time a book had that kind of effect on me. I’ve also loaned it off to a friend and recommended it to several others. If I can get someone reading this to check this book out from your favorite library, bookstore or online retailer, then my job will be done for this week.
Various Artists – The Master Tape (Affirmation)
I was lucky enough to find a reasonably priced copy of this long out-of-print mostly Midwestern hardcore punk compilation from the early ‘80s. Just to clarify, this is the first volume (there was a Vol. II as well), featuring absolutely ace tracks by ARTICLES OF FAITH (“Buried Alive” and “False Security”) and some very good ones by ZERO BOYS (all of which are compiled on the recently reissued History Of on Secretly Canadian), TOXIC REASONS, THE FUs and DIE KREUZEN. The rest of the stuff is, to be kind, a mixed bag and a product of the times, but none of it is unlistenable and all of it is fun. Good luck tracking down the vinyl; try the internet!
