Graham Parker – Imaginary Television (Bloodshot)
This one’s been growing on me. It’s perhaps not as strong as Songs with No Consequence or Deepcut to Nowhere, my two favorite ’00s Parker albums, but upon further listening I think I like it as much as his last album, 2007’s Don’t Tell Columbus.
Upon further reflection, Parker may be the most consistently excellent pop/rock artist of my lifetime.
Adam Franklin – “Yesterday Has Gone Forever”
A brand new, exclusive new track from Franklin’s forthcoming I Could Sleep for a Thousand Years debuted on The Big Takeover website a few days ago. You can stream the studio version and watch a much different solo rendition of the song here. The studio version may be the closest he’s come to his legendary band Swervedriver’s signature sound since that band’s last record (1998’s 99th Dream) and at the very least is much more in that vein than his other projects MAGNETIC MORNING or TOSHACK HIGHWAY or any of his other solo work. My wife said that the song reminded her of TEENAGE FANCLUB, which I can definitely here as well.
Swervedriver – Mezcal Head (Second Motion)
Hearing the new Adam Franklin track made me go back and listen to Swervedriver’s landmark second album Mezcal Head. The cover features a bull with a nose ring and as befitting that cover, listening to it feels like being bowled over by a Mack truck, albeit one somehow also full of melody and psychedelic tinges as well. The closest comparison is a more melodic early ’70s HAWKWIND as songs like “Duel,” and the bonus track/single “Never Lose that Feeling” just pummel the senses.
Furthermore, Second Motion’s recent reissue of this album includes 3 bonus tracks, among them the incredible “Planes Over the Skyline”, my favorite Swervedriver song.
The New Pornographers – Together (Matador)
It’s almost getting a bit boring writing about how much I like this record, but it sure hasn’t gotten boring listening to this melodic gem.
The Trashcan Sinatras – Daytrotter Session (no label)
This session includes versions of three songs from their most recent album In the Music, which was finally just given a stateside release, as well as a new one called “The Stairs of New York”. Read the description of the session as well, as it perfectly distills why this great band has such a loyal following. It’s unusual to find something that poignant and well-written in that context.
You can find it here.
The Fall – Your Future Our Clutter (Domino)
This is another new album that gets better with every listen. No individual tracks stand out as much as say, “Theme from Sparta F.C.” from 2004’s The Real New Fall Lp or “Blindness” from 2005’s The Fall Heads Roll, but otherwise this Lp is the equal of some of their finest, more recent work.
Roky Erickson – True Love Cast Out All Evil (Anti)
Aside from that amazing new LEATHERFACE album, this is my favorite album of the year so far. Better yet, it got me exploring deeper some of Roky’s earlier solo work and the 13TH FLOOR ELEVATORS catalog as well. One of these days when I get through it all, I may very well do an entire list just devoted to Roky.
Roky Erickson – The Evil One (Plus One) (Sympathy for the Record Industry)
Although I already had I Think of Demons, I bought this one because of the bonus disc and because it contains 3 songs that I Think of Demons missed and also shuffles around the order of the original CBS Lp as well. This is a great album (perhaps Roky’s finest) in any version.
LCD Soundsystem – This is Happening (DFA)
As far as I’m concerned, JAMES MURPHY is 3 for 3. If this will indeed be the last LCD Soundsystem album, at least he’ll have gone out with a great one.
The Missing Links – “Wild About You” EP (Half a Cow)
This is a late ’90s 7” single released in anticipation of Driving You Insane, the complete collection of this mid ’60s Australian band. To be honest, I knew very little about them other than the fact that THE SAINTS covered “Wild About You” on their 1st Lp (I’m) Stranded. Aside from the original version of that track, it also features “Come My Way”, a song from a completely different, later Missing Links lineup. Both sides are stellar mid ’60s freakbeat, though to be completely honest, I definitely prefer the Saints’ take on “Wild About You”.
