Pernice Brothers – Goodbye, Killer (Ashmont)
On the first few listens, I like this, but can’t help the feeling that something’s missing. Everything here is pleasant, the sound is similar, though this record has more traces of the alt-country found in his previous band SCUD MOUNTAIN BOYS than on anything else that bears the Pernice Brothers name.
I like this when taken on its own, but I can’t help but to feel a bit let down considering that this is the group that produced The World Won’t End and Yours, Mine and Ours. Of course, I hope it’ll grow on me.
Joe Pernice and Joyce Linehan- Pernice to Me (self-published, 2010)
This came with Goodbye, Killer since we pre-ordered it and it’s hysterical. It’s not a new novel by Pernice, but rather a compilation of Twitter posts, e-mails and text messages mostly consisting of correspondence between Pernice and his long-time manager and label co-owner Linehan.
Rocket from the Tombs – “I Sell Soul” (Smog Veil)
The A-side of RFTT’s new 7” and digital single references ROKY ERICKSON‘s pre-13TH FLOOR ELEVATORS band THE SPADES‘ regional hit “We Sell Soul” (the song that kicks off disc 1 of the great Roky anthology I Have Always Been Here Before), though as far as I can tell, the similarity ends with the title. As such, it and “Romeo and Juliet” (not the similarly named “Just Like Romeo and Juliet” by THE REFLECTIONS and covered by others, including Nuggets-era obscurities MICHAEL AND THE MESSENGERS and much later by THE UNDERTONES) continue the sound on 2003’s awesome Rocket Redux. You can hear it here.
The Subhumans – Incorrect Thoughts (Friends Records)
It’s really unfortunate that this 1980 classic is out-of-print. I surmise that if it had been heard by more people, it would have the reputation that it surely deserves. In any case, they just re-recorded this along with some bonus tracks for an album called Same Thoughts Different Day, though I haven’t heard it yet.
The Subhumans – Death Was Too Kind (Alternative Tentacles)
This is a compilation released in 2008 that collects their first 2 7“s and the 4-song 12” that was produced by BOB ROCK along with some compilation tracks. I can’t say enough good things about this band.
The Vaselines – “I Hate the ’80s” (Sub Pop)
I just found out yesterday that their new album (their first in over twenty years and only their second overall) will be called Sex with an X and will be released in September on Sub Pop. You can download a song from it here. While I like the song, it didn’t immediately hit me like their old stuff does. I love the lyrics, though.
Neu! – Neu! (Mute)
HALLOGALLO, a band formed by former Neu! member MICHAEL ROTHER and which also includes STEVE SHELLEY along with members of TALL FIRS and SCHOOL OF SEVEN BELLS, are playing Neu! material this summer. How awesome is that?
The Trashcan Sinatras – A Happy Pocket (Go! Discs)
Their 3rd Lp from 1996 is an overlooked stunner that’s never been released in the U.S. and remains hard to find, though the re-release of the band’s entire back catalog, scheduled for later this year, should remedy that situation. Amongst many other pleasures, it contains “The Genius I Was”, a song I always play on repeat every time it comes up in the running order.
Catherine Wheel – Ferment (Fontana)
I haven’t picked up the new reissue yet, but all the talk surrounding it made me give this 1992 classic a listen the other day. Do I really need to tell you all how great this is?
Paul Weller and Bruce Foxton playing together on stage for the first time since 1982
The great Slicing Up Eyeballs site has video of them performing a song from Weller’s new album along with several JAM classics (“The Eton Rifles” and “The Butterfly Collector”). The video is kind of grainy and the sound is so-so, but one can easily feel the excitement in the room during this entire mini-set.
You can see it here.
