Damien Jurado – Saint Bartlett (Secretly Canadian)
Although my exposure to Jurado was generally limited to a superb live show last week (covered on last week’s list), I really like this new album. In particular, “Kansas City” is perhaps the most gripping, affecting and melancholy song I’ve heard all year. The rest of it isn’t far off in its quality, either. According to my fellow bloger DAVE HEATON, who’s more familiar with Jurado’s back catalog than I am, this one’s on another level. Whether he’s right or not, it sure sounds like it.
Big Boys – The Skinny Elvis (Touch and Go)
This has the “Frat Cars” 7”, their tracks from the split live Lp Live at Raul’s Club with THE DICKS and the Where’s My Towel/ Industry Standard Lp. If anyone reading this doesn’t have this, it’s an absolute must.
Big Boys – The Fat Elvis (Touch and Go)
This is even better than The Skinny Elvis as it contains my favorite Big Boys album, namely Lullabies Help the Brain Grow along with the “Fun Fun Fun” EP and their final Lp, No Matter How Long the Line Is At the Cafeteria, There’s Always a Seat.
Dicks – ‘80-‘86 (Alternative Tentacles)
Although this could’ve been put together a bit better, it’s still the only Dicks material in print aside from the repress of the Peace 7”. Regardless, it has most of what you need here, namely the best two tracks from the debut 7” The Dicks Hate the Police, the two best tracks from the aforementioned Peace 7”, most (albeit regrettably not all) of the tracks from Live at Raul’s Club and the blistering, incredible “Kill from the Heart” (albeit presented in the slightly inferior album version as opposed to the one on the live Lp) along with the equally as angry, confrontational and righteous fury of “I Hope You Get Drafted”, their contribution to the double Lp international P.E.A.C.E. compilation.
It’s one flaw is including too much material from their last Lp, 1985’s These People, not coincidentally their only other release on Alternative Tentacles. Although I don’t like it nearly as much, that material deserves its own reissue or its own disc, as it’s markedly different from what came before it.
Tim Kerr – Temporary Conversations interview (Half Letter Press)
Check it out here.
This is, as the title implies, a booklet consisting of a wonderful interview with Kerr that was conducted in 2008. Ordering information is at the link above. It’s well worth it.
Teenage Fanclub – Songs from Northern Britain (Creation)
This absolutely astonishing album from 1997 is where everything finally came together for this long-running Scottish band. For years, I’ve tried to get into them, trying their first few albums, 2005’s Man Made and their best of comp, but this was the one that did the trick. This tasty combination of THE BYRDS and BIG STAR along with just the right amount of noise/distortion,, a new interest in country-rock and hooks piled up to the rafters is an absolute must. Thus, in short, now I understand what I’ve missed out on all of these years. Now to check out their other albums!
Dicks – Temporary Conversations interview (Half Letter Press)
Check it out here.
Much like the Tim Kerr interview spotlighted above in item #5, this booklet from the same folks consists of recent interviews with singer GARY FLOYD and bassist BUXF PARROT along with musings from Tim Kerr alongside a long intro. Highly recommended.
Zombi – Digitalis EP (Relapse)
This long-running Pittsburgh-based band is sort of like the Iron City’s answer to TRANS AM, though listening to them feels like they’re being much less ironic or goofy than that aforementioned DC band. Anyway, this tour-only EP from 2006 contains 3 instrumental tracks treading heavily under the influence of GIORGIO MORODER, KRAFTWERK and the like, thus perfectly described by its title.
The standout here is the 9:15 epic “Sapphire”. If you like vintage ’70s synth sounds, it’s an absolute must!
MC5 – Babes in Arms (ROIR)
As WAYNE KRAMER himself has said, this collection of alternate and unedited versions along with before then previously unreleased tracks, is truly the best of the MC5. For such a great band, it could be argued that each of their 3 proper Lps are inferior to this excellent compilation for a litany of different reasons. Kick Out the Jams has incredible energy, but inferior songwriting to Back in the USA, the power-pop production of which I love (though many don’t) but which clearly doesn’t represent the incredible roar of their live sound. One could make a case for High Time, their great and underrated 3rd Lp, though of course it doesn’t represent each era of the band.
Thus, I could see novices starting here alongside The Big Bang: The Best of the MC5 compilation released on Rhino. Each are equally essential.
Leatherface – “Deep Deep Sleep”
Released on both the split 7” with NINJA GUN (which is how I heard it) in conjunction with the ill-fated May 2010 U.S. tour which never happened as well as an earlier split 7” with YESTERDAY’s RING, thisis a track from the sessions for The Stormy Petrel, my favorite album of 2010.
