Teenage Fanclub – Shadows (Merge)
This is one of the very best albums that I’ve heard all year. Some will complain that the now 40-something band have mellowed too much, but this is beautiful, mature music for adults very much in the vein of the recent work of their Scottish contemporaries THE TRASHCAN SINATRAS, complete with beautiful strings and possessing an autumn-like feel. This is good when it’s almost 100 degrees outside! “Into the City” and “The Back of My Mind” are absolute stunners, though the whole album is magnificent.
Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings – I Learned the Hard Way (Daptone)
Their fourth album may be their best so far. They’ve always been a terrific live band, but now they’ve created a record that can stand toe to toe with their ’60s and ’70s soul and r’n‘b influences.
Crowded House – World Cafe Live (Philadelphia) – July 23, 2010
During this 45 minute set, Crowded House mixed old favorites like opener “Fall at Your Feet,” “Locked Out,” “Weather with You,” “Distant Sun” and “Four Seasons in One Day” with newer material from their latest album Intriguer.
Yo La Tengo – “Little Honda”
This feedback-laden live version of the BEACH BOYS classic was the definite highlight of their set at last week’s XPoNential Music Festival in Camden. You can stream their entire set here.
Nicole Atkins – “Vitamin C”
Having never listened to Atkins before, I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of her cover of this CAN song. You can stream her entire set here.
Best Coast – “Boyfriend”
I’ve been enjoying this song from their forthcoming album Crazy for You along with their singles and can’t wait to hear the rest of their album. In the meantime, download “Boyfriend” here.
1.6 Band – “The Checkered Pasts of All Kings Present” EP (Metastasis)
This is the first 1.6 Band release of any kind since their CD discography Broke Up came out in 1997 and their first release of new material since their initial breakup in 1993. Now back together again, they pick up right they left off back then. This means technical, precise post-hardcore. You can download it for free here and if you like it, you can also buy the 7” from the same site.
The Avengers Two Black Eyes…and a Bloody Nose (Bancrupt Records)
I found a copy of this recently without having ever heard of it before. It’s an Lp that came out in the late ’90s that’s comprised of a show in San Francisco from 1978 along with 3 unreleased demo tracks. For the live show, the performance is electric and the songs are played considerably faster than their recorded versions, though the sound quality could be better. The demo tracks are the most listenable things on here and to the best of my knowledge, only one has ever been officially released (on the Died for Your Sins compilation).
Leatherface – The Stormy Petrel (No Idea)
I know that I’ve written lots about this album already, but I just picked up a vinyl copy yesterday and it sounds incredible. The vinyl is purple and swirled as well and it’s also a gatefold sleeve.
Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti – “Round and Round”
I’ve yet to hear any of their full-length albums, but I really like this track. My wife heard it one day, thought I would like it and sure enough, I did. It reminds me of MARIANNE FAITHFULL‘s “Broken English”!
