Dum Dum Girls – Only in Dreams (Sub Pop)
I’ve been obsessed with this band and particularly this startling record lately. Right now, it’s my album of the year. One of these days, I’ll write a full review, but for now that’s all I’ll say.
Dum Dum Girls – “Coming Down” EP (Sub Pop)
This is a bonus white vinyl 7” that came with the vinyl version of Only in Dreams. The A-side is just an edited version of the album’s longest, moodiest cut while the B-side is a nice tune called “Crystal Baby” that’s good, but fittingly nowhere near the equal of much of the amazing material on the album.
Earth – Hex: Or Printing in the Infernal Method (Southern Lord)
After their performance at ATP last week, I’ve been checking out some of their recent albums. So far, I’ve played this 2005 gem the most. Slow as molasses, this has way more in common with pioneers of drone (think Terry Riley or La Monte Young, two major influences) as well as the desert stylings of Calexico (and even Ennio Morricone) than it does with most doom metal (despite the label and the band’s origins and name). I highly recommend it.
Portishead – Convention Hall (Asbury Park, NJ) – Saturday, October 1, 2011
Their headlining set on the second day of ATP brought tears to my eyes on various occasions, most notably when they played songs from their 1994 debut album Dummy like a stripped-down, radically rearranged “Wandering Star” and the amazing Dummy closing track “Glory Box”. Overall, the set was a nice mix of new and old with songs from their 3 albums as well as their “Chase the Tear” charity single.
Shellac – Asbury Lanes (Asbury Park, NJ) – Sunday, October 2, 2011
Though they played Convention Hall on the festival’s first night, Shellac weren’t willing to stop there. Playing a jam-packed Asbury Lanes at 12:45 on the festival’s last day, this was a rare chance to see them in an ultra-intimate setting and at a really cool, functional bowling alley as well! It was so loud that my wife said that it felt like we were inside of bassist Bob Weston‘s amp, but the ringing later was worth it!
Loney, Dear – Hall Music (Polyvinyl)
Loney, Dear’s new album is a step away from the stripped-down, Elliott Smith-like territory of his earlier albums into full-fledged, orchestrated baroque pop territory here. Nico Muhly‘s liner notes suggest as much and on this record, Emil Svanangen delivers.
All Saints Day – It’ll Come Around EP (self-released)
Not the two song EP I reviewed earlier, the digital version of this (released on their bandcamp site) contains two extra songs. Of those, “You Can’t Be Alone” is the catchier of the two, though “Goodbye” is worthwhile as well. I hope these songs will be released as a 7” one day, but in the meantime you can hear and buy them on the bandcamp site linked to above.
The Toasters – Recriminations EP (Moon)
I’ve loved this 4 song EP, one of this long-running New York ska band’s earliest releases, since I was a kid, even though I didn’t know at the time (but would eventually find out) that Joe Jackson produced under the pseudonym Stanley Turpentine and also played organ and melodica on “Run Rudy Run”.
Blue Cheer – Vincebus Eruptum (Philips)
This is early heavy metal or perhaps the U.S. version of the British blues explosion given that it was recorded in 1967. What separates this record from so many others in the same style is not only its heaviness for the time, but its sheer sense of fun and reckless abandon. That’s also part of why it’s still so appealing. Mudhoney were clearly taking notes.
Jeff Mangum – Paramount Theater (Asbury Park) – September 30, 2011
Until we saw Mangum perform live, I never rated his band Neutral Milk Hotel or their 1998 album In the Aeroplane Over the Sea all that highly. Now I see the errors of my ways. He was brilliant, as is that album. Now I’ll definitely investigate On Avery Island and his other recordings as well.
