La Sera with Life Size Maps and The New Lines – Cameo Gallery (Brooklyn, NY) – May 19, 2012
Please see my full review here.
Life Size Maps – “Weird Luck” EP (self-released)
The title track of this 3 song EP (a CD given away at their show last week in Brooklyn) is Captured Tracks/Slumberland and specifically reminds me of DIIV (formerly DIVE). In other words, this is dream-pop played with punk rock energy. Fantastic! The other two tracks are nice as well, though weaker, and remind me more of straightforward ’90s indie rock. You can hear it all here.
Kam Kama – The Tiled House (Sister Cylinder)
Please see my full review here.
Redd Kross – “Researching the Blues” EP
The first track from the album of the same name (Redd Kross’ first since 1997’s Show World) is available for streaming here. It’s absolutely killer power-pop in their usual (later) style, but reminds me of recent NJ power pop bands like The Brixton Riot and Successful Failures, interestingly enough.
Moss Icon – Complete Discography (Temporary Residence)
I’m definitely thankful that Temporary Residence has taken the time to reissue the entire back catalog of this great, influential Annapolis, MD band (circa 19888-1991). I heard them in the ’90s when bands like Native Nod, Current, Indian Summer and the like took the influence of Moss Icon and ran with it, but for some reason though I liked some of their stuff and many of the bands they influenced, I have always underrated them. This is no longer the case. Anyone who digs DC-style post-hardcore from that time period ala early Lungfish should enjoy this.
The Shakes – “51st State”
Totally unbeknownst to me, New Model Army did not originally write and perform this tune, which showed up on their 1986 album The Ghost of Cain and which was released as a single then, too. This little-known band from Keighley did and here a video of them performing it circa 1982.
I don’t know what else I could possibly write about this record that hasn’t already been said since it’s an acknowledged classic, but I will say that for whatever reason, I never really “got” The Meat Puppets until very recently and have been enjoying spending time with this album and Up on the Sun as of late.
Real Estate – “Easy” EP (Domino)
This is yet another great 7” from this Brooklyn/Ridgewood, NJ band. The A-side is the opening track on their great Days Lp (one of my favorites of 2011) and the B-side “Exactly Nothing” is a song strong enough that it could’ve made the album. Get this.
Sleep – Dopesmoker (Southern Lord)
Anyone who dismisses them as Black Sabbath copyists should listen to this one-song, 53 minute opus (which goes by amazingly fast). This is about as good as doom metal/stoner rock gets and I’m glad Southern Lord has reissued it once again.
Best Coast – “Storms”
As the B-side of their recently released single “The Only Place”, Best Coast recently covered this 1979 Fleetwood Mac tune for a BBC session. Bethany Cosentino‘s wondrous voice is a natural fit for Stevie Nicks‘ plaintive lament (one of the highlights of their double album Tusk) and she does a fine job with it.
