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Mostly Brand New and One Sort of New-Ish Release
Those Darlins – Screws Get Loose (Oh Wow Dang)
Though I didn’t think much of their set opening for Best Coast the other night at Union Transfer, on record these Tennessee gals make countrified garage rock (with a heavy hint of Stiff Records; they even cover Rockpile‘s “Pet You and Hold You”, though not on this record) of the highest, catchiest order. After one listen, you’ll be humming the title track and many of the other 10 cuts on here as well. This has been out for over a year, but is new to me. The rest of the albums on this week’s list are brand new releases or new reissues.
DIIV – Oshin (Captured Tracks)
What more can I say about this Brooklyn quartet? They were great on the same aforementioned bill with Best Coast and Those Darlins the other night and I like them so much that I bought the limited edition, colored vinyl version of this wonderful Lp.
Mission of Burma – Unsound (Fire)
On the first few listens, Mission of Burma’s brand new album (the fourth since their reunion) is both more unhinged and yet hookier than their last album (2009’s The Sound The Speed The Light). I eagerly await hearing these songs played live when they come here in September.
Patti Smith – Banga (Columbia)
Patti’s first new album of original material since 2004’s Trampin’ (and first album overall since 2007’s covers collection Twelve not counting her one-off collaboration with Kevin Shields, The Coral Sea) is a mixed bag. Though parts of the first half remind me too much of 1988’s Dream of Life, the album comes to life with her tribute to Amy Winehouse (“This is the Girl”) and is engaging from that point on. Particularly striking are the last two tracks, the 10-minute plus “Constantine’s Dream” (reminding me of the title track of Radio Ethiopia) and especially her stunning cover of Neil Young‘s “After the Gold Rush”.
Ty Segall Band – Slaughterhouse (In the Red)
This is my first time hearing Ty Segall and I like this a lot. Most of this is rip-snorting garage rock with heavy psych overtones (including a cover of Bo Diddley‘s “Diddy Wah Diddy” that’s crazier than either the original or Captain Beefheart‘s version), but the last track “Fuzz War” is appropriately enough, 10 minutes plus of feedback which is amazingly never boring.
JEFF the Brotherhood – Hypnotic Knights (Warner Brothers)
This Nashville duo’s 7th (!) overall album and their first on a major label finds them making the best music of their career. In the past, I have enjoyed them both on record and the one time I’ve seen them play, but they’re clearly operating on a higher level here. The key is adding not just better songcraft but the very audible influence of sitar-laden psych-rock and even Krautrock to their patented Weezer meets Black Sabbath mix. Make sure to get the iTunes version (or if you like vinyl, it’s on the Record Store Day released Upstairs at United Vol. 3) as it contains their awesome, 10-minute plus covers of Hawkwind‘s “Masters of the Universe” and UK early ’70s heavy rock obscuros Wicked Lady‘s “I’m a Freak”).
Produced by Tim Armstrong of Rancid, this falls under the category of younger artists completely rejuvenating an older musician’s career by pushing them into making their most memorable music in decades. Rebirth fits this bill appropriately as covers of The Clash‘s “Guns of Brixton” and Rancid‘s “Ruby Soho” will attest. Don’t ignore the rest of this wonderful Lp, though!
The Gaslight Anthem – Handwritten (Mercury)
Like many, I loved their breakthrough 2008 Lp The ’59 Sound, but was disappointed with 2010’s more polished American Slang. The production is still there on their new album (and major label debut), courtesy of Brendan O’Brien, and one track (“Too Much Blood”) sounds close to Soundgarden territory (perhaps a nod to the fact that O’Brien mixed Superunknown). However, the opening track “45” is a ripper worthier of their earlier, punkier days and most of the rest of this album follows suit, somehow splitting the difference between Brian Fallon‘s arena-rock ambitions and their punk rock basement show past.
Poison Idea – Darby Crash Rides Again (TKO)
The first release in Southern Lord’s Poison Idea reissue series (which was also recently released in a super limited edition vinyl version on TKO, hence its inclusion here) compiles their legendary 1982 demo tape (the highlight here) an earlier demo when they were in more embryonic form and some live tracks from the era. They would get much better later (particularly on 1987’s War All the Time Lp), but this reissue is worthwhile for fans of the band or early ’80s hardcore in general.
Sugar – Copper Blue & File Under Easy Listening reissues (Merge)
Since Bob Mould is now signed to Merge and will release his new album Silver Age later this year, Merge have taken it upon themselves to reissue the discography of his great ’90s band Sugar. Copper Blue and Beaster are now released as a double Lp and File Under Easy Listening as a single Lp with B-sides and live tracks as bonus downloads.
