Another sampling of the albums crossing my mind/ears/desk these days.
Bob Mould – Life and Times (Anti-)
The usual mixture of loud, melodic folk rock and punk pop as only Mould can do it. This feels more engaging and passionate than the disappointing District Line.
Art Bergmann – Lost Art Bergmann (Bearwood)
The demos that got Bergmann that record deal that lead to his debut album Crawl With Me, minus the gloss producer John Cale brought to the table. A review is forthcoming.
Art Bergmann – s/t (Polydor)
His first major label album, curiously minus the major label gloss.
Art Bergmann – Sexual Roulette (Duke Street)
Bergmann’s catchy, angry, rocking and impossibly rare masterpiece.
Bad Religion – Into the Unknown (Epitaph)
Such an anomaly within the BR catalog that the band has only recently begun to acknowledge its existence. Their records are always driven by high quality writing, and that’s as much the case with these 70s-style prog and hard rock songs as it is with the group’s usual punk. Hopefull this will be brought back into print someday – there’s little of which to be ashamed and much to be proud.
Gary Holton and Casino Steel – Holton and Stee/_II_ (Continental)
The singer for the Heavy Metal Kids and one of the prime movers in the Hollywood Brats and the Boys take on various pop, country and easy listening nuggets, bringing both a sense of fun and a soupcon of soul to the likes of “Ruby (Don’t Take Your Love to Town).”
Glide – Open Up and Croon: The B-Sides Collection (?)
A blogger’s privately assembled collection of mp3s comprising B-sides and ephemera from one of Australia’s underground treasures. I didn’t know most of this stuff existed. The acoustic songs are fornicating gorgeous.
Metro – s/t (Sanctuary)
British cult folkrocker Duncan Browne and future synth-popster Peter Godwin come together in 1976 for a lone album that mind-melds glam and prog and anticipates new wave in much the same way as Be-Bop Deluxe.
Dave Gleason’s Wasted Days – Midnight, California (Well Worn)
Gleason has long flown the old-fashioned country rock flag. This, his second album, is an excellent example of his work.
Neko Case – Middle Cyclone (Anti-)
The indie chanteuse’s most accessible album yet.
