THE FUTUREHEADS - "Christmas Was Better In The 80's" (Single)

A holiday-themed song from The Futureheads. The song starts off slow, with a single piano and lyrics that reminisce about the singer's youth and how, as the title suggests, "Christmas was better in the eighties". The song then kicks into the tight post-punk/new-wave you know these guys for, with harmony vocals, chimes, and a propelling drum rhythm. The chimes really give the song a Christmas feel. After the band kicks out the jams, they return to the solitary piano and vocal at the end, which neatly wraps up the song. This is a solid single, props to the band for this one.

www.thefutureheads.com
www.myspace.com/thefutureheads

EDITORS - In This Light And On This Evening

This is the third full-length album from the band that originally formed in Birmingham, England. Half of the band, bassist Russell Leech and guitarist Chris Urbanowicz, now live in New York while singer Tom Smith lives in London (I don't know where drummer Edward Lay resides). In This Light And On This Evening was recorded in London and produced by Flood. This album came out in October 2009, and I've been sitting on it for over a year. Why? I've always liked the singles this band put out but could never get into listening to a whole album. Truth be told, I think this is the first time I've ever listened to an entire Editors album so I can't really say how this album holds up to their first two. The Joy Division comparisons are still present, but the machine-like, synth-heavy backing music really pushes the band's sound in a great direction. Lots of lyrical references to London, God, death, and love. I think Smith's voice is creepy at times (I've always felt the same about Ian Curtis, too). Still, I'm liking this album and I think maybe it's time I gave their previous albums their overdue playthroughs.

www.myspace.com/editorsmusic
www.editorsofficial.com

KIMBERLEY REW - Bible Of Bop

Kimberley Rew was the guitarist for both The Soft Boys and Katrina and the Waves. Although many don't recognize his name, most are familiar with the big hit song he wrote while with Katrina and the Waves: "Walking On Sunshine". Bible of Bop was released in 1982, a year after the Soft Boys broke up and a year before Katrina and the Waves would release their first album. The album was composed of eight songs; three of these songs were recorded with the Soft Boys serving as the backing band: "Stomping All Over the World," "Nothing's Going to Change," and "Fighting Someone's War". Another three songs put the dB's to work as the backing band: "My Baby Does Her Hairdo Long," "Walking in the Dew," and "Fishing". The remaining two songs, "Nightmare" and "Hey, War Pig!" were recorded with the Waves. Through this set of songs, we see just how good a songwriter Rew was. He was well at home with the post-punk/new-wave crowd; at times, his songs are reminiscent of the work of Television or The Cure. I've listened to this album a bunch of times and I think I like it more each time. Great stuff.

www.kimberleyrew.com

EXPATRIATE - In The Midst Of This

This album was first released in 2007 but is just now seeing its full US release. Expatriate are from Sydney, Australia, but they now live in Berlin. Remember a few years ago when there was a big explosion of bands influenced by Joy Division and the darker sounds of post-punk? Surely you remember Interpol, Editors, and their less-famous counterparts. Well, Expatriate's album falls into the same genre as those bands. So if you like that kind of music, this will suit you quite nicely. If you don't like that kind of music, I can't help you here. "Crazy" is a pretty catchy song. The album cover reminds me of Wire's Pink Flag.

www.myspace.com/expatriateband
www.expatriateband.com

EDDY CURRENT SUPPRESSION RING - Rush To Relax

The Australian band's third full-length record. Their post-punk/garage-punk sound reminds me of Gang of Four or Wire. If I remember correctly, this one is more subdued than their last release (Primary Colours). Even so, these guys have their sound down and they know what they are doing. Good stuff.

www.myspace.com/eddycurrentsuppressionring
www.ecsr.com.au

THE DRUMS - The Drums

The Brooklyn quartet finally releases their first full-length album, after tempting us constantly with singles and an EP. They sound like they came straight out of the 1980's post-punk/indie scene. I'm shocked they're not British. Their music is great and if they're not huge by the time I post this review then I am sure they will blow up soon. Recommended if you like The Smiths, Voxtrot, that sort of thing.

www.myspace.com/thedrumsforever
www.thedrums.com

ART BRUT - Art Brut Vs. Satan

Art Brut Vs. Satan is the British quintet's third full-length; this one is produced by Frank Black aka Black Francis aka Charles Michael Kittridge Thompson IV aka the lead singer for the Pixies. We get eleven songs of fun, upbeat British rock/post-punk goodness filled with witty lyrics (many referencing other bands, songs, and music in general, along with several other pop culture references) that are delivered in singer Eddie Argos' trademark deadpan talking style. I've liked this band since I heard them in 2005 on their debut, and this album is no exception to their awesomeness.

www.myspace.com/artbrut
www.artbrut.org.uk

Cut Off Your Hands - You and I

They are from Auckland, New Zealand, and this is their debut album. They are pretty good, they play post-punk/rock in the same vein as a band like Franz Ferdinand. If Hot Hot Heat had followed up Make Up The Breakdown, their album with the song "Bandages" where they sounded like they wanted to bring back the sound of early Cure, with another good album and not the pop/rock crap they play now, it would have sounded like Cut Off Your Hands.

www.myspace.com/cutoffyourhands
cutoffyourhandsblog.blogspot.com

Bloc Party - Intimacy

The British quartet presents their third full-length album. Their first album was full of catchy angular rock/post-punk; the second album saw them branching out a bit, experimenting with new rhythms and electronics, but maintaining most of the good qualities that their first album possessed. On Intimacy, however, they feel like a pretentious band that shows too many weaknesses and simply recycles their strengths without creating anything new. The lyrics are laughable (see: "'Cause I love my mind when I'm fucking you", "Sometimes I think I would float away if this sadness did not weigh me down", and "You get sadder the smarter you get and it's a bore"); the songs are just uninteresting. The upbeat songs, which are the type that Bloc Party became famous for, are retreads of their older songs and not even as catchy. The two bonus tracks that are included with the CD are fairly decent; last spring's single, "Flux", remains the best track these boys have put out since (at least) 2007. Despite this, it's a disappointing and underwhelming release from a band that we should be able to expect more from.

www.myspace.com/blocparty
www.blocparty.com

Eddy Current Suppression Ring - Primary Colours

They are from Australia and the band members have awesome names like "Rob Solid" and "Danny Current." It's always great when members take on names related to their band name - and even better when their musical chops are just as cool as their chosen names. And cool this band is. They play a mixture of post-punk and garage-inspired punk. Perhaps if Wire was fronted by a sneering, snot-nosed, shirtless protopunk brat, you could have this band. Excellent stuff. The cover is also interchangeable so you can select your favourite primary colour to be the front, which is fun.

www.myspace.com/eddycurrentsuppressionring
www.ecsr.com.au

The Airborne Toxic Event - The Airborne Toxic Event

Debut for the five-piece that is based out of Los Feliz, California (near Los Angeles). Right now they are on tour opening for The Fratellis, which should be your first clue to the quality of the music they make. They play rock/post-punk. Imagine if Franz Ferdinand and Interpol had a one-night stand; this band could be the child that results. They're really good.

www.myspace.com/theairbornetoxicevent
www.theairbornetoxicevent.com