Slacker Sounds Might Be On Hiatus

Hello to all my readers,

Slacker Sounds is going to be updating sporadically for a short period of time while The Slacker goes on spring break and then will be in Texas for SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST. Updates will be limited. Normal daily updates will resume on March 18th. Don't worry.

Rivers Cuomo - Alone: The Home Recordings of Rivers Cuomo

Weezer's frontman presents us with a collection of lo-fi home-recorded demos that, for the most part - "Buddy Holly" being the lone exception - never made it to a Weezer record. There's a reason for that. These songs are nowhere near as good as classic Weezer. The recording quality is also very poor, though considering that Rivers recorded most of these himself right from his bedroom or house, it is to be expected. Even so, I highly suggest listening to Weezer instead (in particular, the "Blue" album and Pinkerton). The best songs on here are "I Was Made For You," "Chess," and "Longtime Sunshine."

www.riverscuomo.com
Please note that this site links directly to Rivers' personal MySpace page.

For music:
www.myspace.com/weezer
www.weezer.com

Jim Ward - Quiet

Jim is the frontman for Sparta and played guitar for At The Drive-In when they were still around. This EP is a stark contrast to the style of those groups; it's a man and his guitar, the help of some friends, and true to the title, a quiet sound. Nothing like the chaotic style of his other projects and former group. For fans of light, acoustic guitar with male vocals.

www.myspace.com/jimwardquiet
www.civildefenseleague.net

Ghostland Observatory - Robotique Majestique

Everyone's favorite electro/dance/funk/rock duo from Austin returns with their third full-length album! High pitched male vocals. If you like The Rapture, Hot Chip, or even Daft Punk, but wish that they sounded trashier, this just might be the trick. Kind of a weird sound from two guys who appear to be inherently strange, but I quite like them. For the adventurous types.

www.myspace.com/ghostlandobservatory
www.ghostlandobservatory.net

The Duke Spirit - Neptune

The second album from this confident, female-fronted rock band from England. Liela Moss fronts the group and sings in a lovely voice full out authority (and with a British accent!). The band backs her up with tight rock that has bluesy-rock influences, somewhat akin to the older stylings of the Rolling Stones. Very well-done, this one's a keeper. Recommended if you like female-fronted rock that could take you out on the town or kick your ass, or maybe both.

www.myspace.com/thedukespirit
www.dukespirit.com

Fancey - Schmancey

The second full-length from Fancey, which is led by the New Pornographers' guitarist, Todd Fancey, and features the talents of fellow Pornstar Kurt Dahle on drums. Fancey is highly influenced by 1970s "soft-rock" and the resulting sound is one that is very poppy, upbeat, and sunny. I think that I enjoyed this band's debut more, but this is still very nice. RIYL Sloan, Zumpano, 70's rock like Todd Rundgren, Harry Nilsson, Chicago, etc.

www.myspace.com/fanceymusic
www.fancey.org

The B-52s - Funplex single

The first single from their first studio album in sixteen years (!!!). This is highly exciting for any B-52s fan, 1980's New Wave Revivalists, and lovers of rock lobsters. If this single is any indication of the new album's sound, it will have been well worth the wait. 'Funplex' is great. I listened to all three versions they've packaged together on the single (the album version and two different edits) and was not bored once, oh no no no. Cindy Wilson handles most of the vocals with Fred Schneider providing bits of hilarity as well. Totally gnarly, dude!

www.myspace.com/theb52s
www.theb52s.com

Born Ruffians - Red Yellow & Blue

Indie rock, undistorted "clean" guitar lines, and yelp-y male vocals. Reminds me of Vampire Weekend without all of their cutesy indie poppiness, or Clap Your Hands Say Yeah! if CYHSY had a slightly better vocalist. Decent stuff, I'm pretty sure that I like it.

www.myspace.com/bornruffians
www.bornruffians.com

Bon Iver - For Emma, Forever Ago

Mainly the work of one man, Justin Vernon. It's quite nice, very laid-back, layered, a folk sound but not overly so, it's more indie than folk I suppose. Quite honestly a few songs made me imagine what it would sound like if Wolf Parade attempted folk music. I imagine this would appeal to fans of Okkervil River, Little Wings, and indie-folk.

www.myspace.com/boniver
www.jagjaguwar.com/artist.php?name=boniver

Bell X1 - Flock

A rerelease of their 2006 album with a different tracklisting, finally available for those of us who live across the pond from where this band originates from, Ireland. Perhaps you remember this band from their appearance on The O.C. television show soundtrack a few years back? No? Well then, moving on. They play what could be classified as Britpop even though they are Irish...it's rock/pop, densely layered, male vocals sung with an Irish accent. Really good. If you like Radiohead's The Bends, Semisonic, maybe even, dare I say it, Coldplay, and especially Snow Patrol, then there is a good chance you would like this little slice of wonderfulness. Very lovely and beautiful, perfect to cure your winter blues.

www.myspace.com/bellx1
www.bellx1.com

The Raveonettes - Lust Lust Lust

ZOMBIE ROCK! Seriously, I bet zombies would groove to this. Noisy pop with LOTS of feedback and a surf influence. It's really good! Mostly female vocals with occasional male leads. This is their fourth full-length, they're from Denmark. Recommended if you like The Jesus and Mary Chain, Sonic Youth, the undead. In addition, the cover art to this album and the inside booklet are in 3D! Totally rad!

www.myspace.com/theraveonettes
www.theraveonettes

Evangelicals - The Evening Descends

Psychedelic pop/rock weirdness. Reminds me of Animal Collective minus the folk influences combined with the spaced out trippiness of the Flaming Lips. Kinda cool if you like non-conventional music, I suppose.

www.myspace.com/evangelicals
www.deadoceans.com/artist.php?name=evangelicals

Nada Surf - Lucky

Their fifth full-length, they've evolved from their beginnings as an angsty version of Weezer to their present state of melodic, midtempo indie pop/rock. They're rather good and this album is no exception. Overall a very pleasing listen and very nice to simply chill out to. Recommended if you like Death Cab for Cutie, The Weakerthans, The Shins, and so forth. As a side note, Ben Gibbard of Death Cab helps with vocals on the first track, "See These Bones."

www.myspace.com/nadasurf
www.nadasurf.com

Mussels - Little Voices

From New York City, this is their debut record. It comes in awesome packaging that is hand numbered, very nice. The music is straight-up indie rock with male vocals. A bit sloppy at times, on purpose. I imagine that if the Walkmen, back when they actually rocked, covered Wolf Parade, when they actually put out a record and weren't too busy out working on side projects, it might sound like this. Recommended if you like The French Kicks, The Walkmen, The Natural History.

www.myspace.com/mussels
www.musselsmusic.com

Grand Archives - Grand Archives

Mat Brooke fronts this band; you may remember him from his work with Band of Horses and Carissa's Wierd. This is quite similar to Band of Horses but a bit more pop-influenced; but the folk/country influences are retained. Not as immediately catchy, but the songs are nice and Mat has a very pleasant voice (I assume he is the main singer). If Miracle Fortress and Band of Horses had a child together, it might be named Grand Archives. Recommended if you like indie-ish country/folk rock that is well-produced and has pop influences.

www.myspace.com/grandarchives
www.grandarchives.com

The Big Sleep - Sleep Forever

(The closest I can find to the cover right now...)

From Brooklyn, here is the three-piece's second full-length. Rock with a definite post-rock influence and some noisy bits thrown in (see: Sonic Youth). Some instrumental tracks, some with male vocals, some with female vocals, and some with both. More intense than usual post-rock, they skip the boring build-up-to-crescendo part and jump right to the crescendo part. This is good - they skip the boring parts of post-rock! Overall this is quite good, if you're into this genre, of course.

www.myspace.com/sonofthetiger
www.thebigsleep.net

Yip-Yip - Two Kings of the Same Kingdom

Ridiculous spastic electronic noise rock. Craziness. May induce headaches and/or seizures. Visit their myspace for more seizure-inducing content if this album is not enough. For fans of Dan Deacon and cracked electronics.

www.myspace.com/yipyip
www.yip-yip.com

Die! Die! Die! - Promises, Promises

Frantic, fast-paced rock with definite punk and hardcore influences straight outta Dunedin, New Zealand. Like a less-abrasive Blood Brothers that is easier on the ears, but still something I can't see most people enjoying. Vocals are more spoken than sung, and reminiscent of At The Drive-In at times.

www.myspace.com/diediedienz
www.diediedie.net

American Music Club - The Golden Age

Their ninth full-length and first since 2004's Love Songs For Patriots, they've been around since the 1980s. Their style hasn't changed too much: slow, kind of depressing, marked by Mark Eitzel's distinct voice on lead vocals. It could be called "sadcore" or "slowcore" music. Nice stuff, though rather gloomy. Recommended for fans of The National, Jeff Buckley, The Magnetic Fields minus the distortion, and overall sadness.

www.myspace.com/americanmusicclub
www.american-music-club.com

Apes - Ghost Games

The fourth full-length from this Washington, D.C. based band. They have a new singer for this release. It's experimental rock, with elements of neo-psychedelia, garage, punk, rock, and stoner metal thrown into the mix. There's a strong 1970's hard rock influence as well. The result is a fairly accessible, interesting album. However, it certainly is not for the unadventurous types or those who enjoy twee pop.

www.myspace.com/apes
www.theapes.com

Tyler Ramsey - A Long Dream About Swimming Across The Sea

This guy is opening for and playing with Band of Horses on their upcoming tour, and this choice seems logical. This is much slower than Band of Horses and is acoustic, country/folk, but his voice is reminiscent of the Band of Horses' lead singer. Very mellow. He also does a cover of Jackson Browne's "These Days." For fans of acousticness, Jackson Browne, Neil Young, Band of Horses.

www.myspace.com/tylerramseymusic
www.tylerramsey.com

Hot Chip - Made in the Dark

Hot Chip returns with their third full-length and long-awaited follow-up to 2006's The Warning. I know a lot of people who loved that one are disappointed with this effort, but I am really liking it. More mellow and laid-back, not quite as dancey, and songs tend to take longer to build-up and kick-in, but still cool. This isn't The Warning: Part Two, so don't expect that. Expect mellow indie electronic/rock and hopefully you, too, shall be impressed. "Wrestlers" is probably my favorite track off of this right now; it's very slow and almost could be considered a ballad, but it is so good.

www.myspace.com/hotchip
www.hotchip.co.uk