LEFT ALONE - Left Alone

California 3-piece gives us their fourth full-length. Fun, upbeat punk with ska influences. Recommended if you like new-school punk and The Clash ("Sad Story" even seems to have a reference to the Clash).

www.myspace.com/leftalonepunx
www.leftalone.net

DUSTY RHODES AND THE RIVER BAND - Palace and Stage

Second full-length for the Californian band. They might be on the Side One Dummy label, but they're far from your average punk band; they combine elements of folk, country, classic rock, punk, and more to create a highly enjoyable sound. They have toured with bands like Flogging Molly, Dirty Pretty Things, and Gogol Bordello. Their singer often made me think of what Aerosmith's Steven Tyler might sound like if he had grown up in the Southern United States. Cool stuff.

www.myspace.com/dustyrhodes
www.dustyrhodesmusic.com

THE FRESH AND ONLYS - The Fresh and Onlys

San Francisco band's debut. Reverby 60's influenced pop/garage rock/pscyh with male vocals and female backing vox. Overall really cool. Recommended if you like Thee Oh Sees, Raveonettes, and similar bands.

www.myspace.com/thefreshonlys
thefreshandonlys.com

THE RIPPERS - Why Should I Care About You?

Ripper I, Ripper II, Ripper III, and Ripper IV are from Sardinia, Italy. Their newest album (to date) packs twelve songs into thirty-three minutes of kick-ass garage punk/rock, a bit of harmonica for some added awesomeness, and Ripper IV spewing out lyrics that are difficult to decipher. They seem like the kind of guys who might spit on you from the stage, then have a beer with you at the bar afterwards and laugh about it. Then somehow they would wind up going home with the girlfriends of you and your friends. They're just that cool.

www.myspace.com/therippersinaction
http://spazioinwind.libero.it/therippers/index.html

COCKTAIL SLIPPERS - Saint Valentine's Day Massacre

This is the third album (and second for Wicked Cool) for the all-female band from Oslo, Norway. They play a mix of powerpop and garage rock with lots of girl-group harmonizing. Some of the artists they remind me of are the girls in the B-52's, Chrissie Hynde of the Pretenders, and the Pipettes - but the Cocktail Slippers are unlike the Pipettes because they play their own music, and have cooler names (Sugar Cane, Modesty Blaze, Rocket Queen, Squirrel and Bella Donna). Little Steven wrote the title track for the album and also "Heard You Got A Thing For Me" and contributed some bongo playing; this band is also further proof that he picks the coolest bands on the planet for his Wicked Cool label. Awesome!

www.myspace.com/cocktailslippers
www.cocktailslippers.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

FITZ AND THE TANTRUMS - Songs For A Breakup, Volume 1

Born in France but raised in Los Angeles, here comes Fitz (and the Tantrums). This EP of 5 songs is said to have been recorded in Fitz's living room using only one microphone and written about an ex-girlfriend. The sound is one of poppy soul with a retro vibe that recalls the 60's heyday of soul. Even the album cover is made to look like it's old. It's a cool record and the songs are put together nicely.

www.myspace.com/fitzsoulmusic

PETER BJORN AND JOHN - Living Thing

The Swedish trio's third album, following their debut, Writer's Block and their instrumental album, Seaside Rock. This album is more on the experimental side of indie pop as they branch out into sparser, stripped down songs that still exhibit a decisive 60's pop influence. Nothing on here is as poppy as their hits "Young Folks" and "Amsterdam," but there is still plenty of good stuff to be had.

www.myspace.com/peterbjornandjohn
www.peterbjornandjohn.com

METRIC - Fantasies

The fourth full-length for the Brooklyn-born, Canadian-raised quartet. This set seems very polished and glossy to me (maybe a bit too much?) and is quite heavy on the synths. They're still in fine form and Emily Haines sure does have a good voice, but there aren't many songs to dance to, which makes me sad.

www.myspace.com/metric
www.ilovemetric.com

JUNIOR BOYS - Begone Dull Care

Third full-length for the Canadian duo of Jeremy Greenspan and Matthew Didemus. It's really laid-back electropop with lots of blips, bleeps, and bloops. The vocals are sung/whispered in a manner so that they sound very intimate. Recommended if you like Hot Chip's slower tracks. The album title references the abstract animated film of Norman McLaren, a pioneering animator and also an electronic composer.

www.myspace.com/juniorboys
www.juniorboys.net

WAU Y LOS ARRGHS!!! - VIVEN!!!

Wau Y Los Arrrghs!!! are from Valencia, Spain and sing mostly in Spanish, though they do have a few lyrics in English as well. They play garage rock, so far this is the best garage rock album I have heard this year! They rock. Awesome.

www.myspace.com/wauylosarrrghs