R.I.P. Speed Bump

Today I lost one of my best animal friends, Speed Bump. He wasn't technically "my" dog but he might as well have been. I know he is in doggy heaven, eating dog bones, raiding kitty litter boxes, playing rope tug-of-war, and impressing all the lady dogs with that ridiculous grin he always had. Speedbump, Bump, Bumble, Bumpzilla, Bumplestiltskin, The Bumpinator, The Abumpinable Monster, and all the other crazy names I made up for you -- I miss you.


Just look at that grin.


Plotting a sneak attack on the litter box, I'm sure.

AUDITORIUM - Be Brave

Be Brave's official release date is January 18, 2011, and all I can say about that is, thank goodness for advance copies.

This album was recorded over a three-year span by Spencer Berger, who did all of the performing, recording, and mixing (later "finishing touches" were added by Pete Lyman). He's now joined by a full band on live performances. Berger is already an accomplished performer, having performed at the Metropolitan Opera from the time he was 9 years old through 12 years old and graduating with a music degree from Vassar College. His talents also go beyond the musical world, as he wrote the screenplay for "Skills Like This", which won the 2007 SXSW Film Festival's Audience Award for Best Narrative Film and garnered many fine critical reviews. But, I digress.

Back to Be Brave, which features 14 songs and clocks in at just over 31 minutes. Upon first hearing the album, it seems warm and friendly. It's that person you meet at a party and you know you've met them before but you can't place where, and they don't seem to recognize you so you don't know if you're mistaken but ultimately it doesn't matter because you are enjoying their company nonetheless. The album's minimalist approach of just guitars, electric bass, and vocals doesn't compromise the full sound of the songs. Berger's voice reminds me of Elliott Smith without the weight of the world bringing him down. Plenty of gorgeous layered vocals on here as well. I guess if I had to label this with a genre I'd say it's singer-songwriter indie folk. Right now, if I had to pick, I'd say my favorite song is "I'm The Enforcer". This is an album for sitting by the fire, drinking hot cocoa, and making out. Fantastic music for fantastic things.

www.myspace.com/auditoriumband
fieldfm.wordpress.com

JASON ANDERSON - Tonight

This came out in 2007. I won't cover up the fact that I absolutely adore Jason Anderson. Once you see this man perform live, you would probably feel the same. Tonight attempts to capture the magic of his live performances. The best parts on the album are when the crowd sings back to Jason. The album does a pretty good job of showing you the energy and audience participation that Jason has when he plays live, but they still can't hold a candle to actually being there in the circle around Jason and having him sing to you while he plays his acoustic guitar. The songs on this album also feature more instrumentation than just Jason and his guitar. Still, I love this album. Jason has a special way of capturing the moments in life that make your heart happy (or sad, in some songs) and putting them into song. He likes to write a lot about living life to the fullest every day and also just about love in general. Here's some lyrics off of "So Long": "All I want, at least right now, is to be close to you, the smell of your hair is literally amazing, honestly" and "The best thing in the world is to love someone and they love you back." So simple, yet so true; I'm sure everyone's felt this way at some point. The most amazing part, though, is if you were with all of your friends chanting out the "The best thing in the world..." lyrics; you would feel all warm and fuzzy inside. That is the appeal of Jason Anderson.

www.jasonandersonswebsite.com

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

RADIO SILENCE NYC - Renegade (Single)

Here's a group of four 16-year old boys who came together from different parts of New York City. According to their website bio, they first started playing together a year ago. Their first single is called "Renegade". The group has partnered with the not-for-profit organization DoSomething.org to use the song, which features lyrics like "Hatred is the enemy!", as an anti-bullying anthem. The song itself is slickly-produced pop rock that owes a big debt to the genre commonly known as pop-punk. Considering they're 16, the song is decent and it seems like they're acting their ages which is good. The guitar solo is the best part, the guitarist reminds me of the lead guitarist from the movie School of Rock.

Watch the "Renegade" video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=qon7zy2Qotk

Radio Silence NYC: radiosilencenyc.com
DoSomething.org: www.DoSomething.org.

ANAMANAGUCHI - Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World: The Game (Original Videogame Soundtrack)

I've never sat down to listen to "video game" music before, but I've seen the name Anamanaguchi referenced a few times as being at the top of this genre of music and it's the soundtrack to the Scott Pilgrim movie video game, so I decided to give it a shot. I guess this is what they call "8bit" or "chiptunes" music nowadays. It's uptempo with lots of blips and bleeps. Nintendo sounds. This has a ton of energy and is very well put-together. I can understand why so many people are into this; it's just catchy electronic music with a nerdy side to it. I think I'll go play some Super Mario Bros. now!

www.myspace.com/anamanaguchi
www.anamanaguchi.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

REIGNING SOUND - Time Bomb High School

I recently found out about this band because their frontman, Greg Cartwright, is involved in another project, The Parting Gifts, which also features Patrick Keeler of The Greenhornes/The Raconteurs. Actually, I'm certain I'd heard their band name before but I didn't check them out at the time. As it turns out, Cartwright appears to be somewhat of an underground legend in the garage rock/punk/blues scene, having been the leader of The Compulsive Gamblers and The Oblivians prior to the Reigning Sound. Formed in Memphis, Tennessee in 2001, Cartwright and the band are now based out of Asheville, North Carolina. Time Bomb High School is their sophomore album and it came out in 2002. I wish I'd listened to this album sooner than the 8-year timespan it took me to. This is an awesome album. It combines rock, garage, punk, blues, and it has a very 50s/60s feel to it. Really cool stuff! I'll be looking into their other stuff as well now that I know about these guys.

www.myspace.com/reigningsoundfans
www.intheredrecords.com/pages/ReigningSound.html

LUCERO - Tennessee

These guys are from Memphis, and the suitably-titled Tennessee was their sophomore album. It came out in 2002. I've been meaning to listen to Lucero for a few years now, ever since I heard their name being tossed around with bands you might like if you like The Hold Steady. While I can see why the comparison was made, Lucero has much more of a country influence. Their singer has a raspy voice that makes you think he might have smoked one too many cigarettes. The album has a warm feeling to it; it's straight-up roots rock. While I think the album could use a bit more variety throughout, I'll definitely be checking into Lucero's other stuff based on the sound of Tennessee.

www.myspace.com/lucero
www.luceromusic.com

CALVIN HARRIS - Ready For The Weekend

Ready For The Weekend is Calvin Harris' second album. It came out in August of 2009. He continues to make music of the same style as his debut album, I Created Disco: electro pop/dance/rock. While I like songs like "The Rain" and "Flashback" quite a bit, there are a lot of other ones that I'm just not feeling. I find the album to be rather inconsistent as a whole product. I also found the rapping on the album to be out of place. I definitely like his debut album better. Sorry, Calvin.

www.myspace.com/calvinharristv
www.calvinharris.co.uk

CATTLE DRUMS - The Boy Kisser Sessions EP

These guys are from Oneonta, NY. This is their latest EP; it came out in March 2010. Five songs, just over 14 minutes. Yep, this is a punk band. A lot of the guitar lines remind me of math rock guitar lines. The singer either talks or screams a lot of his lyrics but he's a really good frontman. They sound like they'd be fun live.

www.myspace.com/cattledrums
cattledrums.tumblr.com

Happy Thanksgiving!

Here is a turkey I colored for you. Regular updates will resume tomorrow.

DAFT PUNK - Tron: Legacy (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)

Finally, new music from Daft Punk! It's been a while. 2007 saw the release of their live album, Alive 2007, but their last studio album, Human After All, came out way back in 2005, so this new soundtrack is sure to be snapped up and listened to quickly by their many fans. The thing is, though, that this is very much a soundtrack to Tron: Legacy. It is more orchestral than electronic. The closest thing on here to Daft Punk's electronic house music is the song "Derezzed" (which, interestingly enough, seems to be the song that is being used to promote the fact that Daft Punk was involved with the movie). They worked with a 90-member orchestra for this, so it makes sense that the sound would be different. That certainly does not make this a bad soundtrack. It's pretty cool as far as soundtracks go. But for those thinking it is the follow-up to Human After All, you may be disappointed.

www.myspace.com/daftpunk
www.daftpunk.com

3OH3 - Streets Of Gold

One of my favorite albums of 2010. I listen to this when I'm at the gym because it really gets me pumped up. I listen to it when I'm just hanging out at home. I listen to it when I'm thinking about partying that night. I listen to it after a night of partying. I listen to it when I'm doing homework. To be honest, it's scary how many times I've played this album. They've definitely gotten better since 2008's Want. Most of the songs are still about girls, sex, and partying, but we also get some "heavier" material (well, heavy by 3OH!3 standards) like the breakup song "R.I.P.". Obviously this album isn't a "huge artistic achievement" but you better believe that it's fun and it's stocked with catchy songs. And isn't that the point of pop music?

www.myspace.com/3oh3
www.3oh3music.com

GIRLS - Broken Dreams Club EP

My first impression of this is that it just sounds depressing. It really could be music for you to listen to as you think about your broken dreams. We get lyrics like "Who wants something real, you could have nothing. Why not just give up, who wants to try?" on the song "Substance" and this offering from the song "Heartbreaker": "There's a voice in the back of my head that says you're always going to be alone". I just can't really get into music with such obviously sad and lonely lyrics. If I'm down in the dumps, I want music that is going to make me happy, not remind me of how crappy I feel. And if I'm already happy, I certainly don't want to be brought down. So this stuff isn't my cup of tea, but maybe it could be yours if you like downer indie-hipster music. Or whatever. I do like the horns on the opening track. I just wish people wouldn't call Girls a "rock and roll band", I mean, seriously, if this is a rock and roll band then I have no idea what the world is coming to.

www.myspace.com/girlssanfran
www.truepanther.com/#/artists/girls

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

WILDLIFE - Strike Hard, Young Diamond

They're from Toronto and this is their debut album. I like it. They sound like a band I already know and love. Put this on and tell your friends it is the new Wolf Parade, they won't bat an eyelash.

www.myspace.com/wildlifemusic1

THE LONELY FOREST - The Lonely Forest EP

The Lonely Forest is a quartet from Anacortes, Washington. They've been making music for several years; their first EP was released in 2006. Their self-titled EP, however, marks their first release for Death Cab For Cutie member Chris Walla's Trans record label. Apparently, The Lonely Forest were the first band to be signed to Trans. I'm not surprised because their music is really good and it bears a likeness to DCFC's sound: driving indie rock. The two bands could tour together and they would work perfectly with each other. The Lonely Forest's vocalist, John Van Deusen, sounds like Michael Stipe at times (except you can understand what Van Deusen is saying). The music has great dynamics with soaring, full-on choruses and laid-back verses. Recommended.

www.myspace.com/thelonelyforest
www.thelonelyforest.com

DVAS - Society

I think their logo is really cool. They are a Canadian electro group. They're playing upbeat, danceable electro pop. Some tracks have vocals, others are entirely instrumental. It's not going to be the first thing I recommend to others, but it's okay. It's not the most memorable stuff. I imagine it sounds better live and better when played loud. "Questions" is a really cool jam. "Giving It All Away" inexplicably reminds me of Genesis' "Invisible Touch". Actually, the whole record has a definite 80s influence to it. I think I'd play this record at a party where people were encouraged to dance but dancing wasn't the focus of the evening's activities, if that makes any sense at all to people that are not me.

www.myspace.com/dvasmusique
dvasmusique.com

SOMEONE STILL LOVES YOU BORIS YELTSIN - Let It Sway

The third album for the group from Springfield, Missouri. Let It Sway was produced by Death Cab For Cutie's Chris Walla. I've never listened to them before this album because somehow I thought they were wimpy twee pop (OK, so I know why I thought that but I'm not revealing it on here). As it turns out, they play something closer to fun indie pop. I suppose it is kind of wimpy, but it's not any wimpier than Death Cab (probably why Chris Walla was a good choice to work on this album). So it's not bad, really. I'm glad I gave it a chance, it's pretty alright. Makes me wish I was out in the sun somewhere soaking up the rays.

www.myspace.com/boris
www.sslyby.com

AGAINST ME - White Crosses

The fifth proper studio album for Gainesville, Florida's Against Me!. I would classify their sound on this album as punk arena rock. They sound big, like Bruce Springsteen, but they've also got their punk rock roots. My favorite Against Me! songs are the ones that tell stories about their main characters, like "Thrash Unreal" off of New Wave and now, from this album, "Because of the Shame". I don't think White Crosses is the best album of 2010, but it's a pretty good listen nonetheless.

www.myspace.com/againstme
www.againstme.net

THE WHITE STRIPES - Under Great White Northern Lights

Released in March of 2010, Under Great White Northern Lights is both a White Stripes live CD and the name of a documentary film about them. The material was recorded during their tour of Canada in the summer of 2007. We hear many of their hit songs on this album, including "Fell In Love With A Girl", "Blue Orchid", and "Icky Thump". We get to hear the minimalism the two-piece employs (employed?) in their live shows as well as Jack White's unrestrained, raggedy live vocals (though, at times, he is a bit much because while the man's got heart, he doesn't exactly have the pipes). We also see how much energy the band generates during their performances, which is probably the highlight of this recording. The White Stripes aren't playing note-for-note renditions of their studio recordings; these are raw, garage-worthy performances, yet the crowd goes nuts over them. A true testament to the power of a great rock 'n' roll band.

www.myspace.com/thewhitestripes
www.whitestripes.com

TRENT REZNOR AND ATTICUS ROSS - The Social Network

Score to David Fincher's The Social Network, perhaps the biggest movie of 2010. It has a sort of nervous/anxious feel to it, driven by the emotions in the movie. According to Mr. Reznor himself: "Musically, this all came out of our secret laboratory - electronic in basis, but mostly organic sounding. Lots of experiments and emphasis on sound fraying around the edges while focusing on the proper emotional tone for the various scenes." My favorite track is far and away "In the Hall of the Mountain King". For an electronic-based song, it totally rips. I like to listen to this album while I'm doing my computer science homework, so that I can visualize myself becoming a billionaire programmer like Mark Zuckerberg. It's just enough to have in the background to keep my mind from wandering yet still focused on the task at hand.

www.nullco.com/TSN

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 GASLIGHT ANTHEM - American Slang

I love this band. That's really all you need to know.

www.myspace.com/thegaslightanthem
www.gaslightanthem.com

ELI "PAPERBOY" REED - Come and Get It

This is Eli's third full-length album and his first for the Capitol label. He's from the Boston area, but you probably wouldn't know it from listening to his music. His style is soul music and he'll have you wondering if Come and Get It isn't really a forgotten Stax/Motown record. At the same time, it sounds fresh and new. This is a fantastic album. Kick out the jams with "Explosion", take some advice with "Come and Get It", enjoy the horns and harmonies on "Tell Me What I Want To Hear". Whatever you do, you should enjoy this album.

www.myspace.com/elipaperboyreed
www.elipaperboyreed.com

DEFIANCE, OHIO - Midwestern Minutes

This is the fourth full-length from this Columbus, Ohio-based band. As it turns out, they release all of their music for free download on their website. Pretty cool, because if this album is an indication, all of those downloads are worth your bandwidth (and any donations to the band you can afford to make). Midwestern Minutes is acoustic punk rock. It definitely has a country bend to it thanks in part to the violin, cello, and upright bass they employ on their recordings. I'd go see this band if they played a show near me. Dig it.

www.myspace.com/defianceohio32
www.defianceohio.terrorware.com

LCD SOUNDSYSTEM - 45:33

This came out in 2006. You've probably heard of it already. I'm reviewing it for personal reasons. This was put out to be a soundtrack for when you go for a run. I guess it was commissioned by Nike, at least that's what I've heard. It's basically just a bunch of LCD Soundsystem ideas that are knitted together into one very long track. "Someone Great" off of Sound of Silver is definitely reused in here, minus the vocals. There may be other LCD tracks that are recycled as well, but I'm not familiar with them as much as I would be with "Someone Great". I probably would not run to this. I don't really see the point. It doesn't really move me. I also find the vocoder voices annoying. If I want to listen to LCD Soundsystem, I'll listen to regular albums, not this thing.

www.myspace.com/lcdsoundsystem
www.lcdsoundsystem.com

ELLIOTT SMITH - An Introduction To...

When you sit down to think about it, it's hard to believe that it's been over seven years since Elliott Smith died on October 21, 2003. I first heard of Elliott when his posthumous album, From A Basement On The Hill, was being released. While I listened to that album a bunch of times (Prior to buying it, I actually streamed the album's preview on dial-up internet, which was totally worth the effort), I'm certainly not one to say I'm a huge Elliott Smith fan. I like him a lot, but his music tends to depress me, so I don't play it very often. Still, the man was an amazing musician.

An Introduction To... is a quick little look into the songbook of Elliott Smith's solo career. There's at least one song from each of his solo albums, with XO only getting one and Either/Or showcasing five. The songs aren't in chronological order, something that irritates me when compilation albums are put together. There really isn't anything new here for current fans. The collection is put together for people who have never heard [much] of Elliott's music (hence the title). I'm sure we could argue for hours about which songs should or shouldn't have been included on here. But we can't change the tracklisting now, so there wouldn't be much of a point in doing that. Instead, we can remember Elliott Smith and the fact that he was a great songwriter and put on some of his albums.

http://www.myspace.com/elliottsmithnewmoon
www.sweetadeline.net

TRAVIE MCCOY - Lazarus

Travis "Travie" McCoy is famous for being the frontman of Gym Class Heroes. He released his first solo album, Lazarus, in June of 2010. I really like the album's first two singles, "Billionaire" (which also features Bruno Mars, who is riding high on the charts right now with a song I cannot stand) and "Need You" so I decided to check out the rest. I've been looking for fresh new jams anyway. The album is a mishmash of pop, hip-hop, and rock elements. The singles are fantastic, as are some of the other songs (though a few are just so-so). I understand that "We'll Be Alright" is going to be Travie's third single, and there's no doubt why: it borrows from Supertramp's "Alright", and it's got hooks, it's catchy, and it's upbeat. "After Midnight" will probably be a single, too. A bunch of songs feature other famous artists so who knows, those could probably be singles too. Say what you will about these songs being overprocessed and manufactured, they're still catchy. The album is just a fun ride that you can get your swagger on to. Or something like that.

www.myspace.com/traviemccoy
www.traviemccoy.com

JEREMY JAY - Splash

This is Jeremy's third full-length album in as many years. You can find him on the K Records label. This dude is stuck in a time-warp. He sounds a lot like Morrissey on this album. The music is throwback indie-pop/rock. The entire album of nine songs clocks in at under 27 minutes long. A lot of the songs seem like they could use more fleshing out, but if you've enjoyed his other releases you'll probably like this one too. Though I still think his sophomore album, Slow Dance, is his best.

www.myspace.com/jeremyjay
www.www.krecs.com/html/artists/artistbio.php?interest=101

TELEKINESIS - Parallel Seismic Conspiracies EP

Telekinesis is the moniker of Seattle's Michael Benjamin Lerner. This is a quick little EP of five songs to tide fans over until the scheduled 2011 release of Telekinesis' sophomore album. There is a full-band version of "Calling All Doctors" and two new songs, "Dirty Thing" and "Non-Toxic". We get a faithful cover of Guided By Voices' "Game of Pricks" as well a cover of (pre-Joy Division) Warsaw's "The Drawback". Fun breezy indie pop.

www.myspace.com/telekinesismusic
www.telekinesismusic.com

WOLF PARADE - Expo 86

Wolf Parade's third album; it was released on June 29, 2010. I'm just getting around to listening to it now. I have a problem listening to new Wolf Parade material because their debut album, Apologies to the Queen Mary, is one of my favorite albums ever. That debut album holds so many memories and emotions for me. Really, nothing Wolf Parade can ever put out will compare to that album and how I feel about it.

But I do love the band so I find myself listening to their new stuff. Actually, Expo 86 is really good. I never really fell in love with At Mount Zoomer, but this one, this one is good times. Really digging it. It's got a great vibe to it. I'll never feel the same as I did with their first LP, but this is definitely worth a listen (or a few!).

www.myspace.com/wolfparade
www.subpop.com/artists/wolf_parade

JOHN K. SAMSON - Provincial Road 222

John is the frontman for The Weakerthans. Provincial Road 222 has him taking the solo route once again; this is the second of a "series of recordings exploring streets and highways in his home province", following 2009's City Route 85.

According to the Anti- website: "Provincial Road 222 runs up the side of Lake Winnipeg, north of the city, and leads to the town of Riverton, Manitoba. Samson begins the EP with "The Last And," set at Riverton Early Middle School, where a teacher ponders the disintegration of her affair with the principal. "Petition" takes the form of an online petition (www.ipetitions.com/petition/rivertonrifle/ ) by local citizens to induct native son Reggie "The Rifle" Leach, member of the legendary mid-70s Philadelphia Flyers, into the Hockey Hall of Fame. In the closing song, "Stop Error," set to a chorale by J. S. Bach, a young adult in an old house on Provincial Road 222 uses a computer to search for solace and a way to describe the world."

Samson has a voice you'll love or hate. He reminds me of John Darnielle in that not only does he have a love it/hate it kind of voice, but he writes great lyrics. Has there ever been an indie song asking for a hockey player to be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame? I don't know, but as a hockey lover, I don't mind. The overall feeling I get when listening to this is that it's something I'd put on late at night to unwind to. I find Samson's voice soothing and welcoming. The songs on here are all pretty sparse; I've certainly liked some of the output by his band a lot more, but if you are a fan, I'm sure you will have to have this for your collection.

The Weakerthans' Myspace:
www.myspace.com/theweakerthans
John K. Samson's artist page on the Anti- record label website:
www.anti.com/artists/view/75

BROKEN SOCIAL SCENE - Forgiveness Rock Record

May 2010 release from these kings (and queens) of indie rock. They are often described as a collective, rather than a band, as the only two constant "full-time" members are Kevin Drew and Brendan Canning. They have a rotating band of merry musicians join them both on records and live, some of whom are or have become indie rock stars on their own (Feist, members of Stars, Jason Collett, and so many others). We can consider Forgiveness Rock Record to be BSS's fourth proper studio album. I remember when this album came out that a lot of people on the 'nets kind of trashed it. It doesn't have the same intense groove as their last record; I don't see people dancing to this one like they did to jamz like "Windsurfing Nation" or "Fire Eye'd Boy". There's still some catchy stuff on here, though. I like "Texico Bitches" and "Art House Director" to get my indie rock rock-outs on to, and there's a lot of material on here to chill to as well. I wouldn't trash this record; it definitely still is BSS, just a little more of a laid-back vibe. Will I play this every day? Nope. Am I glad I gave it a chance? Yes.

www.myspace.com/brokensocialscene
www.brokensocialscene.ca

HANK AND CUPCAKES - Hank and Cupcakes EP

From Brooklyn by way of Israel (not something I get to type everyday), Hank & Cupcakes are here to entertain you/rock you/move you. Cupcakes sings and plays drums while Hank lays down the bass. The EP kicks off with two songs sure to get you out on the dance floor, "Ain't No Love" and "Pleasure Town". Cupcakes is cool and confident as she delivers her lyrics. The third track, "Roses", shows her as more emotional and vulnerable and is more the type of song where people will wave their lighters (or cell phones these days) than shake their booty. The album closes with a cover of Joy Division's "She's Lost Control". I've heard a number of bands try this cover, often with disastrous results. H&C keep it together, though, and manage to deliver an interesting take on the song. The EP is just a brief introduction to the band but shows them in fine form.

From what I've heard, the duo are a great live act and they will be embarking on a Fall 2010 tour this November, with dates along the East Coast. Check their Myspace for more details and shows near you.

www.myspace.com/hankandcupcakes
www.hankandcupcakes.com

MATT & KIM - Sidewalks

Matt & Kim, the too-cute couple duo from Brooklyn, present their third full-length album. Their sound hasn't changed too much from their previous albums: upbeat indie pop/rock with nerdy male vocals. Fans of previous albums should be pleased. I'm personally not as crazy about this as I was for their first two albums, but I could see this growing on me if I give it more spins. I don't think it's as immediately catchy as their previous releases, but it seems to have more potential for staying in rotation. The songs seem to have more happening and won't wear thin after a few plays. So for that, it could very well end up being my favorite album by these two kids. For those that are curious, "Cameras" is the album's first single and "AM/FM Sound" is my favorite track after my first play of the album in its entirety.

www.myspace.com/mattandkim
www.mattandkimmusic.com

WEEZER - Hurley

Weezer's eighth studio album. I remember back in 2003/2004 when Weezer fans wondered if there would even be a fifth album (eventually, 2005's Make Believe solved that dilemma). Now, Weezer has released three albums over the past three years, and by the few recent interviews with frontman Rivers Cuomo that I've read, they aren't planning on waiting multiple years between albums anymore. We'll see how that works out, though.

Anyway, Hurley is named after Jorge Garcia's character from the show LOST and features Mr. Garcia on the cover as well. I guess no one knows what this has to do with the album itself, so we'll just continue on our merry way. I've listened to this album a few times now and I guess the best way to sum it up is that it sounds exactly like how a Weezer album is supposed to sound these days. Alternative pop. Just the typical upbeat power-pop/rock sound that we've come to expect from these guys. I mean, it's not bad, but it's not all that memorable either. I know that a lot of people, myself included, listen to new Weezer albums when they come out for catalog completion's sake. But after that, we rarely return, instead opting for Weezer classics like "Blue" or Pinkerton. So, thanks, Hurley, it was kind of fun while it lasted -- now go back in your case.

www.myspace.com/weezer
www.weezer.com

GHOSTLAND OBSERVATORY - Codename: Rondo

The duo from Austin, Texas returns with their fourth studio album. These two dudes, Aaron Behrens and Thomas Turner, have got to be some of the most likable weirdos in the musical world right now. Their weirdness continues on this album. The title track involves the narrator instructing someone who has the codename of "Rondo" to purchase him a Slurpee, amongst other tasks. This whole idea would seem preposterous for most bands, but Ghostland pulls it off without a hitch. "Kick Clap Speaker" features a computer voice that sounds eerily similar to the one in Radiohead's "Fitter Happier". There's not really a lot of Behrens' natural high-pitched vocals on this album, which I am a bit disappointed by. Other than that, though, the songs all have a good beat and I'm sure people at parties would love to dance to this while swirling their glow sticks in the air. Yet another inherently odd album from these guys, but it's still interesting stuff. Dirty electro/rock/dance/wtf from these dudes. This album officially comes out on October 26th, on the duo's own Trashy Moped Recordings. Dig it.

SEE THE SNEAK PEEK FOR THE NEW ALBUM HERE: http://www.youtube.com/trashymoped

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

PERSONAL AND THE PIZZAS - Raw Pie

As I've discovered, the summer months are not the optimal time for me to review music. Swimming, running and biking, baseball games, and more means I'm not spending a lot of time indoors to listen to some tunes. I've got a huge backlog of music to listen to, and Personal and the Pizzas certainly haven't helped when I do get a moment to put on an album. Why? Because when I do have time to listen, all I want to put on is Raw Pie.

I happened onto this New Jersey band by accident, but I stuck around after hearing "I Don't Wanna Be No Personal Pizza". Once I heard the rest of the album, I knew these guys would forever hold a special place in my music collection. They wear their musical influences (Do I even have to spell them out? Ramones, Stooges (love the album's title nod to the Stooges' third album), etc.) on their sleeve but they are smart enough to know how to do it right. The spoken intros to some of the songs, the high percentage of songs devoted to pizza, and of course, the tight garage rock playing all combine to make one gloriously fun album. This should be the next soundtrack to your late night parties; if it isn't, you're just not doing it right. Happy Pizza Pie Friday, or more appropriately, Happy Personal and the Pizzas Friday!

www.myspace.com/personalandthepizzas
They are members of the 1-2-3-4-GO! Records family: www.1234gorecords.com

RA RA RIOT - Boy EP

Ra Ra Riot were formed in Syracuse, NY, so I always feel a sense of hometown pride when I hear them mentioned (even though I'm not from Syracuse and most people from Syracuse probably have never heard of the town where I grew up or the town where I now live). Nonetheless, their ascent to the indie rock royalty throne is certainly a story that will inspire kids from these parts for years to come. You could even call them a comeback story. At any rate, this band is a major player in the indie scene and beyond - but we're all wondering, can they repeat the success of their debut, The Rhumb Line?

The initial response to that question comes in the form of Boy, a quaint EP of three songs that clocks in at just over 10 and a half minutes long. The first song, the title track, is the only one that will also make an appearance on The Orchard, RRR's sophomore album that is scheduled to be released on August 24."Boy" is also the best track on here; hopefully, it is an indication of what the full-length album will be like. It's got great drums and an upbeat tempo. Our favorite string instruments give the song texture that most bands could only dream of. Love the bubbling bassline and that quickie guitar solo. Fantastic.

The other two songs on this ("Saccharin and the War" and "Keep It Quite (Bear)") didn't strike me as immediately as "Boy" did and while they would be at the top of the output heap for many other bands, I know Ra Ra Riot can do better. These songs are "growers" and maybe I'm just being too judgmental - I didn't have to wait for "Ghost Under Rocks" or "Dying is Fine" to grow on me since I was instantly attracted to them! I am enjoying these other two the more I listen, but still. I have very high standards here and hope for more instant attraction with the rest of the new material.

Definitely looking forward to The Orchard based off the strength of "Boy". August 24, here we come.

www.myspace.com/rarariot
www.rarariot.com

THE LOVE LANGUAGE - Libraries

Libraries is North Carolina's The Love Language's second album. I liked their first album and I like this one, too. I like the faster songs the most - they are at their best when they get the tempo cooking and the instruments rocking and everyone singing and yelling and making noise all at once. File under: indie/college pop/rock.

www.myspace.com/thelovelanguage
thelovelanguage.com

THE WAVES - Shock Horror!

The Waves were the predecessors to Katrina and the Waves. Shock Horror, their 1983 debut EP, was recently re-released to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the hit single "Walking On Sunshine" which was found on 1985's Katrina and the Waves. Shock Horror is chock-full of guitar-driven pop and New Wave music. I like it a lot. It has a "We recorded this in our garage and it still sounds awesome" vibe to it and it just seems really badass. I also have to mention the fact that there is a song on here called "Strolling On Air" - I guess it just didn't have the right ring to it to be a hit song but at least they tried again.

www.katrinaandthewaves.com/

TEEN INC. - Fountains / Friend Of The Night

From Los Angeles, Teen Inc. was formed by the sibling duo of Daniel and Andrew Aged. They were both studio musicians (apparently for big-name artists like Pharell and Raphael Saadiq) so we know right off the bat that they've got the playing chops, but can they write their own stuff? I decided to give this single a listen after hearing it being compared to Prince. I suppose the vocals do have a Prince-like feel, but they're buried so far in the mix that they don't have the same confidence attached to them that Prince puts on his. The music does have a funk appeal to it but I'm not impressed yet. I could see myself giving a Teen Inc. full-length album a spin to see what happens to them, but it's not going to be on the top of my list.

www.myspace.com/teenincstuff
www.teen-inc.net

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

TOKYO POLICE CLUB - Champ

I've been holding off on writing about this album for a few weeks now because I haven't been sure just how to describe my feelings about it. I don't have a lot of time right now to wax poetically, so here's the shortened review: My favorite new release, so far, of 2010.

www.myspace.com/tokyopoliceclub
www.tokyopoliceclub.com

STARS - The Five Ghosts

Fifth full-length from Canada's Stars. For me, this band is the perfect soundtrack to cold winter nights spent dreaming of your crush. I've always described them to others (okay, maybe just myself) as having a romantic sound. Their sound is just so warm and welcoming and Amy Milan's angelic voice plays perfectly off of Torq Campbell's. Great for indie kids to make out to and fall in love to. They also have their fair share of songs that will be great background noise for you while cry over the fact that you've broken up with said indie kid counterpart.

Anyway, I'd file them under Canadian-romantic-indie-synthpop-pop-rock (not that I actually WOULD file them under that, because that would just be a ridiculous way to organize my music collection). The Five Ghosts starts off strong with "Dead Hearts" which is followed by a few great songs (I especially like "I Died So I Could Haunt You"). But by the time I've gotten through the fifth track, "We Don't Want Your Body", I feel like they've spent their tank of gas and are just running on fumes. I think the material on this album could have made for a killer EP. As a full-length album, it just doesn't hold up - especially when we know what Stars are capable of from their past releases.

www.myspace.com/stars
www.youarestars.com