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

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

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

COLD WAR KIDS - Behave Yourself

Savvy Slacker Sounds readers may recall that in 2008, I reviewed the latest album by the Cold War Kids, Loyalty To Loyalty. If you don't remember, I will sum up the review: I did not like that release from these four boys from Fullerton, California.

Fast forward a little over a year; I find myself with a copy of the Cold War Kids' latest EP, Behave Yourself. I decide to give it a shot because it's just a tad over 14 minutes in length; I might as well throw it on while I do some chores. I don't know if my taste has changed since that last album review, or if they have just gotten a lot better, but I find this to be a decent release. Many of the same points I raised on that last review appear again on this one but in a different context; they are strengths instead of weaknesses.

The sound on here is one of soulful, indie rock. It seems like Nathan Willett has gotten comfortable with the sound of his own singing voice and is no longer trying to ape Thom Yorke (he still sounds like the dude from Ghostland Observatory, but not in an annoying way). He injects emotion into his words and when he sings, "Lord, have mercy on me!" in "Sermons," it sounds like he means it. While listening to this EP, I feel like the CWK have turned into a less-Southern, more soul-influenced version of the Kings of Leon. Surely that will be to their benefit as the Kings are currently on top of the music world, and the songs on this EP are better than the songs on the Kings' last release, Only By The Night.

It's good to give bands second chances; they just might surprise you with how much they've grown into their sound.

www.myspace.com/coldwarkids
www.coldwarkids.com

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

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

VOX JAGUARS - Vox Jaguars EP

This is the debut EP from these four Californian boys, two of which are still in high school. They're a very young band and have a lot of room to grow, but their first release shows them as a band that should definitely be watched. It's fuzzy, rough around the edges, lo-fi garage/punk/rock. The singer has a punk-rocker's voice that could be the make-it-or-break-it factor for you. Overall, this EP is a damn good way to spend 15 minutes and 39 seconds.

www.myspace.com/thevoxjaguars

JEREMY JAY - Slow Dance

This is the second album from Jeremy Jay and his bandmates; it's been less than a year since his first album, A Place Where We Could Go, came out in May 2008. Slow Dance seems to have a lot more synth than his debut did, and the songs seem to be a lot stronger as well. Many of them fit together through the use of similar lyrics and structure while still working individually. It's a very nice pop album and should come with a bow wrapped around it because all the songs are so nicely packed on the cd, ready for your ears to unwrap.

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

SPARKS - Exotic Creatures Of The Deep

Ever dreamed of Devo having sex with Scissor Sisters? Me neither, but Sparks is what their elderly love child would sound like (Of course, since Sparks was formed in 1970, this could not be possible unless both Devo AND Scissor Sisters were sent back in time through the use of a DeLorean powered by plutonium and equipped with a flux capacitor, and were then forced to reproduce, and the child that they created was raised in the alternate 1970s that would have been a result of this rift in the time continuum, to be exactly like the Sparks that exists is on the record). Sparks is the brotherly duo of Ron and Russell Mael; they formed in Los Angeles and released their self-titled debut a year later in 1971. All these years later, they are still making awesome music. Synthpop/rock with glampop influences. Hilarious lyrics. Catchy songs. Really fun.

www.myspace.com/allsparks
www.allsparks.com

Dead To Me - Little Brother EP

Good ol' pop/punk from San Francisco. This is their second release; their debut, Cuban Ballerina, was released in 2006. They are fun and I like them. Good upbeat music. They are similar to their label mates of Fat Wreck Chords, which includes some of the big bands of the 90's pop/punk scene - NOFX, Less Than Jake, Lagwagon, No Use For A Name, and so many more.

www.myspace.com/deadtomesf
http://www.fatwreck.com/band/index/83

Lindsey Buckingham - Gift Of Screws

Let it be known that I love Lindsey Buckingham, so this review may be a bit biased. You should recognize his name from Fleetwood Mac, or perhaps from Buckingham Nicks. Gift Of Screws is his fifth solo album and showcases his wonderful fingerpicking guitar style, incorporated excellently into the pop/rock sound that he creates. It's great stuff from a great musician. Mick Fleetwood plays drums and John McVie plays bass on "Wait For You" and "Gift Of Screws." Additionally, Fleetwood plays drums on "The Right Place To Fade."

www.myspace.com/lindseybuckingham
www.lindseybuckingham.com

Jackson United - Harmony And Dissidence

Chris Shiflett has played with Foo Fighters, No Use For A Name, Me First and the Gimme Gimmes, and Viva Death, among other bands; this is the second album for his band Jackson United. Alt-rock with punk influences which are evidenced through the 'political' themes that are present throughout the album's lyrics. Possibly if Green Day collided with the Foos, we would get this sound. It's okay stuff, but nothing amazing. Recommended if you like Against Me!, Rise Against, or punk rawk.

www.myspace.com/jacksonunited
www.jacksonunited.com

The Little Ones - Morning Tide

Very nice pop on the debut for the Los Angeles quintet. The music has a warm, sunny, upbeat feel to it. Soak up the sun with this album. I saw them at SXSW '08 and they were good, and so is their CD. Recommended if you like pop music influenced by the Beach Boys. It would also fit nicely next to bands such as Death Cab For Cutie or The Shins. On the chorus to the title track, the lead singer pretends he is Noel Gallagher circa What's The Story, Morning Glory?, which is amusing.

www.myspace.com/wearethelittleones
www.wearethelittleones.com

Eagles of Death Metal - Wannabe in L.A. single

The new single from their third album, Heart On, which comes out on October 28, 2008. If you're not familiar with them (you should be!), the core of EoDM is Josh Homme (Kyuss/QOTSA) and Jesse Hughes. Homme rocks the drums and Hughes does vocals and guitar duty. They are a lot of fun and they know how to rock without getting too serious and overblown about it. Great stuff, I can't wait for the new album.

www.myspace.com/eaglesofdeathmetal
www.eaglesofdeathmetal.com

Jack's Mannequin - The Glass Passenger

The main man behind this band is Something Corporate's Andrew McMahon. According to a friend who saw him play with Something Corporate about five years ago, he is amazing live; he treats his piano in much the same way Ben Folds does - believing that the keys aren't the only part of the instrument that should be played. McMahon was diagnosed with leukemia a few years ago, but has undergone treatment and is now in recovery. This is the second album for Jack's Mannequin. It is very polished piano-pop with 'emo' leanings. I really enjoyed the song "Caves," which tops the seven-minute mark. Recommended if you like Jimmy Eat World's newer stuff, Dashboard Confessional, The Fray, and bands of a similar nature.


www.myspace.com/jacksmannequin
www.jacksmannequin.com

Japanese Motors - Japanese Motors

Awesome! garage pop/surf/rock on the debut from the Costa Mesa, California quartet. I can't really say too much more about them, except that they are coolest band I have listened to in a while. Picture the Strokes going surfing. This band is SO GOOD.

www.myspace.com/thejapanesemotors
www.thejapanesemotors.com

Cold War Kids - Loyalty To Loyalty

They're from California, this is their sophomore album. They are classified as "indie rock," though that term really doesn't mean much these days. I think they sound like they have the vocalist of Ghostland Observatory (though Cold War Kids' lead singer, Nathan Willett, wishes he was Thom Yorke instead of the guy from Ghostland) crossed with the boring Kings of Leon songs. I'm not very impressed with this CD, all songs seemed rather dull and annoying to my ears.

www.myspace.com/coldwarkids
www.coldwarkids.com

Brian Wilson - That Lucky Old Sun

The new solo album from the legend that is Brian Wilson. The theme of this album is California, and all of the songs bear a sunny, warm vibe that feels just like how I imagine summertime California would. He gets help from Van Dyke Parks on the narratives, which are just spoken word over background music. Overall, it's a nice listen. What more can I say, it's Brian Wilson, you should know who he is and you either like him or you don't.

www.myspace.com/officialbrianwilson
www.brianwilson.com