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

THIS PROVIDENCE - Who Are You Now?

Who Are You Now? is This Providence's third full-length album. This Providence are a four-piece band out of Seattle, Washington, and this is their second album to be released by Fueled By Ramen records.

I was initially interested in checking out this album after hearing the fifth track on the album, "Keeping On Without You". That song reminded me of the songs on Sloan's Pretty Together, an album I hold near and dear to my heart. "Keeping On Without You" features melodic guitar with a peaceful male vocal and is one of those songs that you like immediately. While it's my favorite song on the album, there are a number of other good ones on here as well ("Squeaking Wheels and White Light," "Letdown," and "That Girl's A Trick" are just a few I especially liked).

The overall sound of This Providence could be described simply as power pop-rock. At times, the vocalist reminds me of what Jonathan Visger of Mason Proper would sound like if he fronted a pop-punk band (It's a strange comparison, I know). The songs are polished, catchy, and filled with hooks and anthemic choruses that will get you dancing and singing along right away. If you are a fan of any music in this genre, This Providence's newest will be a fine addition to your collection.

This Providence will be embarking on an extensive United States tour from March 25 through May 1, 2010; dates and venues may be viewed on their websites.

www.myspace.com/thisprovidence
www.thisprovidence.com

ANDY WERTH - Burn The Maps And Bury The Compass

From Seattle, this is the debut album for Andy Werth and his band. The sound is pop rock/power-pop/rock with male vocals that are reminiscent of the sound of Aqueduct's. I heard Andy's Seeing Stars EP in 2008 and really liked that and I like this album, too. Fun, carefree tunes and many of the tracks have horns. Recommended if you like Aqueduct, Sloan, the New Pornographers.

www.myspace.com/andywerth
www.andywerth.com

SAY HI - Oohs & Aahs

Oohs & Aahs is Say Hi's sixth album, if you count the two under it's current name, and the four released under the Say Hi To Your Mom moniker. Eric Elbogen played every sound that appears on this album, and every sound is very nice. The album is filled with wonderful indie pop that has just a touch of indie rock added in. Eric has a very pleasant voice which he uses to sing the clever lyrics he has written, usually telling a little story about a character in the song. The album is great and truly one of the best bedroom pop albums I have ever heard.

www.myspace.com/sayhitoyourmom
www.sayhitoyourmom.com

BEADS - No One Knows

BEADS is the duo of Snow and Garnet Keim, two brothers who are also two-thirds of The Blakes. The record starts out with a drunk-sounding southern-rock/garage song, "Evil", which is probably the best track on here. As the album continues on, they explore psychedelia, Britpop, and the lighter, acoustic side of things as well. The two made this album after returning home from a long tour with The Blakes, with very little money and the victims of theft. Snow Keim found solace in making music and recorded songs directly to tape, and eventually teamed up with long-time friend, Brian Brown, to produce an album. No One Knows was recorded in Brown's home studio, and is a mixed bag; some songs work and others don't. In the end, it's an interesting look at how musicians cope with the difficult times in their lives.

www.myspace.com/beeaaddss
www.beadsmusic.com

Past Lives - Strange Symmetry

Features ex-Blood Brothers members Jordan Blilie (vocals), Morgan Henderson (guitar/keyboard), and Mark Gajadhar (drums), as well as ex-Shoplifting member Devin Welch (guitar), who at one point, was also in the Blood Brothers. The result is a band that sounds very similar to the Blood Brothers - "experimental" rock with post-hardcore influences and angsty high-pitched male vocals. They are slightly less abrasive though (key word: slightly). This is certainly not music for everyone. However, I think I like these guys better than Jaguar Love, the band formed by the other half of the Blood Brothers. It just seems more accessible than them.

www.myspace.com/pastlivesmusic
www.pastliveslife.com/