THE GASLIGHT ANTHEM - American Slang (single)

"American Slang" is the title track to The Gaslight Anthem's third album, due to be released in June of this year. These New Jersey boys have found the formula for producing a sound that you could expect if Bruce Springsteen fronted a punk rock band. Upbeat rock and roll with heartfelt, slightly ragged vocals and catchy melodies. I'm a big fan of The Gaslight Anthem and this single shows that we can continue to expect good things from this band. I'm sure they're only going to get bigger and bigger - how could a band this awesome not?

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

PAVEMENT - Quarantine The Past: The Best of Pavement

Pavement. The kings of slacker rock. The definition of '90s indie rock. PAVEMENT.

I've been listening to the album and writing my review at the same time but I've just gone in and deleted everything I already wrote. Because what hasn't been said about Pavement already? Nothing I say here will be groundbreaking at all.

I guess I just want to let everyone know that this Best-Of now exists. But what's the point, really, of this record? If you like Pavement, you probably/should already know everything on here. If you don't like Pavement, you don't care about this release at all because it doesn't even contain any new material for you to potentially hate on. And if you've never heard of Pavement, you should start with their 1993 debut album, Slanted and Enchanted, not this gobbledy-gook of a record that ignores the chronological order of the band's releases. It's so hard to pick out what should be on a Pavement "Best-Of" (since they didn't have any huge hit singles); there's bound to be material on their actual albums that you like more than some of the selections on here.

"Silence Kid" is not on here, so clearly this collection is not "The Best of Pavement," as it advertises.

Also, I don't understand the cover art.

But Pavement is still awesome. Listen to their actual albums.

MATT and KIM - Matt and Kim; MATT and KIM - Grand

Matt & Kim's self-titled debut was released in 2006, and Grand, the follow-up, was released in 2009. I'm reviewing them now because, while scouring the internet for shows coming to my area, I found that this Brooklyn-based duo is scheduled to play around here very soon. Not many bands playing original music play near where I live, so when there is one coming to town, I usually try to go. Unless the band is awful. I set out on a quest to see if Matt & Kim are awful or if I should plan to go check them out.

The overwhelming verdict after listening to their albums is that I am most definitely going to go to their show. Both of the albums are similar in sound, so no need to split up their reviews. Upbeat drumming, keyboards, a girl drummer (represent!), and a vocalist who sings like a way cooler version of John Darnielle, though still in a very nerd-esque manner? Count me in. The songs are fun and full of energy. I dig the lyrics, too. A better, more rocking version of Mates Of State. Matt & Kim are a band that I have overlooked the past few years and I am very happy to finally have introduced my ears to them.

I can only hope that the show is filled with lots of dancing, jumping around, singing out loud, and general hijinks. See you there, hipster friends.

www.myspace.com/mattandkim
www.mattandkimmusic.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

V/A - FANTASTIC MR. FOX - Original Soundtrack

I'm not usually a big fan of movie soundtracks but I always enjoy the ones to Wes Anderson movies, probably because the songs work together to create an overall theme. The soundtrack to his latest movie, Fantastic Mr. Fox, is an enjoyable romp through whimsical sounds and it may also drill the chants of "Boggis, Bunce, Bean" into your head, never to escape from them.

The bulk of the soundtrack consists of compositions by Alexandre Desplat, who has also written scores for movies such as The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, The Luzhin Defence, The Queen, and many, many more (including a certain vampire movie installment). Desplat does a terrific job with these songs as they conjure up images of an idyllic everyday life that is filled with heroes and villains. At the same time, the music is playful and exudes a childish charm (after all, Fantastic Mr. Fox is based off of a children's book by Roald Dahl). Further research reveals that Desplat has received an Academy Award nomination for best original score for his work here.

The rest of the soundtrack includes a few cuts by The Beach Boys (always a good time), Burl Ives (they work perfectly with this kind of movie, plus I love the line "Saw a bear, comb his hair" in the song "Fooba Wooba John"), and George Delerue. The Wellingtons' "The Ballad of Davy Crockett", which I have only heard before in snippet version in the film Back To The Future, makes an appearance here as well, along with The Rolling Stones' "Street Fighting Man". We are also given tracks by The Bobby Fuller Four, Nancy Adams, Art Tatum, and Jarvis Cocker. Cocker's track is probably the only song in my iTunes library that has a jaw harp on it. I have no idea what he is singing, but I like it.

I know some people panned the movie but I adored it (The DVD comes out on March 23 - mark your calendars or make an appointment in your Blackberry). The soundtrack is an important part of the movie and it works well on its own as well. Boggis, Bunce, and Bean.

www.alexandredesplat.net
www.fantasticmrfoxmovie.com

CHRIS JOSS - Monomaniacs Vol. 1

Monomaniacs Vol. 1 is the sixth album from Chris Joss, who is originally from France. It's another highly entertaining instrumental affair from Joss. No lyrics here, just 12 awesome, funk-influenced, 70's-vibed cuts. There's enough sounds mixed in to keep anyone occupied for a while trying to pick through all the layers. There's even some Indian sitar thrown in on the track "Kali Flowers". Highly recommended for anyone who's got a soul and likes to groove.

Just take a look at the album cover, you'll know if this is the kind of music for you or not. And if you still don't know after looking, try it out anyway.

www.myspace.com/chrisjoss
chrisjoss.free.fr

ERNEST GONZALES - Been Meaning To Tell You

When I first heard of this album, it was described as "electronic." I haven't been listening to a lot of "electronic" music lately but the cover art was too amazing for me to pass this up without a listen. The artwork was made by having a number of artists each illustrate what they saw after listening to one track off of the album and the end result for the cover combined all of the images. Very cool stuff.

Now that I've talked about the cover, how to describe the music? It is electronic, but there are also guitars on this record. I'm sure this music could be played live by a band of talented musicians. The music doesn't feel overprocessed like so many electronic records I sat through last year. Instead, it feels lush and warm: a jungle of melodic sounds. For over a year I have been searching for music in the same realm as B. Fleischmann's The Humbucking Coil: great beats, great melodies, no lyrics. This album illustrates what I've been looking for.

There's a number of great songs on this album so it's hard to pick a favorite one. I love how "Falling Asleep To The Glow Of The Television" makes me feel like I'm playing a classic Nintendo video game. "We Can Live In The Forest" is upbeat and would be suitable to play for a whirlwind romance with the couple falling in love. The album was made with Ernest's wife in mind and this track probably has something to do with their love. "When You Are Lost I Will Find You" is the epitome of the B. Fleischmann chilled-out vibe I've been searching for. I could go on and on about each of these tracks and the way they make me feel and think but instead I'll just recommend that you have a listen to the album and see what you feel. I don't think you'll be disappointed.

Been Meaning To Tell You is scheduled to be released on February 9, on Exponential Records. Exponential Records was founded in 2002 by Gonzales and DJ Jester the Filipino Fist (I'm not making that name up). This is Gonzales's second or third full-length album, I can't figure out which, and he has also released music under the moniker Theory Of Everything. Now go get this album, why are you even still reading this post?!

www.myspace.com/theoryofeverything
www.beenmeaningtotellyou.com
www.antipop.net/expblog/(Exponential Records site)

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

NOVELS

NOVELS is a project conceived by several Canadian dudes who range in popularity in the indie music scene. Personally, I only recognized the names Graham Wright and Luke LaLonde. The other three guys are Will Currie, Dean Marino, and Jay Sadlowski. In January 2009, these lads and some other musically-inclined people got together in Toronto and recorded an EP in one recording session. The end result, which is now available, is NOVELS.

Consisting of five songs, NOVELS clocks in at under 12 minutes.

-The first song, "This Wouldn't Be The Last Time," is two minutes of bouncy, jangly pop music. Very catchy, this opening song is probably my favorite of the bunch.

-The next track, "Mr. Foster's Teenage Daughter," reminds me of 50's pop and is a song you might hear for a slow-dance at a prom. Great piano intro and I love the harmonies ("ooh-wah-ooh") on this song.

-"Big Run" is the third track and I'm certain this is sung by Luke LaLonde of Born Ruffians. I'd recommend this track for people who loved Clap Your Hands Say Yeah's first album.

-"Record in Hand" is much slower, tempo-wise, than the previous tracks. Laid-back lounge indie-pop.

-The EP closes with "No Hard Feelings," which is sung by Tokyo Police Club's keyboardist, Graham Wright (I've just discovered that Graham has some solo music out which I hope to review on here in a future post). This last song is similar to the other four songs: jangly pop that goes by so quickly that even the track's runtime of 1 minute, 44 seconds, seems exaggerated.

My overall impression of these five songs is that it is a cohesive set of indie pop which everyone should listen to at least once. The good news is that NOVELS is available as a free download from the guys who made it. They are interested in having people burn copies of the music and give them away to other people so that their music may be heard. They also had a small number of limited-edition NOVELS notebooks with cd's included made up which they will give away for free. It's a great way to promote not just the music on NOVELS, but also their respective bands, and I wish them well in doing so. Now go download the EP and give it a listen.

www.okaynovels.com

SURFER BLOOD - Astro Coast

The debut from the West Palm Beach, Florida band. I got this album to review a few weeks ago but was delayed by other projects so I haven't been able to listen until now. In those short few weeks, it seems to me that the band has been labeled as the next big thing and have gotten a lot more popular.

I finally found the time to listen to Astro Coast and I hear a blend of garage pop/psychedelia/shoegaze/rock. I understand that "Swim" is the album's single and that isn't shocking; it's catchy and has a simple chorus that you'll be able to sing along to before the end of the song. I can see the big appeal to this album: it combines the pop sensibilities of a band like Vampire Weekend with the fuzz of The Jesus and Mary Chain. While so many bands are choosing to go one way (indie pop) or the other (shoegaze/experimental), Surfer Blood choose to straddle the line.

Final impression: I think some of the songs are great (album opener "Floating Vibes" and the aforementioned "Swim" make for a fine 1-2 punch) but by the end of the album the songs all seem to blend into one. I wish there was a bit more variety, is what I'm alluding to. Even so, decent.

www.myspace.com/surferblood
www.surferblood.blogspot.com

PANTS YELL - Received Pronunciation

Pants Yell! are from Cambridge, near Boston, and they formed in 2003. In the past they had a girl drummer but it seems the trio is now comprised of all dudes. If I understand correctly, Received Pronunciation is their fourth full-length and their first release for Slumberland Records. I saw this band perform in Rochester in 2006 and while I was most impressed with their bass player's good looks, I also recall them having a very poppy, "twee" sound. That sound is present on this album so I must remember their gig well enough. The nine-song album clocks in at just over 26 minutes but nonetheless is packed chock full of upbeat indie pop. The last song on this album, "To Take", is probably my favorite as it has a very nice instrumental ending. The vocalist is kind of wimpy but I suppose that is to be expected with this type of music. If you like wussy pop music you'd probably like this, it's good.

www.myspace.com/pantsyellmusic

SPOON - Transference

Let me preface this post by saying that I love Spoon. They are the band that I hear whenever I think of my freshman year of college. I fell in love with them that year and I was constantly listening to them. During my junior year of college I got to see them play in Austin, their hometown, at SXSW 2008. The crowd was huge, perhaps because it was a free show, but also no doubt because more and more people were discovering just how good Spoon is. And damn they are good.

Transference is the seventh studio full-length from Spoon. Spoon have been hailed as the kings of minimal rock 'n' roll, and this album has them maintaining that stance. The music isn't minimal like lo-fi music is often said to be; it is minimal because they don't heap on layers of unnecessary sounds. This results in more stripped down songs than you might normally hear from a 'rock band', but that doesn't mean it's not rock and roll. I don't see any of the songs on here being a breakout hit like "The Underdog" off of their last album, Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga, was, but the 11 songs on here are still satisfying and show a band who is known for its consistency continue that trend. While I'm pleased with this release, after only a few listens, it doesn't knock things out of the park for me just yet.

www.myspace.com/spoon
www.spoontheband.com

VAMPIRE WEEKEND - Contra

I'm sure there's already a million blog posts out there about this album, so I may as well throw in my two cents. I have somehow managed to avoid all reviews regarding this album, perhaps by unintentionally avoiding all music sites lately, so my opinion remains untarnished.

Contra is the sophomore album from everyone's favorite Ivy-League indie popsters, Vampire Weekend. It is very sonically similar to their self-titled debut album, though this release has them experimenting with new effects and faster tempos. The album shows a slightly more mature sound but it is not as instantly hummable as their first. I think that with time, however, it will be appreciated more than their first. It's pretty great. Overall I like this album and it will be a good way to keep warm during this cold winter we are having - it is sweet, summery pop music, with just enough complexity to make sure you're not bored but aren't overwhelmed either.

www.myspace.com/vampireweekend
www.vampireweekend.com

BLINK 182 - Blink 182

Yes, I know that this album was released in 2003. However, recently, it's been playing a lot while I'm at home so I figured I might as well write about it. I don't know what it is about Blink 182 that makes me like this album so much, but I love it. It might be that Travis Barker, whether you love him or hate him, is one of the best drummers in recent years. His drumming is intricate, adding a whole new layer to the music and fleshing out the sound for the trio. It might be that they have two different vocalists, Mark Hoppus and Tom DeLonge, who can alternate between sounding heartbroken, angry, giddy, and a wide range of other emotions. It might be that the simple lyrical content actually makes the songs stronger; they are easy to relate to and won't make you scratch your head wondering what they really mean. You just listen and bob your head and hope that the energy in these songs is transferred to you by some sort of cosmic intervention. Or it might be that these three guys write some very catchy pop songs which I just can't stop listening to. Yeah, that might be it.


www.myspace.com/blink182
www.blink182.com

CHROMEO - Night By Night (Single)

The first new Chromeo song since the 2007 release of their sophomore album, Fancy Footwork! The sound of "Night By Night" is instantly recognizable as Chromeo: upbeat, synth-driven pop/electrorock with Dave One's smooth vocals and Pee Thug contributing vocals through his vocoder. Lots of fun; you will surely want to put this on at your next dance party. If this song is any indication, their next album is going to be even more awesome than their past two (even if you didn't think that could be possible).

www.myspace.com/chromeo
www.chromeo.net

TODOR KOBAKOV - Pop Music

While you may not recognize the name, if you're familiar with the bands on CMJ's charts, there's a good chance you've heard the work of Todor Kobakov already. Born in Bulgaria, Kobakov emigrated to Canada when he was sixteen with many of his family members (his mother stayed in Bulgaria). Currently based out of Toronto, Kobakov has had his string arrangements featured on the second album by Stars, Set Yourself On Fire, and has played keys for Luke Doucet, Emily Haines and the Soft Skeleton, Small Sins, and many others. Pop Music is his solo debut and showcases his chillingly beautiful classical piano compositions. The album is instrumental save for two songs, "Carpe Diem," which features the vocals of Emily Haines, and "Loving Hands," on which Tunde Adebimpe of TV on the Radio provides vocals. If you enjoy piano, there's a very good chance you will enjoy this album. Kobakov is a very talented musician and this release definitely demonstrates that.

www.myspace.com/todorkobakov
http://todor.ca

FRANK TURNER - Poetry of the Deed

Born in Bahrain, the London-raised punk rock troubadour presents his third full-length album. He's released several other solo EPs and compilations and has played in the bands Kneejerk and Million Dead as well. He plays punk rock with mixed acoustic and electric instrumentation and meaningful lyrics. The sound is similar to that of Billy Bragg. I highly recommend this album, it's great.

http://www.myspace.com/frankturner
www.frank-turner.com/

Hello There Ladies and Gentlemen...

It's been a while, but Slacker Sounds should be returning now that the summer is over. Maybe not a post every weekday like before; I'm going to shoot for updates about once a week. With that in mind, I need music to review. If you are a promoter, band manager/member, an underground music kingpin, or whatever, get in touch. My email is slackersounds[at]gmail[dot]com . I like rockandroll and punk rock the most but am always open to other genres. I usually only review full-length LPs or EPs but sometimes will check out singles if they're worthwhile. Just please don't send me Myspace links because my computer doesn't like Myspace (and I really don't either).

Rockandroll,

The Slacker

slackersounds[at]gmail[dot]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

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