whoa dudes, i ttly apologize about being horrible at writing this blog. here is a bunch of writings on a bunch of albums. awesome, right?

• jim ward – quiet ep
sparta’s front man has a solo ep out. called, simply, quiet, it is more or less what you would expect of a solo effort from a band known for being somewhat loud. as in, it is a nice little canvas of heartfelt acoustic tracks that feel perfect for a relaxing fall day. there are better acoustic albums around, sure, but i can’t say there is anything too terrible about this one. “take it back” is especially nice.

• dax riggs – we sing of only blood or love
the prolific former face of acid bath, agents of oblivion and deadboy & the elephantmen’s first official solo album is a haunting collection of doom-laden, mostly acoustic roy orbison styled deathcroons. riggs‘ stunning, manipulable vocals are becoming more amazing with each year.

• animal collective – strawberry jam
the latest offering from these new york city weirdos is more poppy than their previous albums but omg, still f’ing weirdly awesome as anything out there. the back-to-back punch of “for reverend green” and “fireworks” is basically enough to get anyone’s body movinig in a pseudo-lsd induced fit of psychedelic happiness and psychotic dancing.

• armor for sleep – smile for them
armor for sleep’s newest is pretty much what you would expect from them at this point — typically atmospheric post-emo. although, not as good as their last album, smile for them is by no means bad. the band seems to rely on their proven tricks a little too often, but the result is still satisfying enough.

• the cansecos – juiced!
toronto popsters’ second full-length is another deliciously sugary blend of synths and electronic sadness fronted with evocative, docile vocals that are a perfect soundtrack for a walk through a forest on an otherwise quiet sunday afternoon.

• die! die! die! – promises promises
these new zealand neo no-wavers’ third album is more exploratory, more melodic and more dynamic than anything they have previously released. while still noisy and abrasive, promises promises reveals more depth and more sagacity with each successive listen.

• emma pollock – watch the fireworks
former delgados frontwoman’s solo album is a quaint collection of delicate pop songs that evolve and unfurl within themselves — winding and taking on a life of their own as they are born, grow and die. pollock’s gentle voice provides just enough direction to lead these songs through their tender, sentimental lives.

• foo fighters – echoes, silence, patience & grace
dave grohl’s latest is more or less the same as his past four or five albums. truth be told, every foo fighters album has pretty much sounded the same to me since the colour and the shape. if you like the direction the band has been going the past ten years, then you will like this. otherwise, if, like me, you think their best work came in 90s, you will be slightly bored.

• hard-fi – once upon a time in the west
hard-fi’s followup to the brilliant stars of cctv is a trite, boring, and more or less predictable mess of monotony that mostly just rips off their own debut in a less-than-creative way. once upon a time in the west is a massive disappointment, with little to no saving grace.

• holy fuck – lp
seminal analogous rockers’ second full-length is a pounding, melodic display of neo-electronica and hammer-in-your-head beauty like some kind of industrial wasteland layered with rainbows and mutilated unicorns. the band’s propensity for strange, upbeat hooks backed with propulsive, driving beats continues to become more evident.

• jimmy eat world – chase this light
though jimmy eat world’s latest work is nowhere near the epic genius of clarity or bleed american, chase this light still leads the current pack of radio played powerpop bands. overall, though, the band’s latest is somewhat disappointing and pretty average.

• no age – weirdo rippers
this genre-defying canvas of beauty and insanity is at once haunting, original, abrasive and encapsulating. melodies and noise swirl around in a haze of neon-colored darkness, closed doors, car chases, lightning storms. it begs you to listen, beckons you, even.

• other men – wake up swimming
another rob crow inflected masterpiece, wake up swimming is a jangly amour of intense, intricately layered pop music structured around crow’s vehement vocals backed by vibrant guitars and sparkling, pulsating riffs.

• radiohead – in rainbows
musical heroes radiohead are back with a 7th full-length and a brilliant marketing strategy. moneybags aside, though, in rainbows is a solid record that brings some of the band’s earlier work to mind (kid a + the bends + ok computer could very well equal this album).

• maria taylor – lynn teeter flower

• muscles – guns babes lemonade

• a pacific model – divisions

• the receiving end of sirens – the earth sings mi fa mi

• the radishes – good machine

• she wants revenge – this is forever

• siberian – with me

• thanksgiving – welcome nowhere & extras

• thrice – the alchemy index vols. I & II

• shinichi osawa – the one
dance dance dance and never stop and then maybe add some robots to the mix and probably you are never going to settle down as long as this album is playing. shake your booty and feel the beat.

• a wilhelm scream – career suicide

• roisin murphy – overpowered

• hot hot heat – happiness ltd.

• the hives – the black and white album

• thursday – kill the house lights

• band of horses – cease to begin

• crystal castles – untrust us
completely psychotic torontan duo’s debut album is a terror-soaked kaleidoscope of pure pseudo-japanese adrenaline and nintendo-powered bliss. with layers of pounding, danceable beats, creepy, 8-bit melodies and otherwordly vocals, this is insanity at it’s most beautiful (and most insane).

• japancakes – loveless
athens-based weirdos cover my bloody valentine’s seminal masterpiece in its entirety, replacing the vocals with pedal steel and cellos. the (amazing) result is basically what the original album would sound like if it were the zelda 64 soundtrack. can someone say “omg” please

• moros eros – jealous me was killed by curiosity
georgian foursome offer up a sophomore lp loaded with punchy, in-your-face les favy fav-inspired indie rock. it’s loud and cacophonous, but the subtle melodies and underlying charm will have you listening again as soon as it’s done.

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