islands – arm’s way (2008)

Islands
Arm’s Way
[Anti-/May 20]

I have never really been able to get into The Unicorns. I tried several times back when pitchshitfork was blowing their load all over them, but their brand of quirky, happy-go-lucky pop just isn’t for me, I guess. Coversely, though, I have always loved everything Islands has put out. Their latest (second) full-length [...]

french kicks – swimming (2008)

French Kicks
Swimming
[Vagrant/May 20]

I have no idea why I’ve (sadly) not listened to French Kicks for some five or six years (I remember loving their earlier albums), but after randomly grabbing and listening to their latest release, it’s a mistake I plan to remedy. Swimming actually reminds me a lot of early Walkmen tracks — what [...]

local h – 12 angry months (2008)

Local H
12 Angry Months
[Shout! Factory/May 13]

Four long years since the magnificent What Ever Happened to P.J. Soles?, Local H return with their sixth release — 12 Angry Months. A concept album about breakups, this record perfectly encapsulates the withered energy required to sustain a useless and fruitless relationship. Musically, the band moves forward where P.J. [...]

the black angels – directions to see a ghost (2008)

The Black Angels
Directions To See A Ghost
[Light in the Attic/May 19]

The Black Angels’ second full-length harkens back to the 60s even moreso than their first (which I honestly didn’t think was possible), resulting in an undeniably amazing trip through a dreamed-up-decade of faux Vietnams and LSD and Woodstocks. Alex Maas’s androgynous, neo-Jefferson Airplane vocal stylings [...]

tokyo police club – elephant shell (2008)

Tokyo Police Club
Elephant Shell
[Saddle Creek/Apr 22]

I (and many others and probably you) have been waiting for this debut since the band’s 2006 A Lesson In Crime EP. Measuring in at 28 fucking minutes long (yes this is a full-length, btw), Elephant Shell has unfortunately shed most of that raw, energetic charm that gave those early [...]

why? – alopecia (2008)

Why?
Alopecia
[Anticon/Mar 11]

Add Why? to the list of bands I for some reason have avoided until recently. Considering their relation to Anticon/cLOUDDEAD/Doseone, I really have no excuse not to have checked this out the second Yoni Wolf half-sung-half-spoke his first word. Regrets aside, though, Why?’s music isn’t easy to categorize, as Wolf’s vocals are all over [...]

an old, old mix i [re]made

this is a mix i made about six years ago for a friend of mine. i just recently found the tracklist and decided to edit it together to let it flow. it turned out quite nice. you might enjoy, despite the seemingly strange song selection, and the fact that this is so old i even [...]

yeasayer – all hour cymbals (2007)

Yeasayer
Alll Hour Cymbals
[We Are Free/Oct 23]

Honestly I have no idea wtf took me so long to listen to (and then to write about) this experimental NYC band, dudes (and/or dudettes). I do tend to go in cycles when it comes to the neo-psychedelia of Animal Collective, Panda Bear, et al., so I guess it shouldn’t [...]

the notwist – the devil, you + me (2008)

The Notwist
The Devil, You + Me
[City Slang/May???]

It has been 6 years since The Notwist released their stunning masterpiece “Neon Golden”, so…needless to say I was ttly stoked to give this record a listen when it leaked last month. To my chagrin, though, the band’s focus seems to have moved much closer toward the sleepy, dream-inducing [...]

witch hats – cellulite soul (2008)

Witch Hats
Cellulite Soul
[In-Fidelity/Mar 1]

I have been anxiously awaiting a Witch Hats full-length ever since hearing their 2006 EP Wound of a Little Horse, and O.M.G. does this record deliver in every possible way. Kris Buscombe’s guttural vocals perfectly match the band’s grungy, Nirvana-influenced palate. The explosive breakdowns of the EP aren’t quite as dramatic here, [...]