Top 5 Adds - June 30

Top 5 Adds - June 30

God Help the Girl
The Most Serene Republic
Bowerbirds
Moby
Cass McCombs

Also check out: Bjork, Boogie Boarder, Christina Courtin, Howling Bells, The Minus 5, Peggy Sue, Pterodactyl, The Rural Alberta Advantage, Young Fresh Fellows

Pete Yorn

Add Date: June 30

Artist: Pete Yorn

Album: Back & Fourth

Label: Columbia

Genre: Folk, singer/songwriter, rock

Comments: For his fourth studio record, Back & Fourth, New Jersey native Pete Yorn worked with Bright Eyes' Mike Mogis, whose talent was enough to offset whatever meddling the severely overrated Rick Rubin might have done as executive producer. The music is nicely done, but to me, most of Yorn's stuff doesn't particularly stand out from the rest of the singer/songwriter crowd. However, I did like the upbeat rocker "Last Summer."

The Verbs

Add Date: June 30

Artist: The Verbs

Album: Trip

Label: Jay-Vee

Genre: Rock

Comments: The Verbs is the husband-and-wife team of Meegan Voss and Steve Jordan, a Grammy-winning producer, as well as a member of The John Mayer Trio and, previously, backing bands for Stevie Wonder, Eric Clapton and The Blues Brothers. Trip is post-punk with slight traces of R&B and jazz fusion. Check out album closer "Work It Out."

Squirrelhouse

Add Date: June 30

Artist: Squirrelhouse

Album: S.P.Q.R.

Label: Self-released

Genre: Rock

Comments: Squirrelhouse, from Tuscaloosa, Ala., make indie rock that aspires to, but doesn't quite reach, the level of Broken Social Scene or The Sea and Cake. Check out "Nagasaki Shuffle."

Mighty Sam McClain

Add Date: June 30

Artist: Mighty Sam McClain

Album: Betcha Didn't Know

Label: Mighty Music

Genre: Soul, funk

Comments: According to AllMusic.com, Monroe, La. native "Mighty Sam McClain is a specialist in Southern soul-blues, one of the original masters from the 1960s, when the music enjoyed its peak popularity. He carries on the tradition of vocalists like Bobby Bland, Solomon Burke, Otis Clay, James Carr and Otis Redding." This new album features "Can't Stop the Funk" and "Never Go Away."

Boogie Boarder

Add Date: June 30

Artist: Boogie Boarder

Album: Pizza Hero

Label: Famous Class

Genre: Rock

Comments: From the onesheet: "While Brooklyn-based Boogie Boarder don't demand to be taken seriously themselves, their crunchy, catchy, lo-fi surf rock does. With a unique sound that recalls the power and prowess of prime era Load noise-rock with a more inviting, whimsical pop bent, Boogie Boarder describes their style as 'the beast-lord avatar of a two-minute pop song.'" Check out the promoter's recommendations on the album sticker.

This Is a Shakedown!

Add Date: June 30

Artist: This Is a Shakedown!

Album: Love Kills

Label: Reversed Image Unlimited

Genre: Rock, synth pop, dance rock

Comments: Cleveland's This Is a Shakedown! make dance rock that will appeal to fans of The Faint and The Killers. Try "You Make Me Wanna" and "Electric Sound."

DM Stith

Add Date: June 30

Artist: DM Stith

Album: BMB EP

Label: Asthmatic Kitty

Genre: Folk

Comments: Centered around the song "BMB" from his March release Heavy Ghost, this EP from DM Stith features a demo version of the title track, remixes by Son Lux and Roberto C. Lange, a B-side, and covers of Randy Newman and The Ronettes.

Big D and the Kids Table

Add Date: June 30

Artist: Big D and the Kids Table

Album: Fluent in Stroll

Label: SideOneDummy

Genre: Rock, ska

Comments: The onesheet describes Fluent in Stroll, the sixth LP from this Boston band, as "an album that defies categorization and takes the band's ska-influenced sound to the next level... [The record] still retains Big D and the Kids Table's unique sound, whether that's the laid-back Jamaican ska sound of 'Been Wishing On' or the summertime jam 'We Can Live Anywhere.'"

Major Lazer

Add Date: June 30

Artist: Major Lazer

Album: Guns Don't Kill People... Lazers Do

Label: Downtown

Genre: Electronica, reggae, dance, hip hop

Comments: From the promoter: "When you're the bastard love-child of Diplo and Switch, you shouldn't need a cover story... Guns Don't Kill People... Lazers Do is a collection of tracks that draws from the rich dancehall tradition of Jamaica, the futuristic dance-floor-killing aesthetic of Diplo and Switch, and contributions from some special guests, including Santigold, Mr. Vegas, Amanda Blank and Nina Sky."

Shawn Colvin

Add Date: June 30

Artist: Shawn Colvin

Album: Live

Label: Nonesuch

Genre: Folk, singer/songwriter

Comments: A collection of 15 songs performed by Grammy Award-winning sing/songwriter Shawn Colvin in San Francisco in July 2008. Features plenty of Colvin's classics, from the smash hit "Sunny Came Home" to "Diamond in the Rough," as well as covers of songs by the Canadian guitarist Robbie Robertson, Talking Heads and, of course, Gnarls Barkley.

Christina Courtin

Add Date: June 30

Artist: Christina Courtin

Album: Christina Courtin

Label: Nonesuch

Genre: Folk, folk pop, jazz

Comments: Juilliard product Christina Courtin makes her debut on Nonesuch (Wilco, The Low Anthem, Randy Newman) with a collection of jazzy folk pop songs that immediately bring to mind Norah Jones and Regina Spektor. Evidently, Courtin is a phenomenal violinist, but here she adopts the role of mere singer/songwriter, much to the chagrin of many critics. (See Andrew Leahey's review on AllMusic.com.) There is, however, a terrific grouping of musicians on the album, including Benmont Tench, Jon Brion and The Punch Brothers' Gabe Witcher, and Courtin has a splendid voice. Christina Courtin doesn't establish any new territory, but it's very pleasant, well-constructed coffeehouse fare. Start with "One Man Down" and "Foreign Country."

God Help the Girl

Add Date: June 30

Artist: God Help the Girl

Album: God Help the Girl

Label: Matador

Genre: Rock, chamber pop

Comments: Don't be fooled by the band name; this is, essentially, Belle & Sebastian in a slightly different form. Stuart Murdoch wrote the songs, and members of B&S perform most of the record--with the one, admittedly critical, exception of most of the lead vocals, which are provided primarily by Catherine Ireton, Brittany Stallings and Dina Bankole. As such, God Help the Girl sounds exactly like you would expect: Belle & Sebastian with female lead vocals. There are exceptions, in particular The Divine Comedy's Neil Hannon singing a duet with Ireton on "Perfection as a Hipster"--I told you this was a Belle & Sebastian record--and Murdoch's work on "Pretty Eve in the Tub."

As is to be expected, the music is masterfully done. All three of the new vocalists, Ireton in particular, have terrific voices that fit perfectly with what Murdoch and company do. I almost wonder why this project needs a new name--I'm thinking, for instance, of Stephin Merritt, who has a variety of lead singers on almost every Magnetic Fields record--but I suppose that Murdoch felt that his vocals were too closely affiliated with the name Belle & Sebastian for this to fly any other way. They also rework a few B&S tracks, in particular "Act of the Apostle" and "Funny Little Frog" from the last proper studio release, 2006's The Life Pursuit.

Regardless of the reason for the new name, this is a fine record. All above songs recommended; also try the title track and "If You Could Speak."

Bjork

Add Date: June 30

Artist: Bjork

Album: Songs From the Volta Tour

Label: Nonesuch

Genre: Rock, electronica, experimental

Comments: This collection from Iceland's finest features 11 songs recorded live at London's Olympic Studios in June 2007. The set is highlighted by several tracks from Volta, such as "Earth Intruders" and "Innocence," but also includes older favorites like "The Pleasure Is All Mine," "Army of Me," "All Is Full of Love" and "Hunter."

Jay Brannan

Add Date: June 30

Artist: Jay Brannan

Album: In Living Cover

Label: Great Depression/Nettwerk

Genre: Folk, singer/songwriter

Comments: A 9-song record from Houston native Jay Brannan features two originals and seven covers, which range from Dylan ("Blowin' in the Wind"), Ani DiFranco ("Both Hands") and Joni Mitchell ("All I Want") to '90s chart-toppers The Cranberries and The Verve Pipe, because, let's face it, the world really needed acoustic versions of "Zombie" and "The Freshmen." This is a little too AAA for my taste, but if you like singer/songwriter stuff, check it out.

UUVVWWZ

Add Date: June 30

Artist: UUVVWWZ

Album: UUVVWWZ

Label: Saddle Creek

Genre: Rock, experimental

Comments: The best thing to come out of Lincoln, Neb., since Zager and Evans, UUVVWWZ (that's pronounced "double-U, double-V, double-W, Z") make a frenetic band of indie rock that has earned them comparisons ranging from Captain Beefheart and Liars to Kill Rock Stars acts like Marnie Stern and Deerhoof. (I'm pretty sure I'm the first--and quite possibly the last--to liken them to Zager and Evans, who recorded the 1969 hit "In the Year 2525.") On this self-titled Saddle Creek debut, try "Shark Suit" and "Green Starred Sleeve."

The Rural Alberta Advantage

Add Date: June 30

Artist: The Rural Alberta Advantage

Album: Hometowns

Label: Saddle Creek

Genre: Rock, indie rock

Comments: The Rural Alberta Advantage is an indie rock band from Toronto, though frontman Nils Edenloff hails from their namesake province. The band has recently caught fire--not literally, of course, as that wouldn't be a positive thing--most notably because of a slot alongside Grizzly Bear at this year's SXSW music festival. Hometowns, originally self-released last year, is being reissued by Saddle Creek (Bright Eyes, Cursive, Tokyo Police Club). Their percussion-driven pop rock draws them comparisons to The New Pornographers, Chad VanGaalen and Neutral Milk Hotel--the last one most likely due to Edenloff's vocal similarities to Jeff Mangum.

Check out "Don't Haunt This Place" and "The Deadroads."

Young Fresh Fellows

Add Date: June 30

Artist: Young Fresh Fellows

Album: I Think This Is

Label: Yep Roc

Genre: Rock, pop

Comments: Evidently, it's Scott McCaughey week at the station--Yep Roc has sent us this, the first new Young Fresh Fellows LP since 2001, along with the latest from McCaughey's Minus 5 project. That's hardly a complaint, as this veteran of the independent music scene can still crank out good pop tunes. The easiest reference for McCaughey, again, is labelmate Robyn Hitchcock, who just so happened to produce I Think This Is. Young Fresh Fellows' blend of throwback alternative rock will appeal to fans of early R.E.M. and Yo La Tengo, especially if those fans also have a thing for '60s pop. Try "Lamp Industries" and "After Suicide."

Silk Flowers

Add Date: June 30

Artist: Silk Flowers

Album: Silk Flowers

Label: PPM

Genre: Electronica, synth pop, post-punk

Comments: The promoter says: "Brooklyn's Silk Flowers arrive with their compelling debut LP on PPM (Abe Vigoda, Mika Miko, Gun Outfit). The trio offer an exciting take on synth pop that blends warm analog electronics, noisemakers and even boxes to create their innovative rhythmic sound... a sound that fits nicely with contemporaries like Blank Dogs, Cold Cave and Crystal Stilts."

Pterodactyl

Add Date: June 30

Artist: Pterodactyl

Album: Worldwild

Label: Brah/Jagjaguwar

Genre: Rock, experimental

Comments: From the promoter: "Pterodactyl follows up on their self-titled debut with the stunning Worldwild. The experimental Brooklyn four-piece combine their rhythmic style into a mind-bending clash of piercing guitars, out-worldly sounds, and spot-on harmonies. The post-punk odyssey truly shines during 'Old Clouds,' when Pterodactyl's heavy experimentation comes together to create something coherently beautiful. While 'Lawrence' begins with angelic qualities, it soon comes to a close with a climactic guitar meltdown. Fans of Magik Markers, HEALTH and No Age will be overwhelmed by the triumphant adventure that is Worldwild!"

Mew

Add Date: June 30

Artist: Mew

Album: No More Stories EP

Label: Columbia

Genre: Rock, space pop

Comments: Danish dream poppers Mew will have a new LP, No More Stories, out this August. In the meantime, here's an EP with two songs from the record and three B-sides.

Howling Bells

Add Date: June 30

Artist: Howling Bells

Album: Radio Wars

Label: Nettwerk

Genre: Rock

Comments: Danceable indie rock from this Australian band. Howling Bells will definitely appeal to fans of Metric, for both the vocals of Juanita Stein and the upbeat melodies, but Radio Wars also would fit right in with British post-punk bands like The Futureheads and Editors. See the promoter's recommendations on the inside cover; I also liked "Digital Hearts."

The Minus 5

Add Date: June 30

Artist: The Minus 5

Album: Killingsworth

Label: Yep Roc

Genre: Folk, rock, alt-country

Comments: Scott McCaughey (Young Fresh Fellows) and his long-running side project The Minus 5 return with their new album, Killingsworth. With a loose confederation of collaborators, The Minus 5 make folksy pop rock in the vein of Robyn Hitchcock & The Venus 3--McCaughey and R.E.M.'s Peter Buck are involved with both bands--and The Decemberists, whose Colin Meloy and John Moen show up, along with Ken Stringfellow (The Posies), on Killingsworth. The Minus 5 is a lot twangier than any of those other bands, but this is still very much a pop record.

Start with "The Long Hall," "I Would Rather Sacrifice You," "Ambulance Dancehall" and "Scott Walker's Fault" (featuring Meloy on lead vocals).

Peggy Sue

Add Date: June 30

Artist: Peggy Sue

Album: The Lover Gone (EP)

Label: Yep Roc

Genre: Folk

Comments: From label Yep Roc (John Doe, Robyn Hitchcock, The Minus 5): "The Lover Gone EP, the third from Brighton, UK's Peggy Sue, is a soulful rendition of rainy British love songs voiced by the off-kilter duets of singers/instrumentalists Katy Klaw and Rosa Rex, and set against the creative percussion of drummer Olly Olly Olly. With lyrics savvy beyond their years and a shambolic kitchen-sink approach to music-making, Peggy Sue is quickly becoming one of Britain's most exciting new musical exports."

For fans of CocoRosie and The Ditty Bops. Check out the title track and "Milk & Blood."

The Most Serene Republic

Add Date: June 30

Artist: The Most Serene Republic

Album: ...And the Ever Expanding Universe

Label: Arts & Crafts

Genre: Rock, pop, experimental

Comments: From the label: "[T]he band's repertoire runs the gamut from prog-rock to densely layered indie pop. TMSR harmoniously combine traditional instrumentation with strings, banjos, and digital programming... Produced by Dave Newfeld (Broken Social Scene, Super Furry Animals, Los Campesinos!), ...And the Ever Expanding Universe shows The Most Serene Republic confidently striding forward with a more mature, diverse and exhilarating sound."

This is the Toronto-area band's third full-length, and certainly its most complete album to date. For fans of the other bands Newfeld has worked with, as listed above, as well as The Sea and Cake and The Flaming Lips. Begin with "Catharsis Boo" and "Bubble Reputation."

Jets Overhead

Add Date: June 30

Artist: Jets Overhead

Album: No Nations

Label: Vapor

Genre: Rock, shoegaze pop

Comments: Hailing from the British Columbia capital of Victoria, Jets Overhead merge the sounds of late '70s psych rock (think The Wall-era Pink Floyd), '80s post-punk (Jesus & Mary Chain, Echo & the Bunnymen) and '90s alternative (OK Computer) into a shoegazey pop sound. This is the followup to their 2006 debut Bridges, which was nominated for a Juno award. For fans of The Dears, The Stills and Blonde Redhead. Spin "I Should Be Born" and "Sure Sign."

Moby

Add Date: June 30

Artist: Moby

Album: Wait for Me

Label: Little Idiot/Mute

Genre: Electronica, pop

Comments: NPR's "All Songs Considered" has claimed: "Moby has just made his best record in 10 years," and with just one listen, it's easy to figure out why. Wait for Me sounds very different than what we've come to expect from Moby; though he's never really fit the mold of techno, he takes several steps away from the genre with this new release. Gone are most of the club beats, replaced by ambient electronic sounds that would be more at home in a set with Caribou, Ulrich Schnauss or Boards of Canada. Wait for Me was produced by Ken Thomas, who has worked with Wire, Sigur Ros and M83, among others.

Check out "Pale Horses," "Mistake" and the beautiful instrumental "Shot in the Back of the Head."

Cass McCombs

Add Date: June 30

Artist: Cass McCombs

Album: Catacombs

Label: Domino

Genre: Folk, folk rock, singer/songwriter

Comments: A direct musical descendant of Elliott Smith, Cass McCombs has issued another collection of well-crafted folk tunes on Domino Records (Dirty Projectors, Animal Collective, Eugene McGuinness). There's a lot of '60s pop and folk rock in McCombs' music, which will appeal to fans of Pelle Carlberg, Jeff Buckley and Belle & Sebastian. Start with "Dreams-Come-True-Girl" and "Harmonia."

Bowerbirds

Add Date: June 30

Artist: Bowerbirds

Album: Upper Air

Label: Dead Oceans

Genre: Folk

Comments: North Carolina's Bowerbids make poppy folk tunes that have earned them comparisons to Devendra Banhart, Richard and Linda Thompson, and Iron & Wine, among others. Upper Air is their second album, and first for Dead Oceans (John Vanderslice, Akron/Family, Bishop Allen). The promoter says: "The arrangements are subtle: acoustic guitars, organ, piano, autoharp, violin, percussion, upright bass and more are used throughout the recording. Usually, though, it is just a few of these instruments delicately supporting [Phil] Moore's voice, the anchor of every song."

Start with "Teeth" and "Beneath Your Tree."

Top 5 Adds - June 23

Top 5 Adds - June 23

Those Darlins
Wilco
Tiny Vipers
Amazing Baby
Reverie Sound Revue

Also check out: Bibio, Ohbijou, PDX Pop Now! 2009, Regina Spektor, Sean Walsh and the National Reserve, Serengeti & Polyphonic, Starlight Mints, Throw Me the Statue

Serengeti & Polyphonic

Add Date: June 23

Artist: Serengeti & Polyphonic

Album: Terradactyl

Label: Anticon

Genre: Hip hop, electronica

Comments: From the promoter: "Both natives of Illinois, rapper Serengeti (David Cohn) and producer Polyphonic (Will Freyman) release their second album together on Anticon [Why?, Odd Nosdam, Bike For Three!]. 'Patiently' finds Geti's words blown out over big bass and digital bit, 'Steroids' features doseone (Themselves, Subtle), and 'La La Lala' guests Buck 65. 'Dawn Under the Bridge' incorporates classical harp and vocal arrangements over Polyphonic's bit-electronic beats. Terradactyl's diversity shines through lyrics about a transient, oscillating lifestyle and stylish, heady raps intertwined with thick beats of soul, pop, and psychedelia."

Ohbijou

Add Date: June 23

Artist: Ohbijou

Album: Beacons

Label: Last Gang

Genre: Rock, chamber pop

Comments: Very pleasant orchestral pop from this Toronto band on Last Gang (Metric, Tiga, Mother Mother). For fans of El Perro del Mar, Camera Obscura and Matt Pond PA. NOW Magazine says: "Chamber pop softies Ohbijou emerge with a gorgeously restrained set of songs so delicate, you want to cradle them in your palm like baby chicks. Goes down like lemonade on the hottest summer day, with no cloying aftertaste of artificial sweetness."

Start with "Wildfires" and "New Years."

The Lemonheads

Add Date: June 23

Artist: The Lemonheads

Album: Varshons

Label: The End

Genre: Rock, folk rock

Comments: A covers record from Evan Dando and The Lemonheads, produced by Butthole Surfers frontman Gibby Haynes. Dando tackles everything from G.G. Allin to Leonard Cohen, and from Townes Van Zandt to Dutch electronica. Guests on the record include Kate Moss (for Arling & Cameron's "Dirty Robot") and Liv Tyler (for Cohen's "Hey, That's No Way to Say Goodbye"). Overall, the results are decent, though some songs clearly work better than others. In particular, I'd recommend The Lemonheads' versions of Gram Parsons' "I Just Can't Take It Anymore," Van Zandt's "Waiting Around to Die," and "Dandelion Seeds" from the '60s British psych rock band July.

Starlight Mints

Add Date: June 23

Artist: Starlight Mints

Album: Change Remains

Label: Barsuk

Genre: Rock, synth pop, indie rock

Comments: From the moment they appeared on the scene, Norman's Starlight Mints have been matched up against Oklahoma's greatest pop band, The Flaming Lips. Those comparisons will only continue with Change Remains, the Mints' fourth LP and second issue on Barsuk (Viva Voce, Menomena, Ra Ra Riot). The band's off-kilter approach to pop will also please fans of Elephant 6 bands, Architecture in Helsinki and EELS, and there's enough synthesizers--particularly on the first half of the record--to draw in fans of MGMT or Fujiya & Miyagi.

Begin with out "Black Champagne" and "Zoomba."

Will Dailey

Add Date: June 23

Artist: Will Dailey

Album: Torrent: Volumes 1 & 2

Label: CBS

Genre: Folk, singer/songwriter

Comments: Boston singer/songwriter Will Dailey makes catchy folk rock that will appeal to fans of Ferraby Lionheart, Mason Jennings and Josh Ritter. Rather than collecting enough songs for a proper LP, Dailey plans on continually releasing music in short bursts every two or three months in 2009; Torrent is a grouping of two EPs. Guests include Roger McGuinn of The Byrds, Tanya Donelly of Belly and Throwing Muses, and The Cars guitarist Elliot Easton.

Try "Peace of Mind" and "Never Be Your Baby."

Unsparing Sea

Add Date: June 23

Artist: Unsparing Sea

Album: In the Crystal Canyon (EP)

Label: A Broke Tusk

Genre: Rock, folk pop

Comments: From the onesheet: "Unsparing Sea make plaintive, classically adorned indie rock and folk music with layers of lush instrumentation including cello, vibraphone, accordion, banjo and trumpet and sing songs about wolves and weddings, kings and queens, crowns, teeth, bones, rings and other places where the spirit resides."

For fans of Sea Wolf or Okkervil River. Check out "All I Want."

Actors & Actresses

Add Date: June 23

Artist: Actors & Actresses

Album: Arrows

Label: The Mylene Sheath

Genre: Rock, shoegaze, post-rock

Comments: The promoter's spiel: "Actors & Actresses is a three-piece band from Kansas City, Mo. Arrows is a painstakingly crafted and deeply emotional journey from start to finish. Precise drumming and subtle guitar work are all anchored by singer Scott Bennett's warm and distant vocals, best showcased with the ambient 'Our Hollowed Day' and the epic closing track 'Law of Entropy.' Fans of Mogwai, Swervedriver and Explosions in the Sky are certain to get lost within the melodic shoegazing tracks that comprise this beautiful debut from Actors & Actresses."

PDX Pop Now! 2009

Add Date: June 23

Artist: Various Artists

Album: PDX Pop Now! 2009

Label: Self-released

Genre: Compilations/soundtracks, multiple genres

Comments: The annual PDX Pop Now! festival, scheduled for July 24-26, presents a 40-song compilation of artists from and associated with Portland. The 2-CD set runs the gamut from rock (all kinds) to folk, to rap, to electronic, to jazz. There are plenty of established artists--see M. Ward, The Thermals, Mirah, Starfucker, Benoit Pioulard--but also check out At Dusk (folksy rock), Chilly Willy (electro pop), Ravishers (gloomy indie rock), Jared Mees and the Grown Children (folk pop), Lightheaded (hip hop) and Blue Giant (folk rock).

One Hundred Hurricanes

Add Date: June 23

Artist: One Hundred Hurricanes

Album: 60 Years Under the Stars

Label: Self-released

Genre: Rock, indie rock

Comments: West Virginia's One Hundred Hurricanes, a foursome based in Morgantown, have produced a semi-epic collection (15 songs!) full of jangly indie rock tunes. 60 Years Under the Stars is for fans of The Walkmen, Harlem Shakes, The Arctic Monkeys and The Strokes. Check out "Duke Hat" and "Ruined."

The Builders and the Butchers

Add Date: June 23

Artist: The Builders and the Butchers

Album: Salvation Is a Deep Dark Well

Label: Gigantic

Genre: Folk, folk rock

Comments: From the promoter: "Portland's indie-folk heroes, The Builders and the Butchers, are back with their sophomore album. Salvation Is a Deep Dark Well is full of the feelings and thoughts of by-gone America that The Builders have expertly channeled since their self-titled debut. The often-chaotic tracks, led by the striking vocals of Ryan Sollee, spin timeless tales of a gothic South where the past is long gone and the present is uncertain. Phenomenal tracks like 'Barcelona' and 'Golden and Green' stand out with such energy and ferocity, they literally demand a celebration."

For fans of The Decemberists, whose Chris Funk produced the record, and The Felice Brothers. "Golden and Green" really is a standout song.

Wilco

Add Date: June 23

Artist: Wilco

Album: Wilco (the album)

Label: Nonesuch

Genre: Rock

Comments: One of the summer's most anticipated releases is here, as Chicago's Wilco returns with its seventh studio record. Wilco (the album) picks up where 2007's Sky Blue Sky left off, as the alt-country of their early years drifts further away, and the band continues to hone its expert musicianship and penchant for the experimental into terrific pop music. I don't know that Wilco will ever return to the pinnacle that was 2002's Yankee Hotel Foxtrot--which still ranks, in my mind, not just as the best album in their discography, but also as one of the top five or 10 records of this decade--but in all truth, there's probably no reason for them to do so. They've carved out a nice little niche in American pop, and they've made a few bucks in the process while still making very, very good music.

On Wilco (the album), check out "One Wing," "Wilco (the song)," "You and I" (featuring Feist), "I'll Fight" and the quieter "Solitaire."

Tiny Vipers

Add Date: June 23

Artist: Tiny Vipers

Album: Life on Earth

Label: Sub Pop

Genre: Folk

Comments: I deliberately avoided applying the label "singer/songwriter" in the genre description above. Tiny Vipers' Jesy Fortino is a (good) singer and a (very good) songwriter, but there's a whole lot more happening on Life on Earth, her second album. The New York Times has said: "She's not just telling stories; she's after incantation and trance." Sub Pop adds: "Transcending the mere folk tag, Fortino leaves behind her contemporaries... Drawing from disparate inspirational sources, from the avant-garde or from country musician Townes Van Zandt, Fortino's playing is no imitation. It stands as its own, giving a musical life to those themes that inhabit her lyricisms: love found and lost, places come and gone."

Consider Fortino, then, a "singer/songwriter" in the same class as Bill Callahan, Joanna Newsom, Nina Nastasia or Sam Beam of labelmate Iron & Wine. Go to "Development" and "Dreamer."

Sean Walsh and the National Reserve

Add Date: June 23

Artist: Sean Walsh and the National Reserve

Album: Homesick

Label: Lover's Dream

Genre: Folk, folk rock

Comments: From the promoter: "With its indie rock tinged with country, Motown, and classic rock 'n' roll, [the] debut album Homesick is a catalog of heartbreak, endless travel and loss of love and home. Layered with timeless horn lines and rumbling organ, even at first listen you'll feel like you're hearing your oldest friend talk to you from across the bar."

For fans of Ryan Adams/Whiskeytown, Old 97's and Mason Jennings. Start with the country-rock gem "You Know" and the slow-building opener "I'll Take the Wheel."

Those Darlins

Add Date: June 23

Artist: Those Darlins

Album: Those Darlins

Label: Oh Wow Dang

Genre: Alt-country, garage punk

Comments: Hailing from Murfreesboro, Tenn.--just a half-hour drive away from Nashville--Those Darlins combine country and punk in a way that brings to mind Hank Williams III. Claiming influences ranging from honky tonk legend Ernest Tubb to Atlanta garage rockers Black Lips, 20somethings Nikki Darlin, Jessi Darlin and Kelley Darlin have made a fully entertaining and musically terrific debut. A hit at this year's SXSW music festival, Those Darlins have also toured with Deer Tick, O'Death and Heartless Bastards, among others. Don't expect Those Darlins to show up on any charts, country or otherwise, but Billboard's Bill Werde has described them as "Patsy Cline for the punk era."

Start with "Wild One," "Red Light Love," "222" and "The Whole Damn Thing."

Shad

Add Date: June 23

Artist: Shad

Album: The Old Prince

Label: Black Box Recordings

Genre: Hip hop

Comments: The promoter says: "Shad (Shadrach Kabango) is quickly becoming one of Canada's most respected young artists. His sophomore record, The Old Prince, was received with top reviews by music publications across the board, snagged a Juno nomination for Best Rap Recording of the Year, and also secured a spot on the coveted Polaris Music Prize short-list."

This Kenyan-born MC is often compared to Murs, and he belongs in the company of Mr. Lif, Aesop Rock and Atmosphere. The Old Prince was issued in Canada in 2007, but is finally getting a proper U.S. release.

Throw Me the Statue

Add Date: June 23

Artist: Throw Me the Statue

Album: Creaturesque Radio Sampler

Label: Secretly Canadian

Genre: Rock, indie pop

Comments: Throw Me the Statue is an indie pop project spearheaded by Scott Reitherman, a musician from Seattle by way of New York and, originally, the San Francisco area. Their music is often likened to The Shins, Grandaddy and Beulah, and TMTS must have been a perfect fit on last year's tour with new Secretly Canadian labelmate Jens Lekman. Creaturesque, which will be the band's second album, is due out in August. In the meantime, start with "Ancestors" from this 3-song sampler.

War Tapes

Add Date: June 23

Artist: War Tapes

Album: The Continental Divide

Label: Sarathan

Genre: Rock, post-punk

Comments: L.A. band War Tapes make gloomy post-punk clearly influenced by the likes of Joy Division and The Cure. Those are fine bands to claim as forebears, of course, but the list of current groups doing this kind of thing is seemingly endless. And unfortunately, The Continental Divide doesn't do anything to distinguish itself from similar records from Editors, She Wants Revenge, The Bravery, etc., etc. Still, there's something to be said for the best form of flattery, when it's at least competently done. Check out "The Night Unfolds" and "Dreaming of You."

Amazing Baby

Add Date: June 23

Artist: Amazing Baby

Album: Rewild

Label: Shangri-La

Genre: Rock

Comments: New York's Amazing Baby, currently on tour with Phoenix, make music similar to that of their friends in MGMT, though Rewild is informed a little more by psychedelic rock, and is a little less synth-driven. Allmusic.com also compares them to Secret Machines, and this similarity is particularly noticeable toward the end of the record, on tracks like "Roverfrenz" and "Smoke Bros." Also check out "Invisible Palace."

Still Life Still

Add Date: June 23

Artist: Still Life Still

Album: Pastel EP

Label: Arts & Crafts

Genre: Rock

Comments: Toronto band Still Life Still is a new signing to Arts & Crafts, and they'll have an LP out on the label this fall. The Pastel EP will definitely appeal to fans of label anchor Broken Social Scene, whose Kevin Drew co-produced these tracks (and, presumably, the full-length as well).

Reverie Sound Revue

Add Date: June 23

Artist: Reverie Sound Revue

Album: Reverie Sound Revue

Label: Boompa

Genre: Rock

Comments: Reverie Sound Revue's dreamy, slightly jazzy pop would fit in somewhere between Saint Etienne and Slowdive. Broken Social Scene contributor Lisa Lobsinger's vocals are a perfect fit for the music, which Chromewaves says was "[b]uilt on a bed of dreamy, delay-laden guitars inflected by jazz but dedicated to pop." A very enjoyable record. Check out "An Anniversary Away" and "I Could Be Dangerous."

Bibio

Add Date: June 23

Artist: Bibio

Album: Ambivalence Avenue

Label: Warp

Genre: Defies classification

Comments: After several well-regarded releases on Mush Records, UK artist Bibio makes the jump to Warp (Grizzly Bear, Boards of Canada). Here's the promoter: "Anyone listening to Ambivalence Avenue will be immediately struck by the unusual array of music. Neither electronic nor rock, the tracks on this diverse collection of music have a distinct identity and [each] stands apart from the next, some vocal, some instrumental, from vintage disco beats to swirling expansive pieces to plaintive guitar songs.

"The... title lead track 'Ambivalence Avenue' showcases Bibio's knack for melody. As with 'All the Flowers', quaint and contrary lyrics hark back to that quintessentially British folk tradition of the '60s. In contrast, 'Fire Ant' and 'Sugarette' see Bibio exercising hip hop-oriented production skills, swapping Black Country for West Coast. And of course there are the richly layered, kaleidoscopic pieces such as 'Dwrcan', but what holds these seemingly disparate tracks together is the distinctively vintage 'Bibio' production aesthetic that permeates throughout."

The Mars Volta

Add Date: June 23

Artist: The Mars Volta

Album: Octahedron

Label: Warner Bros.

Genre: Rock, prog rock, post-hardcore

Comments: Basically, there are two types of people in this world: those who really, truly, passionately love The Mars Volta, and those who don't. I fall firmly in the latter camp. Their brand of progressive rock just doesn't do it for me. But I think that if you've enjoyed previous Mars Volta releases, you'll probably like Octahedron. Or maybe not--I've never really listened intensively to previous Mars Volta releases. Did I mention I'm not really a Mars Volta fan? Our prog rock reviewer, if we had one, would be gone for the summer.

Since that's admittedly not very helpful as a review, check out what Nate Chinen had to say about the album in The New York Times.

The single "Since We've Been Wrong" has been on the playlist for a few weeks, and since the album version has an impossibly long intro--I quite seriously thought there was something wrong with the CD--you can find the single version in the case along with the full-length.

Regina Spektor

Add Date: June 23

Artist: Regina Spektor

Album: Far

Label: Sire/Warner Bros.

Genre: Rock, folk pop

Comments: From the promoter: "Regina Spektor has always possessed an uncanny ability to turn the ordinary into the extraordinary, constantly demonstrating her acute sense of detail both in music and words. Her breakthrough Begin to Hope in 2006 connected the dots from her New York anti-folk beginnings to an audience finally ready for Regina's point of view, and Far sees her expanding even more. Working with a variety of producers this time, including Begin to Hope's David Kahne, Far takes the listener on a sonic journey with sweeping melodies juxtaposed against jaunty rhythms and its more somber moments, emotive vocals blend into a lush, soft place... only to return home enriched and elevated."

I thought Begin to Hope was top-heavy, burning out after a very good opening, while Far is a more pleasant listen from start to finish. Check out "Eet," "Machine," "Laughing With" and "Two Birds."

Top 5 Adds - June 16

Top 5 Adds - June 16

Sunset Rubdown
Rock Plaza Central
Foreign Born
Lord Cut-Glass
Tiny Masters of Today

Also check out: Dinosaur Jr., Eugene McGuinness, The Low Anthem, Matt Krefting, Mos Def, Patterson Hood, The Phenomenal Handclap Band, Stardeath and White Dwarfs, Sugarplum Fairies

Love Is Chemicals

Add Date: June 16

Artist: Love Is Chemicals

Album: Songs of the Summer Youth Brigade

Label: Three Ring

Genre: Rock

Comments: From the onesheet: "Love Is Chemicals formed in 2001... the band quickly bonded over a shared love of guitar-heavy '90s indie-rock such as Pavement, Built to Spill, and Sonic Youth. Their 2005 self-titled debut album found them shedding their more overt influences while retaining a similarly scruffy, slightly spacey, noisy-but-still-heavily-melodic vibe.

"With their upcoming Three Ring release Songs of the Summer Youth Brigade, Love Is Chemicals continues to extend and broaden their sound, marrying knotty, meandering guitars and shoegazer atmospherics to a songwriting sensibility informed equally by bright, tuneful West Coast indie and moody Brit-pop. With invaluable assistance from producer Christian Hanlon, the band has fashioned an album that is anthemic without being bombastic, dreamy without being lightweight, wistful without being twee, and noisy without being abrasive."

Sugarplum Fairies

Add Date: June 16

Artist: Sugarplum Fairies

Album: Chinese Leftovers

Label: Starfish

Genre: Rock

Comments: Sugarplum Fairies is the L.A.-based duo of Vienna (Austria, not Virginia) natives Silvia Ryder and Ben Bohm. They're often likened to Mazzy Star and Mojave 3, and Chinese Leftovers is a thoroughly enjoyable collection of slightly folksy, very dreamy pop that would fit right in with those two bands. Ryder sings on most tracks, and her beautifully gloomy voice brings to mind Hope Sandoval, Victoria Bergsman (Taken By Trees, formerly The Concretes) and Tracyanne Campbell (hence the promoter's comparison to Camera Obscura).

Listen to opener "A Story" and "I Hate Saturdays."

Mos Def

Add Date: June 16

Artist: Mos Def

Album: The Ecstatic

Label: Downtown

Genre: Hip hop

Comments: As his acting career has blossomed in recent years, music has sometimes seemed to be an afterthought for the brilliant Mos Def. His last two solo albums, 2004's The New Danger and 2006's True Magic, weren't bad, but they also weren't particularly memorable. Consider the aptly titled LP The Ecstatic a return to the form of the late '90s issues Black Star and Black on Both Sides. It's a superb hip hop record from start to finish, featuring production work from brothers Madlib and Oh No and French DJ Mr. Flash, as well as guest appearances from the other half of Black Star, Talib Kweli, and Georgia Anne Muldron.

Critical praise is pouring in. In particular, check out Nate Patrin's review on Pitchfork and Andy Kellman's article on AllMusic.com.

Doug Gillard

Add Date: June 16

Artist: Doug Gillard

Album: Call From Restricted

Label: 347

Genre: Rock

Comments: Cleveland's Doug Gillard has performed with Guided By Voices, Richard Bucker and many other artists across the rock spectrum. Call From Restricted will appeal to fans of GBV, as well as Elephant 6 bands like The Apples in Stereo and Elf Power. Start with "Time Is Nigh" and "From What I've Done."

Dinosaur Jr.

Add Date: June 16

Artist: Dinosaur Jr.

Album: Farm

Label: Jagjaguwar

Genre: Rock

Comments: Farm is the second Dinosaur Jr. album to be released since the band's original lineup of J Mascis, Lou Barlow and Murph reunited in 2005. Here's their new label Jagjaguwar on the album: "If [2007 issue] Beyond was Dinosaur Jr.'s return to form, Farm is proof that this band continues to deliver that which makes rock worth cranking to 11. At times wholly '70s guitar-epic, at times perfect for sitting by a babbling brook with Joni and Neil, Farm encompasses Dinosaur Jr.'s signature palette--soaring and distorted guitar, unshakable hooks, honey-rich melodies--songs that get into your head and, bouncing around happily, stay there."

One thing is for sure: Dinosaur Jr. have still got it. The whole 60-minute album is worth a listen, but in particular go to "Over It," 7-minute jam "Plans" and "I Want You to Know."

Tall Tall Trees

Add Date: June 16

Artist: Tall Tall Trees

Album: Tall Tall Trees

Label: Good Neighbor

Genre: Folk, alt-country

Comments: From the onesheet: "Tall Tall Trees is an alternative country-folk band based in Harlem, NY. With a sound that's heavily steeped in old-time and bluegrass music, yet riddled with fuzz pedals, iron maiden quotables, clanking percussion and surf harmonies, members Mike Savino (vocals, banjo, bass), Kyle Sanna (guitar, vocals), and Mathias Kunzli (drums, percussion, vocals) create music that is both traditional and innovative... [T]he TTT LP features 11 songs by songwriter Mike Savino, plus a song from the Muppets, whom the band identify as its primary influence. Savino's banjo is complemented by jangling guitars, toy box percussion and his own throaty vocals, serving up a range of tunes from indie-pop gems to full on bluegrass space-rock."

Or something like that. This is a fun record in the vein of The Avett Brothers, Langhorne Slim and The Felice Brothers. Check out "Spaceman."

Loop 2.4.3

Add Date: June 16

Artist: Loop 2.4.3

Album: Zodiac Dust

Label: Music Starts From Silence/Analog Arts

Genre: Defies classification

Comments: From the promoter: "In the tradition of sonic innovators like Steve Reich, Konono No. 1, Mike Oldfield and Brian Eno, Loop 2.4.3's new album flows through a vast array of sounds and rhythms across the nine tracks on Zodiac Dust. Loop 2.4.3 has performed with Clogs, The Books, Sufjan Stevens, Shara Worden (My Brightest Diamond/The Decemberists), Bell Orchestre, and as soloists with the Brooklyn Philharmonic at the BAM Opera House. Loop 2.4.3 employs the gamut of percussion instruments, from marimba and steel drum to tom-toms, bongos and snare drums, temple bowls and wood blocks, opera gongs and electronics."

Novalima

Add Date: June 16

Artist: Novalima

Album: Coba Coba Remixed

Label: Cumbancha

Genre: International, dance

Comments: From the label: "Following up on the buzz generated by their first international album Coba Coba and in anticipation of their upcoming summer tours in North America and Europe, we went to some of the world's top international DJs and asked them to remix their favorite songs. The result is a thrilling album of tracks for the dance floor and house party that pull from many corners of the international electronic music scene." Jason Bentley of KCRW's "Morning Becomes Eclectic" says, "Afro-Peruvian tradition collides with modern production techniques to create an infectious hybrid."

The Low Anthem

Add Date: June 16

Artist: The Low Anthem

Album: Oh My God, Charlie Darwin

Label: Nonesuch

Genre: Folk, alt-country

Comments: Since when did Providence become the alt-country music capital of the world? One week after receiving a brilliant record from John McCauley and his band Deer Tick, here comes another promising folk act from the Rhode Island capital. After a captivating performance at the SXSW festival earlier this year, here's what the BBC had to say about The Low Anthem: "Expect much flowerier words of praise thrown on this band in the future; they deserve everything said about them." Mojo called them "truly startling songwriters and instrumentalists. Theirs is a gloriously romantic vision of America that sits somewhere between Dylan and Waits."

To prove that point, Oh My God, Charlie Darwin features a recording of Tom Waits' Kerouac adaptation "Home I'll Never Be," one of a few raucous alt-country numbers on what is overall a calm, contemplative folk record. The Low Anthem are at their best on the more peaceful tracks--which feature simple acoustic strumming complemented by strings, pump organ and more--but the rocking "Champion Angel" and the gospel-tinged "OMGCD" prove the band's versatility. Still, my favorites were the quieter "Cage the Songbird" and "Charlie Darwin."

Math the Band

Add Date: June 16

Artist: Math the Band

Album: Don't Worry

Label: Slanty Shanty

Genre: Rock, synth pop, punk

Comments: From the promoter: "Math the Band started the day guitarist, vocalist, and computer programmer Kevin Steinhauser was kicked out of his local high school pop-punk band. Word of mouth was quickly set off after his self-released debut (2007) through positive press and support from fans of the 8-bit spaz punk project, which evolved into a full band with the addition of his girlfriend Justine Mainville on analog synths and a rotating cast of friends playing stand-up drums and backup synths."

Patterson Hood

Add Date: June 16

Artist: Patterson Hood

Album: Murdering Oscar (and other love songs)

Label: Ruth St.

Genre: Alt-country, rock, folk

Comments: Alabama native Patterson Hood wrote most of this album back in 1994, shortly after moving to Athens, Ga. and a couple of years before forming Drive-By Truckers. As a struggling young artist, he didn't have the funds to book studio space or hire additional musicians. And once he made a few bucks, the DBTs' success relegated the Murdering Oscar project to the back burner. Finally, a decade after recording a demo on cassette, Hood revisited the songs, and realized he wanted to give them a proper treatment. So he went into the studio with several Truckers; his father, David Hood, a renowned bassist and trombonist who founded the Muscle Shoals Sound Studio; and Will Johnson and Scott Danbom of Centro-Matic, who just happened to be in town. (Hood says "fate and business concerns" delayed the release four more years, but doesn't offer any more specific information.)

In the end, Murdering Oscar sounds like a slightly less aggressive (i.e. two guitars, not three) version of Drive-By Truckers. That's not a bad thing. Hood's songwriting skills are certainly highlighted as the record veers from alt-country to folk to driving country rock. Check out the title track, "Pollyanna" and "Heavy and Hanging."

Matt Krefting

Add Date: June 16

Artist: Matt Krefting

Album: I Couldn't Love You More

Label: Ecstatic Peace!

Genre: Folk, blues rock

Comments: A covers record from Matt Krefting (Believers, Son of Earth) on Thurston Moore's Ecstatic Peace! label. A fellow by the name of J Mascis shows up to shred the guitar on several songs, including "It's Gonna Be Easy" (Texas country and blues legend Doug Sahm) and "Lucille Has Messed My Mind Up" (Jeff Simmons of Frank Zappa's Mothers of Invention). Krefting also tackles British songwriters Van Morrison, Richard Thompson, John Martyn and Bill Fay; as well as The Grateful Dead ("To Lay Me Down"), The Band's Rick Danko and George Jones.

Lord Cut-Glass

Add Date: June 16

Artist: Lord Cut-Glass

Album: Lord Cut-Glass

Label: Chemikal Underground

Genre: Rock, folk pop

Comments: Lord Cut-Glass is the new project of Motherwell, Scotland native Alun Woodward. Lord Cut-Glass continues with the indie pop and chamber sounds that Woodward and his band, The Delgados, peddled successfully throughout the late '90s and early part of this decade; the late John Peel once called them "truly, one of the greatest bands in the world." I'm also reminded of another Scottish band, Arab Strap, whose music was released on The Delgados' own Chemikal Underground label. A very fine record that, minus Emma Pollock, would fit perfectly in The Delgados' discography. Check out "Look After Your Wife," "Picasso" and the majestically orchestral "A Pulse."

Tiny Masters of Today

Add Date: June 16

Artist: Tiny Masters of Today

Album: Skeletons

Label: Mute

Genre: Rock, garage punk

Comments: Brooklyn sibling duo Ivan and Ada are back with their second LP, and their first for Mute Records, which says: "So what does this new album sound like? Fans of the familiar shouting and sloganeering and general anti-establishment nose thumbing won't be disappointed, but the sonic palette has broadened somewhat. While their rag-tag sound is clearly informed by classic-era punk rock, they think nothing of incorporating hip-hop, electronica, dub, and even disco into a messy and uproarious concoction. The end result is frantic and funny, equally poignant and pugnacious. Politically charged and strikingly original, a curious pastiche of styles and subjects all channeled through their own, very unique, filter."

The kicker is that the two kids are ages 15 and 13. (Their debut, Bang Bang Boom Cake, was released when they were 13 and 11.) Their musical predecessors are bands that Ivan and Ada are way too young to remember, at least in their heyday, such as Wire, Devo and Pixies. While steeped in garage and classic punk rock styles, Skeletons is also a pop record that will appeal to fans of You Say Party! We Say Die! and CSS, whose Luiza Sa also praises Tiny Masters of Today.

Start with the title track and "Big Stick."

Warped Tour 2009

Add Date: June 16

Artist: Various Artists

Album: Warped Tour 2009 Compilation

Label: SideOneDummy

Genre: Compilations, rock, punk

Comments: The annual punk festival's 2009 compilation features previously unreleased songs from NOFX, The Ataris, Big D and the Kids Table, and new SideOneDummy signing Broadway Calls (unfortunately misspelled as "Broadway Kills" on the track listing), as well as music from Flogging Molly, Bad Religion, Underoath, The Bouncing Souls, Dear and the Headlights, Streetlight Manifesto, Meg & Dia, Anti-Flag, Chiodos, Thursday, Less Than Jake and more.

Eugene McGuinness

Add Date: June 16

Artist: Eugene McGuinness

Album: Eugene McGuinness

Label: Domino

Genre: Rock

Comments: Debut full-length from this 22-year-old Brit on Domino (Dirty Projectors, Animal Collective, Junior Boys). From the label: "Over the course of his self-titled album's thirty-five-or-so minutes, Eugene touches on everything from the post-punk sturm und drang of 'Fonz' to the skiffle-beat pop confections of 'Rings Around Rosa' to the disarmingly beautiful '30s-style balladeering of 'Those Old Black and White Movies'. It's nothing if not eclectic... If there's a song that best sums up the album's duality, however, it may just be the idiosyncratic chamber-pop of 'Disneyfied'."

"Disneyfied" is, indeed, the best song--well, at least the best FCC-friendly track, as about half the record is unplayable during daytime hours--on this issue from a musician whom AllMusic.com describes as "the Damon Albarn of the current set of neo-Brit-popsters," explaining that label as such: "Like Albarn, McGuinness is a singer and songwriter of varied tastes whose talents extend beyond what's currently fashionable, with an eye for mixing and matching unexpected influences... into a unique personal style."

Also check out "Fonz" and "Atlas."

Coralie Clement

Add Date: June 16

Artist: Coralie Clement

Album: Toystore

Label: Compass

Genre: Folk, international

Comments: The onesheet says: "Coralie Clement, the tri-lingual French pop singer (she records in French, English, and Italian), took a playful approach on her third album, Toystore. Backed by a montage of toy instruments (ukulele, penny-whistle, pocket comet, alto half-violin, slide-flute, Melodica, maracas, shaker, xylophone, baby Farfisa) Clement's breathy, enticing voice is appropriately and amusingly disconcerting when singing lyrics such as: 'That's the life, that's the life we lead. Sedatives and cafe creme' on 'C'est la vie'."

Born in 1982, Clement is often likened to '60s and '70s French pop artists like Jane Birkin, Serge Gainsbourg and Francoise Hardy. For a more modern comparison, think Keren Ann.

The Phenomenal Handclap Band

Add Date: June 16

Artist: The Phenomenal Handclap Band

Album: The Phenomenal Handclap Band

Label: Friendly Fire

Genre: Defies classification

Comments: From the promoter: "The Phenomenal Handclap Band is a tight-knit aggregation of musicians and artists from Lower Manhattan and Brooklyn... The collective started when [Daniel] Collas and [Sean] Marquand, two New York underground club DJs, became restless with the concept of playing other people's music. Both... had an almost encyclopedic knowledge of esoteric music ranging from Brazilian soul to vintage psych-rock, so becoming producers seemed to be the next logical step... They have crafted a sound that is equal parts anthemic, dancefloor-oriented and orchestral, borrowing elements from progressive rock, disco, electro and psychedelia."

I kept trying to pin down this record by genre, but finally gave up. This hybrid of classic funk and soul, '70s disco, '60s psych pop, and timeless rock should find a very wide audience. Guests include members of TV on the Radio and Calla. Check out the promoter's recommendations.

Foreign Born

Add Date: June 16

Artist: Foreign Born

Album: Person to Person

Label: Secretly Canadian

Genre: Rock

Comments: California band Foreign Born make indie rock that culls from many influences (Talking Heads, David Bowie, Echo & the Bunnymen) without copying anyone's sound, and reminds you of many modern bands (The Walkmen, Radiohead, early Interpol) without sounding exactly like another. In my book, those are both good attributes. Person to Person, the band's first release for Secretly Canadian (Antony & the Johnsons, Jens Lekman) is a quite suitable followup to their 2006 debut On the Wing Now. Try "That Old Sun" and "Vacationing People."

Taking Back Sunday

Add Date: June 16

Artist: Taking Back Sunday

Album: New Again

Label: Warner Bros.

Genre: Rock, pop punk, emo

Comments: I don't claim to be a fan of Taking Back Sunday--this must come as a shock to those of you who read this blog--but I'll readily admit that they do what they do quite well. And what they do is upbeat, punk-infused pop rock that borders on emo and, occasionally, screamo. Like any previous TBS release, New Again will appeal to fans of Sunny Day Real Estate, The Early November, Jimmy Eat World, and so forth. "Sink Into Me" is the lead single.

Sunset Rubdown

Add Date: June 16

Artist: Sunset Rubdown

Album: Dragonslayer

Label: Jagjaguwar

Genre: Rock

Comments: Another fine record from Sunset Rubdown, which started out as an outlet for Spencer Krug's lo-fi solo work but has expanded into a 5-member experimental pop monster with the recent addition of bassist/percussionist Mark Nicol. But Krug--also known for his work with Wolf Parade, Swan Lake, Frog Eyes, Fifths of Seven, Led Zeppelin, The Three Tenors, The Grateful Dead and The Mormon Tabernacle Choir*--is still the driving force, and his penchant for writing arty-yet-enjoyable pop rock songs is at the forefront of Dragonslayer. However, unlike the 2007 issue Random Spirit Layer, this new album is stripped down and, as a result, much more accessible. Start with the slightly epic "Idiot Heart" and "Black Swan," and don't miss the excellent 10-minute closer "Dragon's Lair."


* - A poor attempt at a joke relating to the fact that Krug and Wolf Parade bandmate Dan Boeckner are involved in a seemingly endless string of other musical projects; I attempted to make the line of demarcation so painfully obvious that you can't miss where the real list stops and the fake one begins. Though I do imagine that Krug and/or Boeckner would put an interesting spin on "Stairway to Heaven."

Placebo

Add Date: June 16

Artist: Placebo

Album: Battle for the Sun

Label: Vagrant

Genre: Rock

Comments: I've never really been a big Placebo fan, but I can still tell that there's something amiss with Battle for the Sun, the band's sixth studio record, and the first released in the U.S. on Vagrant (EELS, So Many Dynamos, The Hold Steady). Here's a snippet of Hugh Montgomery's review in the UK's The Observer: "Since their '90s heyday, Placebo have drifted ever further into self-parody, their grinding gothic angst as strained as Brian Molko's nasal whine... [On Battle for the Sun] sweeping string arrangements are liberally employed, 'Ashtray Heart' conjures a weirdly laddish vibe via chanted backing vocals, and 'The Never-Ending Why' has a mariachi-flavored climax. Sadly, what remains unchanged is their propensity for the clunking riff and the overwrought lyric, both suggesting a band still submerged in a state of overgrown adolescence."

That having been said, if you like Placebo's earlier work, you'll probably enjoy this record. Check out the tracks mentioned above, as well as "Happy You're Gone."

Stardeath and White Dwarfs

Add Date: June 16

Artist: Stardeath and White Dwarfs

Album: The Birth

Label: Warner Bros.

Genre: Rock, psych rock, psych pop

Comments: After hearing the band's name, listening to the music, and/or viewing the album artwork, you will be thoroughly unsurprised to find out that Stardeath and White Dwarfs is the band of Dennis Coyne, the nephew of Flaming Lips frontman Wayne Coyne. The Birth is a very impressive debut, at times sounding quite similar to the last studio record of Uncle Wayne's band, At War With the Mystics. Try "The Sea Is On Fire" and "Keep Score."

Rock Plaza Central

Add Date: June 16

Artist: Rock Plaza Central

Album: ... At the Moment of Our Most Needing, or If Only They Could Turn Around, They Would Know They Weren't Alone

Label: Paper Bag

Genre: Folk, folk rock

Comments: Chris Eaton and his Toronto folk collective exploded onto the scene with their 2006 release Are We Not Horses, reissued in the U.S. by Yep Roc the following year. It was a record that showed a tremendous amount of promise, and that has now been fulfilled. Eaton is a novelist by trade--... At the Moment of Our Most Needing was supposedly inspired by Faulkner, specifically A Light in August, which would explain, among other things, the unwieldy album and track titles--and he's able to translate his prose quite well into song. The music is an amalgamation of guitars, strings, horns, percussion and presumably whatever else he and his band could find to add to the tunes. The band is fairly and favorably compared to Neutral Milk Hotel, Bonnie "Prince" Billy and The Decemberists.

Go to "Oh I Can," "O Lord, How Many Are My Foes" and "We Are Full of Light (That Blinds Us at the Moment of Our Most Needing)."

Top 5 Adds - June 9

Top 5 Adds - June 9

Dirty Projectors
Deer Tick
Son Volt
The Lovely Feathers
EELS

Also check out: Elizabeth & the Catapult, Joan of Arc, Portland Cello Project, Rancid, Sonic Youth

Anton Sword & the We Ours

Add Date: June 9

Artist: Anton Sword & the We Ours

Album: I Like Your Mind (EP)

Label: Kiss Chase

Genre: Rock, pop

Comments: Piano-driven pop from Anton Sword and his backing band, the We Ours. Start with "Anybody Else."

Girl in a Coma

Add Date: June 9

Artist: Girl in a Coma

Album: Trio B.C.

Label: Blackheart

Genre: Rock

Comments: From the onesheet: "In 2006, the girls played for Joan Jett and long-time songwriting partner and producer, Kenny Laguna, at New York's Knitting Factory... Jett and Laguna were so impressed with the band that they signed GIAC to their label, Blackheart Records, on the spot... As with their first album [2007's Both Before I'm Gone], the end result [Trio B.C.] is a unique amalgamation of eclectic influences: oldies, rockabilly, '90s alternative, and contemporary bands both indie and mainstream."

Jett plays guitar and sings backing vocals on "Joanie in the City," and also check out "El Monte" and "Static Mind."

Dirty Projectors

Add Date: June 9

Artist: Dirty Projectors

Album: Bitte Orca

Label: Domino

Genre: Rock, experimental, pop

Comments: First off, let me say that Bitte Orca is absolutely brilliant, a stunning record from start to finish. It's easily the best Dirty Projectors release, a great leap forward from 2007's impressive Rise Above, and should find its way on to as many year-end Top 10 lists as Grizzly Bear's Veckatimest and Animal Collective's Meriweather Post Pavilion. But I worry that I don't have anything original to add about Bitte Orca, so I'll cop out and quote from two other reviews.

First, you kids like the Vampire Weekend, right? That band's lead singer, Ezra Koenig--who just so happens to be a former touring member of Dirty Projectors--reviewed their 2003 debut The Glad Fact, essentially a solo record from the band's frontman, by saying: "Dave Longstreth is making his own f***ed-up version of American music." Six years later, here's Koenig on Bitte Orca and its place in the Dirty Projectors discography: "[T]hat awkward phrase is crawling back into my head... I start to realize that this album can't be explained as reductively as Rise Above ('Damaged reimagined') or The Getty Address ('concept album about Don Henley with nods to modern R&B'). This is exciting... At first, I listen to this record hunting for a theme. I hear big riffs that make me think of classic rock, so I think, 'Is this Led Zeppelin deconstructed?' I hear folk guitar picking and gorgeous strings, so I think, 'Is this '60s folk-pop re-imagined?' But, as is usually the case, my lame attempts at categorization fade away and soon all I can hear is Dirty Projectors."

Now a selection from Paul Thompson's terrific review on Pitchfork: "Now comes Bitte Orca, the band's best, and certainly most likable, album by a mile. Bitte doesn't actually switch up the Rise Above formula that much: Intricate (if roomier) full-band arrangements abound, Longstreth largely sticks with his clear King Sunny Ade-meets-Jimmy Page guitar acrobatics, and he's still singing his strange, loping songs with that voice. But it whittles down the jarring time signatures and off-kilter arrangements and vocal bleats (er, for the most part) to create a triumphant art-pop record destined to please longtime fans and win him a whole slew of new ones. The key is that, rather surprisingly, Bitte Orca is one of the more enjoyable indie-rock records in an awfully long time; remarkable by any means, but even moreso considering the source. It's breezy without a hint of slightness, tuneful but with its fair share of tumult, concise and inventive and replayable and plain old fun. It is the sound of Longstreth the composer and Longstreth the pop songwriter finally settling on a few things together after years of tug-of-war between the two."

Go read the full review--it's certainly worth your time--and you can also watch Paul Thompson talking about the record on ABC News here.

Hopefully, that gives you a better idea of Bitte Orca, and a much greater grasp of the record than I could have provided. I will add that, unfortunately and unfairly, Longstreth's voice--as alluded to by Thompson--has long been a dealbreaker for many listeners. If that's the case, check out "Stillness Is the Move" and "Two Doves," in which Amber Coffman and Angel Deradoorian take the lead. But you'll be missing out on many of the album's other highlights, in particular "Useful Chamber," "Cannibal Resource," "No Intention" and "Temecula Sunrise."

Joan of Arc

Add Date: June 9

Artist: Joan of Arc

Album: Flowers

Label: Polyvinyl

Genre: Rock, experimental

Comments: From the promoter: "Tim Kinsella is one of the last truly original voices in indie rock, and his long-running Joan of Arc project reaches its apex on Flowers, Kinsella's most cohesive artistic achievement to date! Written and recorded in two days, Flowers is a distillation of everything these is to love about Joan of Arc: the chaos and contradictions, the unconventional juxtaposition of acoustic and electronic instruments, and the utterly unique, indefinable quality that Kinsella brings to his music. Compelling, fascinating music that doesn't compromise."

A very good follow-up to the 2008 issue Boo Human, and the 10th record overall as Joan of Arc, Flowers is definitely worth a listen. On the great indie label Polyvinyl (of Montreal, Asobi Seksu, Loney Dear). Check out "Life Sentence/Twisted Ladder," "The Garden of Cartoon Exclamations" and the fine instrumental "A Delicious Herbal Laxative."

Portland Cello Project

Add Date: June 9

Artist: Portland Cello Project

Album: The Thao and Justin Power Sessions

Label: Kill Rock Stars

Genre: Folk, rock, classical

Comments: The Kill Rock Stars family is understandably in mourning due to the untimely passing of brilliant singer/songwriter Jeff Hanson, who died in a likely accident at his home last week at the age of 31. Our thoughts go to Hanson's family, as well as his musical family at the Olympia, Wash.-based label.

Hopefully as a much-needed diversion, the latest release from KRS (The Thermals, Deerhoof, Elliott Smith) is from the Portland Cello Project, an ensemble of fine cellists who tackle everything from Norfolk & Western to Justin Timberlake. For this record, they've collaborated with labelmate Thao Nguyen, performing several songs from her excellent 2008 issue We Brave Bee Stings and All, as well as another local artist in Justin Power. The results are excellent. I'm admittedly a little partial to Thao's music, so I would recommend the PCP's versions of "Tallymarks" and "Beat (Health, Life, and Fire)," but there are also two terrific songs with Justin Power: "Seeds May Fall" and "Hungry Liars." Also check out the band's version of Pantera's "Mouth for War."

Peter Project

Add Date: June 9

Artist: Peter Project

Album: Peter Project

Label: Fuzzy Logic

Genre: Hip hop, electronica

Comments: The promoter says: "Equipped with his vital MPC sampler, a few turntables, whirring organs, keyboard synths and vintage vinyl records, Peter Project churns out predominantly instrumental soundtracks, infused with friendly old school hip-hop beats, bossa nova swingin' soul, nerdy electro sounds we all seem to love so much, all held together with that lovable lo-fi indie rock vibe... [His] day job as music composer for TV (including "Sesame Street") carries over well to his RJD2 head-bopping beats and style."

Check out "The Same Obnoxious Tie" and "The Golden Trumpet."

Hecuba

Add Date: June 9

Artist: Hecuba

Album: Paradise

Label: Manimal Vinyl

Genre: Electronica

Comments: From the promoter: "Hecuba's Paradise is a vibrant record with broad strokes and intense details... In the song 'Miles Away,' a group of flutes becomes an ambulance siren. On 'Tom & Jerry,' a synth smack is a cartoon cat's fist. A dissonant choir embodies a woman's unconscious thoughts in 'Extra Connection,' and a detached, automated voice morphs into a bare, screaming saxophone in 'The Magic.' As comfortable on the dance floor as in the concert hall, Paradise moves from sparse, introspective moments to harsh, violent crashes and syncopated beats; from Ranchero trumpet blasts to full-on orchestral pop, and '50s crooner electro-bop techno doo-wop..."

Post Honeymoon

Add Date: June 9

Artist: Post Honeymoon

Album: Post Honeymoon

Label: Two Thumbs Down

Genre: Rock, post-punk

Comments: The promoter says: "Post Honeymoon strips bare and slows down the pop songs Nick [Kraska] and Rachel [Shindelman] perfected while playing in other outfits... Think Siouxsie Sioux meets The Motels, meets Love & Rockets (without the guitars)." Randomville.com adds: "They're heavily influenced by the post-punk of bands like The Birthday Party (clearly), Shellac (not noticeable) and early PJ Harvey (my opinion). The influences are there, yes, but they've been digested and what comes forth is something new and very throat grabbing."

Start with "The Night Before."

Rancid

Add Date: June 9

Artist: Rancid

Album: Let the Dominoes Fall

Label: Hellcat/Epitaph

Genre: Rock, punk

Comments: From the label: "Rancid's Let the Dominoes Fall is essential Rancid: a readymade punk classic that will take its place beside And Out Come the Wolves as a touchstone of the genre, filled with two-minute gems that every kid in America will be singing along with this summer. Led by first single 'Last One to Die'--a defiant anthem to brotherhood and commitment already tearing it up at modern rock radio--Let the Dominoes Fall both continues and expands on Rancid's legacy, as the new songs show a lyrical depth perhaps best shown in two songs that center the album, 'Civilian Ways' and 'The Bravest Kids.' Punk has often seen the world as 'us vs. them,' but with these two songs--a sensitive portrait of a returning serviceman and a loving tribute to those that serve--Rancid show empathy for working Americans that recalls the songs of Springsteen or Petty. Rancid have set their sights on greater things, aimed, and hit the bullseye."

Sonic Youth

Add Date: June 9

Artist: Sonic Youth

Album: The Eternal

Label: Matador

Genre: Rock, experimental

Comments: Perhaps the most noteworthy thing surrounding Sonic Youth's new studio record is that it's being released by the fine folks at Matador Records. (Not that a couple of decades with the major DGC/Geffen kept the band from experimenting and pushing boundaries.) A band that needs no introduction is now matched up with a label that needs no introduction; if you're unfamiliar with either, you really shouldn't be working at a college radio station.

What's there left to say about one of the best and most significant bands in the history of American rock? Not much, except that Kim, Thurston and company can still crank out fine music. As a whole, The Eternal probably won't be mentioned in the same breath as the band's unparalleled run in the late '80s and early '90s, but there are 12 very good songs on here. From a radio standpoint, I really liked "Sacred Trickster" (which has already been floating around the playlist in single form) and "No Way."

The Lovely Feathers

Add Date: June 9

Artist: The Lovely Feathers

Album: Fantasy of the Lot

Label: Sparks Music

Genre: Rock, indie pop

Comments: Montreal's Lovely Feathers make exuberant, thoughtful pop music that immediately brings to mind Unicorns; indeed, they used to share a label, Equator Records, with the Unicorns' descendants in Islands. After disappearing for a few years following the release of Hind Hind Legs in 2006, Mark Kupfert and his band have resurfaced with a new issue on the Toronto indie label Sparks Music. Fans of I'm From Barcelona, Shout Out Louds and indie pop in general should listen to "Long Walks," "Lowiza" and "Ossified Homes."

Pigface

Add Date: June 9

Artist: Pigface

Album: 6

Label: Full Effect

Genre: Rock, industrial

Comments: From the promoter: "Led by Killing Joke, Public Image Ltd., Ministry, NIN drummer Martin Atkins, Pigface has seen visits from such luminaries as Steve Albini to Black Francis, Trent Reznor to Flea. The underlying feel is industrial, but it's also a lot of other things that just don't fit in any category." Says Ink 19 magazine: "Pigface combines the best elements of industrial, hard rock and techno into a brew that is best experienced at extreme volume... they have consistently created a musical experience unlike any other, driving, relentlessly innovative, and dangerous."

This sounds just about like what a band called Pigface should sound like. The revolving lineup of musicians surrounding Atkins has been making music for almost 20 years. This is not my thing, but they're really good at what they do.

Nuke the Soup

Add Date: June 9

Artist: Nuke the Soup

Album: Make Waves Not War

Label: Meteor

Genre: Rock

Comments: Nuke the Soup is the new project of Mark Davison, a founding member of Cubic Feet. (No, I've never heard of them, either.) Make Waves Not War is a set of catchy pop rock tunes. Try "Filled With Dread" and "Ocean."

Dodd Ferrelle

Add Date: June 9

Artist: Dodd Ferrelle

Album: Lonely Parades

Label: Two Sheds

Genre: Alt-country

Comments: Athens, Ga. artist Dodd Ferrelle makes solid alt-country that will appeal to fans of the Old 97's and The Mavericks. His voice is slightly haunting, yet still very accessible--in other words, perfect for the genre--and the instrumentation on Lonely Parades is nice, incorporating pedal steel, horns and, on closer "Life's a Dream," a perfectly eerie accompaniment: the saw. Check out "Miss Bliss" and "Gardens Disappear."

Deer Tick

Add Date: June 9

Artist: Deer Tick

Album: Born on Flag Day

Label: Partisan

Genre: Folk, alt-country

Comments: Deer Tick's John McCauley isn't secretive about his love for the music of Hank Williams Sr. Two records into the Providence, R.I. native's career, he's already drawing comparisons to the likes of Townes Van Zandt and Gram Parsons. Deer Tick has been buzzed about by blogs big and small, and they've also been profiled by the likes of Brian Williams. (His report is on MSNBC online here.) To find out why this all makes sense--and while maybe a bit premature, such high praise is deserved--listen to Born on Flag Day. It's a terrific record, incorporating elements of folk, singer/songwriter, traditional country, rock and blues.

There's not a bad song on the album, but in particular, check out "Hell on Earth," "Easy," "Little White Lies" and "Straight Into a Storm."

Elizabeth & the Catapult

Add Date: June 9

Artist: Elizabeth & the Catapult

Album: Taller Children

Label: Verve Forecast

Genre: Rock, folk pop

Comments: From the onesheet: "The title of Elizabeth & the Catapult's Verve Forecast debut album Taller Children reflects the unique blend of pop playfulness and grown-up introspection that defines Elizabeth Abby Ziman's distinctive songwriting. Such memorable originals as 'Rainiest Day of Summer,' 'Apathy,' 'The Hang Up' and 'Hit the Wall' embody a vibrant mix of open-hearted wonder, whimsical humor and forthright emotional insight, merging classic pop melodicism with an array of acoustic textures, jazz twists and orchestral flourishes. The quality of the songs--including a memorable reading of the Leonard Cohen classic 'Everybody Knows'--is matched by intimate, effortlessly soulful performances by the Brooklyn trio, which includes guitarist Pete Lalish and drummer Danny Molad."

Ziman's voice sounds a lot like Inara George's; Taller Children immediately brings to mind the album that George (vocalist for The Bird and the Bee) did with Van Dyke Parks. There are also elements of Nellie McKay and both Wainwright siblings in the music. Very nicely done.

EELS

Add Date: June 9

Artist: EELS

Album: Hombre Lobo: 12 Songs of Desire

Label: Vagrant

Genre: Rock

Comments: This is the first EELS studio record since 2005's Blinking Lights and Other Revelations. Mark "E" Everett's long-running defiance of musical convention continues, as grungy garage-rock numbers are interspersed with EELS' trademark skewed pop songs throughout Hombre Lobo. There's nothing new, or particularly spectacular, about anything on here, but it's another collection that fans will enjoy, and that latecomers to Everett's music will appreciate. Check out "That Look You Give That Guy," "In My Dreams" and the raucous "Tremendous Dynamite" and "Fresh Blood."

Son Volt

Add Date: June 9

Artist: Son Volt

Album: American Central Dust

Label: Rounder

Genre: Folk, alt-country

Comments: A decade and a half after the dissolution of Uncle Tupelo, Jay Farrar and Son Volt continue to make good, relevant country music. (Music 101 lesson: The other band to form from the remains of Uncle Tupelo is a small-time outfit called Wilco.) American Central Dust is Son Volt's sixth studio album, and the first for Rounder Records, the home of Delta Spirit, Alison Krauss, Bela Fleck, and many other folk music all-stars and up-and-comers.

Whereas recent Son Volt efforts would best be called country-rock, the new release takes a step back toward traditional country. Steel guitar and fiddle come to the forefront, as do Farrar's sharp lyrics. There are still some rocking numbers, in particular "No Turning Back," but the best songs on American Central Dust are a notch or two quieter, such as the folk rock tunes "Dynamite" and "Strength and Doubt," as well as the country ballads "Pushed Too Far" and "Cocaine and Ashes."

Top 5 Adds - June 2

Top 5 Adds - June 2

Tiga
LANDy
Iggy Pop
So Many Dynamos
Rubies

Also check out: Busdriver, City Center, Magic Wands, Miike Snow, The Warlocks

Wand

Add Date: June 2

Artist: Wand

Album: Hard Knox

Label: Ecstatic Peace!

Genre: Folk, folk rock

Comments: A collection of B-sides and other previously unreleased songs from James Jackson Toth's (Wooden) Wand project. Much of Toth's older tunes, particularly those released as Wooden Wand & the Vanishing Voice, took an experimental, open-ended approach to folk music, but the material on Hard Knox--much like Toth's 2008 release, Waiting in Vain--is more straightforward folk rock, at times bordering on alt-country. Check out "Lady of Situations" and "Trails."

So Many Dynamos

Add Date: June 2

Artist: So Many Dynamos

Album: The Loud Wars

Label: Vagrant

Genre: Rock, math rock

Comments: Hailing from the St. Louis suburb of Edwardsville, Ill., So Many Dynamos make the jump to Vagrant (The Hold Steady, Alkaline Trio, EELS) for their third LP. The band's mix of angular indie, math, experimental and dance rock styles has earned them comparisons that range from The Faint to Ra Ra Riot to Battles. When no one can pin down your sound, that's generally a good thing, and So Many Dynamos continue their musical progression on The Loud Wars, produced by Death Cab's Chris Walla.

Try "Glaciers," "Oh, The Devastation!" and "The Novelty of Haunting."

The Warlocks

Add Date: June 2

Artist: The Warlocks

Album: The Mirror Explodes

Label: Tee Pee

Genre: Rock, psychedelic rock

Comments: The Mirror Explodes is the sixth studio record from L.A. band The Warlocks. Says the promoter: "Their unique two drummers-with-four guitarists formation produced a relentless, hypnotic wall of sound that suggests a collision between classic psychedelia, Krautrock and Velvet Underground-style rock and roll."

For fans of The Black Angels, Pink Mountaintops and The Brian Jonestown Massacre. Check out "Static Eyes," "The Midnight Sun" and "Red Camera."

Rubies

Add Date: June 2

Artist: Rubies

Album: Explode From the Center

Label: Telle

Genre: Rock, indie pop

Comments: It's pretty easy to dub Oakland's Rubies as a female version of Kings of Convenience, and I'm afraid I won't be able to avoid the temptation. After all, one-half of that Norwegian duo, Eirik Glambek-Boe, performs on Rubies' debut; and, as with the last KOC issue, 2004's Riot on an Empty Street, Feist is a guest on Explode From the Center, singing on "I Feel Electric" and "The Truth and the Lies." Starting with a KOC/Feist-like folk pop blend, Rubies add in small traces of electronica that bring to mind Erlend Oye's disco-informed project Whitest Boy Alive. The end result is a well-crafted pop record. The praise and support of Feist has helped put Rubies on the map, but their music will be what keeps them there.

In particular, I liked "Stand in a Line," "Diamond on Fire" and "Room Without a Key."

Busdriver

Add Date: June 2

Artist: Busdriver

Album: Jhelli Beam

Label: Anti-

Genre: Hip hop

Comments: From the record label Anti- (Jason Lytle, Neko Case, Nick Cave): "A dashing young figure in the Los Angeles underground hip hop scene, Busdriver returns with his latest, Jhelli Beam--both smart and smart-ass, theatrical without being pompous, and, as always, funny as hell. BD's legendarily breath-defying flow teeters precariously on top of samples of classical music, jazz drumming and proggy guitar parts, without ever losing sight of the electronic music that helped define his sound, enthralled fans and stood out from the soggy beats that weighed down much of his contemporaries' work... The sum of Jhelli Beam's seemingly disparate parts creates a record that is mindfully engaging and booty shaking at the same time--a wholly unique take on what an underground hip hop album should be."

This is really solid stuff; guests include Nick Thorburn--Busdriver has appeared on some of Islands' previous work--the MC Nocando and Deerhoof's John Dieterich. Unfortunately, this isn't a clean edit, so the daytime radio pickings are slim. Try "Split Seconds (Between Nannies and Swamis)" or "Manchuria."

Iggy Pop

Add Date: June 2

Artist: Iggy Pop

Album: Preliminaires

Label: Astralwerks

Genre: Rock, jazz

Comments: Yes, you read that right: an Iggy Pop record that can be classified as "jazz." Here's the label's description: "Iggy Pop takes on the language of romance and puts a decidedly French twist on his new album, Preliminaires... [The album] highlights another facet of the Iggy Pop persona, focusing more on jazz arrangements and the distinctive, rich baritone heard on classics like 'Nightclubbing' and his 1998 duet with French legend Francoise Hardy on the song 'I'll Be Seeing You.'

"On the record, Iggy even sings one song in French, a cover of jazz standard 'Les Feuilles Mortes (Autumn Leaves)', a song widely associated with French legends Yves Montand and Edith Piaf. Other titles include the New Orleans-influenced 'King of the Dogs', and 'How Insensitive', a jazzy bossanova standard composed by Antonio Carlos Jobim. There are also more raucous moments, like the swamp-rock stylings of 'Nice to Be Dead'."

This is as bizarre as it sounds, but overall the style really works for Iggy Pop. All of the tracks listed in the above paragraph are recommended.

Tiga

Add Date: June 2

Artist: Tiga

Album: Ciao!

Label: Last Gang/Turbo

Genre: Electronica, dance

Comments: On "Sex O'Clock," Tiga sings these lines: "It's sex o'clock/You need the time/I got the time/It's sex o'clock." This could either be unforgivably campy or pathetically ironic, but with Tiga, it's fortunately neither. The Montreal native's penchant for laying down great beats--he's in high demand as a remixer--underneath tongue-in-cheek vocals is manifested in these electro-house jams. And it certainly helps his cause to have the likes of James Murphy (LCD Soundsystem) in cahoots; Murphy produced that song, as well as "Gentle Giant," which he co-wrote. There are similarly great moments throughout Ciao!, in particular the lead single "Shoes," "Turn the Night On" and "Mind Dimension."

The Ruse

Add Date: June 2

Artist: The Ruse

Album: Midnight in the City

Label: Self-released

Genre: Rock

Comments: Go to The Ruse's MySpace page, and you'll be hit with a big banner announcing that "Beautiful Is Gone," the lead track from Midnight in the City, will be the iTunes Single of the Week from June 9-15. It's a very big and very catchy rock song, but it also means that this L.A. band spends the rest of the album trying to live up to its level. At some points (in particular "Come Here Come On") they do, but at others there's a big dropoff. Still, "Beautiful Is Gone" is certainly worth a listen. For fans of U2, Snow Patrol and the like.