Balkan Beat Box

Add Date: March 30

Artist: Balkan Beat Box

Album: Blue Eyed Black Boy

Label: National Geographic

Genre: International/Hip-Hop

Comments: Awww yea. Balkan Beat Box is back, and in awesome form. I'm a huge fan of Balkan Beat Box, a collective combined of Tomer Yosef, Ori Kaplan (of 2001-2004 Gogol Bordello, and Firewater) and Tamir Muskat (also Firewater, and JUF--the gypsy-dub collaboration between him and Eugene Hutz of Gogol Bordello). The Balkan Beat Box style is pretty much what their name implies---a mashup of Balkan-Meditearranean traditional tunes combined with electronic, jazz, dub, hip-hop and pure swagger. It's absurdly creative and out-there, in the best possible way--this record (their third original, forth if you're counting a remix record) recorded in Belgrade and Tel Aviv, features an intense blend of global sounds and urban edge.

On Blue Eyes Black Boy, the group's first record on the Nat Geo Music label, there's a fair amount of rap-esque vocals, and less traditional vocals than on their previous records, but the instrumentation is still out in full force and so is the dub. The beats are ridiculous, as to be expected, and the energy level is as high as usual. It's certainly not going to be everyone's cup of tea, but for those of us who enjoy international music and left-field hip hop and dub, it's sure to impress. Good luck sitting still for this record.

Arctic Monkeys

Add Date: March 30

Artist: Arctic Monkeys

Album: My Propeller (single)

Label: Domino

Genre: Rock

Comments: "My Propeller" is the third single from the third Arctic Monkeys album "Humbug"--a stellar song from a stellar album. The single also includes 3 new b-sides, "Joining the Dots" (a brooding, rhythmic track), "The Afternoon's Hat" (heavy-bass and tight guitar, pretty typical Turner) and "Don't Forget Whose Legs You're On" (another slightly brooding track, with piano and breathy vocals). For those of us in a bit of an Arctic Monkeys withdrawl, this collection will tide us over.

Slow Club

Add Date: March 30

Artist: Slow Club

Album: Yeah, So

Label: Moshi Moshi

Genre: Pop-Rock

Comments: Sheffield, England duo Slow Club creates gorgeous pop songs--sometimes with full instrumentation, sometimes more folk-y--with shared male/female vocals and constant harmonies. Some tracks have sparse guitar works, others are full of rhythmic drums and heavy guitar, but the vocals are perpetually highlighted. The music is catchy, well-executed, and unfront--it's uncomplicated but hardly simple. Start with tracks 1, 2, and 4.

Communist Daughter

Add Date: March 30

Artist: Communist Daughter

Album: Soundtrack to the End

Label: Grain Belt

Genre: Acoustic Pop

Comments: Soundtrack to the End, the debut album from Communist Daughter (yup, like the NMH song) is a collection of wistful, melodic pop songs--the sound is gentle but not boring, with an appropriate amount of folk-influences, combining to make a nostalgic and melancholy record that, somehow, is more comforting than depressing. "Speed of Sound" is absolutely beautiful, with simple yet effective harmonies, "Oceans" is fuller-sounding, and "Tumbleweed" is gentle acoustic pop with a slight touch of background reverb. An impressive debut, to say the least.

Note: Melissa Maerz from Rolling Stone says "Fragile, daydreaming harmonies. Swirling synths that spin and spin until they fall down dizzy. Steady-galloping drums that coolly pass you by....Yes, there's a good kind of sadness, and this is what is sounds like".

Codeine Velvet Club

Add Date: March 30

Artist: Codeine Velvet Club

Album: Codeine Velvet Club

Label: Dangerbird

Genre: Pop

Comments: Codeine Velvet Club is made up of The Fratellis' Jon Lawler and singer/songwriter Lou Hickey, a duo who have a "shared love of '60s boy-girl duets, dramatic orchestral pop, dark postwar Hollywood and Las Vegas romanticism". Their self-titled record makes these influences clear--it's big, full orchestral pop instrumentation (the orchestral score for the album was written by Belle & Sebastian's Mick Cooke), highlighting sweet but substantial male/female vocals. Bold but not aggressive, the record is equally '60s wall of sound and modern indie-pop. Start with tracks 1, 2, 5, 7, and 11.

Rafter

Add Date: March 30

Artist: Rafter

Album: Animal Feelings

Label: Asthmatic Kitty

Genre: Experimental Pop

Comments: Eclectic, quirky experimental indie-pop-rock features on Rafter's latest release, Animal Feelings, with bits of R&B and funk thrown in. The record is weirdly cohesive despite the varience between songs--"Paper" has the funk, DNP opener is smooth in a slightly R&B manner, "A Frame" is percussion heavy, and basslines and odd vocals combine on "Feels Good" in an intriguing manner. Quirky music fans, take a listen.

Goldfrapp

Add Date: March 30

Artist: Goldfrapp

Album: Head First

Label: Mute

Genre: Electro-pop

Comments: From the promoter, who explains it way better than I could--"For their newest record, Goldfrapp melds minimalist electro with an Italio-disco feel, often veering into a Stardust-influenced, Xanadu-inspired dreamland. White this record is smoother and more relaxed than some of their previous releases, there is a definite throw back quality to this record that lies beneath it all, which takes the best parts of late 70's disco and the buddings of late 70's/early 80's glam rock". Awesome, swirling melodies and stylized synth and beats: Allison Goldfrapp and Will Gregory have once again created a unique listening experience. Start with tracks 1, 3, 5, and 8.

Paper Tongues

Add Date: March 30

Artist: Paper Tongues

Album: Paper Tongues

Label: A&M/Octone

Genre: Rock

Comments: On Paper Tongues' Web site, Rick Florino -- whoever he is -- calls the group "rock n' roll's best hope for evolution." If that's the case, then we're in trouble.

Hailing from Charlotte, North Carolina, Paper Tongues are only slightly better than your run-of-the-mill "alt" rock band out there these days. Their purported blend of "massive rock n' roll melodies" with "fiery hip hop beats" isn't quite for me. (And it's hard to believe that there are seven of them in the band.) But they're young and they can produce a catchy single ("Trinity").

Evelyn Evelyn

Add Date: March 30

Artist: Evelyn Evelyn

Album: Evelyn Evelyn

Label: Eleven

Genre: Quirky folk, baroque pop

Comments: I groaned when I saw a reference to The Dresden Dolls on the packaging of Evelyn Evelyn's self-titled debut. I've never been a fan of Amanda Palmer's other band, so that certainly colored my thoughts going into her new act. Boy, was I wrong.

Evelyn Evelyn are a pair of musically-inclined conjoined twins, allegedly discovered by Palmer and her musical cohort Jason Webley. They're creepy and weird, and you can read more about them here.

Their record is part history lesson, part circus, part folk loveliness, and all incredible. The first track is gorgeous, teasing the reader into the Tim Burton-esque word that Evelyn inhabits. And isn't it every indie kid's dream to end a record with a ukelule and piano cover of the Joy Division classic "Love Will Tear Us Apart." Concept-record fans, behold! Jeff Mangum would be smiling proud. One of the most enjoyable records I've heard in awhile.

Tom McRae

Add Date: March 30

Artist: Tom McRae

Album: The Alphabet of Hurricanes

Label: Cooking Vinyl

Genre: Folk, singer songwriter

Comments: England's own McRae has churned out four records in these last nine years and his latest, The Alphabet of Hurricanes, is an understated gem. Quirky in places, sensitive in others, but altogether a solid blend of good-guy folk that transcends the fold of your everyday contemporary singer-songwriter. Alphabet was recorded over three years in studios, hotel rooms, and even backstage at gigs. Fans of intimate acts like Damien Rice and The Swell Season might find a new favorite.

"Summer of John Wayne" is lovely and "Won't Lie" is a waltzy little ballad that I bet Andrew Bird would play if he was a WLUR DJ. You can too!

Caetano Veloso

Add Date: March 30

Artist: Caetano Veloso

Album: zii e zie

Label: Nonesuch

Genre: Brazilian pop, Rock

Comments: From promoter: "Brazilian legend Caetano Veloso's 41st album, zii e zie, released last year in South America and Europe, has already earned him a Latin Grammy for 2009 Best Singer-Songwriter album.....Here, samba is the foundation, filtered through a rock sensibility. Veloso calls this approach "transamba" - "as if it were samba transcending itself," he said in an interview. His subject matter, as always, can be intensely personal, but he also takes a broader view of the world at large."

There's something immensely beautiful about [good] music that is sung in a language you don't understand. Portuguese is not something I am familiar with but right now I'm glad because it makes the experience of listening to Caetano Veloso even more intense. To quote The Guardian, "the songs are intimate and surprising." A treat for fans of Joao Gilberto and Gilberto Gil, even though he distances himself quite a bit from them. Start with Por Quem? but I'd suggest listening to the whole thing.

Mainly Lanes

Add Date: March 30

Artist: Mainly Lanes

Album: Oomami

Label: Unsigned

Genre: Alternative Rock?

Comments: First of all, let's talk about this band's name. "Mainly Lanes" actually hints at the last name of three out of the five members of the band, which is Lane. That's pretty clever, I guess. Second, what's up with this Oomami, you might wonder. Wikipedia has kind of failed me this time, the closest thing it found was Umami, or "popularly referred to as savoriness". Hm. That doesn't tell me much. Now down to serious business. I don't know what I think about this album. In my opinion, it doesn't start off very strongly at all, but it gets better later on. It's a nice mix of Tori Amos-ness with some Neko Case influences perhaps and the sound is altogether pleasant, let's just say. But some songs just seem kind of out of tune to me. I particularly liked "So Sad" and "Monks and Crossbones."

Liberty Leg

Add Date: March 30

Artist: Liberty Leg

Album: Ginger Lee

Label: WRECKED 'EM WRECKORDS

Genre: Rock/Blues/Roots

Comments: This album is refreshingly raw in music and production. The promoter says, "The music is new, yet timelessly rooted in American traditional blues, country and New Orleans street music... Richeson's enormous bass/baritone voice rolls through history, love, loss and yearning with the conviction and energy of an old-time brimstone evangelical bent on saving his flock from damnation in the style of Captain Beefheart crossed with Screamin' Jay Hawkins."

Ginger Lee is what the promoters says it is: honest, huge, and timeless. I am drawn in by the guitar riffs that are purely old-time blues. I think track 7, "Heavy on the Road," is a good sample of of what's to find here. With that, start with 7, 2 and 11.

Civil Twilight

Add Date: March 30

Artist: Civil Twilight

Album: Civil Twilight

Label: Wind-Up

Genre: Rock/Ambient

Comments: From promoter: "With songwriting influences ranging from Bob Dylan and Leonard Cohen to Bruce Springsteen and Thom Yorke, vocalist Steven McKellar has been able to translate his outsider status--first in South Africa, and now in America--into a convincing voice for his lyrics. You can hear Africa's influence throughout the album, with lyrics of existential questioning and spiritual longing, the perfect correlative to the music's expansive atmospheric soundscapes."

The connection to Thom Yorke of Radiohead is the most apparent in this album. The atmospheric sounds, lofty and roaming vocals, and rhythms that press the songs forward all lend themselves to making this self-titled album reminiscent of Radiohead. I don't want to come across as if Civil Twilight hasn't created something new, but the similarities are there. This album is melodic enough to be enjoyed by pop-lovers, but ambient and rhythmic enough for indie kids to sink their teeth into. I have to say I'm disappointing in the lyrics, the words are often sang as if they were chosen from a manual of cliche phrases. Nevertheless, Civil Twilight has made an album worth checking out. Start with 10, 4, and 7.

Moneybrother

Add Date: March 30

Artist: Moneybrother

Album: Real Control

Label: Bladen Country

Genre: Pop

Comments: From the promoter:

"Stockholm, Sweden's Moneybrother is the solo project from Anders Wendin (originally of Monster fame) where he creates a soul-oriented blend of music styles like reggae, punk, rock'n'roll, pub rock, and even disco. Named after the two words that his baby brother could pronounce in English, Moneybrother walked straight into people's hearts with his gold selling, Grammy award-winning, striking 2003 debut album Blood Panic. Now the artist has his sights set stateside with his first US full length debut."

Check out "Born Under a Bad Sign," (Track 1) which was produced by Peter, Bjorn, & John.

Distiller

Queens Club

Add Date: March 30

Artist: Queens Club

Album: Young Giant

Label: Tooth & Nail

Genre: Rock, Pop

Comments: Queens Club [is a] four piece who "wield throbbing post-punk energy with a dollop of electronic pop gloss and infectious melodies." They're inspired by bands "influenced by punk who implement dance elements like The Talking Heads and Bloc Party. ... Young Giant packs a wallop of infectious melodies, harmonies and angular/fiery guitar riffs."

Dark pop-rock with a glossy dance sheen that should please fans of Bloc Party. Check out "Less Talk"

Planetary

Chris Pureka

Add Date: March 30

Artist: Chris Pureka

Album: How I Learned to See in the Dark

Label: Sad Rabbit Music

Genre: Folk, Pop

Comments: From the promoter:

"While maintaining the unique alchemy of longing, loss and hope Pureka sets to music, there is a sonic adventurism on How I Learned to See in the Dark that marks a new stage in Pureka's musical evolution. ... [T]here is a newfound edginess, coupled with a more abstract sound; there is a musical depth and complexity that shines through each track, all the while maintaining the space and creative instrumentation Pureka is known for."

Folk flavored, passionate pop songs. For fans of Cave Singers, Ryan Bingham, Nellie McKay. Check out "Lowlands" or "Broken Clock."

Planetary

Mark Growden

Add Date: March 30

Artist: Mark Growden

Album: Saint Judas

Label: Porto Franco

Genre: Rock, Blues, Country

Comments: From Contra Costa Times:

"Growden's voice is bigger than a 10-story building, and when he clacks his cowboy boots ona hollow patch of florr along to some of his tunes, the sound seems to reverberate across the globe."

From Tuscon Weekly:

"Rich, haunting and personal song cycles that incorporate avant-garde, rock, cabaret, blues, country, contemporary classical and Tin Pan Alley."

Emotionally raw songs centered around Mark Growden's vocals. For fans of Tom Waits. Check out "I'm Your Man."

Distiller

Tarlton

Add Date: March 30

Artist: Tarlton

Album: Evergreens

Label: Afternoon

Genre: Pop, Alt

Comments: From Metromix:

"Tarlton thrives on rhythmic improvisation... if you've never heard Tarlton's sonic booms & blips, you might find it dizzy. Not like scary vertigo but like a crazy controlled release of emotion and sound that goes 'round and 'round."

Slightly melancholy sounding blippy-pop for fans of Sparklehorse, Sigur Ros, Grandaddy or Elliott Smith. Listen to the more upbeat opener "Learn by Example" or "Paper Trail" for something moodier-- just make sure you've got it pretty loud so you can hear all the little things going on in the background.

Vitriol

Miguel Kertsman

Add Date: March 30

Artist: Miguel Kertsman

Album: Time, What's Time?

Label: Aurora

Genre: Unclassifiable

Comments: From the promoter:

"A dynamo of a composer and a virtuoso on the keys, Brazilian-born composer Miguel Kertsman is always prolific and at the cutting edge of contemporary music. His latest project is an epic voyage in fascinating soundscapes-- touring through western classical, jazz and world genres. ... The sound of [the album] is atmospheric and immersive with perspectives changing so regualarly that it's easy to get lost in the sound. There's rarely a dull moment when Kertsman is at the helm. Like a musical spaceship voyaging to a distant planet, we go through wormholes and somehow end up right back where we started. He explores tribal sounds on top of ambient synth beds and even touches on Celtic-influenced modes and structures."

Check out "Masters of Vega" or "Mad, Quite Mad."

Powderfinger

Rotary Downs

Add Date: March 30

Artist: Rotary Downs

Album: Cracked Maps & Blue Reports

Label: Rookery

Genre: Rock, Pop

Comments: From the promoter:

"The New Orleans five-piece Rotary Downs are out ot burn down some assumptions about what you've come to expect from The Big Easy. Their fifth record, Cracked Maps and Blue Reports, builds on where the last one left off as emotions and past experiences bleed throughout the album in pints. This sort of detail and dialed down instrumentation is hard to come by. Adding to the crashing guitars, drums and bass is the sometimes fifth member of the band Til Lammson (Givers), who adds a soft touch to the album with her backing vocals."

For fans of REM, Luna, and Destroyer. Check out "A Drink from the Clouds" or "Promised Land."

Terrorbird

She & Him

Add Date: March 30

Artist: She & Him

Album: Volume Two

Label: Merge

Genre: Folk, pop, olde timey


Comments: "Thieves" might be the best song that She & Him has done yet. It's the first track on the latest record from the duo, which includes indie heartthrob Zooey Deschanel and folk uber-guru M. Ward. True to its name, Volume Two picks up right where 2008's Volume One left off: glorious pop hooks, warm vocals for Zooey, strings and stringed-instruments, and a little bit of heartbreak.

But some things have changed: Zooey is still irresistable, but sounds even more self-assured in both her singing and her writing; M. Ward's production is still steeped in sophistication, but sounds sunnier for some reason; and the covers are a little more obscure. (I mean, NRBQ and Skeeter Davis? Hey, She & Him pull them both off.) The record didn't knock my socks off as immediately as Volume One did, but I know it will. Fifties-style folk-pop gold. Start with "Thieves," "Don't Look Back," and "Sing."

Elliott Smith

Add Date: March 30

Artist: Elliott Smith

Album: Roman Candle/From a Basement on the Hill (reissues)

Label: Kill Rock Stars

Genre: Folk, rock

Comments: Two for the price of one: Kill Rock Stars is absorbing two records from the late great singer-songwriter Elliott Smith into its record catalog. While neither Roman Candle or From A Basement on the Hill is Smith’s strongest work – that honor would have to go to his mid-career stunners Either/Or and XO – there’s still impeccable songwriting on both records, which bookend Smith’s all-too-short career. Here’s the scoop on each one:

Roman Candle: It’s hard to believe that the soft-spoken and unassuming Smith announced himself to the world with the line “I want to hurt him, I want to give him pain.” (True, Smith had already made himself well-acquainted with those who’d heard his indie-rock act Heatmiser.) Quiet, chiming guitars complement Smith’s lovely aching voice on eight of the nine songs on this solo debut.

The production is sparse, the lyrics are raw, but the talent is brimming. The “No Name” suite is lovely, as is my personal favorite on here, “Last Call.” Fans of Real Estate might check out the final instrumental track on the record, which shimmers and shines.

From a Basement on the Hill: The record title might tease the listener that this one will be full of spare demo-quality tracks, but nothing could be further from the truth: Elliott cranked things up production-wise several albums in and while it had the ability to work well (XO) and fall a little flat (Figure 8), this one is somewhere in the middle. Culled from tracks that Elliott was working on before his all-too-sudden passing in 2003, Elliott’s friends and family members put the final touches on this one, which is a fine collection of songs if not an album proper.

My biggest regret with this one is that so many great tracks are profane, so late-night DJs, do them justice. “Twilight” and “Memory Lane” are quiet stunners; “Pretty (Ugly Before)” is heavy I can handle; and “A Fond Farewell” falls somewhere in the lovely middle.

Even Elliott’s “weakest” songs are leagues above those of other songwriters, so if you’ve never given him a listen, let these records open up your world to him.

Most Bestest New Music

This stuff just keeps rolling in. Give it a listen:

Love is All

Let's Wrestle

JBM

Drive-By Truckers

Hurricane Bells

Also check out: Hot Chip (finally), Dum Dum Girls, The White Stripes, Doug Keith, The Frontier Brothers, Doug Keith

Veil Veil Vanish

Add Date: March 23

Artist: Veil Veil Vanish

Album: Change in the Neon Light

Label: Metropolis Records

Genre: Post-punk/New Wavish

Comments: I'm sure this would totally piss off this band, but after complaining that I could not connect this band to the very obvious sound it was going for, my girlfriend listened to it and dubbed it to be "basically U2 with the Killers." And good lordy, is she correct.

Monster Movie

Add Date: March 23

Artist: Monster Movie

Album: Everyone is a Ghost

Label: Graveface

Genre: Dream Pop/Shoegaze

Comments: Man, talk about misleading band names. It's some fairly nice synthy shoegaze that absolutely refuses to raise a ruckus in any way possible. It still manages to be fairly troublesome in that it refuses to stay constant, consistently altering between more synthy material sounding like a black moth super rainbow track with all but five random layers removed, and other albums that really really embrace the whole dream pop aspect, just sort of meandering around without any real point (which to be fair, is kind of the point with dream pop).

Red Sparowes

Add Date: March 23

Artist: Red Sparowes

Album: The Fear is Excruciating, But Therein Lies the Answer

Label: Sargent House

Genre: Post-Rock, Experimental

Comments: After two years of having a weekly radio show, I've learned to really hate super long album names. It's no longer cute to see someone decide that their album should be the grocery list for a family of five, it's simply a pathetic attempt at humor that forces me to scrunch up my hand to write it in our playlist sheet.

Still, at least Red Sparowes had the dignity to make their long album title vaguely useful. I mean, look at it. You don't even have to listen to the music to know whether you're going to like this or not. I don't really mean that as an attack on the band, as I know there are tons of people who exclusively listen to albums that sound like a moves out of fighting game featuring famous psychologists, and hell, even I have times where I really dig stuff that people nerdier than me consider to be MIND EXPANDING. But let's be clear, this is not very accessible music. There's no clear WINNER song, just the general post-rock patterns of build up/technical rock out/weather channel local radar denouement. Ironically, for being the most dogmatic to this pattern, "A Hail of Bombs" is probably the best track in the album.

The Bird and the Bee

Add Date: March 23

Artist: The Bird and the Bee

Album: Interpreting the Masters: Volume 1: A Tribute to Daryl Hall and John Oates

Label: EMI/Blue Note

Genre: Pop

Comments: It's a HALL AND OATES TRIBUTE ALBUM. It's downright amazing. The Bird and the Bee have successfully revamped classic Hall and Oates tracks while keeping the music's original integrity intact; singer Inara George's voice gives each song an interesting twist, and as multi-instrumentalist/producer (the other half of the duo) Greg Kurstin says, "There's definitely no irony". Must be heard to be believed. Try any of the tracks--it really depends on your Hall and Oates preferences....personally, I'm partial to "I Can't Go For That", "Kiss On My List", "Maneater", and "Private Eyes." (Also check out the original track "Heard it On the Radio".)

Turin Brakes

Add Date: March 23

Artist: Turin Brakes

Album: Outbursts

Label: Cooking Vinyl

Genre: Alt-Folk

Comments: London-based folk/acoustic duo Turin Brakes had their 2001 debut nominated for a Mercury and have been going strong ever since. Their latest, Outbursts, is a delightful mix of folk and acoustic pop, with swelling vocals and soaring (if minimal) instrumentation. Opening track, "The Sea Change" is absolutely stunning: Q Magazine said it had "the exotic flow of Fleetwood Mac", and it's full of precise guitar work that beautifully highlights the vocals (and upon re-listening, you could easily imagine the track as part of FM's "Say You Will"). Try tracks 1, 3 and 4.

Free Energy

Add Date: March 23

Artist: Free Energy

Album: Stuck On Nothing

Label: Astralwerks/DFA

Genre: Rock

Comments: Poppy, melodic rock. Free Energy's Stuck On Nothing is a super upbeat record filled with hooks and hand-clapping moments: the 70s influences are audible and Thin Lizzy comparisons abide, but the group seems so unpretentious about it all that it works--the arena rock aspects, the sax line on "Dream City" and the grooves felt on "Band Pop". Uncomplicated but honest music that's a picker-upper for sure and definitely appropriate for our incoming warmer weather. Start with tracks 2, 3, and 5.

Drink Up Buttercup

Add Date: March 23

Artist: Drink Up Buttercup

Album: Born and Thrown On A Hook

Label: Yep Roc

Genre: Experimental Rock/Psych-Pop

Comments: Drink Up Buttercup's debut album, Born and Thrown On A Hook, is filled with melodies and hints of late 60s pop, made all the more interesting by the intense layers of sound. The group has been receiving some Man Man comparisons due to their Philadelphia locale, crazy and energetic live shows, recording by Bill Moriarty, and (let's face it), some similar sounds and uses of instruments like the organ (all valid comparisons)--but Drink Up Buttercup take their sound in a less frantic, wild direction, and instead steer it to a more focused, stable place, sonically. It's enough crazy-circus-insanity to keep things interesting, but the overall album is much more melodic and straightforward, and some parts of songs sound straight out of the 60s pop world. Start with tracks 1, 3, 6, and 9.

Love Is All

Add Date: March 23

Artist: Love Is All

Album: Two Thousand and Ten Injuries

Label: Polyvinyl

Genre: Rock, post-punk, indie pop

Comments: What a big leap forward for a band that was already pretty good: On Two Thousand and Ten Injuries, the Swedish quintet Love Is All take the New Wave vs. post-punk sound that they came close to perfecting on Nine Times That Same Song and A Hundred Things Keep Me Up at Night, and turn it into a brilliant pop record. Their new label, Polyvinyl (Aloha, of Montreal, Architecture in Helsinki), says: "Highlights of the 12-track set include the art punk urgency of 'Bigger, Bolder,' the lilting pop of 'Never Now,' the Slits-like reggae of 'False Pretense' and the classic punk rallying cry found in 'Dust.' All told, Two Thousand successfully manages to be Love Is All's most adventurous, and dare we say, accessible, album yet."

Agreed on all counts. I also really like the funky bass line of "A Side in a Bed" and the post-punk furor of "Less Than Thrilled." And why does "Take Your Time" make me think that I'm at a really hip wedding?

Dum Dum Girls

Add Date: March 23

Artist: Dum Dum Girls

Album: I Will Be

Label: Sub Pop

Genre: Rock, surf rock, lo-fi

Comments: From the label: "Led by Dee Dee, Dum Dum Girls churn out pop music that adheres to her self-proclaimed M.O.: 'blissed-out buzz saw.' Dee Dee formed DDG in late 2008 as a solo project--the name a nod to both The Vaselines' album, Dum-Dum, and the Iggy Pop song 'Dum Dum Boys' ... When Dee Dee needed a band to take her songs out of the bedroom, she looked to her friends: Jules, a San Diego-based furniture designer; Bambi, a non-profit worker in Austin; and Brooklynite Frankie Rose, a former Vivian Girl and Crystal Stilt, currently starting her own project as well ... I Will Be runs just under 30 minutes with 11 songs; a short tribute to love, loss, fear, fun, and the classic pop form of the '60s girl groups and early punk rockers."

Check out "Bhang Bhang, I'm a Burnout," the title track, and "Yours Alone," featuring the Yeah Yeah Yeahs' Nick Zinner on guitar.

Drive-By Truckers

Add Date: March 23

Artist: Drive-By Truckers

Album: The Big To-Do

Label: ATO

Genre: Rock, alt-country

Comments: The first 15 seconds of "Daddy Learned to Fly," the opening track of The Big To-Do, the Drive-By Truckers' direction on their 10th studio album is clear: the driving guitars send Patterson Hood and co. into 54 minutes of '70s guitar rock bliss. Indeed, the band's trademark 3-guitar roar steals the show on their first record on ATO (The Whigs, My Morning Jacket), especially on killer tracks like "After the Scene Dies," "Birthday Boy," the aforementioned opener and "(It's Gonna Be) I Told You So," featuring a rare, but delightful--and, unfortunately, DNP--vocal performance from Shonna Tucker.

And yet, the Truckers have never been easy to pigeonhole; AllMusic.com compares them to Guided By Voices and Shooter Jennings--two artists that, well, aren't typically mentioned in the same sentence--and includes both Lynyrd Skynyrd and The Replacements as influences. And despite the prevalence of the electric guitars on The Big To-Do, the band still makes room for other styles. Also check out another Tucker-fronted number, the quiet folk tune "You Got Another;" the garagey "The Wig He Made Her Wear;" and the rockabilly "Get Downtown."

The Ruse

Add Date: March 23

Artist: The Ruse

Album: Love Sex Confusion

Label: Self-released

Genre: Rock

Comments: From the band's Web site:

"The Ruse have been known to deliver songs that will crawl into your head and take hold of your heart. Love Sex Confusion, the band’s fourth studio album of new songs, brings a blend of guitar-laden tracks and commanding drum and bass lines that generate the feeling of a live performance...Love Sex Confusion is equal parts of lead singer John Dauer’s powerful operatic vocals, guitarist Jim Bilus’ rocking garage-y guitar riffs, and the burly rhythms dispensed by drummer Jason Young and bassist Mark Stolze."

It's no surprise that these rockers opened for U2 at a Rose Bowl gig in L.A. There are traces of Bono in John Dauer's voice, but I use the word "traces" deliberately. At times, The Ruse seems to stretch toward the anthemic, which isn't always effective, but danceable tunes like "The Sweetness" work for me.

The White Stripes

Add Date: March 23

Artist: The White Stripes

Album: Under Great White Northern Lights

Label: Warner Bros.

Genre: Rock, blues

Comments: What can I say, it's The White Stripes. Under Great White Northern Lights is the first live record that this dynamic duo has released in its 13-year career. Paired with a concert film of the same name, this record is fast, blistering, and loaded with soul, like just about anything you'd expect from Jack and Meg. The record chronicles shows from the group's 2007 tour of Canada and if you're a big enough fan, Warner Bros. offers a jam-packed box set full of goodies for your perusal.

While my own preferences are for the Stripes' earlier stuff ("Hotel Yorba" all the way!) there's plenty to enjoy on here from across the board. And yes, "Fell in Love with a Girl," "Seven Nation Army," and "Icky Thump" are on here. If you're in the mood for something else, "Black Math" and "I Just Don't Know What to Do With Myself" are stellar.

Doug Keith

Add Date: March 23

Artist: Doug Keith

Album: The Lucky Ones

Label: The Village Label

Genre: Folk, Pop

Comments: From NPR:

"Keith's voice is so richly textured, backed by sweet harmonies and beautifully layered instrumentation. Thanks to a welcome trace of roughness in his voice he comes off as a well-weathered and sage source of advice and storytelling. A modern day troubadour."

For fans of Califone, Robert Francis, or Ryan Bingham. Check out "The Lucky Ones" or "Skip James Radio."

Vitriol

Let's Wrestle

Add Date: March 23

Artist: Let's Wrestle

Album: In the Court of the Wrestling Let's

Label: Merge

Genre: Pop, Rock, Indie

Comments: From the label:

"In the Court of the Wrestling Let's, the debut album by England's Let's Wrestle, was recorded in a basement in Whitechapel, underneath the only ukulele shop in Europe, by three young bucks. ... Let's Wrestle met years ago and bonded over meat and records, and after a while, a band was formed. Let's Wrestle have influences as vast as Black Flag, Faust, and Edith Piaf but are ultimately trying to be as raw as possible. They aim to write songs that make your soul crumble as well as make you smile, sing along, and clap your hands. The songs for [the album] were written in bedrooms and arranged at soundchecks over a period of two years. Though originally intended as a punk record, it developed into more than that, with songs influenced by rock-and-roll ballands by Roy Orbison and Buddy Holy ('In Dreams,' 'My Schedule') and the pscychedelic rock of Barrett-era Pink Floyd ('In the Court of the Wrestling Let's).

Raw and interesting like Neutral Milk Hotel with even more of a Ramones feel. Creative and often humorous lyrics. Listen to "We Are the Men You'll Grow to Love Soon" or "I Won't Lie to You."

Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars

Add Date: March 23

Artist: Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars

Album: Rise & Shine

Label: Cumbancha

Genre: International

Comments: From the label:

"Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars started playing music together in West African refugee camps while their homeland was being racked by years of bloody warfare. Since then, audiences around the world have embraced the band and their utterly extraordinary story."

Shining, celebratory, optimistic music. Listen to "Muloma" and you'll see why it's Vampire Weekend's African beats that make them so likable.

Whitman

Add Date: March 23

Artist: Whitman

Album: Cul-De-Sac (single)

Label: Sonora

Genre: Pop

Comments: From the Austin's A.V. Club:

"The songs on [Whitman's] new 7-inch, Cul-de-Sac, dial back on their predecessors' angularity, opting instead for a looser, Lone Star-swilling-and-spilling vibe reminiscent of Lucero or the Hold Steady. With its damning tales of suburban bloodshed, the title track in particular recalls one of Craig Finn's hyper-specific recaps of a party gone awry."

Upbeat pop with lots of clashing cymbals and shouts of "hey!" (Also, Lone Star is the cheap beer of choice in Austin, TX-- that might help illuminate the above description.") Check out Track 2.

Dustin Edge

Add Date: March 23

Artist: Dustin Edge

Album: By the Numbers (EP)

Label: Self-released

Genre: Pop

Comments: From the promoter:

"Born and raised in Louisville, KY, Dustin Edge was influenced during his childhood by indie-rock heroes such as Slint and Fugazi. Following the success of a debut release titled A Forest Through the Trees, Edge began posting the beginnings of demo-seedlings on the internet. The encouragement and demand for more material by his fans was strong, and the demos soon after developed into fully-tracked studio versions, which now appear on this second EP release By the Numbers. The album at times will resemble Dan Blacks' funk-rock counterpart, as Edge similarly attemptes to extend and blur the boundaries of his vein of traditional pop music."

Go to "Easy as Pi."

Syndicate

Disco Biscuits

Add Date: March 23

Artist: Disco Biscuits

Album: Planet Anthem

Label: Diamond Riggs

Genre: Rock, Jam

Comments: From the promoter:

"The Disco Biscuits are an entirely different band today than they were when they first broke out of Philadelphia in the mid-90's. That's not to say they've abandoned their foundation, switched gears or set sail for distant shoes. The Disco Biscuits are still very much the pioneers of 'trance-fusion,' bridging the gap between electronic music and jam bands. They still remain rock pioneers whose soul belongs as much to marathon dance parties as it does to live improvisational journeys."

FYI: Disco Biscuits will be in Richmond April 16-17, D.C. April 20, and Charlottesville April 21.

Powderfinger

The Frontier Brothers

Add Date: March 23

Artist: The Frontier Brothers

Album: You Should Start a Band (single)

Label: Self-released

Genre: Pop

Comments: From the promoter:

From a bar room brawl to sweaty clubs across the nation, The Frontier Brothers are raising fists and turning heads with their own rowdy brand of gun-slinging indie pop. Though the Austin-based quartet was praised by a Houston Chronicle writer who proclaimed, "The Frontier Brothers are something I have never quite heard before, a punky sort of rock that isn't afraid to dress up with some Bacharachian fussiness."

Very enjoyable pop songs! Totally radio-ready and fun. Something like Dr. Dog or Mates of States with a punky Texas-tinge and all the beat happiness of an MGMT number. Definitely listen to "You Should Start a Band." "Burning Panties" is worth a listen too.

Fanatic

Shadwell

Add Date: March 23

Artist: Shadwell

Album: Clarity

Label: Timber Music

Genre: Pop-Rock

Comments: From the promoter:

"Shadwell has received comparisons to bands spanning genres from contemporary Brit-rock to straight-ahead American rock. Among recent accomplishments, the band was names winner of Boston Music Spotlight's 2009 Battle of the Bands and selected as one of their "Top 10 Local Bands to Watch in 2010."

Maybe nothing special, but still enjoyable wall-of-sound, all-American pop-rock.
Check out "Ever Stop."

Powderfinger

Hot Chip

Add Date: March 16

Artist: Hot Chip

Album: One Life Stand

Label: Astralwerks

Genre: Electropop, pop

Comments: We finally have a copy of Hot Chip's terrific new record One Life Stand, which was released in early February. Wonderful stuff from the UK band, though at times very different than previous works Coming on Strong, The Warning and Made in the Dark. While perhaps best known for pop gems like "Ready for the Floor" and "Over and Over," Alexis Taylor, Joe Goddard and co. have always had a knack for interspersing quieter, more contemplative (LOVE) songs among their dance-rock standouts. On One Life Stand, the roles are reversed, but it really works. Check out "Thieves in the Night" and the title track; if you're feeling the need to dance, try "We Have Love."

Hurricane Bells

Add Date: March 23

Artist: Hurricane Bells

Album: Tonight is the ghost

Label: Vagrant

Genre: Rock/Indie

Comments: Promoter: "A mix of somber undercurrents and and chiming guitars, the album is at once plaintive and triumphant, bathed in echo and reverb. Yet there's a looseness, hope, and soulfulness in its melancholic tempest." This album is easily described as "atmospheric," but lucky for us, Hurricane Bells pulls this sound off with depth.

The lead singer's voice is sturdy and solid, often ringing similar to the tones of Grizzly Bear's Edward Droste. A lot of harmonies come in the form of scat chants behind the chorus or verse melody, which makes for a lot going on at times. I would say these songs edge on experimental, but the catchy vocal melodies bring it back to the accessible-ish realm. Start with 1, 5, and 8.

JBM

Add Date: March 23

Artist: JBM

Album: Not Even in July

Label: Partisan

Genre: Rock/Folk (but more rock than folk)

Comments: This guy is a breath of fresh air. He sings like a modern Paul Simon in sound and language. From promoter: "Jesse Merchant, who records under his initials JBM, was born and raised in his family's homes in the Adirondacks and Montreal. Classically trained on guitar from the age of 7, he had always written instrumental songs as a means of expression, but it wasn't until recent years that he began writing lyrics, singing and recording." As you can gather, the music is ultra-tight and thoughtfully arranged. Again, this album boasts accessibility and could be enjoyed by almost anyone who has appreciation for thought provoking songs in lyric and melody.

JBM plays acoustic guitar throughout the album, drums are sparse, but appropriately so, and strings, violins and harmonicas fill the gaps in between. As mentioned, Merchan'ts voice is soothing in a trustworthy type of way. If you're a fan of Damien Rice, Conner Oberst, or Yim Yames then I think this album would be right up your ally. Start with 3, 2 and 7 (but when you get the chance, listen to it all!)

Doug Keith

Add Date: March 23

Artist: Doug Keith

Album: The Luck Ones

Label: The Village Label

Genre: Rock

Comments: Doug Keith is a calm story teller that seamlessly puts his tales to melodies. Promoter says, "Thanks to a welcome trace of roughness in his voice, he comes off as a well-weathered and sage source of advice... A modern day troubadour." Although nothing is super-edgy or experimental, Keith's songs are new and refreshing in their own way. The melodies are catchy, the music is dynamic in tone and rhythm, the production is solid and clean.

The best part of this album is that it is so accessible. Most anyone could find a song they like on The Lucky Ones. I see similarities to Cary Brothers, Bruce Springsteen and other dynamic-song-based musicians. Give it a spin on your show! You'll enjoy it. Start with 3, 4, 7, and 2.

Best New Music - March 16

We say goodbye to some playlist heavy-hitters -- Spoon, Los Campesinos!, Midlake, Four Tet -- this week, but make room for a whole new set of great stuff. Here's the tip of the iceberg:

Archie Bronson Outfit
Jason Collett
Josiah Wolf
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
The Whigs

But don't forget: Black Tambourine, One for the Team, The Hot Rats, The Morning Benders

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club

Add Date: March 16

Artist: Black Rebel Motorcycle Club

Album: Beat the Devil's Tattoo

Label: Vagrant

Genre: Rock

Comments: Black Rebel Motorcycle Club have a sound that I absolutely love. Heavy, moody, at some times gritty and others bluesy or psych-inspired, totally upfront garage-friendly rock. Their latest CD Beat the Devil's Tattoo isn't necessarily ground-breaking, but it's a solid collection of songs to add to the collection, especially if you like their sound to begin with. Layers of guitar, heavy constant rhythms, and a pretty impermeable wall of sound are all present on their latest offering, along with some Americana swamp-inspired grooves.

Definitely check out the title track, featuring a deceivingly light intro that gets compounded into a heavy, pounding rhythmic groove in no time at all. Also try tracks 2 and 3.

Josiah Wolf

Add Date: March 16

Artist: Josiah Wolf

Album: Jet Lag

Label: Anticon

Genre: Pop/Other

Comments: Anyone who knows me knows I name WHY? as one of my favorite bands (and rightfully so), so the release of Jet Lag by Josiah Wolf (a mutli-instrumentalist, but primarily the drummer for the group, also Yoni's brother) was terribly exciting. And I'm pleasantly justified in my expectations: sure, it's not the same as WHY? at all, but "Jet Lag" is a relaxing, if not slightly downbeat, record.

The record is essentially the outcome of the end of an 11-year relationship and a move from California back to the Midwest (where Josiah grew up). The heaviness on the record clearly has a reason, but luckily this works for Josiah--lyrically, he's best when he's meditating (rather than when he goes off a la Yoni into quirky lyric territory). His subject matter fits with his quiet, alt-pop sensibilities--it's quirky but not overbearing, gentle but not boring.

From the promoter: "Wolf's lean poems are set to an autumnal mix of warm folk and easy psychadelia played out (by Wolf alone) on guitar, vibes, kalimba, Hammond organ, bells, bass and drums to name a few. The end result is a sort of chamber pop minus the showy sweeps--virtuosity without the virtuoso--making "Jet Lag" as impressive in its subtle execution as it is a timeless, heartfelt listen". I'm pretty much in agreement (except for the "autumnal mix"--I'm excited to listen to this outside in the spring) with their assessment: the record really is quite worth many, many listens.

Eddy Current Suppression Ring

Add Date: March 16

Artist: Eddy Current Suppression Ring

Album: Rush to Relax

Label: Goner Records

Genre: Rock

Comments: Australian group Eddy Current Suppression Ring mixes excellent garage rock with some old-school punk stylings on Rush to Relax, their latest release. Energetic, slightly loose and unpolished, the record is a great throwback to earlier punk and garage days, that still manages to sound modern. Chalk it up to the sweet guitar (which sometimes gives off a twangy, surf-rock vibe) and standard almost-nasal, somewhat spoken, uncomplicated vocals held in place by traditional upfront drum rythms. Excellent record to get us all out of the winter blues, but if you don't trust me, check out Pitchfork's review (they gave the album a 7.5).

Note: the last 20 or so minutes of the record are ocean-noises, so perhaps don't play the final track or remember to fade it out.

Particle Wave

Add Date: March 16

Artist: Particle Wave

Album: Interference Pattern

Label: Self-released

Genre: Rock

Comments: Particle Wave's sound on Interference Pattern is a classic rock style supplemented by some creative melodies and harmonies, while the "elements of noise rock" give the group their "sonic foundation". It's a low-key experience for sure--the music is nicely chilled out, even when uptempo, and the layering gives the sound a nice heaviness. Start with tracks 2 and 3.

The Morning Benders

Add Date: March 16

Artist: The Morning Benders

Album: Big Echo

Label: Rough Trade

Genre: Rock, indie pop, psych pop

Comments: The Morning Benders' 2008 debut, Talking Through Tin Cans, while enjoyably catchy, saw the San Francisco-area band lumped onto the ever-growing heap of indie pop also-rans. Fairly or not, we had heard it all before, and it was hard to distinguish the Benders from all the other bands that were capitalizing, deliberately or not, on the success of The Shins and the Elephant 6 collective.

Fortunately, on the band's sophomore LP and Rough Trade debut, Big Echo, that's no longer the case. By enlisting the help of Chris Taylor, whose production credits are piling up as fast as the accolades for that band he's in (hint: Jay-Z loves them), The Morning Benders have found a sound that borrows from indie rock, psychedelia, folk and '60s pop, yet is decidedly their own. There are great pop songs here; try any of the first three tracks, in particular album opener "Excuses," or "All Day Daylight." But there are also some swirling, slightly folksy psych-pop gems, like "Mason Jar," "Stitches" and "Sleeping In," all of which might belong on Veckatimest or Yellow House, if Ed Droste had been replaced by a calmer, more pensive Wayne Coyne. Elements of Grizzly Bear, The Flaming Lips, '60s touchstones, The Shins, et al float through Big Echo, but from now on, there won't be any mistaking the The Morning Benders.

Anais Mitchell

Add Date: March 16

Artist: Anais Mitchell

Album: Hadestown

Label: Righteous Babe

Genre: "Folk Rock Opera"

Comments: How can you go wrong with a folk opera about Orpheus and Eurydice? Okay, well a lot of ways, but none of them are present in Hadestown, a folk rock opera (very much like Hazards of Love) by Anais Mitchell and featuring a cast of characters such as Justin Vernon (Bon Iver himself) as Orpheus and Ani DiFranco as Persephone. Set in a "futuristic town in the U.S. that evokes our depression-era past and our current financial disaster... Hadestown is packed with irresistible memories and...of plainspoken poetry." "Way Down Hadestown" is a jazzy bayou stomp and "Wedding" features a haunting duet between Mitchell and Vernon.

Static of the Gods

Add Date: March 16

Artist: Static of the Gods

Album: Knowledge Machine

Label: delVerano

Genre: Indie

Comments: Static of the God's second full-length, named after the literal translation of the Finnish word for computer, vaguely resembles Beach House or Yeah Yeah Yeahs, with a female vocalist fronting a "wall of sound," this band sounds like they would be incredible live, but that some of that power was lost in the translation. Still a good listen, though! From the promoter:
"comparisons from Metric and Rainer Maria to Silversun Pickups... the perfect blend of organic influence and modern technology... a sonic journey full of fuzz and dimension... a melancholy feel with glimmers of hope mixed in."

Jason Collett

Add Date: March 16

Artist: Jason Collett

Album: Rat A Tat Tat

Label: Arts & Crafts

Genre: Rock, folk rock

Comments: Jason Collett doesn't really need to build his resume--already highly regarded for his solo career, as well as his work with Broken Social Scene, he's viewed as one of Canada's best songwriters and performers. However, his musical palette is still expanding. I'm not familiar with the first two solo records in Collett's discography, but over the last three, he's gone from indie rock (Idols of Exile, 2005) to country (Here's to Being Here, 2008) to retro-blues (Rat A Tat Tat), all without abandoning the styles from his previous work.

On the first run through, Rat A Tat Tat sounds drastically different from Here's to Being Here, but repeated listens reveal how well Collett has folded in all the elements at work here. To our chagrin in radioland, three of the best songs (the rock tune "Love Is a Chain," the bluesy "Bitch City" and the Fleetwood Mac-leaning "Long May You Love") are all unplayable during daytime hours. But fortunately, this is such a strong record that there's plenty other good stuff leftover. In particular, try the folk pop number "Cold Blue Halo," the country-blues jams "Love Is a Dirty Word" and "Lake Superior," and the misleadingly-titled foot-tapper "The Slowest Dance."

Joan Jett and the Blackhearts

Add Date: March 16

Artist: Joan Jett and the Blackhearts

Album: Songs from the Film "The Runaways"

Label: Blackheart

Genre: Rock

Comments: I'm too young to remember Joan Jett, but I imagine that she'd be featured prominently in the proverbial rock'n'roll time capsule. Songs like "Cherry Bomb" and "Crimson and Clover" skyrocketed her to fame in the eighties and this new collection of tunes is part soundtrack -- to the new film "The Runaways," starring Kristen Stewart and mega punk-rawker Dakota Fanning, which Jett herself is producing -- part greatest hits sampler. I can't find a fault at all on here and these songs, however old, still sound fresh, exhilarating, and raw.

The Hot Rats

Add Date: March 16

Artist: The Hot Rats

Album: Turn Ons

Label: G&D

Genre: Garage rock, covers

Comments: Taking on the likes of Lou Reed, the Doors, the Kinks, and (early) Pink Floyd is a tall order, but The Hot Rats wear these influences pride, even as they offer their own interpretations of songs like "The Crystal Ship," "(You Gotta) Fight For Your Right (To Party!)" (yes, the Beastie Boys song), and "Queen Bitch" (David Bowie). Twelve overdrive-drenched takes on songs that any garage rock hipster would include in his or her canon, The Hot Rats make some of these songs their own -- whether you think that's a good or a bad thing. Check out their almost unrecognizable take on the Beastie Boys (4) and Pink Floyd's "Bike" (7).

Amy Crawford

Add Date: March 16

Artist: Amy Crawford

Album: Amy Crawford (EP)

Label: Self-released

Genre: Pop

Comments: Only 24 years old, New York's Amy Crawford has only been writing songs for a year, but she was once a jazz pianist, a quality that resonates even in the poppiness of this, her debut pop EP. "Oh, Blackbird" features spectacular vocal layering that showcases Crawford's many voices, so make sure you play that one.

Half Acre Day

Add Date: March 16

Artist: Half Acre Day

Album: Multiply (single)

Label: Self-released

Genre: Indie pop

Comments: Horns?! Excellent choice, Half Acre Day. This Seattle group brings us the second song in its year-long project of releasing a track a month for a whole year. If last time was a little folkier, this one shows that Half Acre Day isn't afraid to embrace the "bop bop" wordless chorus and infectious hook. Definitely a springy one for spring.

One for the Team

Add Date: March 16

Artist: One for the Team

Album: Ghosts

Label: Afternoon

Genre: Rock, indie pop

Comments: The indie rock world's obsession with the paranormal continues with the Minneapolis band One for the Team on its third LP, Ghosts. But the title of the album--which the promoter describes as "loosely based on the concept of talking to the dead who haven't crossed over"--belies the band's upbeat lo-fi pop, which brings to mind Mates of State, Voxtrot and Tegan and Sara. Check out "Hard for You," "Best Supporting Actress" and "I've Been Here So Long."

Baker Hotel

Add Date: March 16

Artist: Baker Hotel

Album: Hard to Prove

Label: Self-released

Genre: Rock

Comments: From the promoter:

"Baker Hotel's sound is reminiscent of ground breakers like Pearl Jam, ZZ-Top, and Guns N' Roses. The Austin-based rock act tours relentlessly across Texas and the Southeast. ... Hard to Prove, Baker Hotel's first full-length debut, showcases the raw talent of the young musicians and presents a sophisticated collection of songs with memorable hooks and thoughtful concepts."

Melodic pop-rock with a bit of a country/whiskey vibe.

Tinderbox

shoe.

Add Date: March 16

Artist: shoe.

Album: The Speed of Life

Label: Self-released

Genre: Pop

Comments: From the promoter:

"The Speed of Life marks the 4th self-release from the Detroit pop-band shoe. Nine months in the making, this album is the band's biggest production to date. Dustin Gardner and company have transferred and energetic year of performances into the studio, and then brought in some of the City's best talent to transform it into a lust soundscape. Songs like 'Time' capture the raw power of Detroit rock infused with a swinging beat, while the title track incorporates Burt Bacharach style horns into a fast-paced pop ride. All of these nuances culminate into a highly theatrical piece, and an unexpected musical experience."

Cheery, upbeat, sometimes delicate, sometimes dance-y pop. For fans of Jens Leckman or the Battle Royale. Check out the in your-face opener "Time" or the tropicalia-vibed "Speed of Life," both of which are very fun.

Tinderbox

Biffy Clyro

Add Date: March 16

Artist: Biffy Clyro

Album: Mountains

Label: Warner Bros.

Genre: Rock, Alt

Comments: Biffy Clyro makes heavy melodic rock out of Scotland. According to Wikipedia, "The band themselves cite influences ranging from heavy metal music luminaries like Metallicato prog legends Rush , while reviewers are often quick to link their sound to the likes of Nirvana and Foo Fighters— particularly in their use of shifting dynamics which the latter adapted from Pixies and Fugazi. Members of the band have been reported to listen to bands as diverse as Burning Airlines, Sunny Day Real Estate, Far, Jawbox and Weezer."

The big, catchy hit alt-rock single is Track 6, "Mountains."

Pirate!

The Whigs

Add Date: March 16

Artist: The Whigs

Album: In the Dark

Label: ATO

Genre: Rock

Comments: This Athens, Ga. band seems to be flying just under the radar. They're on Dave Matthews' ATO Records, and they've toured with Drive-By Truckers, Band of Horses and (gasp) Kings of Leon; yet, somehow, they haven't quite made as big a splash as one might expect. Maybe the breakthrough will come with In the Dark, the trio's third album. Their blend of '80s alternative, '60s pop rock and '70s punk--all slightly tinged with Southern rock--is both infectious and well done. Jon Pareles from The New York Times calls their music "two-chord guitar and drums furor worthy of The Who," and they've also drawn comparisons to The Replacements and Son Volt. Check out "Black Lotus" and "I Don't Even Care About the One I Love."

Archie Bronson Outfit

Add Date: 3/16/10

Artist: Archie Bronson Outfit

Album: Coconut

Label: Domino

Genre: Pop

Comments: From the label:
"Generating molten heat from the opening bars of first track 'Magnetic Warrior,' Coconut, the new Archie Bronson Outfit album, is a record full of deep riffs, spaced loops and the sound of a band reveling in both their individuality and intensity. ... Switching between full on deep-end rock and more reflective, beat-driven, numbers Coconut is a modern psychedelic testament delivering a visceral shot of pleasure."

Funky, eclectic psych-pop for fans of fans of Flaming Lips, Of Montreal and Super Furry Animals. Check out "Hoola" or "Shark's Tooth."

AAM

Shooter Jennings & Hierophant

Add Date: March 16

Artist: Shooter Jennings & Hierophant

Album: Black Ribbons

Label: Rocket Science

Genre: Rock

Comments: From the promoter:

"Black Ribbons, the highly-anticipated new rock album from Shooter Jennings, features a unique collaboration between Jennings and best-selling author Stephen Kind. The concept album sees King provide the voice of 'Will O' The Wisp,' a late-night talk radio host in the last hour of his final broadcast. With nothing left to lose, the radio host lets loose a series of rants, punctuating his diatribes with slections from the discography of Jennings' new band Hierophant. Throughout the album's 14 songs, Will O' The Wisp flits in and out, painting an apocalyptic picture of what America could become in the not-so-distant future. It's an electrifying thrill ride across a dense, dark, and gloriiously decadent musical landscape."

For fans of Nine Inch Nails, Drive By Truckers. (Check out the sweet packaging.)

Syndicate

The Gary

Add Date: March 16

Artist: The Gary

Album: Logan

Label: Cedar Fever

Genre: Rock

Comments: From the promoter:

"In 2009, Austin TX trio The Gary made waves with their debut EP, which produced the sleeper hit 'Damn Machines' and six other sounds of blue-collar angst and disillusionment. 2010 brings the arrival of their full-length album Logan, ten songs of 'Minutemen-eque brevity and wit' that raises the bar, though maintains the aesthetic of their Chub EP. It's been speculated that The Gary's sound is the antithesis of much of today's over-achieving indie rock scene, hearkening back to a sincere and direct approach that is sometimes lost on the gadgetry and vague delivery often found in current musical trens. The band simply believes they are following their noses, as well as honoring their influences. Peruse through their record collections, and you're sure to find albums by Husker Du, Silkworm, Mission to Burmer, Archers of Loaf, Squirrel Bait, Songic Youth, GBV, among many with the Touch & Go and Dischord imprint."

Check out "Taproom."

Fanatic

The Boxer Rebellion

Add Date: March 16

Artist: The Boxer Rebellion

Album: Union//Exits (2 discs)

Label: Self-released

Genre: Rock, Alt

Comments: From the promoter:

"Unsigned Alt-rock band The Boxer Rebellion are a rare find, having fought through tumultuous beginnings to break into the Billboard Top 200 on their self-produced sophomore LP 'UNION.' Pirate! is delighted to service this exclusive and very limited 2xCD promo of this first US physical copy of 'UNION' alongside the band's equally as impressive debut, 'EXITS.' Recently named iTune's Alternative Album of the Year, 'UNION' birthed a phenomenon when lead track 'Evacuate' clocked up a staggering 560,000 free downloads as Single of the Week. 'UNION' is an epic, majestic and supremely self-assured body of work, which we believe is a classic-in-waiting."

RIYL: The Big Pink, Goo Goo Dolls, Silversun Pickups, Frightened Rabbit

Check out "Flashing Red Light Means Go" or "Evacuate."

Pirate

Like Trains & Taxis

Add Date: March

Artist: Like Trains & Taxis

Album: Tales from a Revolving Door

Label: Self-released

Genre: Pop, "Indie-Soul"

Comments: From the promoter:

"Sometimes referred to as 'Indie-Soul,' Like Trains & Taxis combines a modern indie sensibility with traditional notions of song-writing, aiming to create songs that hold up on their own without relying on gimmicks and superficial fluff. [L]ead singer Chris Harris' pursuit of the song as an art object informs Like Trains & Taxis' underlying sincerity; a characteristic that has become the backbone of their style. ... The end result is a sound that at times recalls classic soul singers like Stevie Wonder and Donny Hathaway as well as the off-beat nuanced approach of artists like Ben Folds and Fiona Apple..."

RIYL: Cold War Kids. Check out "Cold Shoulder."

Pirate!

Black Tambourine

Add Date: March 16

Artist: Black Tambourine

Album: Black Tambourine

Label: Slumberland

Genre: Pop, Garage

Comments: From the promoter:

"On first listen, you might mistake Black Tambourine as some hot new act burning up the Brooklyn rock scene-- but the truth is the group's resplendent feedback and sweet buried female vocals all predate the present day parade of lo-fi garage acts. ... Influenced by shoegazers My Bloody Valentine as much as the Velvet Underground albums fo the 1960's, Black Tambourine sound as fresh and vibrant as any present day acts. Fans of recent Slumberland groups like Crystal Stilts will undoubtedly worship this."

Fans of Electrelane and Vivian Girls should check out Black Tambourine. Check out "Throw Aggi Off the Bridge" or "For Ex-Lovers Only."

[BONUS: Part of this reissue of late '80s/early '90s BT work was record in MD Michael Morella's hometown of Rockville, Maryland. This makes BT the best band out of the Rockville area since Good Charlotte and O.A.R. Finally, some redemption.]

Terrorbird

Bonobo

Add Date: March 16

Artist: Bonobo

Album: Black Sands

Label: Ninja Tune

Genre: Electronic

Comments: From the promoter:

"Simon Green (aka Bonobo) returns with his fourth, most eagerly anticipated and most accomplished album to date, the magnificent 'Black Sands.' Green proves once and for all that he is an artist and producer with his sights set on much higher prizes than to rule any dusty subgenre of dance music. This is a record of epic reach and massive emotional pull, all held together by Green's understanding of composition and arrangement of live instruments (most of them played by him) as well as his complete mastery of the tricks and techniques of the digital age."

Very chill music that reminds me of a rainforest lounge. Go to " Eyesdown" or "Kiara."

Terrorbird

March 9 Best New Music

Another stellar week for new music. Here are some our favorites:

jj

Frightened Rabbit

Broken Bells

Ted Leo & the Pharmacists

Liars

But don't miss: Pavement (best of), Tartufi, Clogs, Lawrence Arabia, Kate Miller-Heidke, Aloha, Gorillaz

Gorillaz

Add Date: March 9

Artist: Gorillaz

Album: Plastic Beach

Label: Virgin

Genre: Experimental Rock/Pop/Hip-Hop/Electronic (...etc)

Comments: They're baaaaackkk! Our favorite animated band Gorillaz have returned from their 5-year hiatus following the release of Demon Days to bring us Plastic Beach, the concept of which takes place on a deserted island far away from humanity. Plastic Beach is a groovy, beat-happy pop extraveganza, with guests like Snoop Dogg, De La Soul, Lou Reed (!), and Mos Def (plus many others).

From NPR:"Here, Albarn and company's songs demonstrate a genre-bending collection of glitchy club beats and hip-hop grooves, augmented by brass, glitzy synthesizers and Asian- and Arabic-tinged orchestral harmonies... From the Thriller-infused electro-funk of "Stylo" to the bubbly grooves of "Superfast Jellyfish" and "Some Kind of Nature," there's something for everyone, and often in the same song. Even three albums into what might have initially seemed to be a one-off art project, Gorillaz's Plastic Beach exudes fun."

Utterly awesome; start with the trippy, downtempo "Rhinestone Eyes", the precise, 80's-esque "Stylo", or "Some Kind of Nature", featuring the fabulous Lou Reed.

Happy Birthday

Add Date: March 9

Artist: Happy Birthday

Album: Happy Birthday

Label: Sub Pop

Genre: Pop/"Post-Retro"

Comments: Weird, quirky pop done right--Happy Birthday's self-titled album is full of fuzzy guitar (which is, in fact, "inverted-tuning" guitar), off-beat vocals (including some well-placed falsetto), tempo shifts, and other music stylings that combine to create weird, catchy alt-pop. Some standouts include "Girls FM", a catchy, harmonic power-pop song with enough fuzz to give it edge and "Subliminal Message", the most ballad-esque track of the group with great synth and a lovely chorus. Also notable is the sing-song, somewhat slinky "I Want to Stay (I Run Away)". Creative and catchy; well worth a listen.

Atoms on Broadway

Add Date: March 9

Artist: Atoms on Broadway

Album: Week-End

Label: Self-released

Genre: Rock

Comments: From the promoter: "Balancing the raw edge of today's best garage rock with an intellectual late-70's pop sensibility, Atoms on Broadway combine the best of past and present indie rock to create a sound that's unique, enthralling, and most importantly, damn fun." The promoters described the sound pretty aptly--it's feel-good poppy indie-rock with some garage tendencies; check out tracks 2, 3, and 10.

Liars

Add Date: March 9

Artist: Liars

Album: Sisterworld

Label: Mute

Genre: Post-punk/Art-rock

Comments: Last week's sampler was an excellent indication of just how awesome Liars' fourth album Sisterworld is. My opinions on the album are pretty much the same as my reaction to the sampler, so I won't gush any more than I already have--instead, I'll just leave you a link to the album review from Pitchfork (who have called them "art-rocking badasses"), which features an 8.1/Best New Music rating (of course): http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/13991-sisterworld/ .

Ted Leo & the Pharmacists

Add Date: March 9

Artist: Ted Leo & the Pharmacists

Album: The Brutalist Bricks

Label: Matador

Genre: Rock, punk

Comments: Ted Leo is now on Matador Records, becoming the second indie powerhouse to sign to the venerable imprint--see Pavement, Yo La Tengo, Belle & Sebastian and The New Pornographers on the active roster--in recent months. (Sonic Youth put out its first Matador album, The Eternal, last year.) The expectations are high for anything that Leo touches, but it's hard to imagine making a better debut on one's new label than The Brutalist Bricks, his strongest effort since the 2001/2003 combo The Tyranny of Distance and Hearts of Oak.

I'm a big Ted Leo fan, and I'll be the first to express disappointment in his previous LP, 2007's Living With the Living. There were some fine songs on there, to be sure--"The Sons of Cain" and "Army Bound" come to mind--but I can't even remember the last time I listened to the second half of that record. For one thing, the playing time is 61 minutes; length usually works against punk rock, and that was certainly the case here. Leo has earned his reputation for punchy guitar hooks and intense, often political lyrics, which just don't fly in a 6-minute song.

I'll end my airing of grievances and say that The Brutalist Bricks does almost everything right that Living got wrong. As mentioned before, it belongs right up there with Tyranny and Hearts, the two finest records thus far in Leo's canon. If you're not hooked in by the first 15 seconds of opener "The Mighty Sparrow," then you're clearly in the wrong genre. There are many more gems throughout, from the aggressively melodic "Bottled in Cork" to the ass-kicking "Where Was My Brain?" to lead single "Even Heroes Have to Die." Not that the other material is filler, either; throughout the record, Leo showcases his fine songwriting, and the Pharmacists (Chris Wilson on drums, James Canty on guitar and keyboards and new member Marty Key on bass) are in fine form. And what can you say about Ted, but that the dude can shred the guitar. One of 2010's best.

Clogs

Add Date: March 9

Artist: Clogs

Album: The Creatures in the Garden of Lady Walton

Label: Brassland

Genre: Folk, orchestral pop, classical

Comments: Of all the things that make The National one of the best rock bands around these days, the orchestral flourishes that weave their way through more traditional rock structures must be near the top of the list. Those are the doings of Padma Newsome, who isn't technically in the band--though, in addition to collaborating, he occasionally tours with them. Clogs is the decade-old project of Newsome, Bryce Dessner (who, technically, is in The National), Rachael Elliott and Thomas Kozumplik. These four musicians, all with a classical background, make gorgeously orchestrated pop, and this is the latest in a string of fine releases.

On The Creatures in the Garden of Lady Walton, the band enlists the help of My Brightest Diamond's Shara Worden, who also has classical training, along with National frontman Matt Berninger, and some fellow named Sufjan Stevens, who provide guest vocals on several tracks. I'm also quite fond of the instrumental numbers like "I Used to Do" and "To Hugo," but check out Worden on "On the Edge" and "Adages of Cleansing," Berninger on "Last Song," and Stevens on "We Were Here."

Pavement

Add Date: March 9

Artist: Pavement

Album: Quarantine the Past: The Best of Pavement

Label: Matador

Genre: Indie rock

Comments: To call Pavement king of the indies is probably something these Stockton, California rockers would punch me in the face for, but it's true. Their initial reception was mild, but today their name is known throughout the indie world as one of the those lo-fi legends that so many other bands try to imitate. Key word: "try."

What we have here is a remastered collection of the "best" Pavement tunes from their 10-year career (1989 to 1999). While my own preference for Pavement's earlier stuff -- Slanted and Enchanted and Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain days -- is certainly represented on here with killer tracks like "Gold Soundz," "Here," "Summer Babe," and "Trigger Cut," there's plenty of other "gold soundz" on here to choose from (that was so lame). "Stereo" is just the first one that jumps out at me.

And while I'm bummed that "AT&T" and "We Dance" don't make appearances on here, this is too fine a record to pass by, humble DJ. Study up on these fellers and, if you get the chance, track them down for a reunion show. There's talk of them playing in Central Park over the summer...

Oh, and Pitchfork gave Quarantine the Past a perfect rating. Check it out for some more articulate prose.

Rogue Wave

Add Date: March 9

Artist: Rogue Wave

Album: Permalight

Label: Brushfire

Genre: Indie rock, pop

Comments: The fourth album from Oakland indie rockers Rogue Wave is fronted by Zach Schwartz, who formed the grooup after losing his job in the dot-com bust. There's always been a little bit of a digital sheen to Rogue Wave's particular brand of sensitive, polite-guy indie rock, which has drawn comparisons to groups like Death Cab for Cutie, Stars, and -- though I wouldn't quite call them "polite" -- Of Montreal.

Rogue Wave is most certainly a soundtrack band, since songs of there's have appeared in tons of movie soundtracks (Love Happens, Rachel Getting Married, Napoleon Dynamite, Just Friends) and TV shows (Heroes, Scrubs, Chuck, The O.C.) if that tells you anything. Not quite up to snuff with their very first record, Permalight is a nice collection of tunes. Start with "Good Morning."

Dave Matthews & Tim Reynolds

Add Date: March 9

Artist: Dave Matthews & Tim Reynolds

Album: Live in Las Vegas

Label: RCA

Genre: Dave Matthews

Comments: I'll admit it, I'm not a DMB fan. You either are or you aren't. I can certainly appreciate their efforts to transcend the funk-jam band by injecting some genuine jazz and meticulous instrumentation, but something about it just doesn't do it for me.

Now, I realize purists will tell me that "Dave Matthews & Tim Reynolds" is a different entity entirely than DMB or Reynolds' other band, TR3. Sure, sure. What we have with Live in Las Vegas is a sprawling double-album from a Planet Hollywood show on December 12 of last year. And what Reynolds and Matthews perform on here is a slew of fine acoustic tunes, much more in touch with the folk than the funk. And a lot of these tunes are culled from DMB's latest record, Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King. (Reynolds even does a pair, "Kundalini Bonfire" and Led Zeppelin's "Kashmir," by himself.)

Fans of the duo, who've released two live records together already, will find more to enjoy on here, I presume.

jj

Add Date: March 9

Artist: jj

Album: jj no. 3

Label: Secretly Canadian

Genre: Pop

Comments: From the promoter:

"Gothenburg, Sweden's jj create R&B and Balearic dub from the ghosts of lost lovers, pop as delicate as a fawn's nose across blades of frosted grass. It's the soundtrack for friends packed into the town square's tiniest tavern, their moon-tanned, apple-cheeked faces glowing, their dilated pupils filled with all the meaning and meaningless of a magic 8-ball. Their music is carefree without carelessness, and self-aware without being self-conscious. With it, they build an ice bridge arching from Gothenburg into the heart of middle America, and everywhere in between."

Mysterious, delicate, ambient electronic pop with a touch of international hip-hop influence. For fans of Sigur Ros, Beach House, The Knife. Check out "Let Go" or "You Know."

Distiller

Tartufi

Add Date: March 9

Artist: Tartufi

Album: Nests of Waves and Wires

Label: Southern

Genre: Pop, Experimental

Comments: From the promoter:

"San Fransisco's Tartufi return to the studio and record Nests of Waves and Water with the help of Tim Green (Joanna Newsom, Alela Diane, Monotonix). "Further exploring the boundaries of vocal and instrumental layering, polyrhytmic deconstruction and song arrangement, [the album] is a lush and weighty mix of the band's compositional sensibilites and sonic daydreams."

The Onion called it "ear-shattering mind-crushing music to shatter your minds and sex your ears to," and with all the interesting layers of jarring noise and melody, I might mave to agree.
Tartufi sounds something like Animal Collective, Born Ruffians/Unicorns turned dark, or Do Make Say Think. For the radio, try the short "System Folds," but if you've got some time, check out "Hole or Space" or "Fleet Week."

Distiller

Broken Bells

Add Date: March 9

Artist: Broken Bells

Album: Broken Bells

Label: Columbia

Genre: Pop

Comments: From the label:

"James Mercer (of The Shins) and Brian Burton (aka Danger Mouse, aka half of Gnarls Barkley and producer of Gorillaz Demon Days and Beck's Modern Guilt) have completed work on the first album by their new and ongoing band, Broken Bells. ... The album features ten melodically seductive and psychologically provocative songs. Here's how Rolling Stone's Will Hermes described it:

"It turns out that two pop-science geeks are a perfect match. Danger Mouse pushes Mercer's gorgeous, existential tunecraft outward with Day-Glo dynamics. ...[W]hat sweeps you up are the sweet, ascending verses, the rolling choruses and the Danger Mouse touches: analog-synth swirls, slo-mo kick drums, a melancholy bass line-- hip hop for turned-on shut-ins. 'Vaporize' begins with Mercer's fey workaday voice and a strummed acoustic, then takes off with smeared snares, bouncy organ and a jaunty Barcharach-David-style horn break. It's punchier than the Shins, and livelier than you'd expect from a song whose title suggests innovative marijuana consumption-- an anthem for malcontents, teenage and otherwise, not unlike 'Crazy.' In Danger Mouse, Mercer has found a promising fellow traveler."

Super enjoyable pop with a psychedelic/groove vibe. The Shins chilled out and taken down an octave and made oh so so much cooler in a totally un-Garden State way. For fans of the Shins, Beck, Gorillaz, and Department of Eagles.

You've got to try "The Ghost Inside" or "The Mall & Misery."

Team Clermont

The Weakerthans

Add Date: March 9

Artist: The Weakerthans

Album: Live at the Cummings Theatre

Label: Epitaph/Anti

Genre: Pop, Rock

Comments: From the promoter:

"The Weakerthans come from Winnipeg, Manitoba, the geographic center of North America. Their deeply lyrical music speaks of the vast open spaces and broken industrial dreams in which it was created. Founded in 1997 by former Propagandhi bassist turned guitarist/frontman John K. Samson, The Weakerthans hold deep roots in the indie scence, with drummer Jason Tait also recording and touring as part of Toronto indie collective Broken Social Scene. ... With an expanded line-up that includes trumpet, violin and female vocals, the Weakerthans run through songs from all four of their albums, in fornt of an adoring hometown audience singing along with every word.

"For fans of Wilco, Bright Eyes, Death Cab for Cutie, Elliot Smith, and Built to Spill."

Check out "Benediction."

Pirate

Indubious

Add Date: March 9

Artist: Indubious

Album: Cosmic Seed

Label: Righteous Sound

Genre: Reggae

Comments: From the promoter:

"Rising up out of the fertile soil known as Southern Oregon's Rogue Valley, the group of Intergalactic Reggae Revolutionaries known as Indubious come straight from the heavens above to spread the word of love and light through their epic sound. Leaving audiences stunned, and downright amazed, this genre-begging reggae power trio comes pumping a positive message, and wielding impressive instrumental skill. ... They blend together a mix of authentic dancehall and new roots reggae tracks, visionary lyrical messages and insane electro funk fusion jams to create a sound destined to change the face of music."

I cut out the picture of the band and slipped it in with the lyrics sheet so you can get an idea of what these guys are about. I feel like they're not quite groovy enough for dub, not quite quick enough for dancehall-- but hey, I'm no expert.

Jason Masi

Add Date: March 9

Artist: Jason Masi

Album: Balance & Pull

Label: Self-released

Genre: Folk, Acoustic, Pop

Comments: From the promoter:

"Jason Masi, the vocalist/guitarist for the Richmond-based band Jubeus, has recently released a solo album. Balance & Pull finds Jason exploring more natural sounds and less of the electric grooves that are part of the Jubeus sound. ... A theme of faith and thanksgiving weaves its way through the tracks and the tone of the album is one of hopeful vulnerability... Simplicity, honesty and vulnerability make Masi's voice appealing and accessible and [the album] an enjoyable listen."

Start with "Catching Up Again."

Tinderbox

Kate Miller-Heidke

Add Date: March 9

Artist: Kate Miller - Heidke

Album: Curiouser

Label: SIN/SONY

Genre: Pop

Comments: Gian Erguiza from the Frantik Magazine thinks that "if Lily Allen, Sarah McLachlan, and Cyndi Lauper had a baby and the baby grew up to be a performer, that baby would be Kate Miller-Heidke." Quite a disturbing image there, but he might be on to something. You'll definitely recognize some Lily Allen-ness in the sassy lyrics and some girl power action a la Cindy Lauper in songs like "I Like You Better When You're Not Around". But she still has a unique sound, part of which is her voice that can reach crazy notes (if I'm not mistaken, she used to take lessons to become an opera singer). Definitely give it a listen, it will win you over pretty quickly. Start with "I Like You Better When You're Not Around", "God's Gift to Women" and "Politics in Space."

Lawrence Arabia

Add Date: March 9

Artist: Lawrence Arabia

Album: Chant Darling

Label: Bella Union

Genre: Pop/Folk Rock

Comments: Second solo album from New Zealander James Milne, but first under the Lawrence Arabia pseudonym. It's a feel-good album obviously influenced by the likes of Beatles and Beach Boys, but it doesn't fail to remind us we're not in the 60s anymore and at times it surprises with its catchy, poppy sound (see "Apple Pie Bed"). To me, it seems this album comes just in time for spring. You know how some songs are great to listen to by the fire with a cup of hot chocolate in front of you? Well Chant Darling is perfect for lazy, sunny afternoons. Goodbye ugly winter, hello beautiful spring and lovely music to accompany it. Check out "Look Like a Fool", "The Undesirables", "Apple Pie Bed" and "The Beautiful Young Crew".

The Splinters

Add Date: March 9

Artist: The Splinters

Album: Kick

Label: Double Negative

Genre: Rock

Comments: From the promoter:

"Following the release of their now out-of-print 7" Splintered Bridges, the ladies of Oakland's The Splinters are back with their highly anticipated full-length debut Kick. The Splinters and their ramshackle rock n' roll sound and multipart vocal harmonies have earned them comparisons to '60s girl groups like the Shangi-Las, artsy post-punk outfits like the Raincoats, and the lo-fi grrl-pop stylings of early '90s K Records bands. Therse hard-working gals have performed with the likes of Ty Segall, Brilliant Colors, The Strange Boys, the Coathangers and countless others, and have become one of the bay area's most buzzed about new bands."

I liked "Mysterious" and the quieter "Sorry." Fierce girl rock with just enough cute to be comfortable in a Wes Anderson film or Juno.

Terrorbird

Hunter Valentine

Add Date: March 9

Artist: Hunter Valentine

Album: Lessons from the Late Night

Label: Tommy Boy

Genre: Rock

Comments: From the promoter:

"Raucous and direct, the outfit comprised of vocalist/guitarist Kiyomi McCloskey, bassist Adrienne Lloyd and drummer Laura Petracca exemplifies girls with a united goal, intense friendship, respect and ability that soldifies their edgy albeit refines music. There's no hyperbole when it comes to Hunter Valentine. Everything has a direct message, delivered with a devoud refusal for glitz or glamour. The hard line says it all, conveyed by confident, unbridled rock 'n' roll."

Check out " Youthful Existence."

Planetary

The Besnard Lakes

Add Date: March 9

Artist: Besnard Lakes

Album: The Besnard Lakes are the Roaring Night

Label: Jagjaguwar

Genre: Pop

Comments: From the promoter:

"There is a war now. The message has been sent through short wave in code. The Besnard Lakes twisting chronicle, or fever dream, of spies, double agents, novelists and aspiring rock gods has turned violent. Loyalty, dishonor, love, hatred all see through the eyes of two spies, fighting a war that may not be real.... Once again, the husband-and-wife duo of Olga Goreas and Jace Lasek has crafted a majestic, spraling vision of guitar bambast and captivating pop experiments.

"The album is dark bliss-out that folds the eerie guitar epics of the Montreal band's breakthrough into a wall of affected drones and atmospherics, but with a toughened immediacy and a grit that gives the form a much-needed shove over the clifffs, making for a haunting, provacative swan dive into the crushing tide."

No idea what the spies have to do with this album of dark-ish big-wall of sound pop. Start with "Albatross."

Planetary