Ten CDs: Some of these are old
Some of these CDs are gonna be new, and some of them are gonna be old...
The Young Knives "Voices of Animals and Men"
My immediate impression is their explosive sound is derivative but good. As the disc plays, however, I am less impressed. The lead singer's yelping just isn't doing it for me, and the whole thing sounds done-before.
Meat Puppets "Rise to Your Knees"
I really like the cover art.
And, whoa! This takes me back. "The Brothers Meat" have still got it. After an 11-year estrangement, Curt and Cris Kirkwood are back together, making beautiful, slacker music.
Dr. Dog "We All Belong"
I think I've heard this album before, which is a little bit cheating. But, whatever, I like it. These guys sound like they'd be fun to party with, OR they'd be fun to have play at your party. Either one.
more after the jump...
Northern State "Can I Keep This Pen?"
I like this better than I thought I would. My perception (unsubstantiated, of course) of this group that it was a gimmicky trio of girl rappers, but they are actually pretty lyrically tight (albeit with a brattiness that the Beastie Boys have seemed to abandoned), and they've picked up a tip or two from Luscious Jackson on electropop infusion.
The Mercury Seed "Throwing Rocks at the Sun"
It's got a tidy, classic Americana rock sound. I hate that.
Nico Vega "Choose Your Words Poorly"
Nico Vega features a frontwoman who is ready to RAWK, in the vein of Courtney Love (10 years ago), Melissa Auf der Maur and Shirley Manson. (Her name is Aja, BTW, not Nico — that's just the band name.) And, goodness sakes!, do we need more women RAWKers. Something about her raw, bluesy, talky delivery, however, makes me think that she got really into the last White Stripes album.
French Kicks "Two Thousand"
This is where the "some of these are old" thing happens. This came out last summer, and I've been holding onto it since then. I should have cracked it earlier. Easy-going rock with smooth harmonies and good energy.
Elbow "Leaders of the Free World"
I usually like these guys, but I guess there was a reason I put off listening to their latest. It's a little boring. Serviceable, but boring.
Keane "Under the Iron Sea"
I'm coming to this album with an admitted bias; I thought their last album was just schlocky and trite piano pop with absolutely no personality. I would have liked that one single if the singer had been a little more flamboyant, but instead he was mostly boring. Will this album be more of the same? Sounds like yes.
Pajo "1968"
Erstwhile member of Slint, guitarist David Pajo is pretty promiscuous in who he plays with. But as long as he's got enough left over for his solo work, I am fine with it. His soft but intense acoustic guitar tracks are captivating and eerie.
Final score: Five out of 10. Not too shabby.
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