Love This Giant by David Byrne and St. Vincent

Released:  September 11, 2012
Rating:  70
Genre:  Experimental Rock

Remember the Talking Heads?  I do.  David Byrne lead the band, from their formation in 1975 in New York  until they broke up in 1988.  I loved David Byrne's quirky lyrics, outrageous costumes, unique voice and highly experimental music.  This is his 9th solo album since 1981 and, perhaps regrettably, my first.  Here he teams with St. Vincent (the stage name of Annie Erin Clark, it's also the name of the band she fronts), which makes calling it a solo album a little confusing.

The music is primarily written for a brass band, which sounds more like David Byrne, but was actually the suggestion of Annie Clark. On the opener Who Byrne is out front.  Immediately followed by  Weekend In The Dust where St. Vincent takes the lead.  Optimist is another great tune worth a listen.

This is not an album for background noise.  It deserves takes some concentration to truly appreciate it, and it's worth the effort.

Sun by Cat Power

Released:  September 4, 2012
Rating:  72.73
Genre: 

Cat Power is the stage name of Chan (pronounced "Shawn") Marshall, born Charlyn Marie Marshall in Atlanta, Georgia on January 21, 1972.  This is her first album since 2008's Jukebox (a terrific album of covers, from New York, New York to Hank Williams' Ramblin' Man, to Joni Mitchell's Blue) which was my introduction to her.  This is her 7th album of original material and the first in 6 years.

The clearest thing I can hear is Cheryl Crow (circa Tuesday Night Music Club, my personal  favorite) style song-writing here, though not necessarily every song.  In fact, ironically, my favorite songs are not those that sound most like Crow.  Spotify draws comparisons to PJ Harvey, Feist, Devandra Banhart and Iron and Wine.  I don't really see any of them individually, but if you smashed them together in a super-collider, you might end up with Cat Power.

(By the way, the name comes from a trucker's ball cap with the Caterpillar Tractor logo.)  The opener, Cherokee, is my favorite song on the album.  3,6,9 is one of the more Sheryl-Crow-like numbers.  Human Being is a bluesy piece from the swamps of Mississippi.

A Thing Called Divine Fits by Divine Fits

Released:  August 28, 2012
Rating:  81.62
Genre:  Alt Rock

Screaming into front-runner status, late in 2012 is the Super-Group, Divine Fits.  And while I've never heard of of the drummer (Sam Brown, or his band, New Bomb Turks), I'm a big fan of Dan Boeckner (of the Handsome Furs and Wolf Parade) and Britt Daniels (the lead vocalist and guitarist for Spoon, who's Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga was my favorite album of 2007.)

AMG pretty much nailed the sound describing it as "throbbing, understated synths, insistent beats that jab listeners like a finger in the chest, and echoing vocals that sound like they were recorded in an alley in the middle of the night."  While I hear Daniels' influence loud and clear, I can also hear Boeckner's song writing, though somewhat less frenetic than his work with the Handsome Furs.  My favorite songs include:

• The first single and opener My Love Is Real
• Flaggin a Ride's simple, driving beat and intense vocal track.
• The heavy base of Would That Not Be Nice.
• The slightly folky Civilian Stripes.
• Although not in my top 5 songs on the album, Shivers is still a very cool cover of a 1979 release by Nick Cave's band Birthday Party (before he formed the Bad Seeds in 1983.)

Standing At The Sky's Edge by Richard Hawley

Released:  August 28, 2012
Rating:  72.00
Genre:  Neo Psychedelia.

The son of a steel worker, from Sheffield, England, Hawley began his solo career with a self-titled debut in 2001.  This is his 7th proper studio release and the influences of lat '60s psychedelia are everywhere.  He refers to the lush mix as "rocket sounds." 

The music is a fascinating arrangement of guitar, bass and drums, punctuated with organs, violins, tom-toms, even a tamboura. Hawley as a beautiful baritone that adds a richness to every song.  Spotify compares him to Morrisey, Roy Orbison, Nick Drake and Lee Hazelwood.  At least on this album, I'd have to include the doors.

• The title track, Standing At the Sky's Edge, reminds me of  Jim Morrison at his trippiest.
• Down in the Woods is a raw rocker.
• Seek It is a strange love song - "I had a dream and you were in it/we got naked/ Can't remember what happened next/ it was weird" - with a gorgeous melody, supported by Hawley's rich voice.
• Leave Your Body Behind You leaves you spent.

Ascent by Six Organs Of Admittance

Released:  August 21, 2012
Rating:  74.00
Genre:  Psychedelic Guitar Rock

Former Plague Lounge guitarist Ben Chasny formed Six Organs of Admittance in 1998 in Northern California.  Heavily instrumentals, with diving guitar solos, and large dash of psychedelia, this album is almost universally adored by the critics.  On a song-by-song basis, I can't get to the same place, but taken as a whole, it's a trippy, blast of an album, mostly deserving of the acclaim.

(The album is not currently available on Spotify, so I've resorted to Youtube versions.)

The opener, Waswasa is pretty much a kick-ass, five-and-a-half minute guitar solo.  It's followed by the drugged out Close To The Sky, which could have been done by the Doors, if they'd existed in 2012.  Visions (From IO) is a spacey, slow burner that reminds me a little of Space Oddity-era David Bowie.

The Glorious Dead by The Heavy

Released:  August 21, 2012
Rating:  74.00
Genre:  Neo-Soul

I love this album from the five piece band from Noid, England (outside of Bath).  This is their third studio album.  They released their debut in 2007.  It's not surprising I'd be enthusiastic., since Spotify lists their as their related artists some of my favorite bands on the past few years, including The Deadweather, The Kills, Cold War Kids, My Morning Jacket, TV On The Radio, Broken Bells, The Raconteurs and Band of Skulls.

Even with that said though, I hear a lot of 60's/70's-style, R&B and blues based rock.  Think Grand Funk Railroad, Three Dog Night, Johnny Winter, Foghat or Mountain.

My favorite song on the album is Can't Play Dead.  What Makes A Good Man? is a smokin', slightly funky jam.  Be Mine reminds me of Elbow. And The Big Bad Wolf reminds me of pre-Bad Company Paul Rodgers.

Mature Themes By Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti

Released:  August 21, 2012
Rating:  72.00
Genre:  Neo-Psychedelia

AMG starts out their review of this album as follows: "To anyone familiar with his music, it's obvious that Ariel Pink is weird, but it bears repeating: Ariel Pink is really weird."  I have to agree.  But it's a really fun album.  Except for two songs which, for me as a matter of personal preference, are filler (Schnitzel Boogie and Nostradamus And Me), it would currently be in my top 10 for the year.

Considering it's only the second album from the Los Angeles band they get a lot of press.  At least 36 reviews from major media and arts rags!  However, it's Ariel Pink's ninth overall, though, I must, somewhat sheepishly, admit I'd never heard of them till now.

This album plays like a collection from several bands and almost all of it is terrific.  Baby is late 60's soul; If Only In My Dreams reminds me of the birds crossed with Devandra Banhart; the pop-rock title track (Mature Themes) is easily my favorite on the album.  Don't miss Kinski Assassin either.  The A.V Club calls it "verbal Dada", but do not try to dissect the lyrics with the kids.

Researching The Blues by Redd Kross

Released:  August 7, 2012
Rating:  74.00
Genre:  Punk-Pop

Redd Kross, from Southern California, began in 1978 with a band called The Tourists, which was begun by brothers Jeff and Steve McDonald while they were still in middle school. With the addition of friends Greg Hetson and Dave Keller on guitar and John Stielow on drums, the band's first gig was opening for Black Flag.  (Not a bad start.) 

This is their 7th album as Redd Kross (changed from Red Cross in 1980s to avoid a lawsuit from the International Red Cross) and their first album in 15 years - The band went on hiatus after the overdose death of their drummer in 1999.  I was surprised to see a lot of critics interested and, in general they loved.  Perhaps even more than me.

It's easy to compare them to bands like early Green Day (Researching the Blues), but I also hear hints of late-middle Beatles in One of the Good Ones or Meet Frankenstein and Dracula's Daughter offers Beach Boy's style harmonies.

In Time To Voices by Blood Red Shoes

Released:  July 24, 2012
Rating:  70.91
Genre:  Post Punk

Blood Red Shoes formed in late 2004, after Steven Ansell and Laura-Mary Carter's previous bands  broke up. They explain the name as taken from a musical, in which Ginger Rogers had turned a pair of white dancing shoes red with blood due to the amount of practice she'd done for the role.  This is their third studio album.

The band consider themselves to be a punk band, in ethos and attitude (if not in their immediate musical style) and cites influences that include Nirvana, Queens of the Stone Age, Pixies, Fugazi and Sonic Youth,  Blur and PJ Harvey.  My favorite song on the Album is Lost Kids, which reminds me a lot of the Kills.  Je Me Perds establishes their punk creds.  Slip Into Blue is a pretty song that reminds me a bit of Metric (one of my favorite bands in recent years.) 

FYI, hyperlinks now are generally pointed to Spotify.  I love this site for listening to new music before I buy it, but give me some feedback if you have problems.

They are active in social causes, openly supporting anti-fascist campaigns such as Love Music Hate Racism, contributing on the second CD of the 2007 LMHR compilation album and performing at LadyFest.

Handwritten by The Gaslight Anthem

Released:  July 24, 2012
Rating:  71.43
Genre:  Rock

If the Clash had been from New Jersey, this is what they'd have sounded like.  Punks with a hint of the Springsteen-blue-collar thing goin' on.

Handwritten is the New Jersey band's fourth album (my second by them) since 2007 and although it's impossible not to hear the Boss's influence, it's unfair to stop at that.  It's also unfair for my younger readers to think of Springsteen as starting with Born In The USA.  If you want to draw the comparisons, go back to The River or Greetings From Asbury Park, when Bruce could almost be classified as proto-punk.

It's interesting that the deluxe album wraps up with two cover songs: Sliver by Nirvana and You Got Lucky by Tom Petty.  I prefer the latter, but listen to them both, and also check out 45 (the official video) and Mulholland Drive.

Unearth by Grasscut

Released:  July 16, 2012
Rating:  70
Genre:  Ambient Steam-Punk

There's a certain theatricality, that I suppose is inherent in most ambient and electronic music.  However, given that half of Grasscut is British television and film composer Andrew Phillips, it makes double-sense (if that's a term I can use.)  The other half of the band from Brighton, England is keyboardist/classically trained double bassist Marcus O'Dair.  This is the sophomore release for the British duo.


Inspired by Krafterk, Devo and Robert Wyatt; and critics comparing them to Hot Chip, Eluvium and Max Richter, they're a little hard to pin down.  I think you might be able to spawn the sound by crossing Crosby Stills and Nash with early Pink Floyd, then letting it mature for about 30 years.

Although not drawing a lot of reviewers, those that weighed in were universally positive.  And although I may be toward the lower end of that spectrum, I have to say that my overall feeling is also very positive.

• The wistful piano of Blink In The Night (East Coker Version).
• Stone Lions is perhaps the most easily accessible song on the album.
• The juxtaposition of the keyboards against the gorgeous strings in A Mysterious Disappearance.
• Sparse and beautiful Richardson Road (with a guest appearance from Robert Wyatt)  The opening vocal reminds me of Al Jarreau

Swing Lo Magellan by Dirty Projectors

Released:  July 10, 2012
Rating:  71.67
Genre:  Experimental Lo-Fi Alt Rock

This is Dirty Projectors' 6th or seventh studio album (depending on which website you visit) since 2003, though it's my second by the band (that's mostly the project of Dave Longstreth).  It's pretty cerebral stuff and takes some effort to love.  If you think of the Beatles more unusual songs from the White Album, you'll kinda get the idea where this is headed.  The whole album is excellent and, I believe, worth the effort.  Suggested listening includes:

• Gun Has No Trigger, which reminds me of Beatles era George Harrison (think While My Guitar Gently Weeps) is the lead single.
• The beautiful title track, Swing Lo Magellan, is a 60's style folk ballad with an acoustic guitar and simple drum beat.
• The offbeat, but somehow poetic, See What She Seeing is a great example of the more experimental songs, lots of electronics, combined with the beautiful strings creates a slightly jarring listen, but worth the effort. (This is a killer live version.)

Harakiri by Serj Tankian

Released:  July 10, 2012
Rating:  69.09
Genre:  Hard Rock

This is the new solo album by System of a Down singer/founder.  The music here is something of a hybrid, between his previous, prog-rock, solo work and SOAD's heavy metal.  Tankian's voice is very distinctive, and either you like it or you don't (I do, obviously).  The lyrics pretty angry (the language is not for the kids) and the music is pretty heavy.

I liked it more than the average critic, but opinions were all over the place.  From Alternative Press ("a worthwhile and intriguing listen.") to PopMatters ("The most confusing, drab, inexplicable pop-punk album I've heard in years.")

Check out a couple of my favorite songs from the album and make up your mind for yourself:

• The pseudo ballad Occupied.
• The skittish Ching Chime.

Deep Time by Deep Time

Released:  July 10, 2012
Rating:  73.33
Genre:  Indie

Lot's of bass and percussion.  Electronics tastefully layered in.  The vocal is an elegant, deep toned female voice.  This duo (Jennifer Moore and Adam Jones, from Austin, Texas) just sounds cool; perhaps a little outside of the world most of us live in.  Whether it's above or below is not always clear.

The eponymous album is the duo's debut (sort of.  They performed as Yellow Fever the previous four years, until they got sued because someone else already had rights to the name.)  In any event they never got much notice beyond the local scene in Austin; which is no feint praise.

My favorite song on the album is Clouds.  Bermuda Triangle is a great example of the minimalist vibe they can use.  (Click the song titles to hear the songs via youtube.)

The album didn't make it into the top 10, but it made it to the top 15. And even making on the list is an endorsement. So far this year I've read over a thousand reviews, listened to nearly 200 albums and bought about 50. I definitely recommend giving these guys a listen.

The House That Jack Built by Jesca Hoop

Released:  June 26, 2012
Rating:  70.00
Genre:  Singer/Songwriter

I've read comparisons of her songwriting  to Simon and Garfunkel; of the related artists on Spotify, the only one I recognize is My Brightest Diamond (sort of an operatic chamber-pop); and she's considered a contemporary of the likes of Devandra Banhart (the king of Freak-Folk).  When first contemplating her sound I was having a hard time characterizing it and, frankly, I didn't see the comparisons being made by the professionals.  However, the more I listen to it, I realize that if you could actually put those elements into a blender, you really would get Jesca Hoop.

She was actually discovered by a musical hero of mine: Tom Waits.  She was the nanny to his family for five years.

This is her third album (my first).  I really like a lot about this and would suggest you listen to: 

• The opener Born To.  A great folk pop song.  This is the hyperlink to the official video.
• The beautiful, melancholy Deeper Devastation.  This is a live recording, but it's very clean.

This wraps up the June releases for me. I picked up 6 new CDSs and, although they included Metric and Bobby Womack, both excellent records, the rest of the June releases were really good, but not great.  I picked up 7 albums in June and they are somewhat more varied: from Serj Tankian's hard-rock to Frank Ocean's R&B, inspired by Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye.

Happy listening and, please, let me know what you're listening to these days.

The Plot Against Common Sense by The Future Of The Left

Released:  June 12, 2012
Rating:  68.00
Genre:  Punk!

This is some really angry stuff. That said, the 4-piece, Welsh, noise-rock band's fifth album (in just 6 years) has some great moments.  They remind me of early clash. In fact, the opener, Sheena Is A T-Shirt Salesman ( click to hear the full song), seems to be a sequel to the Clash's 1977 Sheena Is A Punk Rocker.  I cannot recommend that you rush out and buy this album.  Look it up and listen to it first.  If you're in the right space for some angry, pounding punk rock, then this is the perfect answer.

Note as one who considers himself pretty liberal, I, for one, hope this is not the "future of the left."  I'm looking forward to some peace and serenity.

The Bravest Man In The Universe by Bobby Womack

Released:  June 12, 2012
Rating:  70.91
Genre:  Alternative R&B

I recommend finding this album on Spotify (or somewhere else) and listening to the entire thing.  If you find as much of it interesting as I do, add it to your collection.  Until then, I'd suggest you give a listen to a couple of great examples of what's here:

• The soulful Please Forgive My Heart
• The supercool Dayglo Reflection, featuring Lana Del Ray

There are two story tracks to follow for this album. 

The first is Bobby Womack, who probably isn't well known (except maybe by name) to most of my contemporaries; or me, for that matter.  He will be 70 years old next March and he's been performing since 1953.  (He met Sam Cooke at that first performance with his brothers; and was later recruited by Cooke, when he formed his own label in 1960/61.)  He's toured behind James Brown and was an early inspiration to Jimi Hendrix.  He wrote the song It's All Over Now, which the Rolling Stones made into their first Number 1 single in England.  He Sang back up for Ray Charles and Aretha Franklin and a featured write for Wilson Pickett.  In the late '60s he had his own R&B Chart hits with covers of California Dreamin' and I Left My Heart In San Francisco.  He wrote Breezin' which became a huge hit for George Benson (and the title track for his best selling album.)  In total, he's released more than 25 albums and contributed to countless more.

Damon Albarn convinced Bobby Womack to contribute to the Gorillaz 3rd album, plastic beach.  They became friends and this album, Womack's first in 13 years, grew out of that friendship.  Damon Albarn produced, composed and played on the album.

Damon Albarn is the second story track.  He's somewhat younger (he'll be 43 within a few days of Womack's 70th B-day) and I've already written some about him, since I'm a huge Gorillaz fan, so I won't devote as much space to him here.  He fronted the Blur, created the Gorillaz and was part of the The Good, The Bad and The Queen.  Earlier this year he released Rocket Juice and the Moon with Tony Allen (from Fela Kuti's band) and Flea (from the Red Hot Chili Peppers.  He also released a traditional Opera this year.

In Our Heads by Hot Chip

Released:  June 12, 2012
Rating:  74.55
Genre:  Indie Electronic

Hot Chip made a huge impression on me the first time I heard them back in 2008 (Made In The Dark).  That album would easily be in my top 10 this year.  Their last album (One Life Stand) was a little disappointing to me.

This album is of the same caliber as Made In The Dark.  It's a little more experimental than either of those, but there's a combination of hooky pop songs and gorgeous ballads.

To get a taste I'd recommend The up beat, How Do You Do? or the gorgeous Look At Where We Are.  Both links are to the official videos.  I'm not sure that's a good thing.  Try listening before watching.

The London based quintet released their first EP in 2000 and they've released six full length albums since. 

It's difficult for me to compare them directly to anything else out there.  Musically, I hear traces of (the happier) Beck, LCD Soundsystem and even mid-career Brian Eno, but vocally, I think they're unique.

Synthetica by Metric

Released:  June 12, 2012
Rating:  80
Genre: Indie Rock

Metric had my number one release of 2009, and if you haven't heard Fantasies, all I can say is go and find it.  So here we are, 3 years later and Metric has another amazing album.  It leaped into the lead (so far) for my 2012 Album of the Year honors and it has a decent chance to stay there (though I hear No Doubt has an album coming this fall.

Lead singer Emily Haines' voice is ant once sweet, powerful and sexy.  Combined with the music, coming from the traditional rock combination of guitar, bass and drums, works so well together that I become totally mesmerized and I just can't stop listening!

Every song on the album is excellent.  The two standouts for me are the pounding Youth Without Youth and the girlish Lost Kitten.  Breathing Underwater and the driving title track Synthetica are also absolutely kickin'.  Click the song titles to hear the tracks via youtube, or do yourself a favor and buy the whole album!

This is the 5th album in nine years for the band that generally calls Toronto home these days.  Their backstory is complex, but worth the time, so, if you're interested, follow this link to the AMG write up on the band. 

Spoiler alert:  the liner notes have been printed in reverse image.  But just because they care, they provide a mirrored film to help you read them.  (It didn't)

Generals by The Mynabirds

Released:  June 5, 2012
Rating:  72.00
Genre:  Indie Folk

I don't know that I buy the "folk" part of the genre.  I actually hear a lot of Kills-style punk-blues.  In fact, like the Kills, this is a duo featuring a female lead vocalist (Laura Burhenn) and a male guitarist (Richard Swift) though they both also provide percussion and synthesizers.

With a comparison to the Kills, it's no wonder I love this album.  It doesn't have the stellar standouts of the last two Kills album, but it also doesn't have a throw-away in the 10 song set.

Check out the official videos for the hard driving title track, Generals, or the retro-chic Disarm.

(By the way, this is the sophomore release for the D.C. based band)