Clearing the Decks: More Albums We Missed

Without any new releases to speak of, we still have a few albums left over from this year that we didn't look at:

King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard - Paper Mache Dream Balloon: I'm always intrigued with bands that do the psych rock thing, if only because the Elephant Six pastiche was so well-rooted in that tradition. Out of nowhere comes King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, and I think the best way I can describe them is like a throwback to late-1990s/early 2000s Of Montreal in all the best ways. A fun, frolicky acoustic affair that deserves a listen, it's something I wish I heard a long time earlier. Maybe the best of the batch of stuff we missed initially. Absolutely give this a shot this week.

Babes - Untitled (Five Tears): I was obsessed with "ATMO," a song from Babes's debut EP (and a video that's probably NSFW for most places), for some time. I had missed that they had finally put out a proper album. This band of siblings does the whole retro/modern schtick really well, and while I don't love everything on this album, songs like "I've Got a Reason to Keep On Living" hit that sweet spot perfectly and make you want to stick around for more. I hope this band has great things happen for them.

Tove Styrke - Kiddo: Tove Styrke was a Discover Weekly find for me with the seriously awesome song "Even If I'm Loud It Doesn't Mean I'm Talking To You," and I later learned she came in third for Swedish Idol and quickly found a need to reinvent herself as more of an electropop artist (maybe in the mold of Robyn) than a pop star. It works. When it works, it is spot on even if this album is uneven at points. Grab this more for the highlights than the whole, but I fully hope that she becomes a bigger deal over time.

Rhiannon Giddens - Factory Girl: I loved Rhiannon Giddens's album from this year, so a surprise EP with some more songs was great, and is a truly awesome starting point for what she's doing as a solo artist. "Mouth Music" is a fun romp, "Moonshiner's Daughter" a really great song. It's a short EP, five songs, but a great introduction to someone you should already be listening to.

Yumi Zouma - II: A Discover Weekly find thanks to the pretty solid song "Song for Zoe & Gwen," this is one of those modern new-wave/dreampop things that really stuck with me. It won't be everyone's cup of tea, but as an EP it's worth highlighting.

Five Knives - Savages: Think about if Sleigh Bells was influenced by dubstep music. That's the type of great cacophony offered by Five Knives, an album that isn't perfect but hits a lot more than it misses. "Criminal" was a song that was a Discover Weekly find, but I think the whole album might be worth your time if you're finding the description of interest.

The Staves - If I Was: A folkish-style offering, this was yet another Discover Weekly song that included "Black & White," a song that nearly made my top 30 this year. This won't be folk enough for true folkies, and maybe too folk for those looking for more edge, but this is an album that's worth hearing if only for the beautiful voices of the sisters in this band.

Ezra Furman - Perpetual Motion People: I also found this through Discover Weekly (can you tell I love it?) thanks to "Lousy Connection," but Ezra Furman's plus is his ability to transition through genres effortlessly while making great music that still feels off-the-cuff and natural. It's a tough tightrope to walk, but Furman somehow figured it out, and there's a back catalog that I really need to go seek out during this slow time. A really solid effort.

Dios Mio - Hinterland: Another short EP, this one a little on the heavier indie side but with a lot of potential. If all the songs were as good as "Treehouse," we'd be talking about a pretty great EP, but, as it stands, it's just Very Good. Still, worth a listen.









Also worth a mention:

* Haitus Kaiyote - Choose Your Weapon
* Downtown Boys - Full Communism

First Listen for November 27, and Catching Up on Some Albums We Missed

With what is a basically empty new release week, we may as well do a quick hit of some of the recent albums we missed. There was one release of note this week, though:

Ty Segall - Ty Rex: Ty Segall is an artist we don't cover here a lot, but this is a pseudo-record-store-day compilation release of some of his T-Rex covers along with a cool version of "20th Century Boy" that hasn't seen the light of day yet. I'm a big T-Rex fan, and these takes are garage-muddled enough to be their own pieces in a way, but when it works, it works. As a covers album it's interesting, as garage rock album it's what you'd expect.






Also out this week is a new Danzig album, but the less said about it the better.

Anyway, we don't always catch the new albums when they first come out. Here are some highlights we missed along the way:

Unknown Mortal Orchestra - Multi-Love: To be completely honest, I wouldn't have sought this out to listen if it weren't for the Song Exploder episode about the title track. The album itself? It's a nice, pleasant, a little strange, often catchy affair with a good mix of instrumentation and interesting melodies. I wouldn't say this is for everyone, and I can't even say for sure if I'll spend a lot of long-term time with this, but it's certainly a highlight.

Jessie Jones - Jessie Jones: I'm unfamiliar with Jessie Jones's original band, Feeding People, so this debut album came as a bit of a pleasant surprise for me. It's got some definite pop hooks to go along with the off-center songwriting and instrumentation, but so many of these songs kept rotating through my head shortly after hearing them that I can't help but want more. "Lady La De Da" in particular is pretty great, but this really reminds me of Cat Le Bon if she was trying to get some mainstream success. Pretty great!

Grace Mitchell - Raceday: I was absolutely into Grace Mitchell's first EP, and this second EP is still pretty interesting even though it's just making my appetite for a full-length grow. She's doing some interesting pop stuff here, and I really hope it translates into a high quality album.

Michelle Chamuel - Face the Fire: Michelle Chamuel was a contestant on The Voice, and I didn't know this until after I listened to this album, which is a pretty straightforward pop affair but with hooks for days. A number of these songs repeatedly got stuck in my head when I'd dig this one out, so this might be worth a listen for our more pop-oriented listeners.

Red Moon Road - Sorrows and Glories: Maybe it's just the stuff that tends to hit our radar here, but we don't see a lot of rootsy stuff with a spiritual bent around these parts. Not to say that this is religious (or at least not overtly so), but the takeaway from this album for me was the way the song constructions followed that route a bit. The result is a super-pretty Americana album that sounds different enough from the typical stuff we feature on the blog to be worth a listen for you all.

Shopping - Why Choose?: If there's one album I regret missing when it first came out, it might be this one. We've spent some time on them before, and I have to say that this new album is really reminding me of old Athens band Oh-OK (who featured, at times, Michael Stipe's sister and Matthew Sweet) in terms of songwriting and instrumentation. It's outright one of the most interesting, highest quality releases of the year, and I can't wait to revisit it.

Gin Wigmore - Blood to Bone: Gin Wigmore's third album definitely feels like it goes to a bit of a darker place. While the leadoff track is still a pretty rocking tune, this just feels different in tone from, say, some of the stuff from her debut. It feels a hair out of place, but that might also be the point. Spreading one's wings is not a negative, and in the times I've revisited this I've always found something new and different. A solid effort.

Deradoorian - The Expanding Flower Planet: Angel Deradoorian is the former bassist for Dirty Projectors, and this solo album is certainly informed by a lot of the weird instrumentation and production we've come to expect from Dirty Projectors while still being its own thing. The lead song, "A Beautiful Woman," absolutely sets the tone, and you'll likely know how much you'll enjoy/tolerate this by the end, but this is definitely one of the more interesting releases of late and is probably worth a quick listen.

Skylar Spence - Prom King: The former Saint Pepsi is apparently a full-on disco artist now, and that's fine by me. "Fiona Coyne" is the single you might already know, and while it's not as weird as some of his Saint Pepsi work, it's not going to drive you to the roller rink, either. I'm not going to call this essential in the face of a lot of better faux-disco/retro acts out there right now, but given his previous work, this is at least worth a quick try.

Pale Honey - Pale Honey: This was an unexpected delightful find. The second song in, it feels a lot like Mynabirds, a band I love, but this overall sort of stilted, straightforward rock music really grabbed me and wouldn't let me go, and kept surprising me every time I listened. Seriously, listen to "Fish" and, if it grabs you, you'll know right away why I'm outright saying this might be one of my favorite releases of the year. If you only listen to one album off of this post, make it this one.

Priest - Priest: I don't know the first thing about Priest, although I think "Staring At the Walls" was a Discover Weekly pick or something, and it just grabbed me. This entire album is really well-done synth pop, and, while it doesn't necessarily set itself apart from a lot of other similar releases I've highlighted over the last year or so, there's something genuine and appealing about this one that still results in my really enjoying it. Certainly worth a listen.

Myzica - Myzica: A debut EP that has a lot of retro-ish synth-pop tendencies, what impresses me the most about it are things like how "Wait Just a Minute" grabbed me early on, and how re-listening to the EP over and over has resulted in other songs standing out perhaps even more. Like the Grace Mitchell EP above, I'm really looking forward to what a full album will sound like from this duo, and this is a great appetizer for now.






Also recently released:

* Bassnectar - Into the Sun
* dd elle - u
* Laura Welsh - Soft Control
* Prinze George - Prinze George
* Wavves and Cloud Nothings - No Life for Me
* Kelela - Cut 4 Me
* Aurora - Running With the Wolves (the title track is GREAT)
* Long Beard - Sleepwalker
* Anne McCue - Blue Sky Thinkin'
* Elbow - Lost Worker Bee EP
* Panda Bear - Panda Bear Meets the Grim Reaper

Quarterly Report: (Some) Albums We Missed

Here are some of the highlights of things we missed over the second quarter of 2015.

T. Hardy Morris - Hardy and the Hardknocks Drowning on a Mountaintop: T. Hardy Morris had a great solo record a few years ago, stepping out from his bandmates with the great Dead Confederate. This album...well, I don't know. It's super weird and strange, and I don't even think I have a lot of good things to say about it. It feels like a sort of project/thematic project that just doesn't click for me at all. If you're a huge fan of his, give this a listen, but you might want to let this one slide.

Pomplamoose - Besides: Internet darlings Pomplamoose offer up a new collection of covers and what might be originals/original takes. I feel like they've been around forever, and I still love a lot of what they do, but taken as a full set as opposed to one-off videos can sometimes feel a little grating or tiring. Throw this one on shuffle, maybe.

Fist City - Everything is a Mess: Fist City comes from Europe with a loud, angsty punkish debut that reminded me a lot of Savages in a few ways. Like a lot of modern punk, this may not be for everyone, but this one definitely stuck with me as I listened to it. It is really an album that deserves the buzz it's been getting, though, and if bands like Savages are your thing? You'll dig this.

Leon Bridges - Coming Home: Everything about this album screams 1970s-era soul, and the album is a definite throwback to the Sam Cooke/Otis Redding style. This is undoubtedly a good thing across the board, and the only danger is the assumption that it may be improperly pigeon-holed or overlooked by other throwback-style pop acts today. This deserves some time in your rotation no matter what your tastes tend to trend toward.

Cory McAbee - Small Star Seminar: Cory McAbee was the lead singer behind The Billy Nayer Show, a weird artsy music project I loved. Small Star Seminar is a similarly artsy/musical project with some songs that really remind me of Billy Nayer as well as some of the directions that group was going. I'll be honest - unless you're a Billy Nayer fan or have some appreciation for off-the-beaten-path art stuff, this is probably going to just be weird for you, but if you, like me, were wondering what The Billy Nayer Show was up to, give this a listen.

Zella Day - Kicker: I'm kind of obsessed with this fairly straightforward pop album. It's not the same sort of dark pop that seems to be taking over, but there's enough interesting stuff to set it apart from a lot of the more mainstream stuff. Essentially, listen to the single "Hypnotic." If that doesn't grab you, nothing will.

Fawn Larson - The Sway: I wrote about how I fell in love with one of Fawn Larson's songs a while back, and I can say that the album is just as good. A solid mix of folk and Americana, a bit of bite to go with the bark, and a beautiful voice means this is arguably one of the better releases of the year so far. Mandatory listen.

The Barr Brothers - Alta Falls: I didn't know of The Barr Brothers until Kathleen Edwards raved about "Never Been a Captain" on Twitter. The whole EP is a nice, soft, ethereal folky piece, and is really worth a few minutes of your time.

Alison Wonderland - Run: Alison Wonderland is a DJ that has her first album, and it's a pretty great pop record with a lot of dance music sensibilities. I'm partial to "Cold," myself, but in what has been a glut of pop/dance records as of late, this does have a tendency to stand out at times. I do hope this takes off for her.

Striking Matches - Nothing But the Silence: Striking Matches appears to be another attempt to capitalize on the Civil Wars-sized hole in the music industry right now. This duo rocks out a little more, but the album, while solid, still feels more than a little too polished on a whole. It doesn't meet expectations, but if you can put those aside...

Clem Snide - Girls Come First: A decade ago, Clem Snide was a favorite band of mine. 7 years ago, my wife and I used "There is Nothing" as our first dance at our wedding. I don't really recognize what this band is doing anymore, unfortunately, and even if I could be fine with the changes, I simply don't find it compelling anymore. Give it a listen if you're curious, but...

Looper - Offgrid:Offline: Getting a new Looper album this year was a pleasant surprise, and it is both reminiscent of their old work while continuing to sound at least a little bit up with the times in the indie/electronic world. "Oh, Skinny Legs" is still the early highlight, but the interest level here might be more based around whether Looper existed beyond commercials for you a decade ago.

Chastity Belt - Time To Go Home: Chastity Belt has a reputation of sorts that this album seems to want to shake. More indie pop than punk, less profane and more thoughtful, this is an interesting listen on that accord but not always a fun or good one. I've listened to this a few times now and I still can't quite pinpoint how I feel about it, but it's definitely one to perhaps give a shot.

Dead Sara - Pleasure to Meet You: Dead Sara is really a sort of throwback rock band in a sense, but none of it really works. I don't feel like the tongue is in cheek, and it just comes across as weird and ridiculous to me. Others who enjoy straightforward mainstream rock might find some interest in this, but for me, it was a solid pass.









Also recently released and perhaps of interest:

* Kehlani - You Should Be Here
* Vultures - God Damn
* Caravan of Thieves - Kiss Kiss
* Villagers - Daring Arithmetic
* Doldrums - The Air Conditioned Nightmare
* Shinyribs - Okra Candy
* Miami Horrors - All Possible Futures

Quarterly Report: Albums We Missed Along the Way

Because we can't hear them all?

Diana Krall - Wallflower: I'll listen to almost anything, but jazz always seems to get away from me. Diana Krall is a noteworthy exception to this for whatever reason, though, and her latest album, a cover record called Wallflower, is both a step in a more accessible direction as well as somewhat less interesting as the smooth jazz takes on some classics are...not great. I love a good cover song, but too many of the tracks here end up being more dirgey than anything else, and that's not always a welcome thing. Worth a listen, but beware.

Jenny Owen Youngs - Slack Tide: Most musicians, when repackaging their music for an EP, tend to irritate me. When Jenny Owen Youngs does it, for whatever reason, I keep getting hooked over and over. I listened once for the new song and the curiosity, and I must have replayed it at least 6 times within a few days of that first listen. It's a solid EP anyway, more fun if you're a fan of hers or of the songs on the EP, but I listen to this and still wonder why she isn't just a huge star at this point.

Pollyester - City of O: I don't know the first thing about Pollyester except that this is some really fun glitchy indie electropop. I got hooked on "In My Boots" and couldn't stop listening to the album afterwards, so that's about as fresh an endorsement as I can give. It's not for everyone, but it's definitely working for me.

Lindsay Lou and the Flatbellies - Ionia: Another album I wasn't aware of until I had it sent to me somehow, this is about as traditional as modern bluegrass gets, and it's a solid, pleasant listen. I keep going back to this even though nothing specifically jumps out at me, it's just, well, exactly what I've been looking for in a bluegrass album as of late. If you read this blog, you'll love this album. Pretty straightforward stuff, worth a listen. Ken liked it, too.

Twerps - Range Anxiety: Twerps are pretty successful at doing the sort of 90s-style lo-fi alt-rock. This, their second album, is pretty great on a whole, and it has a few standout songs to go along with a good, shortish experience. Merge generally releases good stuff, and this one ultimately isn't very different.

Lieutenant - If I Kill This Thing We're All Going to Eat for a Week: First off, this is an early winner for album title of the year. Second, this is actually a side project for Sunny Day Real Estate/Foo Fighters bassist Nate Mendel, and part of its charm is that you totally hear some of those influences in it without really knowing where they're coming from. The result is an ambitious, albeit sometimes uninteresting, musical piece that has some good stuff going for it but feels more like a true side project in the end.

Andrew Combs - All These Dreams: I didn't know Andrew Combs until recently, and he's doing a pretty good roots thing even though it feels a little too polished and old style to catch me every moment of the time. This is more of a personal preference criticism, though - if you've really been into Sturgill Simpson, this is something that might end up right down your alley.

Darren Hayman - Chants for Socialists: Former Hefner singer/songwriter Darren Hayman offers a musical take on the writings of Willian Norris as part of his continuing series of releases that have very distinct themes and such. I'm about as far from a socialist as one can get, and there's plenty here to like musically even if the statements and such are not really designed for you as an audience. One thing for sure is that Hayman has consistently put out interesting music and surrounded himself with some fascinating concepts to draw from, and Chants is no different in that regard. Absolutely worth a spin.

Krill - A Distant Fist Unclenching: Krill's latest release is similar to a lot of the throwback post-alt rock that we've been seeing, and as they have some local interest being from Boston, it might be worth a listen if you're into that scene. It's a decent listen on a whole, but may have some limited interest on a whole.

Coasts - Coasts: Coasts continues along the lines of the Snow Patrol-ification of music over the last decade - anthemic pop rock songs, choral-sounding background stuff, lots of reverb. I suppose "A Rush of Blood" isn't terrible, but listening to this four song EP really leaves me thinking that I've heard all of this before, and I'm sure you have, too.

The Minus 5 - Dungeon Golds: Later this year, The Minus 5 will release a 5 LP set called Scott the Hoople and the Dungeon of Horror. Likely a vinyl-only release, at least the band put out an album version of a bunch of the highlight tracks from the set called Dungeon Golds, and it does feel like a mishmash of things for sure, but you also always knew what you were getting with The Minus 5 and this is ultimately no different. There are a few gems in here, for sure, and while I wish I could find a way to justify the expense of the 5 disc set, I guess I can accept this as a compromise.

The Cribs - For All My Sisters: Every time I hear a new power pop album, I kick myself for forgetting how much I enjoy it. The Cribs are a band I wasn't previously familiar with for whatever reason, and this is their fifth album, a straightforward number that really scratches all the right itches. I don't quite know how to compare them - a more British Fountains of Wayne without the straightforward wit? Sugar/Husker Du without the punk? I don't know, but it's still pretty great. Definitely recommended.

Quarterly Report: Albums We Missed Along the Way

Clearing the deck on 2014 continues with a look at some 2014 albums we missed covering along the way. While I'd normally do a First Listen-style recap, the simple reality is that there are just far too many this go 'round to give the proper attention to, so instead, I'm going to split them into a few different buckets. Either way, while we wait for new releases to come back around in the new year, this might be worth some time for you to try something new:

Give these a listen:

* Ages and Ages - Divisionary
* Steve Dawson - Funeral Bonsai Wedding
* God Help the Girl Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (a different feel from the album from a few years ago)
* Quiet Life - Housebroken Man
* Lily and Madeleine - Acoustic Sessions
* Drab - Unicorn EP
* Olivia Jean - Bathroom Love Killings
* Knife Party - Abandon Ship (arguably the best electronic album of the year)
* Hem - The World is Outside

Might be worth a try:

* Hozier - Hozier ("Take Me to Church" is probably the worst song on the album, and the album is a little strange)
* You + Me - Rose Ave.
* Kiesza - Sound of a Woman (does not meet the heights of "Hideaway," still interesting)
* Lily Wood and the Prick - The Fight
* Sleeper Agent - About Last Night
* Diarrhea Planet - Aliens in the Outfield
* Greylag - Greylag
* Ex-Cops - Daggers ("Black Soap" is a great song)
* GRMLN - Soon Away

Consider avoiding:

* Broken Bells - After the Disco
* Colony House - When I Was Younger
* Jessica Hernandez and the Deltas - Secret Evil
* The Barr Brothers - Secret Operator
* Sleaford Mods - Chubbed Up (Sorry Ken, I just don't get it)
* Counting Crows - Somewhere Under Wonderland
* Peaking Lights - Cosmic Logic

Quarterly Report: Even More Albums We Missed So Far

As releases are slow to hit Spotify, or if we just miss an album here and there, it's always fun to take a look back at what we missed. Here are some from the last few months:

Self - Super Fake Nice: Of the bands that sort of drifted off and that I didn't expect to hear from again, Self might have topped the list. This seven song, super short EP sounds like Self, which is, at least to start, exactly what I'd want. While songs like "Hey, Hipster" are a little grating, it's more than made up for with "Runaway" and "Splitting Atoms," and, well, the rest of the EP. Here's to hoping we have more Self music to look forward to.

Wussy - Attica: Wussy sounds like that classic 1990s alt rock band you loved. Yeah, you know - that one. Attica is their fifth release and it straddles that line of polish and more indie sensibility very well. The louder songs, on a whole, are better than the quieter ones, but this album has a lot of solid moments behind it. Worth a listen.

Mirel Wagner - When the Cellar Children See the Light of Day: There are any number of people doing the dark, stark folk thing, so it's probably pretty difficult to break through the noise. Mirel Wagner, in signing with Sub Pop, certainly tries, and while there are some standouts in this album, it ultimately doesn't sit at the heights of the opening track, "1, 2, 3, 4." I can see pulling this out when I need this specific mood, but beyond that, I simply wanted more.

L. C. Cooke - The Complete SAR Records Recordings: There's an alternate universe out there where soul/R&B singer Sam Cooke is unknown and his brother, L. C., is the famous one. The Complete SAR Records Recordings is an adventure of sorts into that universe, where we get L. C.'s takes on some songs that were set to be released 50 years ago but were ultimately shelved following Sam's death. It's a really solid album - you can hear a lot of Sam in L. C.'s voice - and it is enjoyable both as a collection of good songs and as a question about what could have been. Definitely worth a listen.

Allison Weiss - Remember When: Allison Weiss, who released one of my favorite albums of last year, returns with an EP that continues the strong songwriting and performing that her album from last year demonstrated. A couple strong songs, a solid cover of Robyn's "Call Your Girlfriend," and you end up with a good EP that sets the table for what comes next. A great listen.

Wunder Wunder - Everything Infinite: Wunder Wunder's sound reminds me a lot of Temples from a while back - the sound is a true throwback with a lot of 1970s psych rock peppered with some modern flair. Kicking right off with the title track, the album pretty much keeps going full-steam ahead the rest of the way. Very much a summer album in many regards, and I like it more and more with every listen. Definitely recommended.

Movement - Movement: There isn't enough electronic sexy jazzy/soul music out there, and I'm glad Movement is here to fill that gap. It is an awkward EP in some respects, but extremely compelling regardless, a quick hit of six songs that straddle multiple genres seemingly without much effort. I'm really interested to hear what a full length from them might sound like. Check this one out.

Look Again To The Wind: Johnny Cash's Bitter Tears Revisited: With the lineup on this tribute album including The Milk Carton Kids, Emmylou Harris, and Gillian Welch, I really wanted to love this compilation. Instead, it appears that everyone opted to indulge their super rootsy side and the album instead feels a little more like a drag than a tribute. There's certainly some things to like here, but I confess to really wishing that this was a lot shorter as I listened. Not sure I can recommend.

Cassie Ramone - The Time Has Come: Cassie Ramone, former singer of Vivian Girls, releases her first album, a short, lo-fi, eight song affair that really only sounds like Vivian Girls in terms of production value and, perhaps more damningly, provides little incentive to really want to stick with it. I really didn't care much for wht's going on here, but fans of lo-fi and/or shoegazey stuff, or hardcore Vivian Girls fans, might find something here to like.

King Buzzo - This Machine Kills Artists: As I have no frame of reference for The Melvins, I'm in no spot to review this on any real merits. Ken saw King Buzzo on his solo tour, so you might want to refer to that as a starting point.

SZA - Z: SZA's release Z is very chameleonlike in many ways. Perhaps marketed as an R&B album, it has a bit of an electro/dance flavor, it features a number of popular rappers, and it's, overall, a pretty solid release even if it's difficult to pigeonhole. While I know it won't appeal to everyone, it might have parts you'll love. At the very least, "Julia" is a strong contender to be a favorite song of the year for me.

Beck Song Reader: A couple years ago, Beck released an album without recording it, instead offering the sheet music up as a way to allow people to interpret and hear the songs their own way. This compilation has a number of artists taking on those songs, often in their own style. While I'd honestly rather hear Beck's versions, there are some winners in here to go along with some efforts that are really hit or miss. Worth listening, I guess, but I wouldn't necessarily assume you're missing much.

Nickel Creek - A Dotted Line: This album took forever to get on Spotify, but it was truly worth the wait. Their first album in a long time, the members have clearly brought back a lot of what they've picked up during their hiatus and brought it to the table. While "21st of May" and "Destination" are obvious winners, a shoutout has to go to "Hayloft," which is a pretty great, rollicking number in its own right. Glad this finally ended up on Spotify.

Squarepusher xZMachines - Music for Robots: This is an EP of an experiment with of Squarepusher and some robots he had perform his music. It sounds like The Bad Plus on acid, which I suppose might be the point, and it's an interesting listen although it might not be what I'd call an enjoyable one. It's absolutely worth a listen in any regard, but this is one that you need to know the idea behind before going in.

The Color and Sound - Peace of Mind: Boston-based band The Color and Sound came out with a great new EP that has a ton of solid moments going for it. I feel like they're a bit of a mix between Of Mice and Men and Freelance Whales, and it works. You'll know if you like it within the first few seconds of "Cigarettes," and I think we're going to see great things for this band in the future. Highly recommended.

Front Country - Sake of the Sound: I didn't realize how much I was looking for a new, traditional-sounding roots/bluegrass record until Ken sent me Front Country's album. It's not forging new ground, but it really deserves to be in the same conversation as many of the modern, traditional artists out there right now. Another band that deserves a wide audience, give this one a listen.

Ought - More Than Any Other Day: If you're anything like me, you have an idea in your head as to what post-punk sounds like, and Ought fills that role very nicely. It's a good, somewhat complicated album that has survived multiple listens for me while I'm still trying to figure it out. That's usually a good sign, so it's worth giving this one a shot.

Shovels and Rope - Swimmin' Time: A confession: I've never loved Shovels and Rope in part because I've felt like it's kept Cary Ann Hearst from doing the solo stuff I love so much. With that out there, the new Shovels and Rope album is a really good time from start to finish. Some great rootsy rock, a number of really catchy songs (I love "Coping Mechanism" in particular), and it's easily a favorite of recent times. Don't be dumb like me.

Eno and Hyde - High Life/Someday World: Brian Eno and Karl Hyde (from Underworld) collaborated on two different albums this year, and they're both pretty solid from a musical standpoint. From this perspective, the album doesn't really sound like what I'd expect from either Eno or Hyde, but that expectation provided me with some fresh ears for both listens. It's a solid set of releases, but if you're looking for better electronic stuff, we've had a few good weeks recently.