Band: Mind Spiders Release: 2010 Label: Dirtnap Records
1. “Worlds Destroyed” – A 2. “Time Sucker” – A 3. “Ripped” – A 4. “Dirty Secrets” – A
Comment: The second I played this, I realized these guys have something special going on. It’s hard to describe, but they have “it,” a word that I’ve used to describe only a handful of garage/punk releases this year. I’d equate it with the first time I listened to Hippies [“Someday Soon”] or King of the Beach [“King of the Beach”]. Don’t get me wrong, having “it” can be a mere one song thing. This record is more than that. “Worlds Destroyed” is an in-your-face pop attack whereas “Time Sucker” is a more leveled adventure, really bringing to mind a mellowed version of the great No Age tune “Brain Burner.” Compare: “Go away. Leave me here. I’m better without you” to “I couldn’t make him made he’s useless and alone.” Okay, I’m maybe stretching it, but check it out for yourself. Flipping to the other side…”Ripped” has that beginning drum pattern that has “Friendly Ghost” written all over it, but I’m sure other songs have started out the same way in the history of music. This one might be this record’s most traditionally “power-pop” number. “Dirty Secrets” — if I’m still doing the comparison-to-bigger-acts kind of deal — earns Thee Oh Sees recognition. Nice drumming.
Band: Ty Segall Release: 3/2010 Label: Goner Records
1. “Caesar” – A 2. “Bulletproof Nothing” – A
Comments: Placed in the same musical lump as Californian contemporaries Thee Oh Sees and Nobunny is this guy, Ty Segall. The dude’s good. Equipped with a choppy acoustic guitar and a warm weather bass line, the title track has goodness written all over it. The B-Side is a tad heavier, but just as nice.
Band: King Khan & Pat Meteor Release: 3/2010 Label: Sub Pop
1. “The Fiery Tears of St. Laurent” – B+
2. “Bon Bon” – A-
Comments: The kind of music you’d expect with a title such as The Fiery Tears of St. Laurent. This is slow cooked rock and roll with a distinct rural aesthetic. Would it be okay to call it at least one part country? It’s French-Canadian goodness…what I believe they call néo-trad. I’d like to say Meteor sings on the first track and that Arish Khan spearheads the treat called “Bon Bon.” Even though “Bon Bon” is as lyrically simple as a song can come, it has a great atmosphere that reminds me positively of the culture surrounding the classic visit to Quebec that Chris and I (amongst other students) embarked on five years ago.
Comments: “Telephone Network Voltage” erm…”Hiding Hole.” I’m not quite sure when “Telephone” was composed, but it seems like a “Hiding Hole” demo. The lyrics are a little different and this version is particularly distorted and lo-fi. This version also features an extended guitar solo. It’s pretty good, but I think I prefer “Hiding Hole.” “Blank Blogs” isn’t a demo or an alternative version of a Jay song, it’s merely an exhausting instrumental. C’mon, guy! Thee Oh Sees sort of pick things up where “Blank Blogs” left off with an extremely lo-fi horror inspired instrumental/spoken-word piece. There is some degree of catchiness in the mess…not much though. All right, all right, all right. This is a pretty lame split.
Band: The Drums Release: 3/2010 Label: Moshi Moshi
1. “Best Friend” – A- 2. “Baby, That’s Not the Point” – C+ 3. “You’re the Only One Who Makes Me Happy” – B
Comments: Quirky post-punk/art rock comes from these Brooklyn jammers. With elements of surf, baroque pop, and electronica, “Best Friend” comes through as a success. The echo-laced vocals on “Baby” don’t really get my ears buzzing, to borrow a phrase from Hunx. “You’re” is a return to form with a very catchy bass sequence despite stale vocals.
1. “Jobs And Junk” – C 2. “The Unwanted Child” – C+ 3. “Money Hungry” – B- 4. “It’s Not What I Like” – B
Comments: WTF is this? Sounds like a drunken Mickey Mouse rambling over some Big Black instrumentals. So punk. You can tell this is self-released. I guess if you are really fucked up this might sound pretty good and chaotic and all that stuff that makes noise special. The last song is re-listenable. Maybe.
Band: Best Coast Release: 2/2010 Label: PPM (Dean Spunt’s Label!)
1. “Something In The Way” – A 2. “Wish He Was You” – A 3. “The Road” – A
Comment: Sure, the lo-fidelity can get to your ears and concentration, but that’s only if you let it. “Something” starts with a rad drum beat and a catchy Dum Dum meets Vivian Girls chorus. The comparison isn’t too unfounded because all three bands have similar production and sound aesthetics. My first and ending impression is that this is great! It’s not something I’m going to listen to continuously, but it will never disappoint or get boring. Surely, Best Coast is a band to keep an eye on.
Comments: Props to this band for they will be playing at a DIY space near you in the immediate future! For those in the Boston area, that space happens to be at The Cottage in Dorchester. Don’t ask me where it is; ask them! This is real music I tell you! “Daydream” has got an awesome surf rock hook and pretty much psychedelic Madchester era vocals. That song is prime for placement on a FIFA soundtrack since it has the “world” quality that’s oft-associated with that game. “Desert Sand” continues the vibe of awesome that “Daydream” created, this time reminding me of Peter Bjorn and John’s Writer Block material. I really want to see this band now, dammit! I mean, I could and it would be awesome since they are playing with the Beets (of No Age Wellesley show fame), but then again we’re talking Dorchester. I’ll see, but all I know is that this is going into rotation! Oh yeah and awesome album cover! I love the aura of this record so much!
Kids Like You & Me (KLYAM) 