Archer Prewitt - Southern Wall 7'' (Motorcoat, 1998)

Archer Prewitt
Southern Wall 7''
Motorcoat
1998


Rating: 6.5 dairy deer out of 10


A perfectly cromulent (though probably unessential) release from Archer Prewitt, best known for his excellent guitar work with the Sea & Cake and the Coctails.  Both tracks are in the jazz / lounge rock family as you expect from Archer, but the title track has a bit of a psychedelic twist to the production.  Oh, and there's a flute on it!  The song has vocals but they're rather minimal...but there really is a shitload of flute though.  The other side, "Coleman," is an instrumental offering that is fine.  Just fine, nothing special.  Probably should have put some flute on it. 

Mac McCaughan - Box Batteries 7'' (Merge, 2015)

Mac McCaughan
Box Batteries 7''
Merge
2015

Rating: 7 dead roots out of 10

I was certain I both owned and had reviewed this Mac McCaughan seven inch when it first came out on 2015, but here we are now. 

This version of "Box Batteries" is different than the version found on his full-length from the same year "Non-Believers."  Not drastically different mind you - really, this one just feels like the production is a little more lo-fi, lending it almost an old school Guided By Voices vibe. 

The b-side "Whatever Light" is fine - your typical straight forward, mid-tempo Mac / Portastatic / Superchunk song.  It would have fit in fine on one of the late nineties or early oughts Superchunk albums (aka "Indoor Living," "Come Pick Me Up," or "Here's To Shutting Up.")

Ex-Vöid - Only One 7'' (Prefect, 2019)

Ex-Vöid
Only One 7''
Prefect
2019

Rating: 8 sitcom lesbians out of 10

This band being named Ex-Vöid, complete with an extraneous umlaut, plus the cover art on this seven inch…there’s no way this isn’t a punk or hardcore band, right?  Or… maybe not, as the title track is about as twee a you can get.  It gives off a great Camera Obscura-meets-Best Coast vibe, with harmonized male and female vocals throughout, all backed by some very Teenage Fanclub-esque guitar work.  The song is an instant ear worm you’re likely play over and over and over if you love this style of music like I do.  If I get around to making a list of my favorite songs of 2019, which to be honest I rarely remember to do, this would definitely be on it, and very high in the countdown.  But then!  The b side, one of those rare, delightful occurrences where a band names a song after themselves, is a distorted punk scorcher less than a minute long.  A fine track, though nothing to get worked up for, and not even in the same universe as “Only One” in style or quality.

So now I’m confused.  And curious, very very curious at where Ex-Vöid goes next.  I’m damn near tempted to give this a perfect score for the title track alone, I can’t recommend it any more highly.   

Oneida - Best Friends 7'' (Turnbuckle, 1998)

Oneida
Best Friends 7''
Turnbuckle
1998

Rating: 6 diddling tremolos out of 10 

The first seven inch from Oneida, and it sounds nothing like the heavy, synthy kraut rock you expect to hear from this band.  The title track is somewhere close to psychedelic pop, for lack of a better descriptor.  The other side, "The Land Of Bugs," sounds like a really mellow math rock song, the sort June Of '44 occasionally dabbled in.  Neither song is bad, they're just not what you expect from this Oneida.  

When I hear a release of this nature, I like to imagine somewhere out there exists some fans who were way into Oneida starting with this seven inch, but then just couldn't get into the way they sounded as their musical direction changed, even though I think their later years are far superior.  God knows I've been on that side of the coin from time to time (My Morning Jacket peaked with "At Dawn" and that's a goddamn fact).   

La Peste - Better Off Dead 7'' (Black / Bacchus Archives, 1978 / 2006)

La Peste
Better Off Dead 7''
Black / Bacchus Archives
1978 / 2006

Rating: 8 broken streets out of 10

I found this reissue of the only seven inch La Peste released during the band's short lifespan at the mostly subpar local record store which shall remain nameless because I'm a nice guy.  As happens in so many areas of life, they were once the top dog but others have surpassed them - such is life.  Their used full-length records are almost always overpriced, but on the flipside I often find good shit cheap in their (perpetually disorganized) seven inch bin.  

This was a no-brainer purchase, especially at the price.  The title song is one of the great underappreciated gems from the first wave of punk - extremely catchy, it gets stuck in my head nearly every time I hear it.  The b-side is more in line with the post punk movement that was just rearing it's head, a mid-tempo number that lacks the passion of the "Better Off Dead" and quite frankly is inconsequential.  

Nothing wrong with only having one really great song...there are a lot of bands that can't even claim that. 

Wye Oak - Strangers 7'' (Merge, 2011)

Wye Oak
Strangers 7''
Merge
2011

Rating: 9 swamp poles out of 10

Now this is what I call good bargain bin seven inchery!!!  Though based on the prices on Discogs, it was a screw up selling it that cheap in the first place.  Wye Oak is already a very favorite band of mine, and this record is a compilation of two covers they recorded for the AV Club - "Strangers," maybe the greatest song of all time by the Kinks, and "Mother," Danzig's best work outside of the Misfits years.  Great songs recorded by great musicians is a no-brainer, just like it's a no-brainer that you should grab this should you ever stumble across it. 

Idles - Mercedes Marxist 7'' (Partisan, 2019)

Idles
Mercedes Marxist 7''
Partisan
2019

Rating: 8 dead dizzy flies out of 10

Is there a more hot shit band than Idles right now?  The music is good, the lyrical content is “woke as fuck” which I think is what the kids want, and the live shows are bonkers.  It’s still kinda shocking I was able to see them in tiny ass Kings at the same time they were selling out 8-10,000 seat venues in the UK in minutes.  The two songs here, the title tracks and the b-side “I Dream Guillotine,” are unreleased recordings from the same sessions that produced the excellent “Joy As An Act Of Resistance.”  Both of these are fantastic, and it’s a shame most folks might miss out on them if they aren’t aware of this release.  Or maybe in the world of all streaming/digital consumption, this is no longer an issue.  I get that not every song can make the final cut for a number of different reasons, but “I Dream Guillotine” would surely be one of the favorites from the album had it been there.  But it’s not.  But it should be.  But it’s not.  

Divine Fits - My Love Is Real 7'' (Merge, 2012)

Divine Fits
My Love Is Real 7''
Merge
2012

Rating: 7 goddamn sweaters out of 10

I'm racking my brain but I can't think of a supergroup in the last few decades that made a lasting impression...I suppose Gorillaz might be the closest, but that was really just Damon Albarn, some fake cartoon band members, and the occasional hip hop guest star.  Or maybe Electronic is a better option?  That duo Johnny Marr and Bernard Sumner always truck me more as just a new band they were in rather than a supergroup proper...it's a distinction that is in the eye of the beholder I suppose.  Back in the sixties, those drugged out ding dongs formed these type of bands left and right...Blind Faith, CSNY, etc.  

Divine Fits (Britt from Spoon, Dan from Wolf Parade/Handsome Furs, and Sam from New Bomb Turks) made a totally enjoyable record called "A Thing Called Divine Fits," but I couldn't tell you the last time I listened to it.  I do know I liked it.  The title track of this seven inch can also be found on that release, as is typical in these situations.  I suppose the real draw of this wax is the b-side, "I Was Born In A Laundromat," a Camper Van Beethoven cover that is highly enjoyable.  Is it worth making an effort to seek this out? If you're really into hearing Britt Daniel sing other people's songs, yes.  It is a fine cover, and reminds me that I should try listening to Camper again...they didn't really take in my younger years despite being well regarded by my peers.  

Jay Reatard - See Saw 7'' (Matador, 2008)

Jay Reatard
See Saw 7''
Matador
2008

Rating: 7.5 inmates with face tattoos out of 10

Thankfully (and I wish more bands/musicians did this) the good folks at Matador decided to compile all of their Jay Reatard singles into one full-length album, thus making this seven inch not quite as vital as they sometimes can be.  That said, with the title track being one of my very favorite songs by Jay, when I saw it sitting in the used bin at a local record store for a decent price I figured why the hell not own it?  Just because something is unnecessary doesn't mean it's not worth adding to the collection.  WHY CAN'T I HAVE NICE THINGS TOO?!?  

R.I.P. Jay - you were a damn fine songwriter and performer and drugs are stupid. 

House Of Large Sizes / Treepeople - Split 7'' (Toxic Shock, 1991)

House Of Large Sizes / Treepeople
Split 7''
Toxic Shock
1991

Rating: 6.5 slapped bastards out of 10

I bought this split seven inch for one reason - Treepeople.  I mean, I guess the max number of reasons would be two so I'm not sure why I pointed this out, but...yeah.  Their track is "Neil's Down," which is also available on their second album "Guilt Regret Embarrassment," but it's not like I paid much for this slab of repitition.  Like most Treepeople songs it just sounds like a noiser, more chaotic version of Built To Spill (an inevitable comparison given I worked backwards from Built To Spill to this band).  This particular track is almost a little Jawbreaker-ish, which is not something I've ever thought before when listening to Treepeople. 

The other side is a band called House Of Large Sizes with "Bankrupt In Hoven."  I had literally never even heard the name of this band before buying this, which is actually an accomplishment given the number of years I've been listening to exactly this genre of music.  This track is mid-tempo, grunge-adjacent, and has a weird time signature...it sounds a bit like an old Chapel Hill band called Capsize 7, but since almost no one remembers them or even knew them in the first place, let's just say this band is definitely influenced by Sonic Youth.  It's not bad - I'd be curious to hear more of their music. 

Marbled Eye - EP 2 (Melters / Digital Regress, 2017)

Marbled Eye
EP 2
Melters / Digital Regress
2017

Rating: 6.5 snake aunts out of 10

I legitimately don't remember buying this Marbled Eye seven inch, even though it's clearly brand new and not just something grabbed out of a bargain bin.  It's a good thing I like it I guess!  Four songs total (two each side), I'd describe it as by-the-books Sonic Youth-inspired post punk.  Not new or original, but totally fine.  My main complaint are the vocals are too low through the entire thing, making the lead guitar feel more like the lead than the actual vocals - and maybe that was intentional, but I'm not sure it's the right choice.  There's something here though...like a baseball player that needs seasoning in the minor leagues for a couple of years, I'd like too check out what these kids are doing a couple of years from now and see how they've progressed. 

Pavement - Trigger Cut Plus Two 7'' (Matador, 1992)

Pavement
Trigger Cut Plus Two 7''
Matador
1992

Rating: How do you rate perfection?  Oh yeah, 10. It's a 10.

How to put into words the strength of my feelings of one of the greatest songs ever, from one of the greatest albums ever, recorded by one of the best bands ever?  Let's go with...it's pretty good.  Pavement could do no wrong for the bulk of the nineties, and if "Trigger Cut" isn't the top of the heap it's real damn close.  

And I know the b-sides here nearly as well as the title track...I'm not even sure how I know "Sue Me Jack" by heart (maybe an old mix tape?), but "So Stark (You're A Skyscraper)" was also on the bootleg "Stray Slack," which I might have as memorized as I do all of "Slanted & Enchanted."  From an era when bootlegs had real value, and I may have spent WAY too much money on a few import ones. 

For the love of god, buy this if you ever come across it. 

Polvo - Vibracobra 7'' (Rockville, 1991)

Polvo
Vibracobra 7''
Rockville
1991

Rating: 1 billion million out of 10

FUCK YES IT'S FUCKING POLVO GODDAMN I LOVE THIS BAND.

I'm so stoked I finally found a copy of this.  

No review is ever necessary for Polvo.  It's perfect.  The end. 

Superchunk - Our Work Is Done 7'' (Merge, 2018)

Superchunk
Our Work Is Done 7''
Merge
2018

Rating: 9 dancing zephyrs out of 10

Superchunk has been pumping out so many great singles the last few years it's about time for a fourth singles comp so I can listen to these things in an efficient fashion.  The title track is very catchy, and features Fucked Up singer Damian Abraham on guest vocals during the chorus.  His voice is so gruff it kinda doesn't fit in the composition, but I still like it and I'm not sure if this is in spite of or because of Abraham's contribution.  The b-side, "Total Eclipse," is a cover of a Klaus Nomi song from his 1981 self-titled record.  The cover sounds nothing like the original electro dance pop classic outside of the same basic song structure - 'Chunk definitely make it their own.  Will be interesting to see if they ever play it live - despite their love of covers, the only one they seem to regularly include in their set is "100,000 fireflies" by Magnetic Fields.    

Unwound - Corpse Pose 7'' (Kill Rock Stars, 1996)

Unwound
Corpse Pose 7''
Kill Rock Stars
1996

Rating: 8.5 big bold boys out of 10

A classic band with a classic seven inch featuring a classic song.  Classic!  One of my great regrets was only getting to see Unwound live once (circa their last album "Leaves Turn Inside You," an amazing fucking show), but as a consolation I've listened to "Repetition" four billion times so I've got that going for me.  The a-side here, "Corpse Pose," can also be found on that record.  The flip is a track called "Everything Is Weird," a song unique only to this release* that sounds like Unwound covering Sonic Youth.  Yeah, Unwound often sounds like Sonic Youth, but this track is extra Sonic Youth-y.  It goes without saying you should pick this one up if you ever get a chance, and just listen to more Unwound in general.

*That is until the 2014 Numero Group comp "No Energy," which compiled all of these b-sides into one place.

Magic Kids - Hey Boy 7'' (Goner, 2009)

Magic Kids
Hey Boy 7''
Goner
2009

Rating: 7 special leather harnesses out of 10

The short-lived Magic Kids were a real throwback to the Elephant 6 days of the mid-nineties where every band was trying to do their own imperfect spin on recreating the Beach Boys' "Pet Sounds."  (It's all in the sleigh bells, folks.)  Side A, "Hey Boy," kicks off with a chorus before turning into a song catchy enough to almost be a deep cut on a Brian Wilson rarities collection (that's a compliment, for the record).  The B side, "Good To Be," is such a slight wisp of a song song it barely exists - it's mostly just them saying "it's so good to be" over and over.  I always thought this band should have been more popular, and maybe they would have been if they had recorded more than one record (oh yeah, both of these tracks are also available on the only full-length, titled "Memphis").     

Herman Dune - I Wish That I Could See You Soon 7'' (Source Etc, 2007)

Herman Dune
I Wish That I Could See You Soon 7''Source Etc
2007

Rating: 6.5 junebug casseroles out of 10

It never struck me before how much Herman Dune sounds like Jonathan Richman.  This is such an egregious oversight on my part it has me questioning everything and anything I've ever thought about music.  I was well aware of the title track "I Wish That I Could See You Soon" when this was released and I quite liked it - I probably put the song on a number of different mixes around 2007.  It's damn catchy, it has horns, and I love the backing vocals.  In a move I've never seen before, that track is followed by a cover of the same song by someone named Lisa Li-Lund.  This version does nothing for me - it sounds as thin and as cheap as the Casio that appears to responsible for the music that backs it.  The flip side, "Song Of Samuel," is back to another Herman Dune song that is fully on the Jonathan Richman sound-alike train, only this is the b-side for reason because it definitely doesn't measure up to the title track.  Not terrible mind you, just...you know.  It's there.  

Also, the record is on clear green wax, which looks fantastic, if you care about such things. 

Drunk Horse - Bambi 7'' (Wantage USA, 2001)

Drunk Horse
Bambi 7''
Wantage USA
2001 (I think...)


Rating: 7 lost daughters out of 10

Drunk Horse were local stalwarts back when I lived in the Bay Area - I was never a super fan, but it was impossible not to see a bill with them on it at some point.  This seven inch is a pair of Prince covers, though I didn't realize it until I heard "Bambi."  With the catchy guitar line that dominates the chorus, it doesn't sound all that different from the original - a little rougher around the edges, scuzzier I suppose.  The other side is "Dirty Mind," a real boogie rock jammer with synthy bursts (I don't ever remember any synths in their live show, but it's been a long damn time...), like ZZ Top combined with the Cars.  The record is marbled purple and the sleeve is screen-printed, real nice looking package - outside of the fact that the labels have been put on the wrong sides. 

Superchunk - Fishing 7'' (Merge, 1991)

Superchunk
Fishing 7''
Merge
1991

Rating: 10 bottles of railroad wine out of 10

What can I possibly be expected to say about a single featuring two of the best ever Superchunk songs, other than to sing it's praises of perfection?  In 10th grade I bought my first ever album by the band, "Tossing Seeds" on cassette (probably from the Radio Shack in my town, the only store that carried music; and I most likely had to have them special order it for me).  Yeah, it's not actually an album but rather a compilation of their first few singles, but regardless I listened to that tape so much I'm truly shocked it never broke.  Both "Fishing" and the b-side "Cool" were on there, holding down the end of side A and beginning of side B - "Cool" probably got a few more plays because I definitely listened to side B more as it featured my favorite Superchunk song of all time, "Cast Iron."  It's impossible to listen to this and not feel nostalgic for simpler times, driving around in my beater Mazda 323, skating parking lots with my friends, and dreaming of what the future might bring when I finally got to escape that small town.  These aren't just songs, they're integral building blocks of my childhood and the adult I came to be. 

Added bonus: they actually made a video for "Fishing," in case you want to remember what Jim Wilbur looked like with hair.  

Cause Co-Motion - Which Way Is Up? 7'' (What's Your Rupture?, 2006)

Cause Co-Motion
Which Way Is Up? 7''
What's Your Rupture?
2006

Rating: 9 quiet limos out of 10

Quite simply, "Which Way Is Up?" by Cause Co-Motion is one of the best pop songs of the last 25 years.  Maybe even longer.  I've thought that for a damn long time, and the conviction of my feelings have not wavered one bit.  I don't even care about the b-side ("Falling Again") here - it's fine, but inconsequential in comparison to the lead track.  The song is a little quirky, a little jangly, and if you're anything like me it will be instantly stuck in your head FOR TWELVE FUCKING YEARS.  Honestly, I'm totally fine with it.