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. 

Wye Oak - The Louder I Call, The Faster It Runs (Merge, 2018)

Wye Oak
The Louder I Call, The Faster It Runs
Merge
2018

Rating: 8 sunk fishing boats out of 10

I’ve been listening to this new Wye Oak record for a couple of weeks now and I can’t think of anything noteworthy to say about it.  Not that “The Louder I Call, The Faster It Runs” isn’t noteworthy itself - it’s really damn good and I’ve listened to it a lot, and will surely be one of my favorites of the year.  It’s just…it sounds pretty much just like the last couple of Wye Oak records, and the Flock Of Dimes record (Jenn Wasner’s solo project)…this doesn’t lead to that many fresh talking points to tackle.  I suppose I could prattle on about how I have a rock star crush on Jenn akin to the way most seventh grade girls feel about New Kids On The Block (that’s still a thing right?  Is it still 1989?), but nobody cares to hear about that.  This band has a sound and they’re sticking with it, and that is a-ok with me.  You should definitely go see Wye Oak live if you get a chance, they are a delight.  Buy this record.  Buy all the rest of their records while you’re at it.  And the Flock Of Dimes record.  And anything else Jenn Wasner has even the slightest hand or influence on. 

Flock of Dimes - If You See Me, Say Yes (Partisan, 2016)

Flock of Dimes
If You See Me, Say Yes
Partisan
2016

Rating: 7.5 speedy game changers out of 10

Flock of Dimes is the solo project of Jenn Wasner of Wye Oak...and like with Wye Oak, it's more or less universally fantastic.  The woman has the Midas touch when it comes to writing pop songs. I would be curious to know how she decides when she writes something if it's for Wye Oak or Flock of Dimes.  A few years ago you could have said Flock of Dimes lacks the live instrumentation (particularly the guitar) of Wye Oak, and is a little...I dunno, dancier.  But then more recently Wye Oak released tons of songs on "Shriek" and "Tween" that fit exactly that description, so I'm really not sure what the difference is.  I guess it's just that Andy Stack isn't on this record, but given that he plays electronic drums as often as he plays real drums on Wye Oak songs these days, even that fact isn't really obvious.  I'm not sure where I'm going with this meandering nonsense...let's just say if you like Wye Oak I would be shocked if you didn't like Flock of Dimes, because the two sound mostly the same.  And that's ok, because Jenn Wasner is so damn talented and amazing no matter what the band name is on the record, I'm in. 

Wye Oak - Tween (Merge, 2016)

Wye Oak
Tween
Merge
2016

Rating: 8.5 squid landmines out of 10

All of the sudden, with little to no fanfare, Wye Oak put out a new record called "Tween."  If you were listening closely when I found this out you might have heard me squeak with excitement, because I've been all about some Wye Oak for the last couple of years.  A small part of it might be that I'm in love with singer/multi-instrumentalist Jenn Wasner, but it's mostly because they have such good damn songs (which certainly is one of the factors that makes me love Jenn so much SHHH NO ONE TELL HER I WOULD BE SO EMBARRASSED YOU GUYS).  

Anyways...good record overall, possibly great.  I don't love it as much as "Civilian" or "Shriek" yet, but I would not be surprised if it matched those two classics with more listens.  After burying her guitars under a pile of keyboards and basses on "Shriek," Jenn seemingly rediscovered a love for them here - though still not at the level of shredding you hear in "Civilian."  The best songs for my money are "Better (For Esther)," with it's badass synthy guitar solo, and "If You Should See," which sounds like a modern Cocteau Twins song, but better.

Definitely one of the best albums of the year, the only question is how high it will finish.  Right now I would guess top 5, minimum. 

Flock of Dimes - (This Is Why) I Can't Wear White 7'' (Frenchkiss, 2012)

Flock of Dimes
(This Is Why) I Can't Wear White 7''
Frenchkiss
2012

Rating: 8 devilish talons out of 10

I love all things Jenn Wasner, from her work with her main band Wye Oak to this solo offshoot called Flock of Dimes.  I was particularly stoked to be digging through the Amoeba bargain bins on a recent trip to SF and snagged a copy of her/their first seven inch (I'm never sure how to refer to bands that only have one member...).  Given what a commanding performer she is regardless of band name, it would be hard not to make Wye Oak comparisons here, although this music is a little more upbeat/electronic/almost dancey compared to her parent act.  The vocals still sound like Wasner though so those comparisons are going to be there no matter what.  Both tracks, the title song and the b-side "15" are excellent and worth seeking out.  So far she's only released three seven inches so hopefully a full-length record will make an appearance at some point in the near future. 

Wye Oak / Telekinesis - Split 7'' (Merge, 2014)

Wye Oak / Telekinesis
Split 7''
Merge
2014

Rating: 7.5 dirty hats out of 10

Another batch from the Merge subscription series has arrived, much to my great joy.  This split, on opaque blue vinyl, has Wye Oak on one side and Telekinesis on the other.  The Wye Oak song is fantastic and well worth the wax, and I think it even has guitar on it unlike most of their most recent record.  At a minimum, download this song when you get a chance.  The Telekinesis song is fine too, though not nearly as catchy as most of his material. 

Wye Oak - Shriek (Merge, 2014)

Wye Oak
Shriek
Merge
2014

Rating: 7.5 savage balls out of 10

What do you do if you're a two-piece band with a front woman that is a shredder on guitar?  You make an album heavy in keyboards and nearly devoid of guitar, obviously.  Don't read that as my saying their new Wye Oak record "Shriek" isn't good - far from it - but it's a really damn confusing turn they've taken.  I mean, shit like Lykki Li and Future Islands and Rhye are really popular these days, so why not give it a shot?  Wye Oak are a little mellower, maybe even "jazzier" than those acts, but this sounds a hell of a lot more like those bands than it does like old Wye Oak records.  I'm known to act like a petulant child and whine when bands I like drastically change their sound, but it works here. 

Destroyer / Wye Oak - Split 7'' (Merge, 2008)

Destroyer / Wye Oak
Split 7''
Merge
2008

Rating: 6.5 robot babies out of 10

This was apparently an exclusive release by Merge for Record Store Day back in 2008, back before RSD became the monster it is today.  The first side is an exclusive track from Destroyer, "Madame Butterflies" - not Dan Bejar's best work but a decent enough song.  Most musicians would probably sacrifice a nut to even put out music as good as a mediocre Destroyer song.  I actually prefer the b-side of these two, Baltimore's Wye Oak with "Prodigy" - it's a slow jam that doesn't really show off the band's trademark (that being Jenn Wasner's guitar chops), but it's a catchy song all the same.  Not a must-have record, but certainly worth a rescue from the bargain bin that I got it from. 

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

Wye Oak

Strangers 7''

Merge

2011

Rating: 8 tangled water hoses out of 10

Normally I'd be remiss in even bothering to write about a seven inch of cover songs, but I've been obsessing over Wye Oak lately and the two songs they chose to cover are a couple of my all-time favorites.  Over the span of a couple of years the band recorded covers for the Onion AV club, as they would have various groups into their studio for the purpose of tackling these lists of classic tracks they wanted reworked.  Side A gives you their 2010 rendition of the Kink's "Strangers", and the flip side is a 2011 take on Danzig's "Mother".  Jenn Wasner's deep vocals and the groups slow-tempo take on these tracks is quite fantastic.  Any fan of Wye Oak should certainly seek this out.