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.
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.
Belle and Sebastian
The Blues Are Still Blue 7''
Rough Trade
2006
Rating: 7 hillbilly pot farms out of 10
Not my favorite Belle and Sebastian single, but worth having nonetheless. Fittingly, this is on blue vinyl. The title song can also be found on "The Life Pursuit" - I wasn't super into this song at first, or really this album, but it has grown on me quite a bit over the years. The other side, "Whiskey in the Jar," feels more like an idea for a song than a fully fleshed out one. Not terrible, just not really anything. It was never included in any of their b-sides comps, and I've never heard it live, so I'm guessing the band isn't nuts about it either.
Belle and Sebastian
Funny Little Frog 7''
Rough Trade
2006
Rating: 8 red convertibles out of 10
"Funny Little Frog" is one of the best songs/singles Belle and Sebastian have recorded in their late period*. It is not uncommon for this to be stuck in my head at any given time, or even all of the time. The track can also be found on the album "The Life Pursuit." The b-side, "The Eighth Station of the Cross Kebab House" sounds so much like a Madness song that I had to verify that it actually wasn't one (it's not). In addition to here, it can also be found on their singles comp "The Third Eye Centre" as well as some charity benefit that it was originally written for.
*The early period was everything up to and including "Fold Your Hands Child, You Walk Like A Peasant"; the late period is everything from "Dear Catastrophe Waitress" to present day. These delineations exist only in my head because I've listened to this band so damn much.
Thomas Function
The Insignificants 7''
Tic Tac Totally
2006
Rating: 7 Chicago clutches out of 10
At first I thought this was a split between Thomas Function and "The Insignificants," but it turns out that is just the name of the song on side A. There are three songs total ("Blue & Green" and "Conspiracy of Praise" make up side B), and they all walk a fine line between garage rock and art punk. I've always liked this band, and have never thought they got due credit, but the flip side of that is I managed to pick up this record for 50 cents so it's not all bad. "Blue & Green" is my top choice, sounding like the Lapse trying to cut a demo for Goner Records.
The Rum Diary
Back in the Hardcore Days 7''
Devil in the Woods
2006
Rating: 6.5 consolidated contracts out of 10
I saw the Rum Diary live a whole bunch of times, my time in SF matching up pretty well with their highly active years. These two songs ("High Hawk" being the other side) are very much in line with their other material, that being some blend of dream pop and shoegaze and post-rock and straight-forward indie rock. At their best they were always a bit like a less-dynamic version of Yo La Tengo. The title track is also available on their last full-length "We're Afraid of Heights Tonight."
Mt. Egypt
Battening the Hatches 7''
Record Collection
2006
Rating: 7 Somali tigers out of 10
Mt. Egypt aka Travis Graves was a skateboard dude and he recorded this record with some other skateboard dudes (Brad Staba!). This information is probably only relevant to you if you skateboard. Otherwise, it's better-than-average singer-songwriter fare crossed with indie rock, catchy and enjoyable to be sure though clearly not groundbreaking. First track "NYC" is also on the full-length by the same name as this seven inch. The b-side track "If a Tiger Comes Down" appears to only be here.
Subramanium & U.S. Christmas
Split 7''
Wrest
2006
Rating: 7 missed connections out of 10
The first side here is Subramanium, a band I know nothing about and any googling just brings up some Hindi/Yogi nonsense. I guess they have a doomy/black metal thing going on, not bad but nothing worth composing a long form Civil War-style letter over. The reason I have this is the other side, the U.S. Christmas track "Queen of the World." Good song, a driving rocker - it had been a while since I had listened to this old version of the band when they were putting the really heavy Hawkwind-style synths over everything (only frontman & guitarist Nate Hall is still with the band as of the writing of this missive).
Jay Reatard
Hammer I Miss You 7''
Goner
2006
Rating: 10 jugs of moonshine out of 10
What can I say about Jay Reatard at this point that someone else hasn't already said? A truly great talent, wrote a ton great songs, and left this planet too early. The title track is one of my all-time favorites by him and gets stuck in my head quite often. The first track on the other side, "It's So Useless," might be even better than the lead single to be honest. And the final song, "All Wasted," is the weakest of the three, but still worthy. I think I bought this at one of his shows when I was living in SF.
The Pets
Baby It's You 7''
Raw Deluxe
2006
Rating: 6.5 smooth faces out of 10
My first repeat offender in reviewing old seven inches, the Pets return with another pair of good songs. Like before, both tracks are high quality (but not stellar) punky garage pop. They were always a band that was more enjoyable live rather than recorded anyways, and the recordings are perfectly fine. Maybe the best thing about this release is the baby blue marbled wax it's made out of.When going the colored vinyl route I highly recommend this combination.
Additional useless information - etched into the run-out on side A is "Root Beer Zen;" side B features my life motto, "Beef Beef Beef."
The Pets
Sticky Situations 7''
Sweet Rot
2006
Rating: 6.5 pale ravens out of 10
The Pets were a fun garage-punk-pop band from Oakland that I got to see a few times when I lived out that way. They were never anything groundbreaking and neither is this record, but it's still a good quick listen. Title track is definitely the winner, with the b-side "Never Ask for Help" not moving the needle much in either direction.
Mogwai
Mr. Beast
Matador
2006
Rating: 7 acid folk horses out of 10
Being a Mogwai fanatic, I’m not afraid to admit I’ve trolled
for information about the band on message boards and music sites - hey, it helps pass the work day better than actually
working. And in doing this I came across a few statements by different individuals that this album, “Mr. Beast”,
was going to be the best “art-rock” record to come out since My Bloody Valentine’s “Loveless”. That’s bold
talk, and talk that’s not easily backed up, given the reputation of “Loveless” and Mogwai’s recent output - not bad by
any means, I’ve quite enjoyed it; but lacking that punch, that edge that made their early work so fantastic.
But is the statement true? I dunno, I’m not even sure how to
quantify something like that. “Loveless” is a fantastic album, but musically and stylistically it’s nothing like “Mr.
Beast”. This record finds the band returning to their roots - dropping the vocals (for the most part) and cranking
up the volume on their guitars. They’ve returned with the bombast that made them so special, the sound that has been missing
from their records since “Come On Die Young” (but still present in their live shows, thankfully, even when
performing their material from their more recent albums). I was absolutely hooked from the first listen, where the
band reclaims the piano as a rock instrument and not just the tool of the devil known as yuppie music. I have no
doubt this will be one of the best record to come out all year and will stand as one of the high points in the career of a
band that’s done many great things.
Silversun Pickups
Carnavas
Dangerbird
2006
Rating: 7 human meatballs out of 10
I randomly purchased the EP “Pikul” that the L.A.-based quartet
Silversun Pickups issued last year and was
instantly drawn in – any band with swirling guitars like that will
always catch my ear. The vocals really stood out
as well; I might not have been able to identify the sex of the person
singing, but it lent itself perfectly to the driving music of this band. I was hooked.
Fast-forward one year, and the band finally releases their full-length
record. It does not disappoint. More of that
same sound as before, only somehow bigger in scope (and certainly in
amount of material – the record is nearly
an hour long). Everywhere I read I see the comparisons
to My Bloody Valentine and Smashing Pumpkins – know
that Silversun Pickups sound absolutely nothing like either of these
bands, but I can see where the comparisons
come from. I’m pretty sure the tone and thickness of the guitars
would be Kevin Shields approved, and there is
something about the pace of the songs and the way the drums drive
everything that would make Billy Corgan
proud.
My only gripe – at times it can feel a touch over-produced. This
bothered me at first but after a couple of
listens I sorta accepted it as part of the sound of the band and moved on. It does
seem as if the guitars could benefit from a
little more crunch and/or edge to them in the mix, but that is a very
minor squabble. All told, this is definitely a really good record, and recommended.
My Morning Jacket
Okonokos
ATO
2006
Rating: 7.5 suburban hippies out of 10
The live album was a staple of the seventies – “At Buddokan” made Cheap
Trick a household name in the U.S.; Peter Frampton produced many classic rock radio staples from his
“Frampton Comes Alive” double LP; and Kiss went from being just popular to super-duper-mega-superstars
after the release of their “Alive” album. But it’s been a long time since live albums really mattered – more
often than not, they are just attempts by labels to make some easy money off of fans eager to hear some new material by
their favorite artists. Only three records come to mind that have come out over the last few years that
have been worth a damn – Built to Spill’s “Live”, Wilco’s “Kicking Television”, and DJ Shadow’s “Live! In Tune
and on Time”.
Now My Morning Jacket have a fourth entry to add to that short list in the form of this double-disc of live awesomeness called “Okonokos”. Having seen this band perform live a number of times
and telling everyone who will listen they MUST go see this band, I now have a document to point towards that is a
pretty damn accurate representation of all of the great times I’ve had at their concerts. The only
thing missing from the home experience is the sight of Jim James and the rest of the group thrashing around on stage with
their hair in their face. The songs on this release run the gamut of their output, but falls a little heavier
towards the more recent songs as is usually the case with any band’s live album. The sound here is perfect,
almost too good really – I don’t think it’s a stretch to say this live album actually sounds better than the live show
itself, it’s mixed so well. For any fan of the band, this is a must have; and for those new to the game, consider this a
primer, a greatest hits to get you started.
(2011 addendum: this was the last listenable record they made...the drop off after this was precipitous, and really makes me sad...)
Antiseen / Electric Frankenstein
Split 7"
TKO
2006
Rating: 6.5 beer cans crushed on your head out of 10
By now you should probably know what you are getting with Antiseen – they’ve been producing their southern rock version of an even-more-pissed-off Motorhead for as long as I can remember, and this track is no different, but it’s a pretty damn good track. The flip side has Electric Frankenstein doing their 70’s hard rock thing and doing it well. Both tracks are catchy and entertaining, and if that isn’t enough to convince you the vinyl on this release is this great marbled white and green that would be worth owning even if the music sucked.
The Thermals
The Body, The Blood, The Machine
Sub Pop
2006
Rating: 7 empty hands out of 10
On their third record, the Portland-based punk rockers The Thermals decided
to slow down the music, clean up the fuzz, and increase the politics. Normally, this combination of changes
would be enough turn me off of a band, but here…it works, and works extremely well. Where their previous two
efforts were a full-tempo onslaught from beginning to end, on “The Body…” the pace varies wildly from one track to the next,
and many of the songs are more pop than punk. It’s somewhat reminiscent to the transformation that happened to
Bad Religion when they released “Generator”, only the Thermals appear to be heading in a much better
direction as opposed to the sucking
that Bad Religion decided to try on. Some folks may find Hutch Harris’ nasally vocals grating, but to me it just sounds like what you
would get if John Darnielle of the Mountain Goats decided to form a punk band (an idea I could really get behind). It’s also worth noting that this band puts on a blistering, terrific
live show that is not to be missed.
Eric Bachmann
To The Races
Saddle Creek
2006
Rating: 8 thoroughbred fillies out of 10
This is an album of changes…an album where Eric Bachmann dropped the Crooked Fingers band name and elected to record under his own moniker. Actually, he has actually done this one other time, recording the film score for “Ball of Wax” - but that material was much closer to his mid-90s side project Barry Black than what he has been putting out as Crooked Fingers over the last few years. It was also a change in record labels, moving his outfit from Merge Records over to the “Connor Oberst & family” stable of Saddle Creek. But musically…the changes are minimal at best. This album is a little sparser than the last few – many of the tracks here are just the man himself strumming and singing, and then occasionally a cello or violin or some backing female vocals will get inserted into the tracks. And these changes are perfectly fine with me – the major selling points of anything Bachmann is involved with is his strong songwriting and his Neil Diamond-like vocals – everything else is just a bonus. The songs contained in “To the Races” are as strong as anything he has put out to date: “Carrboro Woman” and “So Long Savannah” will be instant favorites to most anyone who gives this a listen. If I had to lodge a complaint at all, it would be that the album is just too damn short - at around 35 minutes long, it feels like it is over before it really gets going. Still, any fan of Bachmann’s output these last few years under the name Crooked Fingers would be a fool not to rush out and get this album, a high contender for one of my favorites of the year.
Brakes
The Beatific Visions
Rough Trade
2006
Rating: 9 turned rotors out of 10
I thought the second record was supposed to be a sophomore slump, but the British group Brakes (or BrakesBrakesBrakes as they are also known) managed to not only better their first outing but to make their otherwise great debut almost look like crap by comparison. The band decided to jaunt over here to the States and record the album in Nashville, and it shines through in their newly recorded material. Sure, there are still a few tracks that hark back to the manic energy of their debut - “Margarita”, “Spring Chicken”, and “Porcupine or Pineapple” all sound like Pixies outtakes, much like most of their debut release “Give Blood”. But the real draw here is their newfound poppy hooks and hints of twang, a style I wouldn’t have expected to work in theory with this band but it turns out even better than your wildest imagination – imagine that aforementioned Pixies influence paired with Nada Surf pop sensibilities and a little pedal steel and ragtime piano for flavor and you’re at least getting the general idea. “Mobile Communication” and album closer “No Return” are highlights, while the title track “Beatific Vision” is easily one of my favorite songs of the entire year. This record has been out a while in the UK, but is just now making it to US shores and we’re all better off for it.
Irving
Death in the Garden, Blood on the Flowers
Eenie Meenie
2006
Rating: 6 polka dot bikinis out of 10
Be it music blogs, local weeklies, or whatever, perhaps it’s just me but it seems like this LA-via-SF band of merry popsters known as Irving has been touted as the “Next Big Thing” for some time now. It’s not surprising really – they are deft songwriters, competent musicians, and most importantly in this day and age, they are a handsome lot of lads. Yet despite this, they still languish in the underground to the befuddlement of many, including myself. Now I’m no super fan of the band, but I like them well enough that it wouldn’t hurt my feelings to hear them getting played on the radio more than most of the dreck that gets airtime nowdays.
Sadly, this isn’t their strongest outing – both their previously released “I Hope You’re Feeling Better Now” EP from 2003 and the 2002 full-length “Good Morning Beautiful” were catchier, more engaging outings. But that’s not to say this one is bad –mostly, it finds the group in a seemingly more subdued & pensive state. It has its bubblegum Beulah-like moments and sneers like the Dandy Warhols on occasion, but it is the laid back pop that defines the album, a sound I can’t pin to any one group but is very reminiscent of the non-ironic 80’s pop that most of us grew up on. Despite not being their best record it’s still an album worthy of checking out if you are at all a fan of quality pop music.
Swan Lake
Beast Moans
Jagjaguwar
2006
Rating: 7 herb gardens out of 10
So it has become blatantly obvious that Dan Bejar is the King Midas of
the rock scene – everything he touches turns to gold. His signature project Destroyer consistently makes
amazing albums; he also plays a strong role in the New Pornographers – a “super group” of Canadian rock stars that
have set the independent charts on fire over the last few years. And as if that weren’t enough, now Bejar
has given us a second entirely different “super group” of Canadian rockers called Swan Lake. The trio features
him collaborating with Spencer Krug of Wolf Parade and Casey Mercer of Frog Eyes…and it sounds exactly like you
would expect with those three mad geniuses working together. “Beast Moans” is like an organized
mess, a schizophrenic tour through the minds of three fantastic songwriters who somehow pack nearly every song with
all of the essential elements that makes Destroyer, Wolf Parade and Frog Eyes so great… Bowie-esque baroque
pop meets psychedelic experimentation meets…I dunno how to even quantify it all. It’s
just damn good, and further proof that there is something in the water in Canada for all of these great bands to just
keep reproducing like rabbits.
