Low Rollers / The Diskords
Split 7"
Jonny Cat
2003
Rating: 5.5 acne breakouts out of 10
Ye gods, from the looks of the liner notes on this four song split, these kids are barely out of junior high. Pretty impressive when you judge it based on that fact, but not terribly impressive otherwise. The Diskords are slightly stronger here, most notably for their cover of Eddie Cochran’s “Summertime Blues”. Low Rollers tackle a cover of their own, Elvis’s “Trouble”. Both bands also contribute an original to the mess as well. This is low budget, simple fuzzy-guitar garage rawk like high school kids were playing all across the land in the sixties. Now it almost seems like a novelty for kids this age not to be playing some sort of rap-rock hybrid, so kudos to them for escaping that stupidity at least. At the going rate I’m sure we’ll here something great out of these kids in no time, maybe by the time they hit puberty or get old enough to drive.
U.S. Christmas
Prayer Meeting
No Mass
2003
Rating: 7 gorgeous cheekbones out of 10
This U.S. Christmas record either beautifully symphonic or a fucking mess...I’m going with
both, and I think that’s what makes it a particularly interesting listen. Some folks might consider this ‘stoner
rock’, although I’m not sure what that means exactly. If you’re thinking along the lines of Sleep, Caustic Resin, High on
Fire...in other words, bands who really like Black Sabbath and the wrath that has been brought to this land since their
inception, then you’re on the right track. U.S. Christmas sound like this, sure; but something about them is a bit off,
probably due to the fact that they were born, raised, and exist in a tiny town in the mountains of North Carolina.
It’s this extra bit that makes them interesting and
not repetitive.
Guided By Voices
Human Amusements at Hourly Rates: The Best of Guided By Voices
Matador
2003
Rating: 8 minimum wage workers out of 10
This is a fantastic release not just for newcomers but even long time fans of Guided by Voices. This spans the entire GBV catalog and was compiled and sequenced by the man himself, Robert Pollard. For those not in the know, he is one of the most prolific songwriters of the last 15 years, and I’ve heard he’s written at least 5000 songs at this point in his career. Or as he said in an interview I once read, paraphrased – “I can write 5 songs while just sitting on the toilet and three of them will be good." Anyone who has never heard this great band would do themselves a favor of just buying this release – it hits on nearly all of their highlights (although you could never fit ALL of their best songs on just one disc). And most likely, after hearing this album you’ll want to go out and get the rest of their albums anyways ( I highly suggest "Bee Thousand" and "Alien Lanes", and if you can find them the "Fast Japanese Spin Cycle" and "Sunfish Holy Breakfast" EPs).
Grover
Tiny Blue Sparks
Bearos
2003
Rating: 6 four lokos out of 10
This sounds like two of my favorite wrestlers, Senor Shoegaze and Mr. Postrock, clashing in the ring for the title of "Head Musical Influence" over the Midlands, UK band Grover. This group has been around in one form or another for around ten years, and they currently feature the former bassist of Godflesh, Steve Hough. Fans of Mogwai and Billy Mahonie will probably like this release, and possibly even some folks crossing over from the shoegazer side of things might find something worth listening to. I quite enjoy this record more and more each time I listen to it, and hopefully you’ll feel the same way.
A Grape Dope
Missing Dragons
Galaxia
2003
Rating: 6.5 liters of grape drank out of 10
John Herndon sure does keep himself a busy man. Between working with Tortoise, Isotope 217, The Eternals, and producing and performing on studio albums for many other bands and performers, he finds time to record his own solo music under the guise A Grape Dope. Although similar in sound to his other work with Isotope and Tortoise, AGD is much more electronic and eclectic in nature, and instead of focusing on his talent of machine-like drumming skills it instead investigates a more avant-garde side of percussion. In addition, the album includes some guest vocalist turns from Dose One, Kathryn Frazier and Sally Timms, as well as an unnamed source (possible John himself?) on my favorite track of the album ‘I’ll Spread It’ – a song that sounds part Post-Tortoise and part vocoder-era Peter Frampton; a mix I’m wishing more people investigated after hearing this particular song. Fans of Herndon’s other output will not be disappointed, and those of you who fancy yourselves more fans of Dntel/Boards of Canada electronica stuff should do yourselves a favor and check it out as well.
Jet Black Crayon
Experiments in the Space Metal Time Signature
Galaxia
2003
Rating: 6 broken skateboards out of 10
Tommy Guerrero keeps himself a busy man – besides being one of the most influential skateboarders ever, he manages to also help run a skateboard company and perform in numerous musical outfits as well. Jet Black Crayon is a jazz/funk/noise outfit that mostly plays improv-type of stuff with a heavy leaning towards the atmospherics, or as it’s referred to in the sleeve of the disc, “drunken meandering”. A nice mellow listen, this isn’t going to change the world but I like it; what’s more, I think the fact that it’s short and to the point really helps it out – I’m not sure if my attention could be held for a full length.
Grandaddy
Sumday
V2
2003
Rating: 9 Stocktonians out of 10
This is my album of the summer, and possibly even the year. In this triumphant return from their amazing second full length "The Sophtware Slump", we find Grandaddy in fine form – picking up right where they left off sound-wise but a little more cheerful and optimistic this go around. They’re still pretty concerned and obsessed with the impending encroachment of machinery and automation and all that jazz, only they’ve now either resided themselves to their fate or see a silver lining to the dark clouds. Not much has changed with their sound (I still say they’re the Electric Light Orchestra for the 21st century, and if you think that’s an insult you clearly need to go back and listen to more ELO, Jeff Lynne was a genius), but why mess with it if it ain’t broken? Once these beautifully harmonious and catchy tunes enter your ear canals there will be no turning back – like a virus, you’ll be infected with the need to listen to the album over and over and over. That's how viruses work right? You listen to them obsessively?
Bottom of the Hudson
The Omaha Record
Absolutely Kosher
2003
Rating: 6 downed US Air planes out of 10
What an interesting little genre-hopping album this is by Bottom of the Hudson. Sometimes Notwist-style electro-pop, sometimes Pavement-ish indie riff rock, occasional Guided by Voices sounding jangly pop, so on and so on. Even though it’s all one band, it plays more like a mix a friend might make for you. There’s bound to be something on here for everyone, and if you’re lucky like me you’ll like almost all of it. There’s even a funny answering machine message at the end with some white trash-type fella telling them to stop playing ‘that damn reggae music’. Quite a likable record.
The Glass
Concorde
Makeshift Music
2003
Rating: 7 volunteers out of 10
Holy crapturd, I love it when a band seemingly appears from out of nowhere and blows my ass out of the water with their beautiful songs! Well, count Tennessee’s The Glass as one of the few who have done that. They play what I like to call “cosmic country” – a stupid name, sure, but meant to indicate those who play that odd mix of spacey, psychedelic sounds with traditional slide guitar and country-style vocals. Other than The Glass, groups who fall under this moniker are Canyon, Holopaw, My Morning Jacket, and even some of Jay Farrar’s more recent output. I can’t recommend this release any more highly.
The Capitol Years
Jewelry Store
Feel
2003
Rating: 7.5 armed robberies out of 10
I read all the praise and press for the first release by The Capitol Years, "Meet Yr Acres". Lots of people loved it, but it just never caught for me. A little too meandering, not enough direction, perhaps? I dunno. Not that it was awful or anything, just...eh. So when I got this to review, I was expecting more of the same. The bright side was that it’s only an EP, so at least listening to it a few times won’t take that long, right? Fortunately, this album is pretty good...real good even. Chock full of catchy hooks, fuzzy guitars, upbeat rhythms - this is the type of music I think of when I think of what rock-n-roll should sound like. Now, after listening to it a few times, I’m bummed it’s an EP - at just under 20 minutes, it definitely leaves me wanting more.
The big change for the band seemed to come when it was transformed from "one man recording songs on a four-track in his bedroom" to "full on rock band with bassists and drummers and the such". This was just what this band needed - they already had the songs, and now they have the performers to flesh out the sound. All six songs pack a wallop from start to finish, almost leaving you gasping for air by the time the disc stops playing.
I’m not sure if it’s because both bands are from Philadelphia or just a coincidence, but this album reminds me a whole hell of a lot of The Lilys, only with a little more fuzz thrown in for good measure. Comparisons can also be drawn to other power-pop outfits such as Sloan or Superdrag, and if you read any other reviews you'll probably hear references to The Strokes. All of these are fair comparisons.
Isobel Campbell
Amorino
Instinct
2003
Rating: 6.5 camels out of 10
So, I knew going in that this was the solo record of Isobel Campbell, known mostly for her work with Belle & Sebastian. As a B&S fan, I was already going into this with certain expectations, which is never a good idea, but definitely understandable. Upon my first couple of listens, I couldn’t believe what I was hearing – along with a few tracks that sounded as I expected (pretty similar to the songs Isobel sung for B&S), there were elements of brazilian pop, Dixieland jazz (?!?), and Burt Bacharach-style 60’s pop tunes with horns and strings. Honestly, it was so different that I didn’t even listen to it again for quite a while. But then when I came back to it, it sounded great to me – an inventive breath of fresh air, an artist willing to take chances in their music. Seriously, how many indie-pop artists could pull off a Dixieland song?
Clorox Girls
Baby 7"
Jonny Cat
2003
Rating: 6 cat litter pans out of 10
No, they’re not all girls. Or clorox. The Clorox Girls play a brand of punk that falls somewhere along the spectrum between street/gutter/party punk and something you might have heard come out on KRS or K back in the late eighties or early nineties. Nothing amazing, but catchy enough to keep your attention for the short length of this record. The lyrics are also pretty typical, someone does drugs, party party party, and one political song called ‘Getaway’ about leaving the US because it’s so fucked up right now. The record makes me think they are probably a decent live act to check out.
BMX Bandits
On the Radio
Phantom Import
2003
Rating: 4 Nicole Kidman bicycle films out of 10
BMX Bandits have helped launch the careers of numerous bands (Soup Dragons, Eugenius, and one of my all time favorite bands, Teenage Fanclub), without being able to get to far out of the starting blocks themselves. They do have a fairly large cult following though, and I can only imagine that this release of live tracks recorded with the BBC between the years of 1986 and 1996 will be a welcome joy to their ears. Personally, I’ve never been a very big fan of the band, and this record didn’t do anything to change my mind. If you like quirky power pop, you’ve got it right here by the tons. The release also includes a couple of live tracks by the Pearlfishers with BMX main man Duglas T. Stewart appearing as a special guest, thus earning these songs a spot on this compilation.
Belle & Sebastian
Dear Catastrophe Waitress
Rough Trade
2003
Rating: 7 slutty secretaries out of 10
Since this is the first album for Belle & Sebastian on a label other than Matador and without mainstay member Isobel Campbell (who has released her own solo CD which is quite good), the expectations and anticipations were varied as to what the outcome of this new record might be. And I was relieved to discover - it’s great. Some fans may be disappointed with the new direction of some of the songs (lots of horns! Upbeat songs! ELO influence! Trevor Horn production!), but I feel there’s not only enough of the classic B&S flavor for us old timers, but I actually like the new material as well. There are a number of quality tracks – ‘Wrapped Up In Books”, “Step into My Office, Baby”, “Dear Catastrophe Waitress”, and most importantly “I’m a Cuckoo”, which is probably my favorite song by them since their early days. Although not their best record (if you’re new to the group go pick up “Tigermilk” or “If You’re Feeling Sinister”, two of the greatest pop releases of the last 10 years), it certainly stands up to most of their other releases and is obviously better than that “storytelling” fiasco.
The Bellakun
…Cantar Para Espantar la Soledad
Has Anyone Ever Told You?
2003
Rating: 6.5 Soledad O'Briens out of 10
The Bellakun is some decently interesting bi-lingual indie rock out of Texas. The title translates to “sing to scare away the loneliness”, or at least that’s what the cheat sheet sent by the label tells me. They describe themselves as being “…sprinkled with Tristeza and Three Mile Pilot”, which is a more than reasonable assessment, but I’d additionally throw in a little Built to Spill influence as well to round things out. It’s nothing that blows the doors off the place, but I was pleasantly surprised.
