Neil Halstead
Palindrome Hunches
Brushfire
2012
Rating: 7.5 chick tracts out of 10
From the mid-nineties to the mid-oughts, Neil Halstead released a number of classic records under the band name Mojave 3. I mean no slight to the rest of the Mojave 3 band members, but it's Halstead's voice and song-writing that really sold that material. So it's no surprise that his solo records are equally great, especially this newest offering "Palindrome Hunches." For the most part it's just the man, his vocals and a bit of guitar - most every review I've seen have made a Nick Drake cover, but I've been listening to Halstead for so long he is now a touchstone for other comparisons. Certainly the "soft rockingness" of both artists are quite similar, so I see where the comparisons come from, but for my money I'll honestly take Halstead over Drake. Pound for pound Halstead's output is just as engaging, and there's more of it.
Tyvek
On Triple Beams
In The Red
2012
Rating: 7.5 new pairs of shoes out of 10
Detroit's Tyvek is the closest thing we have these days to A-Frames cold, calculated repetitive punk. They've been releasing records at nearly a Ty Segall-like rate, and I've been eating it up. Their music is dark and moody and has a sneer to it that you don't hear much these days. You can of course make the usual touchstones of Gang of Four and Wire that you can with all of Tyvek's music, but this time around the band...sounds pretty much exactly as they did on their previous records. Which makes me happy, because it's a bitchin' sound.
Redd Kross
Researching the Blues
Merge
2012
Rating: 7.5 model homes out of 10
They might have gotten older and might not have released any music since 1997, but Redd Kross has reappeared with a record as catchy as anything they've ever put out. I'm a little slow on the intake with this record released last August, but so many records so little time, yadda yadda. While this might not have made my list of very best records of 2012, it would have been close; and the track "Stay Away from Downtown" would have definitely made my list of best songs of the year - it's been stuck in my head from the first listen. Like always it's song after song of peppy power pop punch, Redd Kross being the masters of this brand of songsmithery. All young bands should immediately take notice.
Lace Curtains
The Garden of Joy and the Well of Loneliness
Female Fantasy
2012
Rating: 7.5 committed fouls out of 10
I really loved that band Harlem that released a couple of records a year or two ago, but then they sorta fell off the map. I have no idea if they broke up or it's a hiatus situation, but in the interim there are at least a couple of quality off shoots - Grape St. and this here band, Lace Curtains. This album sounds just as catchy as Harlem, minus the garage punk ferocity. I'd say it feels like the drunken cousin of of the prep pop fad that hit a couple years back with Real Estate and those groups. This would have been a strong contender for my year-end list if I'd gotten to it in time. I've only listened a couple of times but it is very good, and will hopefully help scratch the itch left behind by Harlem's disappearance.
Low
Plays Nice Places
Sup Pop
2012
Rating: 7 frozen doves out of 10
Low has a new record coming out soon, but in the meantime they released a free live EP that you can grab from this link here. Just enter your email address or whatnot. Ben Gibbard helps on one of the songs and luckily doesn't screw it up (I have no beef against Gibbard like some do, but he's no Low). It's worth the effort to download for the live versions of "sunflowers" and "Witches" alone. "Pissing" is great too. Goddamn, what a good band... nearly 20 years later and I still get chills listening to them sometimes.
Jason Lytle & Sea of Bees
Split 7''
Crossbill
2012
Rating: 6.5 wrong shoes out of 10
Jason Lytle covers a Sea of Bees song on the A-side, and Sea of Bees covers a Jason Lytle song on the flip. We've seen this recipe before. I don't know one single goddamn thing about Sea of Bees, but the cover Lytle does of their (or is it just her?) track is very reminiscent of Sparklehorse - this got my attention. I wasn't quite as excited hearing Sea of Bees perform the Lytle song, but it's not bad. The vocals remind me of someone - maybe a little Mazzy Star, but something else I can't wrap my head around. Wouldn't mind hearing more from this Bees outfit, cause there ain't enough here to really make your mind up. I already know I love Lytle so recommending at least his half of the vinyl is a no brainer.
The Evens
The Odds
Dischord
2012
Rating: 6 nervous shakes out of 10
For a long-time Ian MacKaye fan like myself, the biggest obstacle with the Evens has been getting over the fact that he isn't playing Fugazi-style rock anymore. This band is just a duo, Ian accompanied by his wife Amy Farina, and the aggro anthems are gone, replaced by what would loosely be called folk music I guess. They spend time harmonizing and at no point does anything rock my balls off, so...yeah. I like this pretty well if I'm in the mood for it, but the problem is I start listening and then I hear Ian's voice and I just want to put a Fugazi record on. You can choose to take that as a slight to the Evens, but I think of it as a testament to the staying power of one of the best bands of the last quarter century.
I think this might be one of the worst reviews I've ever written, and that's saying something. Fuck it, let's go listen to some Fugazi.
The Men
Think 7''
Karmic Swamp
2011
Rating: 7.5 possum tracks out of 10
Yeah, this seven inch by the Men is a couple of years old but I just got around to listening to it. Get off my case about it, I've been busy. Side A, "Think," is one of their typical blistering noise punk tracks, good but not grand. The joy is in Side B, a cover of Devo's "Gates of Steel" - the greatest Devo song of all time. Don't argue with me, it's a fact. They very much own the song, recording a lo-fi punk banger that sounds as if Robert Pollard had a hand in producing it. Best of all - the band is offering it up for free here. Got it right from their website, no guilt necessary. In fact they have a lot of their older out-of-print releases on mediafire free to us fans. You gotta love a band looking out for us little people.
Starflyer 59
IAMACEO
South Co.
2013
Rating: 7 skinny ties out of 10
Maybe the only thing noteworthy or different about this newest Starflyer 59 release is that the band left their long-time label Tooth & Nail and funded it themselves via Kickstarter. Otherwise, it very much fits their mold of downer pop songs with a shoegaze sheen that they've been more or less performing for nearly two decades. None of the songs really stood out to me after just a couple of listens, but their albums often require repeated listens for the subtle nuances and hooks to catch you just right. I don't always give bands that much rope, but Starflyer 59 have paid off for me so many times they're always worth a little extra effort.
The Rosebuds
Love Deluxe
Self-Released
2012
Rating: 8 ordinary loves out of 10
I love the Rosebuds and I love Sade. But Ivan from the Rosebuds really really LOVES Sade, so much so that he decide to record a cover of her "Love Deluxe" album in it's entirety. I sorta went into this from a novelty perspective, but it actually works pretty well. It probably helps that I listened to this Sade album a lot in high school (an album I came to from skateboard videos of all things), so all of the songs are incredibly familiar. The best part - it's free! Maybe you're a Sade fan who doesn't know who the hell the Rosebuds are, or a Rosebuds fan wondering what the hell they are thinking, or even someone like myself who is a fan of both...it costs the same for everyone. Grab it here.
Rites of Spring
Six Song Demo
Dischord
2012
Rating: 9.5 electoral votes out of 10
On the one hand, you already know all of these Rites of Spring songs from their completely perfect full-length record "End on End" from 1985. All six songs are just different takes/versions recorded at the same time as the album. On the other hand, it's Rites of fuckin' Spring...you could probably release a seven inch of the band farting and I'd jump on it quicker the Fonz can fix a jukebox.
Mogwai
A Wrenched Virile Lore
Sub Pop
2012
Rating: 6 vocoder solos out of 10
I've been a Mogwai fan for a long time, but it's interesting how time can change your opinions on a band and their music. When they released the collection of remixes called "Kicking a Dead Pig" in 1998, I couldn't get enough of it. I listened to that double CD constantly, and it was probably the single most played item at my video store gig...it seemed to go well with alphabetizing old horror movies or making sure creepy perverts weren't stealing from the porn room in the back.
Now it's fourteen years later and the band has released another batch of remixes called "A Wrenched Virile Lore," all alternate takes and remixes of songs from the album "Hardcore Will Never Die, But You Will." And honestly, I couldn't be any more nonplussed about the whole matter. It sounds totally fine and I'm sure plenty of Mogwai fans will dig it, but I'm just not sure I need remixes of their songs in my life at this point. The originals are plenty. Well, the Zombi remix of "Letters to the Metro" is pretty boss, but other than that, <insert photo of shrugging shoulders here>. Soft Moon and Tim Hecker and a bunch of other people I've never heard of also do work here.
Fuzz
This Time I Got a Reason 7''
Trouble in Mind
2012
Rating: 7 loud cicadas out of 10
Fuzz is a new band out of SF featuring Ty Segall and Charlie Mootheart. At this point I've given up trying to keep up with all of Segall's releases, but with only this seven inch under their belt I can at least say I'm up-to-date on Fuzz. This isn't a typical Ty Segall affair - like the name implies, this is distorted hard rock in the vein of Sabbath or the always underrated Blue Cheer. Segall on drums and vocals, Charlie on guitar, the smell of bong smoke in the air. It's nothing groundbreaking, but it's hard not to like some good stoner rock jams.
It will be interesting to see how far the guys take this - hopefully a full length is in the works. Knowing Segall, a half-dozen full lengths are in the works, all to be released before the summer gets here.
Allo Darlin'
7777777 7''
Where It's At Is Where You Are
2012
Rating: 7 wrapped sandwiches out of 10
This Allo Darlin' seven inch is part of some limited subscription-only series that is apparently already sold out, so if you want this you're gonna have to drop some loot on eBay or scrounge the internets for a download. Three songs, all mid-tempo affairs...not the catchiest songs the band has ever written but worth seeking out if you're a fan. And I'm on record that Allo Darlin' is one of the best pop bands currently in existence, so even some b-sides make for a good listen. Based on the attendance last time I saw them play not enough people are loving this band the way I do - pull your collective heads out of your collective asses people, and listen to this great band.
Will Johnson
Scorpion
Undertow
2012
Rating: 6.5 freeway dividers out of 10
Will Johnson apparently likes to keep busy. He has Centro-matic, presumably his main band; South San Gabriel, an offshoot that I always assumed was his solo work; but then he also records under his own name. And that's not to mention all the other various side projects he's involved in like Monsters of Folk and writing/recording with Patterson Hood of Drive-By Truckers. How he decides what songs go to which bands is beyond me, but it seems more than reasonable to call him the Robert Pollard of the alt-country/folk rock world.
"Scorpion" is a nice, pleasant (and possibly depressing depending on your mood) folk record. It's mostly just Johnson, his guitar and his signature gravelly voice, with the occasional bit of drums or organ or whatnot added in for color. It's not nearly as exciting as the fantastic Centro-matic record from last year, "Candidate Waltz," though it's still worth a listen if you're in the mood for some rainy day music. Hell, it might even sound good on a bright sunny day.
