Arcade Fire, “Funeral” (Merge, 2004)I know, this is seen as kind of old hat, but I had a copy lying around, so here it is. The bottom line is, this is a good record now that all the hype-dust has cleared. Velvets-via-REM indie-pop strum naturalized into a warm, seamless groove (powered by a strong drummer) […]
Archers of Loaf, “Vee Vee” (Merge, 2012)These guys had quite likely the worst name ever for an otherwise first-rate group, which may be why they didn’t quite get their due when this originally came out in 1995. So here it is again, and it still sounds mighty fine to me – dueling angular guitars drill […]
Art of Noise, “Who’s Afraid Of . . .?” (ZTT, 1984)British “new pop” theorists and musical engineers get together for their own “super-group” that combines new-romantic synthiness, early-hip-hop bats’n’scratches and Dad/Futurist-inspired sound-collages. Fun stuff.Try 2/2, 2/41/23/14
Viola Willis Ashmun, “Walls” 12” (Wide Angle, 1977).Great electro-disco, several years ahead of its time with its proto-freestyle slamming beats and synth-horn blasts.Try 1/1.11/12/12
Asobi Seksu, “Asobi Seksu” (Friendly Fire, 2004)Veteran indie band’s first and best, simultaneously more shoegazy and poppier than their later stuff. When it’s not stretching out into gorgeous guitar haze, it’s bopping along a melodic pulse.Try 1, 2, 4, 7, 91/13/13
Au Revoir Simone, “The Bird of Music” (Our Secret Record Company, 2006)A lost treasure of indie rock, this trio makes austere, electronically driven pop that hits with the warmth and mystery of trippy-yet-pristine Laurel Canyon folk-rock. Imagine the Marine Girls backing Stevie Nicks, with Brian Eno producing on a $500 budget, and you might come […]
Autoclave, “Autoclave” (Dischord/Mira, 1997; original release 1991-2)First band of Helium/Wild Flag/s Mary Timony and Slant 6/s Christina Billotte doesn’t sound much like any of their other stuff – more like early-‘90s post-punk/HC proto-“math rock” stuff if it was played with the lightness and whimsy of K-style naïve strum-pop, for playground twists and turns and surprises.Try […]
Avengers, “Avengers” (Water Music, 2012; originally released/recorded 1977-79)Reissued after 20 years’ legal limbo, here’s the legendary “pink album,” worth the wait with an extra disc of great archival shit. The Avengers were one of the greatest first-wave U.S. punk bands – hell, one of the all-time greatest punk bands, period. Blazing performances of songs that […]
Avengers, “Avengers” (Water Music, 2012; original recordings 1977-1979).Long-awaited reissue of studio recordings from one of the greatest first-(or any)-wave U. S. punk bands. With Penelope Houston’s rabid-Valley-Girl bark, a massive, serrated guitar sound, and some unforgettably anthemic songs, they set the standard for those who came after.Try CD 1: 1, 4, 7, 9, 10, 12, […]
Babies, “Our House on the Hill” (Woodsist, 2012)Side project thing from Cassie of Vivian Girls and some dude (who actually does most of the singing). This is Velvets-inflected garage-punk, much in the vein of Cassie’s “real” band, but sweeter and more down-home. Lacks the Vivian Girls’ visionary chaos, but still really good.Try 2, 8.1/13/13