Favorite albums so far this year...

[Gilly]

Is anyone else surprised that the Clinic album isn't being dubbed as a lost Monkees project? The lead singer sounds like Mickey Dolenz and those songs belong on Pisces or Head....

[A.M. Thomas]

Just got "Celebration" by Thomas Function and love it.   Especially the track "A long walk".

I was just going to mention this. "A Long Walk" is actually my favorite song on the record as well. Best record of the year thus far, in my opinion. Could attain a DC Snipers-like run until the end of the year. I highly urge all of you to check them out: http://www.myspace.com/thomasfunction

(In case I'm overselling this please note I'm not in the band or related to them or something. I just think they're awesome.)

Also worth a listen: Meth Teeth Bus Rides 7" EP and the Cheveu self-tltled LP. The Jay Reatard singles have been so far, so good. Any one know when and if the Angry Angles album is coming out?

I haven't heard the Barbaras 7" but I'm intrigued by this "instant classic" status. I'll have to check it out.

Looking forward to: the new Oxford Collapse album, the first Prisonshake album in 15(!) years, the Bottomless Pit EP, the new Sally Crewe and the Sudden Moves.

From their MySpace:

"Jay lost all the tracks we recorded before I moved to NY. Who knows now. Boo dudes."

Stinks.

[A.M. Thomas]

I'd also like to recommend THE VIVIAN GIRLS from Brooklyn/New Brunswick, NJ.



Sounds like THE SHAGGS and THE URINALS.  They just signed to In the Red and are re-releasing their first album there, but you can buy their first 7" until then.  Amazing stuff, really.

[Josh]

I'd also like to recommend THE VIVIAN GIRLS from Brooklyn/New Brunswick, NJ.

YES!

I'm so bummed I missed out on the first printing of that LP.

[A.M. Thomas]

I'd also like to recommend THE VIVIAN GIRLS from Brooklyn/New Brunswick, NJ.

YES!

I'm so bummed I missed out on the first printing of that LP.

Me too*.

*However, Katie (Drummer/Bassist) told me that the Matador Online Store will have copies of the first press for distribution soon (?!?!).

[eljezel]

I agree with the previously mentioned:

Nick Cave- Dig Lazarus Dig (and I'm not always down with him)
Portishead (just so damn miserable and evil sounding...at the same time)

Also:

the new Black Francis EP is pretty damn good
M83- Saturdays=Youth
Elbow- The Seldom Seen Kid
THe Raveonettes- Lust Lust Lust
Atlas Sound
British Sea Power

and I'm always a sucker for whatever Mark Kozelek is up to so I like the new Sun Kil Moon too.

[God Stewart]

Is anyone else surprised that the Clinic album isn't being dubbed as a lost Monkees project? The lead singer sounds like Mickey Dolenz and those songs belong on Pisces or Head....

I don't know who the primary vocalist is (is it Ade or Brian? I know nothing) but I love their vocal tone because it sounds like an angry father singing through his teeth— pointing his authoritative finger all the while.

[Omar]

Also:

the new Black Francis EP is pretty damn good

Good call.  I also liked Chuck's last LP, Bluefinger.  He's still bringing it, unlike Ms. Deal.  Golden Fiddle had the best and most accurate review of the new Breeders record:

http://goldenfiddle.tumblr.com/post/35942831/so-hows-that-new-album

[Shaggy 2 Grote]

I've been really into The Vinez Family lately.

http://www.vinezfamily.com/

Do you have any tracks by them?  I didn't see anything on the site and I couldn't find them on MySpace.  What is their sound like?

[samir]

I don't know who the primary vocalist is (is it Ade or Brian? I know nothing) but I love their vocal tone because it sounds like an angry father singing through his teeth— pointing his authoritative finger all the while.

Ade Blackburn, I believe. I interviewed him once over the telephone. FACT.

[Pat K]

Ade Blackburn, I believe. I interviewed him once over the telephone. FACT.

Did he give the entire interview with his teeth clenched like that?

I am feeling the new Kelley Stoltz, Clinic, Dengue Fever, and Breeders records. All the new Jay Reateard singles have been top notch AS USUAL. Probably album of the year so far for me has been the Titus Andronicus debut, The Airing of Grievances - wild stuff.

I've also been grooving on a local band from DC called These United States that finally just put out their debut, the admittedly-pretentiously-titled A Picture of the Three Of Us At the Gate to the Garden of Eden. (myspace.com/theseunited)
They used to tear it up live on a regular basis back when I lived down there.

[namethebats]

Is anyone else surprised that the Clinic album isn't being dubbed as a lost Monkees project? The lead singer sounds like Mickey Dolenz and those songs belong on Pisces or Head....

I'd never made the Mickey Dolenz connection before, but I think you're on to something.

[Gilly]

He's never sounded like it before, but I made the connection right away on this one. One song sounds like Love Is Only Sleeping but I don't know the name of it. I think that's where I made the connection and then listened to it again and really started to hear it.

[harris]

anyone else listening to evil urges?

[Gilly]

I thought I'd like it even though I've never been that into MMJ after I saw them perform Amazed on SNL. It sounds dull on the album.