Big Troubles - Romantic Comedy

Big Troubles - Romantic Comedy

Romantic Comedy came out this September on Slumberland Records, and despite what Pitchfork may say this album slays. Don't expect the noisy shoegaze of their debut Worry (though they still give a tip of the cap to it here and there), this is a pure indie pop masterpiece. If you dig The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart, Real Estate, The Smith Westerns and Siamese Dream-era Pumpkins then this will be your new favourite album.

French Films - Imaginary Future

French Films - Imaginary Future

I meant to post this awhile back but I am very lazy. I've been waiting for a full-length from these dudes ever since I heard the Golden Sea EP last year. French Films play totally rad indie rock that any fan of New Order, The Drums and The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart will surely dig. Top notch jams right here that you just can't help but sing along with.

Life Sux

Wavves - Life Sux EP

New EP from Nathan Williams and Co. I know this dude is a total douche, but god damn can he write some catchy tunes. Opening track "Bug" is one of the best songs of the year, and my favourite Wavves song so far. This is a great EP by an awesome band. I've been jamming this non-stop in the car on the way to and from work for over a month and I'm still not tired of it. Oh yeah Fucked Up and Best Coast guest on this thing, if that does anything for you.

M I D D L E S T A T E S

TAC - Middle States

New EP from one of my all time favourite bands. These dudes can do no wrong and this EP is no exception. Four tracks in twenty-eight minutes and it definitely leaves you wanting more. Middle States is some of their most experimental stuff, and in that regard it reminds of Low Level Owl more than anything else. Epic fucking shit. Now I want another full-length.

The Futureheads - The Chaos

The Futureheads - The Chaos

This is their new one which was just released last spring. Great four part harmonies sung over glitchy punk rock jams. I'm a fan of everything this band has done, but this isn't their best album, it's good but not great (and that artwork, woof). This is the Japanese version with two bonus tracks that are some of the most straight-up punk songs the band has ever recorded. Last year the band also released a Christmas single, "Christmas Was Better In The 80's" which is one of the best Christmas songs I've ever heard. So as an added bonus here is that single, it's three minutes of pure pop heaven.

The Futureheads - Christmas Was Better In The 80's

French Films - Golden Sea EP

French Films - Golden Sea EP

This is the debut EP by the Finnish pop band French Films. These five dudes write catchy and bouncy indie rock that reminds me of Phoenix, The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart, The Drums, Joy Division and The Cure. French Films are in the process of recording their debut full length, and I really can't wait to hear more from these guys. These sunny tunes will be swimming in your head all day long.

V/A - Casual Victim Pile: Austin 2010

V/A - Casual Victim Pile: Austin 2010

This album was released by Matador Records at the start of 2010 and it compiles the best and brightest new bands from Austin, TX (with a few ringers from Denton, TX). This was assembled by Matador co-founder Gerard Cosloy who moved to the city a couple years ago and fell in love with the local scene (he's since signed Harlem to Matador). Great songs from Woven Bones, Wild America, Harlem and The Young. "Casual Victim Pile" is an anagram for "live music capital", which is what Austin is. So if you thought Texas was all honky-tonk and Stevie Ray Vaughn worship give this a spin and see how fucking punk the city is.

Surf City - Kudos

Surf City - Kudos

Surf City are a band out of New Zealand who took all the best parts of Spaceman 3, Pavement and The Zombies and created one of the best debut albums of the year. Kudos has great harmonies, guitar parts that are both droning and spacey, and heaps of primal rock energy. If you've dug the recent output of Surfer Blood, Crocodiles, No Age and Jaill then you'll flip your shit over this. The band used to be known as Kill Surf City (after the Jesus And Mary Chain tune) but changed their name to avoid confusion with a shitty band from England with the same name.