Daniel Romano - Sleep Beneath The Willow

Daniel Romano - Sleep Beneath The Willow

Daniel is the lead singer/main songwriter for Canadian indie band Attack In Black. This is his second solo album to see a wide release, and it is a doozy. Daniel plays country and folk with a confidence you don't usually find in a man his age. If you dig the work of Gram Parsons you'll be blown away by how good this album is. I can't wait to get this home and drop the needle on the first track, to hear that crackle and those gorgeous harmonies and Daniel's weathered baritone. Fucking great album.

Cool Cavern

CC - CTLY

This is by far the best thing that I've heard all year. I've really got to hand it to Wes Eisold and crew as they've really knocked it out of the park on this one. Wes has almost single handedly created the album of the year, although he did have a hand on this one from members of Chavez, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Glassjaw. Every song on here is ready for the big time, nine serious bangers that you need in your life right now. From dancey numbers that remind me of New Order to dark synth that could make David Gahan and Martin Gore jealous. The songwriting on this is so good that I bet Wes could write circles around most bands with one hand tied behind his back.

Jay Mass Kiss

J. M. - SSOW

Basically just J. and his trusted Martin acoustic guitar (there are no drums on this thing and very little electrified guitar). I've been waiting months to get this and it does not disappoint. Tender jams from one of my favourite songwriters. There are a butt-load of guests on this thing too, namely Kurt Vile, Kevin Drew and Ben Bridwell. I always knew J.'s guitar playing could melt faces, now I know it can also melt hearts.

Jawbreaker - Unfun

Jawbreaker - Unfun

I'm not one of those people who only love the first album by a band and refuse to acknowledge anything afterwards, but fuck, Unfun sure is pretty fucking great and my favourite Jawbreaker album. Don't get me wrong everything the band has done is the tits, but there really is something special here. Some call it pop-punk, some call it emo, I could care less. Unfun is raw and smart and way ahead of its time, a true modern punk classic. Everyone should already have this and if you don't, get on it.

Heatmiser- Mic City Sons

Heatmiser - Mic City Sons

Elliott Smith and Neil Gust's indie rock band. Mic City Sons was their third full-length album released in 1996 on Caroline Records, and it would also be the bands last as the members grew frustrated with their sound and fan-base. Elliott went solo and release some of my all-time favourite albums, and Neil started the band No.2. But before all of that they recorded this gem with Tom Rothrock and Rob Schnapf, a true indie-rock classic that still sounds incredible today.