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.

Fugazi - In On The Kill Taker: Albini Demo

Fugazi - In On The Kill Taker: Albini Demo

Seven songs off Kill Taker recorded by Steve Albini in his Electrical Audio Recording studio. A lot rougher around the edges than the eventual final product (these songs were all re-recorded by Ted Niceley and Don Zientara at Inner Ear Studios for the finished product). The drums sound fucking huge. Both the band and Steve think the final product was superior to these recordings, I just think this is a cool little demo that any fan of Fugazi should hear at least once.

The Young - Voyagers Of Legend

The Young - Voyagers Of Legend

The Young are a four-piece rock band out of Austin, TX and this is their debut LP. Released on Mexican Summer Records (who are really knocking them out of the park) this fall, Voyagers Of Legend is dark and catchy rock and roll that sounds like GBV, Superchunk and Hot Snakes mixed together. I haven't read too much about these guys online, which is a shame because this album is fucking killer. Voyagers Of Legend is limited to 1000 copies (like most Mexican Summer LP's) so grab it now before it goes out of print.

Guided By Voices - 1986-92

Guided By Voices - Forever Since Breakfast

Guided By Voices - Devil Between My Toes

Guided By Voices - Sandbox

Guided By Voices - Self-Inflicted Aerial Nostalgia

Guided By Voices - Same Place The Fly Got Smashed

Guided By Voices - Propeller

Forever Since Breakfast, the bands debut release, saw them playing American college rock in the vein of early R.E.M. After Devil Between My Toes was released Guided By Voices stopped playing live, due in part to their albums failing to catch on locally as well as the members responsibilities to their families and various day jobs (most famously Robert Pollard who was a fourth grade teacher). The next series of albums were all self financed/released by the band in limited numbers, recorded in the garage 8-track studio of a Dayton friend. During this time the core was Robert, his brother Jim (who never fully joined the band due to his working the second shift at the local GM plant) and Mitch Mitchell. Propeller was supposed to be the bands farewell, however, a friend of the band sent it out to publications and they gained national exposure in the pages of Alternative Press and most notably in Spin magazine. This resulted in several celebrated live performances in Philly and New York, where Mitch Mitchell jumped and windmilled like the bastard child of Pete Townsend, and Robert did microphone twirls and high kicks with beer and cigarette in hand. Every album has its high points (and very few lows), Propeller stands up the best today, but they all fucking slay. Thank Jah they never quit after Propeller.

GobbleHoof

GobbleHoof - S/T

GobbleHoof - FreezerBurn

Both these albums were produced by J. Mascis (who also played drums on the self titled) and released on the Minutemen's New Alliance Records. GobbleHoof featured J. Mascis' childhood friends Charles Nakajima (former Deep Wound frontman) on vocals, Kurt Fedora (a frequent guest on Dinosaur Jr albums) on bass and future Dinosaur Jr member George Berz on drums (for the FreezerBurn album). The sound on the self titled is a hybrid of punk and metal, you can hear some Rollins Band, some Black Flag and even some Butthole Surfers. On FreezerBurn they upped the metal and added some wah-wah drenched guitar and some seriously rad guitar riffs (a-la Soundgarden and Tad). Pretty rad proto-grunge.

Bullet LaVolta - Gimme Danger EP

Bullet LaVolta - Gimme Danger EP

This EP was released by Metal Blade Records in 1990 and it features a totally rad live cover of "Detroit Rock City". The two new originals on here "Every Hungry Rabbit" and "Transparent Man" rank up there with some of the best songs the band ever wrote. Punk metal at its finest.

Superwolf

Matt Sweeney & Bonnie Prince Billy - Superwolf

Matt Sweeney formerly of Chavez and Bonnie "Prince" Billy (Will Oldham) playing americana music. Formed after Will Oldham issued a songwriting challenge to Matt Sweeney (which he accepted), Superwolf is as brooding and delicate as any other Will Oldham musical project. Will's lyrics are still as eccentric (and at times hilarious) as ever and Matt Sweeney adds a jolt of electricity to many of the songs. So far this is the only full length these two have released and I hope it isn't the last. As of late Matt Sweeney has become Rick Rubin's go-to guitarist and Matt has appeared on several of Rick's most recent production jobs including The Dixie Chicks, Neil Diamond, Josh Groban and Kid Rock's latest Born Free. Will is no slouch either as he continues to release solo albums and act in television and movies (my favourite being the Horse Apples episode of Wonder Showzen).

Robert Pollard - Not In My Airforce

Robert Pollard - Not In My Airforce

This is the first solo album released by Guided By Voices frontman Robert Pollard. A couple dudes from GBV play on most of the tracks so any fan of the band will like this. Matt Sweeney from Chavez (who was one of the bands earliest champions and brought them to the attention of Matador Records) contributes guitar and vocals to the track "Quicksilver". Not In My Airforce is on par to Under The Bushes Under The Stars in both sound and cohesiveness. This is essential listening for any fan of GBV and a true classic.

Guided By Voices - Clown Prince Of The Menthol Trailer

Guided By Voices - Clown Prince Of The Menthol Trailer EP

This EP was a UK only release put out by the then fledgeling Domino Records (future home to Franz Ferdinand and the Arctic Monkeys). Seven songs in ten minutes. The track "Mad Eater Lad" is one of the bands most catchy and whimsical tracks.

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.

Guided By Voices - 1993-95

Guided By Voices - The Grand Hour EP

Guided By Voices - Vampire On Titus

Guided By Voices - Static Airplane Jive EP

Guided By Voices - Bee Thousand

Guided By Voices - Get Out Of My Stations EP (Reissue)

Guided By Voices - Fast Japanese Spin Cycle EP

Guided By Voices - I Am A Scientist EP

Guided By Voices - Alien Lanes

Guided By Voices - Tiger Bomb EP

Dayton, OH's Guided By Voices are one of the most prolific bands of all time. Even in selecting a three year period of the band from which to post they had eight releases (they really had nine, but I don't have the "Clown Prince Of The Menthol Trailer" EP, sorry). This was the bands more lo-fi period where they recorded on the cheap in Robert Pollards laundry room and self released almost everything in small quantities (500 copies or less). Around this time they caught the ear of Matador Records who helped to distribute the album Bee Thousand and fully released Alien Lanes (which is said to have been recorded for only $10 once you subtract the cost of beer). Alien Lanes has some of my favourite GBV songs, especially "Game Of Pricks" and "Motor Away". GBV head honcho Robert Pollard knows how to write a great song and even when that song is covered in fuzz the hook and melody still shine through. These releases all pretty much contain the "classic" line-up of the band: Robert Pollard, Tobin Sprout, Mitch Mitchell, Kevin Fennel, and Greg Demos who were all well into their thirties by the time Alien Lanes was released. It is this line-up that reunited earlier this year to play Matador Records 21st birthday celebration in Las Vegas and subsequently tour as well.