Death Grips – Exmilitary
Absolute stunner which I can’t even begin to capture in words. Watch some videos and get yourself a free copy at thirdworlds.net.
The Feelies – Here Before
They’re back and as good as ever. Not a novelty or cash in like so many reunions, it is a fitting addition to their catalog. A most unexpected surprise.
Lykke Li - Wounded Rhymes
A more mature sound from a more mature artist. Big step. I need to play this more, because I do enjoy it every time it’s on.
Metal Mountains – Golden Trees
My friend Marc captured this perfectly in the close of his review for Pitchfork:
“In fact, you might find Golden Trees too consistent. Without percussion to emphasize pace, each tune has a similar, indefinite tempo. Time gets lost, and tracks drift and hang rather than moving forward. As the tracks melt together, you might swear the guitar part or vocal line you’re hearing has happened before. But for me, such recurrences are what give Golden Trees its peculiar magic. Its cycling sounds and moods feel less like repetitions than dreamy déjà vu.”
Moon Duo – Mazes
Did you ever wonder what would happen if The Clean collaborated with Suicide? If so, give this a listen.
The Mountain Goats – All Eternals Deck
John, Jon and Peter keep getting better. Though I wasn’t hit as hard by this album as I was by The Life Of The World To Come, it has grown on me over the months. Like the prior record, the production blows me away. Perfectly written, mixed, and balanced to engage and surprise. Take “The Autopsy Garland”, with it’s booming distant kick, like “The Boxer” on a stereo in another room. John’s voice and guitar are forward leaning momentum, while the bass steps up to the fore every 10 seconds or so with a little growling menace. And the short, high, acoustic guitar run that comes in before the chorus around the 1:10 mark gives me shivers then and with each subsequent appearance. Wonderful.
The Psychic Paramount – II
Another record Marc shined a light on for me to find. Expansive, engaging, energetic, and other e-djectives (effervescent, enlightening, esoteric, Erik’s effluvia?), this is an experience as much as an album. Dense but moving at a breakneck pace, their style of instrumental rock sends me reeling.
Albums I like and need to spend more time with to properly gauge:
Wye Oak – Civilian
Woods – Sun and Shade
Six Organs of Admittance – Asleep on the Floodplain
Psychedelic Horseshit – Laced
Peter Murphy – Ninth
Low – C’Mon
Lamb – 5
Girls Names – Dead To Me
Ethereal – Abstractica
Alela Diane – Alela Diane & Wind Divine
Austra – Feel It Break
