final february reviews

modest mouse - We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank: Isaac and crew are back on track after the wildly inconsistent Good News album. From what I understand, Johnny Marr (the Smiths) is now a full fledged member of the band and does a good job of filling out the guitar work. Angst and ambivalence intertwine inclusively as they did in days past for the band.

blonde redhead - 23: Continuing in a similar trend similar to the wonderful Misery disc, the melodies here are hauntingly pleasant as opposed to the more angrily excitable vibe of years past. Additionally the music has a bit more of a progressive vibe that the band falls into quite easily. Sonic Youth in bed with the Cocteau Twins.

the sea and cake - Everybody: Understated, unassuming, unsung hero of indie rock, sam prekop is back with his regular band for more breezy spring time tunes not to different from his last solo endevour.

deerhoof - Friend Opportunity: If you have the opportunity to share this with your friends, do them all a favor and stop right there. This disc goes way beyond acceptable levels of annoying. Total shite.

of montreal - Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer?: I always give these guys a shot, but usually their sound just comes off a with a little too much sacharine. I put this on my shuffle and have listened to it solely while x-country skiing and running. It's got a groovy beat, and the lyrics are interestingly foreboding.

great lake swimmers - Oniagra: Sounds markedly similar to their other two albums, which treads in the same water as iron & wine, but murkier.

arcade fire - Neon Bible: This has been SO hyped, that I was expecting nothing short of a miracle. Upon a few listens, I still haven't gotten that, but at the same time, it took me a while to get into their debut album as well. What is apparent is the heavy bruce springsteen influence, much more prevalent than what everyone was going on about with that new Killers disc. After watching them on SNL, I also realize they tend to yell a lot.

albert hammond jr. - Yours to Keep: You definitely hear elements of the strokes, but alas this suffers in much the same way as thom yorke's solo album - you really need the rest of the band to fill out the sound and, in Albert's case, to sing.