What is Good Recently
The Intima: Band from Portland, Oregon who've done stuff on K Records. They make the violin sound sexy and dangerous by realising that you don't have to sound like Godspeed or Rachel's if you use one. Stuff not really available here (try
www.zumonline.com) but worth checking as they have potential to rule.
David Grubbs: Newie has more song based stuff from Dave or
Grubbsy as us shopheads have taken to calling him. Good wistful melodies and sweet sounding jangly guitar. A summer album so you won't be playing it much then.
Anticon:: Music for the Advancement of Hip Hop: Great first compilation from label that can't stop putting things out. This is a must if you like their brand of quirky, intellectual beats and raps. Cuts to the chase with some dark shit from Slug rapping about family suicide then brightening up with 'nothing but sunshine'. Buck 65, Alias, Sole and Dose also pop up. Keep it trucker cap.
Read Yellow: Couldn't decide about this band at first, then realised its because they seem to write two different types of song. One is snarling emo-punk with interesting breakdowns a la Trail of Dead. The other is garage-tinged with histrionic vocals. I know which I prefer.
Chromatics: Unconventional band who like to play around with styles. Namely p**t punk, goth, lo fi, punk, jazz, electro, often at the same time. They're on Gold Standard Laboratories so they're a bit arty. Interesting if not amazing.
Betty Davis: Only heard bits but the impression I got is of a sassy lady who'd have most of those other funk/soul singers for breakfast. Stuff on vinyl in the shop.
Party of Helicopters: These guys manage to make poppy punk really endearing. They blend driving rythmns with effortless stream of conscious vocals and I especially like the guitatrist's fast finger picking style. Latest album
Please Beleive It has a more mature sound.
