The XX - xx
This was quite a pleasant surprise to me, not necessarily something I would have ever picked out but was excited to be listening to. The first track, aptly titled 'Intro' is a great intro to the particularly relaxing guitar and drum style the band has. Almost like background music for a happier El-P or someone equally indie and sensitive. 'VCR' sounds like a more relaxed Noah and the Whale with Sonic Youth-y vocals. All in all it's a pretty good bet that they would have ended up on the Trainspotting soundtrack had they been around back in the day. Nice to listen to when you aren't hoping to do much but relax in bed on a Saturday night - whatever that means.
Elvis Perkins - The Doomsday EP
This EP starts off with one of the best songs from Elvis Perkins' full length S/T album, 'Doomsday'. It's the sort of catchy nonsensical arthouse type goofball stuff that is entrancing enough to not put me into a rage. It's really great, makes you want to bounce around all goofy like. The only other song on the album that doesn't sound like he was thinking about Doomsday when he wrote it is 'Stop Drop Rock And Roll' and it's lame. Check out his full length, more good stuff there than here.
Sea Wolf - Leaves in the River
If Les Claypool hadn't been so darn wacky he might have actually been Alex Brown Church. He wasn't though, and thankfully ABC isn't too wacky because it would take the sheer beauty away from what is definitely one of the most beautiful albums I have ever heard. Highlights are the infectious 'Middle Distance Runner' and 'Black Leaf Falls'. If you hear those two and aren't feeling something after them, you might just not have a heart or soul at all.
Dead Milkmen - Big Lizard In My Backyard
As far as classics go, we live in a daft world if there is a single solitary human being who does not consider this album a classic. The ingenious irony of 'Tiny Town', the astonishing alliterative amazement in 'Gorilla Girl', trips to the zoo and so much more. If you don't own this album, you can not possibly have enjoyed music as much as anyone who does.
