i hate the sound of guitars

1. Drakkar Sauna
   The meta-theme of the week is We Versus the Shark’s wonderful in-progress covers album, Murmurmur. This was the week I made a point of listening to the covered artists I didn’t previously know, and first up was Drakkar Sauna. Drakkar Sauna are somewhere between freak folk and old-time country, and I like them somewhat less than listening to 3 albums straight through might suggest. But I have to give them credit for song titles like “Very Much Alone Pt. 2: The Coke Binge.”
2. The Feelies
   This past Saturday I got to see The Feelies! I thought I’d missed all my chances forever. I was also worried The Feelies show wouldn’t live up to the incredible Glenn Mercer/Wild Carnation gig last summer. (I needn’t have worried). Anyway, before the show, I listened to some of the recent recordings of The Feelies available at nyctaper.
3. The Buddyrevelles
   I think I’d heard the name of this band, but it sounded like a lame alt-country act, so I didn’t pay attention. Turns out they’re actually the sort of indie rock thing that I like a lot. Thanks to Flasshe for the schoolin’
4. Stereolab
   More nyctaper goodness.
5. Fire Engines
6. Dancing Hoods
   More than a footnote along the way to Sparklehorse. I think 12 Jealous Roses has held up really well, the other records somewhat less so.
6. Ladytron
6. The Mountain Goats
   Q: Do I like Satanic Messiah? A: Yes, I do. Q: Now that I’ve moved more firmly into The Mountain Goats fan camp, do I suddenly like Get Lonely better? A: Not really, but I do think “Woke Up New” is terrific. Mostly because of the stuff about coffee, I expect.
9. Boston Spaceships
   The album is pretty good, but it’s a more sedate affair than the live set. I wouldn’t mind if the next Boston Spaceships release ups the rawk quotient a little bit.
9. Cansei de Ser Sexy
   Haven’t yet figured out if this is a guilty pleasure or just a pleasure. Not a fan of some of the lyrics, but I like the entire package enough to mostly overlook the words I don’t like.
9. Future of the Left
   Another Murmurmur inspired listen. It’s a post-McLusky band. How, exactly, did I manage to not even know there was a post-McLusky band until now? I was mad at them for splitting.
9. Giant Sand
   Cripes, it’s been 4 years since the last Giant Sand album! With Provisions Howe Gelb moves into territory where whole sentences could describe both his music and that of Tom Waits. F’r instance: Although the lineage of the blues may be evident after some study, the arrangements, which often use intrusions of unexpected sonic color into the putative form of the song, really transcend the genre. The aural palette may be so intriguing that the compositional merit at first may seem almost irrelevant, but they songs usually show their essential sturdiness with repeated listening. And they both sing kinda gravelly-like. I’m looking forward to getting to know this record a lot better.
9. I Was Totally Destroying It
   This is pretty much exactly what I want my next band to sound like, although, things being what they are, my next band (if there even is one) will probably sound nothing like this. I Was Totally Destroying It reminds me of Beauty Pill, Little Champions, and Game Theory. There’s also a dash of slightly self-consciously retro new wave color, for some reaons I keep thinking of The Rentals even though I never listened to them much. Good, good stuff. Thanks again due to Flasshe for the tip (also to The Architectural Dance Society).
9. Jim’s Big Ego
   Every time there’s a new JBE release, I kind of expect that I’m going to find that this time it’s finally a little too clever for it’s own good and kind of grates on me. And it didn’t happen with free*, either. I heard one of these songs played live once, something like 5 years ago when They’re Everywhere came out, and remembered it instantly.
9. Brenda Kahn
   A trip through some of Ms. Kahn’s back catalog was occasioned primarily by the arrival of a New song. Unfortunately, I didn’t think it was that great. But I’m glad to know she’s still making music. I probably wouldn’t like her music as much if I just stumbled on her now; her voice is a taste I acquired a while back, and her approach to pitch is not going to please everyone. But I have a lot of affection for those loud, rambling indie rock albums that she somehow released through folk label Shanachie. And her lyrics are frequently excellent.
9. Love is All
   This band first caught my attention because their first album was called 9 Times the Same Song, which I thought showed admirable pluck. I don’t think I ever heard the first album, although I did hear a Yoko Ono cover that I thought was aces but have failed to track down. Nevertheless, I declare the sophomore album to not exhibit sophomore slump. It exhibits a large debt to early art-punk/post-punk, but I’m OK with that. So does Life Without Buildings, maybe the easiest RIYL reference.
9. Mistle Thrush
   Just because it had been a while.
9. Jay Reatard
   Playing catchup. Hype justified? My jury still out. I like the Deerhunter cover a lot for sure.
9. Swervedriver
   More recent live set fun, this time via Bradley’s Almanac. Sad to say, I never listened to these folks back when — I think at first I confused them with Skrewdriver and a little later I lumped them in with the druggier side of Britpop that left me kiinda cold. My loss.
9. We Versus the Shark

31 artists, 437 tracks.