Swamp Thiiiiing

Radiohead--"The King of Limbs"

I went into this album expecting it to be terrible.  I didn't like "In Rainbows," and half the opinions I heard before putting this on made it out to be 'boring' and 'ugly'.

But this, ladies and gentlemen, this is wonderful.  Say what you want about "Hail to the Thief," songs like Backdrifts still haunt the  dark recesses of my brain when I'm awake at 4 in the morning--and "The King of Limbs" takes this blend of "OK Computer" style impending-doom-crooning and the electro-fied, creepy ropes of guitar and synthesizer from "Hail to the Thief" and throws in Pyramid Song just to mess with you.  This, I like.


*****

It's COMING!

Record Store Day 2011

April 16th

Hurray for March!

The Smith Westerns: "Dye it Blonde"

I am totally past the 'fresh' mark on this release, but I love it anyway.  It's a vintage-sounding pop extravaganza that plays off of their first CD's lo-fi pedigree while cleaning things up a little bit.  

Peter Bjorn and John: "Gimme Some"

As a PB&J release, I'm kinda disappointed.  As something completely different, I actually like this one quite a bit.  

The Strokes: "Angles"

"First Impressions of Earth" volume 2.  For what this is, it's quite good--but deep down I really wanted another "Room on Fire."

That, and the cover looks like it was drawn with crayons.

A Friendly Reminder

Join us April 16th for the 5th Annual Record Store Day!
Live music will be playing throughout the day!

15% off Regular-Priced CDs, Vinyl, & Music T-shirts!

BOGO Clearance CD Section!

$.50 each or 3-for-$1 Clearance Vinyl!

Over 50 ridiculously fantastic Raffle Prizes!

The return of our special Mystery Vinyl Grab-Bags!

Sound Provided by:

Thank You :)

The Blasters

Bored?

Tickets to see The Blasters available here!

$10 in advance!

Hosted by Friends of Bob

The Good and the Ugly

New Releases You Should Be Listening To:

Papercuts: "Fading Parade"

Papercuts' first release via the Sub Pop label is hazy and gorgeous, with muffled vocals sliding underneath.

David Bevan over at Pitchfork says it succinctly where I can't: "Jason Quever breathes more than he sings, as though he isn't sure whether he wants you to hear him at all [. . .] It's the quiet ones you have to watch."

Alexander: "Alexander"

Totally all over the place, and probably recorded in a closet.  This is very entertaining, and showcases Alex Ebert (of Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros)'s multi-instrument talent with abandon.  

New Releases You Should Be Ignoring:

Beady Eye: "Different Gear, Still Speeding"

Dear god, what happened to these guys?  With all of the booze-fueled fisticuffs removed, Oasis sounds remarkably similar to Rob Thomas--neutered and boring.

Things I am Inappropriately Excited About:

R.E.M.: "Collapse Into Now"

...and I have no idea what this is even going to sound like.  

Fading Captain Bob Gets Some Color

Lifeguards. Waving At The Astronauts
Label: Ernest Jenning
Released: 2/15/2011

Waving At The Astronauts may be the best and most internally consistent CD's worth of songs that Robert Pollard has highkicked to since 1997's Mag Earwhig! More riff-o-centric than psychedelic thanks to Doug Gillard's crunchy, ass-shaking chord progressions and rhythm guitar, the CD is a joy to listen to from start to finish. Especially once you learn to enjoy lines like, "You're gonna need a gris-gris made from the teeth of lions," instead of wringing your kleenex over what it all means.

Listen to "Paradise is Not So Bad" and "Product Head" on the Lifeguards' myspace page here.