Ryan Adams - Easy Tiger (Lost Highway)
A complete return to form for the former Whiskeytown frontman. On his ninth studio record he goes back to his alt-country basics and seems to feel most at home here. He even gets by with a little help from Sheryl Crow on “Two” and his usual backing band, the Cardinals.
Beastie Boys - The Mix Up (CAP)
Yeah – I know it’s only been three years since the last offering from the three MC’s (and in Beastie land, that is a short time) but this one is completely instrumental (and all new, unlike The In Sound From Way Out). Also (randomly) their last record has been pulled out of print. So if you have a copy, hold on to it.
Frank Black - Best of 93-03 (Cooking Vinyl)
The second of three releases this year from Charles Thompson, it covers the first decade of his solo work after leaving The Pixies. Since he puts out at least a record a year, we are packed with 22 tracks, including the hits “Los Angeles” and “Headache” but ignoring the Beach Boys cover “Hang On To Your Ego”. Not a complete collection, but a decent one. It does include my favourite Black tune, “Manitoba”. Watch out for the return of the Black Francis moniker with Bluefinger this September.
Chemical Brothers - Do It Again (Astralwerks)
For me, the most interesting work from the Brothers always comes from who they’re working with vocally, and this record is no exception. Ali Love, Midlake, Willie Mason, The Klaxons and the one and only Fatlip on “The Salmon Dance” are the highlights.
Editors - An End Has A Start (Fader/Red Ink)
If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, right? That seems to be the motto of Michael Jackson’s favourite band on their sophomore record. Their sound always seems to be a little too … like an American band trying to sound British. But they are British … so …
Jenn Grant - Orchestra For The Moon (Paris1919)
At first listen, you might slot her into the same category as Leslie Feist or Chan Marshall, but then you stop and realize that Jenn Grant’s voice is stronger, her lyrics are more sincere and her songs are more fun and layered. Utilizing unconventional and older instruments, she crafts pop songs with depth and integrity. This record features a cast of many, including her band The Night Painters, Matt Mays and Ron Sexsmith. It’s hard to pick a favourite tune, but “Dreamer” is mine.
les.petits - the.mighty.antlers.of.song EPs (Saved By Radio)
A collection of two EPs from the Calgary area duo of Gabriel Collins and Rebecca Taves includes soft, pretty acoustic and piano based songs. The clever wordplay on songs like “Boy Before The Woods” and “The Rabbit Blackberry” are high points, painting a beautiful picture of what it is like to live in a small Canadian town. This disc is perfect for a long drive through the mountains, its only downfall being that it clocks in at 24 minutes.
Metric - Grow Up And Blow Away (Last Gang)
The first Metric record that has been in limbo for over five years finally sees the light of day. It has ideas of what James Shaw and Emily Haines wanted Metric to be, but as a duo they couldn’t quite flesh it all out. Stand-out track is “Rock Me Now”, in which Haines talks about living in Vegas with her mother.
Parkas - Put Your Head In The Lion’s Mouth (Saved By Radio)
The Parkas sound like how Rufus Wainright might sound if he fronted a keyboard and guitar driven rock band (and this is a very good thing). It has a laid back quality, exemplified on the lengthy opener “Filthy Rich Kids”, a stab at … well, rich kids. A record diverse as it is catchy, you can get completely lost in it. Stand outs would be “You and What Army?” (a beautiful rock ballad) and “Lenin & McCarthy” (simply a brilliant pop/rocker).
Pearl Jam - Live At The Gorge (7 CD Box Set) (Warner)
Yes, Eddie & Co have released a ridiculous amount of live records over the years, but why should you buy this one? If you are a completist and want to have live renditions of tunes that haven’t appeared on the other 50 live records, then this is the box for you. Also, it’s at the nice price. No booklet though, that woulda been snazzy.
Rockabye Baby! Lullaby Renditions of The Pixies (Baby Rock Records)
The newest in this series, which also features Nirvana, Led Zeppelin, Metallica and Coldplay. No fooling, here’s the tracks that are lullaby’zed.
1. Monkey Gone To Heaven
2. Gigantic
3. Here Comes Your Man
4. Debaser
5. Caribou
6. Bone Machine
7. Where Is My Mind?
8. Wave of Mutilation
9. Trompe le Monde
10. U-Mass
11. Head On
Two Hours Traffic - Little Jabs (Bumstead)
The newest record from THT is produced by Joel Plaskett, but the band have such a defined sound, love from critics and international success (their song “Limelight” was on The OC) that this only adds to their list of good qualities. This record opens with a bang on “Nighthawks” and keeps the sing-along going with “No Advances” (“just romances, if I’m smart I’ll take my chances on you”). The whole record has this brilliant pop sensibility to it and literally any song could show up at radio. The organs on “Jezebel” give it a very Beach Boys vibe and it helps it become a perfect summer record. It ends with a crash on “Heatseeker” but cools off with the epic “Arms Akimbo”. For fans of Novillero and Sloan.
