islands

the unicorns were quite a brilliant band and i was terribly disappointed when the broke up. but at least the band's members didn't give up on music and went on (some/all ... i don't know) to form islands. perhaps not quite as brilliant as the unicorns (more polished, less manic) but it is a pretty damn good album nevertheless. rough gem from return to the sea.

the double

somehow i missed this album when it came out last year. maybe there isn't really a reason why i should have noticed. but if there is it is definately the song idiocy, which is pretty much a perfect indie pop hit. it is actually good to the point it almost seems too calculated. and there is a bit of annoying killers type of sounds to it but if you can ignore it. of course, having said that you probably can't. much like igor ruined heineken for me by saying it tasted like olives...

the walkmen

the walkmen have a new album out on may 23rd. something to look forward to. there is a song on their myspace page (link above) and it sounds, well, sort of strange. it's still the walkmen's signature sound but the song is a little country... and mariachi. i kinda hope that the rest of the album is bit more raucious.

do make say think

i do seem to make my way back to do make say think every once in a while. & every time i wonder why i don't listen to them constantly - which may sound like a backhanded complement but isn't intended to. basically, these guys are liable to outlast 94% of my record collection although at any given time i may fall in love with some other band. i can't really pinpoint exactly what it is but do make say think also sound a lot like broken social scene to me. without the pop sensibility. something about these bands sounds seems very similar to me. at any rate, if you haven't checked them out now is as good a time as any.

tapes 'n tapes

i don't really know much about this band except that i find them entertaining. in sort of the arcade fire/wolf parade way... although they seem a bit more chaotic in sort of a unicorns way. but to the best of my knowledge they are not canadian. something about them also reminded me of namelessnumberheadman (a truly stellar band).

tv on the radio's new album finally sees them live up to their potential. i found desperate youth... rather disappointing and completely failing to capture what the band was like live. now they managed to be rough and hyper-melodic at the same time. this may just be the album of the year. the same can not be said for yeah yeah yeah's soon to be released album. it it perhaps best described as competent pop. good work music. it will probably be very successful. but if you liked the first one you will probably like this one as well.

i have also come to realize that the best album of 2004 was probably castanets' cathedral. here is a song: three days four nights

jason forrest

jason forrest started out by releasing stuff under the name donna summer, which is fitting b/c his/her music borrows heavily from other artists. technically an electronic album but it is really a rock beast in spirit. lots of fun to be had here.

jason also runs a record label called cock rock disco and here you can find a free compilation with a bunch of artists on his label.

The song above is satan cries again but for a far more rockin' song check out the video for war photographer.