OK, I'm swimming in new releases right now -- many of which will never make it a formal review in Lavender or in the Noise Annoys newspaper column. To that end, here are short impressions of what's landed on my desk in the last month. (a note: a few of these are actually late 2009 releases I didn't get/get around to until this month, so they're honorary parts of the new decade).
To the music:
Beach House "Teen Dream"
Dream is right -- moody rock music never goes out of style and Beach House has the goods to make an intriguing, beguiling album. Worth watching.
Blakroc
Late 2009 release featuring the Black Keys and numerous hip-hop luminaries. In the end, it's a solid if not spectacular collection highlighting strong contributions from various Wu Tang clanners.
Claps "New Science"
Electro popsters from the Twin Cities showcase their chops on ep. Sometimes feels too much like it's from 1982, but fine in the short burst here (well, apart from the unneeded remixes of opening cut "Fold" that is.)
Cold War Kids "Behave Yourself"
Four tracks of goodness from the kids, led off by should-be-big-hit-in-fair-world "Audience." The rest of the ep doesn't let up either.
Corinne Bailey Rae "The Sea"
Stunning second album from Rae, who takes tragedy -- the death of her husband in 2008 -- and turns it into a brilliant meditation on love and loss.
Dessa "A Badly Broken Code"
Good musical backdrops and good lyrics here -- Dessa's only shortcoming is as a rapper. Her flow often sounds just a beat or half off from the beat, which makes some of the songs sound hesitant and sloppy. Too bad, as there is plenty of good things to recommend here.
Eels "End Times"
Not the greatest album by a long shot from the Eels (it feels much longer than its 40 minutes and often comes off as just tedious), but there's still some work to recommend amid this messy release.
Fucked Up "Couple Tracks: 2002-2009"
Every time I think that hardcore is a spent force, a new group or album comes down the pike to prove there's life in those old musical bones. These singles and spare tracks give the genre enough of a lift to live for another year.
Gospel Gossip "The Drift"
Another 2009 release. Absolutely brilliant four-track ep of noisy pop-rock, like showgaze, but with a driving beat that you can do more than sway side-to-side to. More please.
Los Campesinos! "Romance in Boring"
From the bright rock of "There are Listed Buildings" to the darker tones of "The Sea is a Good Place to Think of the Future," "Romance is Boring" is a brilliant ride. One of the first great albums of 2010.
Retribution Gospel Choir "2"
The boys from Low rock all out. Well, as much as they can. Still, lots of storming, twisting guitar lines and feedback fuel the group's second collection, such as on the driving "Electric Guitar," which should join the pantheon of noise epics.
Spoon "Transference"
Spoon has always been a band I've respected rather than loved. That doesn't change here -- a good album as far as songs and performance goes, but not something that I'll probably spend hours and hours exploring.
Surfer Blood "Astro Coast"
At the best, Surfer Blood brings a bit of life to low-key rock n roll. At worst, they sound like a Strokes knock-off. Considering how much the Strokes were already a knock-off, well -- this isn't something that'll stick in the mind all that much.
V.V. Brown "Traveling Like the Light"
Ooh, disco dance for the gay set. While the album gets off to a terrific start ("Quick Fix" just absolutely rocks) it quickly falls into a familiar pattern -- some minor pop hooks, lots of beats, sassy singing and not much to say beyond it. Obligatory ballads also included.
Yeahsayer "Odd Blood"
Ooh eccentric rock music to warm my winter heart. Band is best when the pop overwhelms the oddness ("Ambling Alp") and even at its most twee, it doesn't wear out its welcome.
