Bonnie "Prince" Billy
Wolfroy Goes to Town

The new album from Bonnie “Prince” Billy, a.k.a, Will Oldham, departs from the full and polished alt-country sounds of his last two releases. Wolfroy Goes to Town finds Oldham back in familiar territory with his signature sparse musical style and lyrics to match.

“Wolfroy” is sure to please Oldham's loyal followers as he sings about juxtaposing themes of moral virtuousness and depravity, and laments on subjects such as faith and love in his characteristically quavering voice.

Howlin' Rain –The Russian Wilds
American Recordings

The Russian Wilds is a pure delight and the year’s first great album.

The latest offering from San Francisco band Howlin' Rain, it’s the big rock record every musician wishes they had the time and resources to make: a flashback homage to the classic rock sounds we grew up with, only retooled with shredding guitar riffs, gospel vocal accompaniment, and unbelievable instrumental variety and arrangement.

Guided by Voices 
Let's Go Eat The Factory 
Guided by Voices Inc. Records

Let's Go Eat The Factory is the first studio album from Guided by Voices' "classic lineup" in fifteen years.

The record contains twenty-one completely different low-fi gems that twist and turn and morph and distort and expand and contract in greatly-varying soundscapes, much like band leader Robert Pollard's haphazard collage art.

The opener, "Laundry And Lasers," is an instant raise-your-beer-in-the-air classic, whereas Tobin Sprout's schizophrenic "Spiderfighter" takes such a profound direction-change in the middle of the tune that it may be the most memorable moment on the album.

Caitlin Rose
Own Side Now
Names Records

There was this kinda quirky, shy girl in Math class that I always thought about asking out.  She didn't say much, but when she did she sounded smart and articulate, and her eyes would go from light and soft to intensely blue.

Own Side Now recalls that lovely wallflower. I close my eyes and can picture her singing just like Caitlin Rose, who has this every expanding voice that can go from waifish and timid to decidedly direct and sexy. 

My favorite song is "Shanghai Cigarettes,” which would have fit well on any of Whiskeytown’s album. It's lyrically brilliant, musically perfect and has not stopped roaming inside my skull since I heard it.

Men in Suits Talking About Stuff
A Review of Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy

Before I wax poetic about the clothes, the atmosphere and Gary Oldman's performance in Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy, let me tell you upfront: I really liked this movie.

Starring Oldman, Colin Firth, the guy who plays Sherlock in the BBC show, and Bane, the movie is based on the novel by John Le Carre, which many consider the ultimate spy tale.

Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy, the movie, is all about restraint.

The Spits —The Spits
In the Red Records 

Fuck yeah! The new Spits record is finally out!

After a long wait that included hearing a rumor about how The Spits themselves bootlegged CD-R copies on Ebay for way too much cash, the much anticipated fifth full length studio album is now officially available online via In the Red Records and in local shops like Sonic Boom.

The Spits are a weird phenomenon, while praised the world over, their recordings have always been pretty fucking shitty and fail massively in comparison to their live show.

Yes, I know they are weird and it’s the aesthetic they are going for and it’s their “we do what we want” punk ethos and live show that have probably garnered the band it’s large underground following in the first place, but there’s a large part of me that wishes they would just record a straight forward record that captures their live intensity and brilliance. Those lo-fi basement recordings with vocals that sound like they are being played at the wrong RPM fall flat for me on most occasions.