Archive for February, 2009

[Rock] from

Magic Marker: A House Full of Friends (Compilation)

review by Clayton
Sunday, February 22nd, 2009

Superb indie/twee pop comp by Magic Marker label, which brings together all your favorites.  An odds and sods collection over 2 CDs. Every track is lovely: includes Shins, the Decembrists, Mates of State, The Dressy Bessys, The Thermals, Tullycraft, All Girl Summer Fun Band, and the Aislers Set.

PLAY ALL TRACKS!!!!

[Rock] from

mae: destination beautiful

review by Clayton
Sunday, February 22nd, 2009

Sounds like 311 to me.

1,3,4.

[Rock] from

M83: Before the Dawn Heals Us

review by Clayton
Sunday, February 22nd, 2009

WRUV’s own DJ Formbuilder describes his superb show as including “ambient countryscapes.”  This term applies readily to M83’s 2004 “Before the Dawn Heals Us.”  These Frenchmen create dramatic, atmospheric music.

 1-4, 6, 8, 10, 12.

[Rock] from

Ludo

review by Clayton
Sunday, February 22nd, 2009

Pop punk ska stuff that comes off like Goldfinger.

1,4.

[Rock] from

Samara Lubelski: The Fleeting Skies

review by Clayton
Sunday, February 22nd, 2009

Lilting, melodic coffee shop indie pop. lovely female vocals, sparse instrumentals, soaring harmonies!

1,3,5,6,8,10.

[Rock] from

Low: The Great Destroyer

review by Clayton
Sunday, February 22nd, 2009

Slightly poppier than their earlier efforts, this droney, glacially beautiful album is slowcore at its best. It’s probably my second favorite album of theirs behind “Things We Lost in the Fire.”

2,4,5,8,10,11.

[Rock] from

Jack Logan: Nature’s Assembly Line

review by Clayton
Sunday, February 22nd, 2009

Featuring several Drive-By Truckers, this record was put together by about a dozen musicians in Athens, GA over the course of a year, read cover blurb for the full story.  Anyway, it is an eclectic, athens-flavored record that touches on a number of twangy styles. Patterson Hood sings on a number of tracks.

2,5,7.

[Rock] from

Little Brazil: You and Me

review by Clayton
Sunday, February 22nd, 2009

LB is a charming hodge-podge of indie rock poses. I turned on track one and thought i had accidentally thrown on Weezer’s “Holiday.” The majority of the record sounds much like Superchunk. At times, there is a Neutral Milk Hotel feel, including the title track, which we previewed as an advanced single. Track 8 should be enshrined at the Malkmusonian.

1,3,6,8. FCC 2,5,7.

[Rock] from

Amos Lee

review by Clayton
Sunday, February 22nd, 2009

Eclectic sounding mix of soul, Fogelbergcore, Jack Johnson, and whatever it is that Ben Harper does.  Fits well on a major label. Innocuous, pretty music that offends no one and offers the RIAA a hint of “authenticity.”

1,3.

[Rock] from

The Layaways: We’ve been Lost

review by Clayton
Sunday, February 22nd, 2009

Catchy Guided by Voices-like rockers who lay it on sweetly and sincerely, just like Lionel Richie.

1,3,4,7.