Friday Five: April 20 '07

Handsome Furs - Plague Park

Yeah, yeah, you all know the buzz around this LP. To summarize: it's Dan Boeckner's new side project, it's just him and his girlfriend, it's really, really good. What I love about this album is that it's actually more of a Wolf Parade follow up (when are we ever gunna get one of those?). So basically, if you guys are jonesing for a follow up to Apologies, then check this out.





The Twilight Sad - Fourteen Autumns Fifteen Winters

Following up their well received EP, The Twilight Sad will soon be releasing their first full length. Sounding more like a toned down Scottish Arcade Fire then Arab Strap, the last thing they are is contrived. Instead of conforming to the typical chamber pop sound like so many other bands (*cough*Ohbijou et als. *cough*) The Twilight Sad come off as diffrent by mixing brooding vocals with some pretty impressive, sweeping instrumentation. It's too bad that it's summer, this would be the perfect fall record.


Electrelane - No Shouts, No Calls

Don't you wish bands would stop drawing on the same musical influences? Yes, we know, Velvet Underground, Arcade Fire, and Sonic Youth have all had a huge effect on more then just a few bands...Ok well good news, even with that amazingly generic list Electrelane sound fresh on No Shouts, No Calls. Somehow they copy+paste all their influences into an album that doesn't sound like something you've heard before.



Bill Callahan - Woke on a Whaleheart

Oh my! This album really caught my attention right from the first listen. No, not because of the cover art...(I know, it's pretty wacky!) Rather because on his newest solo release he manages to rock out on with piano, cello, and yes even a violin or two. Don't go callin' him Sufjan though, Woke on a Whaleheart is a lot less grandiose, but still manages to reach Morrisey levels of "wow" while staying pretty low key the whole time.


Small Leaks Sink Ships - Until The World Is Happy

These guys are being criminally underexposed. Maybe it's my love of early Built to Spill, but something about Small Leaks Sink Ships debut EP really stands out. Even though it's only 10 tracks long, Until The World is Happy keeps the intensity on high the whole time. Raw, angular guitar drives this album and makes it a great summer album.

Yep, no joke for this one, oh well.