from kickstand #10

Music Reviews
Well, dang - the whole mix-tape reviews system worked so well last time that I'm gonna make it a regular thing. In case you weren't around last issue, the way the music reviews work is that I make a 90-minute tape of my favorite songs from all the records I've gotten since the last issue and then I review it, song by song. What fun. Here goes.
side a
Okay, the first song is Vehicle Flips covering Jonathan Richman's "Dodge Vegomatic," from the new Harriet Records comp, Friendly Society. This is awesome for a number of reasons, mainly that this song is so obviously not a Vehicle Flips song. Very unlike them, and very cool. Delivered well; this is actually less sloppy than the Modern Lovers version. I've been all into the Modern Lovers lately - "Pablo Picasso was never called an asshole." Anyway, pretty decent comp, with songs by Mad Planets, Musical Chairs, Hula Boy, Tullycraft and more. The last Harriet release ever, so snap it up. The other song I've got on here from it is the Receptionists' "Bitter Telephone Song" with muffled yelling in the back. Quite nice.

Now we've got an awesome new Mt. Goats song off the Inconspicuous Records comp, Object Lessons. It's called "Golden Boy" and it's about peanuts. Very clever, so moving. Who else but John Darnielle could infuse so much emotion into a song about peanuts? I love it. I also love Nothing Painted Blue's "Miracle Thaw" song. Of course, since it's a Beer Frame production, every song has to be about a product. Those of you who read Beer Frame will be acquainted with the Miracle Thaw. In fact, Franklin Bruno gets quite a lot of emotion crammed into this song, too. Also included: Vehicle Flips, The Scene is Now, Men & Volts.

The new Neutral Milk Hotel album on Merge, In the Aeroplane Over the Sea, while certainly different than the first, holds it's own. I picked the song the album was titled after, and it's beautiful and makes me want to spin in circles. Thisalbum is my favorite thing of late. The only problem with it is 'The King of Carrot Flowers Pt. 2," in which he sings "I love you Jesus Christ" over and over and it's embarrassing when your neighbor comes over to use your phone. It's really pretty damn awesome though, all expansive and rollicking and loving life. This CD is mad for the sheer pleasure of being mad. The spooky noises in this song are made with a saw! I heard someone say that joy is the hardest emotion to express in music, but Jeff Mangum does it exceedingly well.

Of Montreal is a silly band. I chose between this song ("Sing You a Love You Song") and "I Am a Happy Yellow Bumblebee." This is from the new CD on Kindercore, The Bedside Dream a Petite Tragedy. One good thing about this band is that they remind me of the Marbles (which is Robert Schneider of the Apples). One bad thing about his band is they remind me of the Beach Boys.

The Leslies are amazing! "Blue Suede Shirt" is off their new album, Of Today - For Today, on Harry Lime. I love this like crazy, even more than Totally Brilliant. This album is all about well-produced pop that makes ya dance all around the living room. Especially this song. I go all silly when it comes on. The vocals! The catchiness! The cleverness! I could go on and on but I won't because here we are on the #Poundsign# songs already. I picked out "Telephone," which is partly sung in German and "Tiny" which I've loved since I first heard them play it a couple years ago. Sadly, I didn't pick out any songs that Alicia sings, but they are just as awesome. So yes, these songs are from Wavelength, their first CD. It's on Fantastic. Very keyboardy, rather 80's new wave-influenced. Intelligent melodic pop that is hard to beat. As for "Tiny," I tried to memorize it because I wasn't sure I would ever hear it again, 'cause of their reluctance to play it live (it's older than old, apparently), so I am so happy it's on the CD. Yeah! So sweet. Chris says he would've picked two totally different songs from this: "Isolation," which has rad harmonies and "Lou Gehrig" which also has its merits.

Speaking of well-crafted pop, Busytoby's "Me, My Drums, and You" fits the bill quite nicely. This is Amanda and Joe from the highly lauded (and much deserving) Illinoisian band Wolfie and their equally awesome housemate Rachel from Sarge. The song is from a 7" on Mud and has all the right elements: boy-girl vocals, a keyboard, and all kinds of bouncy hyperactivity. Recently I've been liking happy music with a sense of fun. This is very enthusiastic and couldn't be farther from jaded. Apparently there was a mix-up concerning the sleeves - some are red and pink and some are orange and blue. They both look cool.

As for the new Spinanes album, Arches and Aisles, on Sub Pop, it's excellent. Some of the songs roll along all sultry, sexy, and languid, like "West Coast Weather," and some are fast punchy rock numbers, like from Manos. Rebecca's voice isall warm honey, and the last time I saw her live she was wearing a midriff-baring top that made me want to lick her belly. She is my rock star ideal. "Sucker's Trial," the other song I picked, satisfies my rock lust. Like speeding down the highway with all the windows open on the way to somewhere new. The Spinanes are hands-down my favorite band, and have been since '93 when Manos came out. The only fault I can find is the vocal stylings of a certain Mr. Sam Prekop.

Now we've got Ciao Bella covering "If You Were Here." This is from the Pretty in Pop CD, which has bands such as B'ehl, Ninety Nine, The Bonaduces and Speedbuggy covering songs from John Hughes movies. It's on Endearing. My main problem with this is that I didn't really like any of these songs in the first places, so it's hard to appreciate these new versions of them. I've been much maligned by my housemates because of this sentiment. Don't get me wrong; John Hughes movies are great, I'm just not too sure about these 80's pop hits. But Ciao Bella are rad, and I'm all into Mario's voice, so this song is right on by me. Very laid back.

Okay, so the ever-rad Julie does a tape label called Lil' Lion and she's put out some neat tapes. I've got "Stampede" by Umpire on here, 'cause I think the lyrics are so cool, about ghosts. "They don't scare me, but if they pull Lara's hair one more time..." I quite recommend anything on Lil' Lion if you like flawed-in-a-heartfelt-way bedroom pop. I've got the Umpire/Smitten Kitten split, Bambino, and the Pecan Sandies, all of which are good, and tend to be in the Gritty Kitty/Avocado Baby vein. Big kisses to Julie! And the tapes always look lovely, too. Right on.

Sarah Dougher of the Lookers and Veronica has a solo 7" on K, and the song I've picked off of it is "Breakin in a Brand-New Broken Heart." I can't help but like her voice (anyone think it's sort of like the girl from Pee's voice?) and she has a knack for tuneful girl-and-a-guitar songs. Actually, thinking about it, if you like listening to Lois, this would probably appeal.

Finishing up this side is Rose Melberg with a cover of the Beatles' "I Will," from her solo CD on Double Agent. I just picked this song because it's totally sweet. The whole CD is softly sung little cupcakes like this, good for snuggling up on the couch with someone cute during.

side b
On side B we've got a new Magnetic Fields 7" and boy is it awesome! "I Don't Believe You" on Merge. Extremely clever and witty ("you may set your charm on stun and say I'm delightful and fun, but you say that to everyone and I don't believe you") with this cool piaow piaow music going on. Full of weird little sounds and stuff. Excellent, of course. Also on here is a funny little ditty by The Gothic Archies, one of Stephin Merritt's other projects. A CD-EP, also on Merge. The song I picked is called "The Tiny Goat." This is the funniest thing I've ever heard. I can't even begin to describe. The whole EP isn't actually that hot, but oh well. The world's a leech crawling down one's throat, did you know?

A bit more cheerful after that last is Pee with "IHOP." This is from the Losing Money, Losing Friends CD on March. It's a collection of "the hits" and "the rarities" from March bands. Pee can be pretty cool. There are a few good songs on this, but it's not totally essential.

This isn't the newest thing in the world, but Eric's Trip are totally rad and deserve a mention. Long Days Ride 'till Tomorrow is on Sub Pop and is a collection of songs from their first tapes to Love Tara rejects to live stuff. Woo hoo! I've got "Dreaming," "Sickness," and "Wonder" on here. Chris never used to care about Eric's Trip but I made a tape for our trip to Texas and suddenly he went crazy and fell in love with them! He made himself a tape of his favorite songs and has been listening to it every time he's in the car for what seems like months! Every time! Even I'm starting to get a little tired of it, and I love Eric's Trip. Just goes to show you their power. Gotta love it. I can play all of "Girlfriend" on the bass now.

Oh boy. The I Live the Life of a Movie Star Secret Hideout have put their two one-sided 12"s on Radio Argot on this CD, Gale Wind Transistor. It even has bonus tracks! I've got "You're the Star of my Favorite Nightmare" and "Radio Argot." The drums are very thumpy. This actually reminds me quite a bit of early Beat Happening. Catchiness and girl-boy vocals. The artwork is great. I love it. Chris says he likes it more than the new Belle & Sebastian.

Oh, The Lucksmiths! Sometimes one of those little bands Chris gets all enamored of turn out to be excellent. I especially love this CD on Drive-In, A Good Kind of Nervous. I picked "Guess How Much I Love You" and "Punchlines." The sweetestlove song ever and a song about his girlfriend not thinking he's funny. The singer is the drummer! And he has the cutest Australian accent ever. Swoon! I totally love this. If you get this and are disappointed, send my zine back to me, please, I don't care to associate with people who have such poor taste.

And here are my two lovely Belle & Sebastian songs from the new Matador release - but of course I don't need to review these! These are just for my own personal pleasure. "A Summer Wasting" and "Chickfactor," in case you care. In much the same vein, I've got The Zombies' "Girl Help Me." Chris and I finally decided to hand over the big bucks for their box set! I love it so.

So yay, it's a new Gritty Kitty song! "Scooter," from a 7" comp. on Motorway, called, strangely enough, The Rain Falls Deepest on the Shortest Haircut. In case you weren't paying attention last time around, GK are so cool. Also on this comp. are Park, Poopiehead, OCM, and Hushpad. The second Motorway comp. I have here is How Embarrassing to Dance Like That, which has songs by Poundsign, Rizzo, Juniper, and The Moonlings. I picked their song, "Let's Sell All Our Records and Move Somewhere Else," which is very cute and bouncy. Silliness is endorsed at KS HQ.

Next up is "No. 9" by Recycled Pop. They're from Japan, and the song is from a 7" comp. on Catch That Beat! and Love Me Not... Records. If you can, get the Japanese version of the 7", because the art and layout are totally fun and it comes with this great insert. This song is totally crashy and awesome. Two bands on each side, the others are Beanpole, Bunnygrunt, and Wack Cat.

Last song! "Candle" by Rocket or Chiritori. This is from a 7" on Paris Caramel, Mario from Ciao Bella and his friend's label. Satoko, who does this, is only seventeen or something. She is also very attractive! This is pretty cool. There's a Rocket or Chiritori CD out on Cardinal, just so you know.

...also noteable, but I ran out of room:
The Vehicle Flips CD on Magic Marker and the Mt. Goats one-sided 12" on Yoyo.