Cafeteria Dance Fever - "Heck On Earth" lp  (Hovercraft)
Okay, I'll admit it - I had no idea what to do with this record when I got it. It sat in my to-listen pile for a few months before I had the courage to actually put it on. Damn, I'm an idiot sometimes... This band is a perfect amalgamation of Swell Maps, Bearsuit and the Dead Milkmen, adopting each band's songwriting style, manic tendencies and sense of humor, respectively. Sure, sometimes they take things a bit too far off the edge, but when they're on, they're really on - and that's actually more often than not. But then again, with 18 songs in 20 minutes, nothing ever lasts long enough to get attached to (or bored with). Cafeteria Dance Fever want you to come to their dance party. The catch? The floor is covered in hot coals...  MTQ=15/18

Cooper - "Aeropuerto" lp  (Elefant)
I've been quite a big fan of Cooper ever since I heard one of their songs on an Elefant compilation years back; I quickly snapped up all of their records that I could find, and was thrilled to hear they had recently put a new record out. Many of these songs have actually been released of the last few years on EPs, but they all sold out rather quickly (I only have two of them, myself), so it's good to have them collected here, along with a few new tracks. The album is arranged in a way that flows better than a simple chronological order, so in between recent classics, like "Mi Diario" and "Un Día De Furia", you'll find newer gems, such as "Hyde Park", "El Círculo Polar" and the epic "La Edad De La Inocencia". The band excels in melodic and jangly guitar-pop in the vein of Teenage Fanclub and Velvet Crush (a style of pop that I don't think I will ever tire of), and is easily one of the best groups in the Spanish power pop scene today!  MTQ=13/14

Hari And Aino - "A Considerate Kind Of Home" 7"  (Cloudberry)
Now that I'm already quite fond of this Swedish group (after being impressed by their debut album on Plastilina last year), I'm excited to hear another pair of songs on this Cloudberry 7"! These two songs follow in the same fashion as the album: lush, twee pop that falls in line with bands like the Would-Be-Goods and the Snow Fairies, as well as the recent Pocketbooks singles. Both songs are fun and catchy and perfect for the upcoming summer! And fitting with Cloudberry's sense of making each release a perfect P!O!P! artifact, the artwork on this sleeve is just as gorgeous as the music it accompanies!  MTQ=2/2

Crappy Dracula/Farms In Trouble - "split" 7"  (Activities)
I've heard a couple of Crappy Dracula's past records, and I really wanted to like them, as aesthetically-speaking they were right up my alley, but the songs were just not that good. I know it sounds weird and maybe even a bit contradictory, but I only like this style of trashy pop when it's done "well" (I don't think I could ever quantify that statement - it's just one of those things that I know when I hear). Anyways, the band had also sent me a cd-r of a bunch of their songs, presented in reverse chronological order; the first several songs on that disc were easily their best, and this split single contains the first three of those songs. The band is sloppy, noisy and proudly lo-fi, and a lot of fun to boot (their cover of Guided By Voices' "A Good Flying Bird" should also give you an idea of where they're coming from). I really hope they continue writing songs this good! On the flip, we've got four songs from Farms In Trouble, who also come from Milwaukee and definitely fit in the same vein as Crappy Dracula (though considerably more warped). Two of their songs are rather good, while the other two are just a bit too out there for me ("Stick Man Bugs Out" really sounds like an early Eric Gaffney freak-out). A cool split single from two bands you likely have never heard of...  MTQ=5/7

Doggy - "Mon Colonel" cd  (Anorak)
What was a solo project for Guillaume on the first record several years back is now a full band on the second! And with the new lineup, the sound on this record is a lot better (as is usually the case - live drums beat a drum machine) and the songs a bit livelier than before, as well. They also feel considerably sunnier in mood, which makes this record much more instantly enjoyable. Musically, I'm reminded of the first Club 8 album, Pencil Tin, Lovejoy and fellow Frenchmen, Des Garçons Ordinaires, as Doggy adds touches of elegance to their jangly pop, giving it a little something extra. All of the lyrics are in French again, but that shouldn't stop you from bouncing and even humming along while listening to this!  MTQ=8/8

Julie Doiron - "I Can Wonder What You Did With Your Day" cd  (Jagjaguwar)
I really loved Julie's previous solo record, "Woke Myself Up", and feel that the momentum she gathered with that album has continued nicely into this one. Her backing band consists of Rick White again, as well as Fred Squire, who also contributed a couple of the darker songs on the record - "Spill Yer Lungs" and "Blue" (but with Julie singing). And, as on the previous album, there's a fair amount of variety in the songs here, from the noisy and thrilling "Consolation Prize" to the dense and beautifully complex "Lovers Of The World" (which harkens back to her collaborations with the Wooden Stars) to the near-electronica feel in "When Brakes Get Wet". And, of course you'll find a handful of traditionally stark (yet no less beautiful) songs with just Julie's voice and guitar. It's good to hear another fine gem in Julie's consistently great career!  MTQ=11/12

Latvian Radio - "Seven Layers Of Self Defense" cd  (Belpid)
This is the third album from Patric Westoo's band (and the second since they changed their name from the B-Sides), and it's easily his best and most diverse work to date. The last album had found the band not only with a more polished sound, but also an overall calmer demeanor; on this record, the band's sound remains similarly refined, but the songs also seem to contain a bit more energy than those on the previous release. As before, this album shows us that the band excels at writing Replacements-styled power pop and Beatlesesque pop songs, but they also show off some other styles, from the Built To Spill-ish indie rock (at least their catchier songs) of "Angular Well Being" to the soul-inspired "We Ought To Be Ashamed" and "Night Blindness" (the latter of which could've fit on a Blochin 81 or Spearmint record). Their version of PJ Harvey's "This Is Love" definitely has their own touches, but unfortunately retains enough of the song's original dullness to make it merely feel like a throwaway track when placed amidst these other songs. Still, though, this is a largely enjoyable and catchy pop record!  MTQ=12/14

Dexter Poindexter - "The Adventure EP" cdep  (Wee Pop)
Though there is a lot to choose from, and it's a pretty hard choice, I think this might just be my favorite Wee Pop release yet! Packaging-wise, it's no match for the compilation with the pop-up booklet (though I do love the subtle pasted-on artwork), but the music is perfect sunny pop, that I really needed to hear on this overcast June morning! In their finest moments, the band they most remind me of is my beloved Galactic Heroes, sharing their love of unbridled optimism and vocal harmonies (though the band is comprised of just one person), while in their softer moments (such as the gentle opener, "Sails", and "A Song For A Young Benjamin"), they sound closer to Bears or Kite Flying Society. Pick one of these gems up while you can!  MTQ=7/7

Projekt A-Ko - "Yoyodyne" cd  (Milk Pie)
The first time I heard this band (with "Nothing Works Twice" on the split single with Horowitz), I thought they sounded kinda familiar; it wasn't until later that I found out that this was actually 3/4 of the brilliant (Urusei) Yatsura, who were one of the best British indie rock bands of the '90s (just after the Beatnik Filmstars). They never really got much notice over here, despite (or perhaps due to?) being on a major label, and faded away before the decade was up. Though Projekt A-Ko are missing one of Yatsura's two primary songwriters, they pick up right where their previous band left off, and even manage to sound a bit more energized in the process. Their sound has not changed too much, though they definitely experiment a bit more now, and veer deeper into Sonic Youth territory - or at least linger there longer than Yatsura did. Though many of these songs reach or pass the five minute mark, they use the length wisely and keep you on your toes (well, for the most part; the fade-in on the opening "Hey Palooka!" was ridiculously long and "Yoyodyne (Scintilla Pt.2)" could've easily been halved). But they also have some shorter, catchier songs in them, with "Molten Hearts", "Here Comes New Challenger!" and the afore-mentioned "Nothing Works Twice" being prime examples that remind me of Spraydog (especially due to the boy/girl vocal-sharing), Bearsuit and of course, Urusei Yatsura. Forget that it's about ten years too late, this is still an excellent indie rock record!  MTQ=10/13

Santa Monica Swim & Dive Club - "Mild Honey" cd  (Little Pocket)
This is a pleasant and unassuming little EP from two big names in indiepop. Fred Thomas should need no introduction, after the years he's given us with the mighty Saturday Looks Good To Me, but Tim Sendra is likely an unknown to the younger popkids; he was the man behind Veronica Lake (not exactly a household name, but well-loved by the fans they had) and a key figure in Madison Electric (who barely released more than a single, though that single happens to be one of my all-time favorites!). These songs are a bit poppier than either member's previous projects, sounding more in line with the Smittens or Oval-Teen, though there are definitely frequent nods to 60s bubblegum throughout, as well as an acoustic homage to T. Rex in "Kara Keely" and some Go-Betweens lyrical references in "I Hit The Board". Seven tracks of sunny pop, as seen through the eyes of a pair of Michiganders.  MTQ=6/7

The Specific Heats - "Back Through Thyme EP" 7"  (Hugpatch)
It's been a while since we've heard from the Heats; since their debut album in 2006, they've undergone some line-up changes (with Mat Pat being the only original member remaining) and are now based in Brooklyn rather than Boston. Additionally, while the album only hinted at their Nuggets/'60s psych-pop leanings, you can hear them delving much deeper into that territory here, particularly on the A-side ("Back Through Tyme" and "Bad Tymin'"). I haven't heard psych pop mixed with indiepop this good since the Tables! The flipside starts out with my favorite track on the EP, the jangly and Rocketship-esque "Things Get In The Way", which is followed by "Violent?", which is more in tune with the band's earlier work. It's great to have this band back in action again (and that the breakup rumors from last year were untrue), and I look forward to the album they promise to have out by year's end!  MTQ=4/4

Telekinesis - "Telekinesis!" cd  (Merge)
This Seattleite has been gaining an enormous amount of press/praise lately, and I do have to say that this is a pretty impressive record. In fact, I could even go as far to say that this is the quintessential indie rock record of the '00s, in a way. All of the pieces fit perfectly into place - the songs on this record combine the depth of Death Cab For Cutie, the innate catchiness of the Shins, the sophistication of Spoon... Heck, you could probably draw a quick comparison to just about any of the decade's biggest indie bands... Need more proof? This was produced by and pretty much co-stars Chris Walla (one of the decade's most influential producers) and is on Merge Records (no explanation needed!). None of that is meant in a cynical way, either - I enjoy the songs on this record too much to call it anything less than a great pop record. In this album's brief 32 minutes, there are a number of highlights and not a single disappointment or misstep. This is just one of those records that everyone will have in their collection sooner or later, so you might as well pick it up now!  MTQ=11/11