Karno's Army - "The Sunshine Kids EP" cdep  (no label)
I haven't heard of this band before, but it wouldn't surprise me to find them on the next installment of Firestation's "New British Invasion" series (hey, isn't it about time for another one of those?), as this band fits perfectly with that same group of excellent current UK groups (think the Lodger, Madeleines, Boyfriends, Wombats, etc). These guys kinda remind me of Supergrass in the way they combine mod and pop sensibilities in these songs. The title track is the catchiest of the bunch (and definitely the most obvious choice for A-side), with an excellent driving beat that's well-emphasized with copious tambourine shaking! "Nowhere To Go When You're Young" is slower, but no less catchy, "The Doctor" sounds a bit too pub-rocky for me (especially the vocals), though it's not really a bad song, and the last song, "Too Much Class", is a fitting end to the brief set. I have a feeling we'll be hearing from this band again soon...  MTQ=4/4

The Mood - "Synaesthesia" cd  (Outright Rock)
This group is new to me, but they've been playing around New York City for a few years and even have a couple releases on their own label, Outright Rock. Well, it sounds like I've been missing out, as this mini-album from them is quite a bit of fun! The band plays upbeat pop songs with boy/girl vocals in the vein of Oh No! Oh My! and fellow New Yorkers, Bishop Allen - that is to say, I wouldn't call it indiepop (at least, not in the traditional sense), but it certainly does share a lot of the same musical qualities. They're the type of band that would be played in the background on a tv show on the same night that they're sandwiched on a bill between the Icicles and Palomar - and it wouldn't be weird at all. And I don't mean that disparagingly - almost every song on here is a catchy delight (I wasn't too into the slower "Suddenly", but mostly because of the female lead vocals), and I'd much rather hear music like this get popular than what we're normally given...  MTQ=5/6

Peace In Our Time - "A Glimpse Of Happiness" cd  (Series Two)
I enjoyed Johan's previous record on Music Is My Girlfriend, and this second album of his is even better! A handful of these songs appeared on his previous releases - including the excellent "Everyone Or Anyone" from the first record, a pair of songs from last year's Cloudberry EP and a couple songs from his self-released EP (which were new to me, as I don't have that one) - but there were plenty of new favorites among the ten other songs. Like before, Johan layers his bedroom pop songs with drum machine and at least a couple guitars and voices, though some of the newer ones (like "Paradnumret" and "Hear Me Go") use more effects, like synths or computer altered vocals (boo!). The songs themselves are generally midtempo and rather mellow, reminding me of Sweet William or maybe even a lower-fi version of Brighter or the Field Mice. A few of them (such as "Desperate For Something To Say" and "Everyone Or Anyone") do pick up the pace a bit, yet despite the lack of variety amongst the songs, the record doesn't seem to drag due to the brevity of the songs - most are in the two minute range, and only one passes the three minute mark (and barely at that). A nice record for late-night listening alone...  MTQ=13/15

That's My Daughter - "It Takes Tuna Tango" cd  (no label)
There's certainly no shortage of Bunnygrunt-related bands in St. Louis! Not to say that this is a side-project, but the 'grunt certainly have their hands all over this band - both figuratively and literally! As such, it should be no surprise that it doesn't sound all that different from the recent Bunnygrunt output and that of its cousins (Sex Robots, Mega Hurts, etc): unabashed rock and roll with an open and playful attitude towards sex, a la the Runaways or the Donnas. I thought their debut was okay, but this second record finds them improving their songwriting, with some of the highlights including "Rev It Up" and "What A Mess". This record is pretty short (nine songs in under 21 minutes), but still quite a bit of fun!  MTQ=8/9

Catwalk - "Past Afar" 7"  (Yay!)
There are a few labels around today that are championing the true ethos of DIY indiepop, and Yay! Records certainly stands near the front of the pack! Each single is attractively packaged, complete with a color poster and a handful of other inserts, including a small hand-drawn picture - and the fact that the music is equally exciting (I've loved almost every Yay! release to date) certainly says something, too! This is the second Catwalk 7", and is an improvement on the first, thanks to better recording quality. The A-side and "Can't Believe" sound a lot like James Dean Driving Experience, the Loft or the Weather Prophets, while "Comely" has more of a shambling quality, akin to mid-late '80s-era Pastels (especially due to the female backing vocals). A simply stunning single through and through!  MTQ=3/3

Nic Dalton - "Last Seen Near Trafalgar 87-89" cd  (Half A Cow)
This is the second glimpse into Nic's past (after 1998's "Romolo"), and if you're a fan of any of his bands (such as Godstar, Sneeze and a couple dozen others), then you already have a good idea of what to expect within this collection of four-track recordings from the late '80s. This disc is split into two parts: in the extensive liner notes, Nic explains that the first ten songs are extra songs that didn't fit in with his then-current bands (too soft for the Plunderers, too rockin' for the Love Positions), while the last seven were written for the Plunderers, though regrettably, none were recorded with the full band. Though he prefers not to think of these as demos (why go through all the effort of borrowing/setting up instruments and multi-tracking just to call it a 'demo'?), the fact that they were all recorded on a cassette four-track certainly doesn't help his case - though, to be fair, they were cleaned up considerably for this release. Not all of these are winners, but a lot of these songs are just as good as some of the ones that did get recorded and released during the time, making for a fun batch of songs!  MTQ=13/17

The Lodger - "Life Is Sweet" cd  (Slumberland)
It hasn't really been that long since the debut album from this band, but they certainly have changed a bit since then. The first record was mostly full of upbeat and jangly songs not unlike the Wedding Present's early output, and while you'll find plenty of that here, the general mood and tone of these songs (even the poppier ones) is that of reflection and dejection. Yes, those themes popped up on the first record, but the band did a better job masking it then, yet it's hard to overlook here. That said, I think I actually like this record more than the debut; sure, "Grown-Ups" had some pretty amazing tunes throughout, but "Life Is Sweet" feels more like a complete album. And equally killer songs, like the disco-infused "The Good Old Days", the jaunty-sounding "A Year Since Last Summer" and the soft-spoken "Honey" certainly help its case, as well! In a just world, the Lodger would be more prominent in today's Britpop scene, but for now I guess they're our secret...  MTQ=10/11

Moscow Olympics - "Cut The World" cd  (Lavender)
This Filipino group was the talk of the indiepop world after their single last year, and this mini-album is just further proof of their greatness - in case one was actually needed! If you missed 'em the first time around, the band plays dreamy pop with a very noticeable New Order influence (especially in the guitar melodies), in the same fashion as bands like the Airfields and the Radio Dept. Simply put, the result is stunning, with a sound that's lush and beautiful and dense with jangling guitars and ambient synths, and with the requisite Pale Saints-ish lost-boy vocal style that often goes along with this kind of music. And the melodies are immaculate, as well. The only fault I found was the drum rolls in the chorus of "Safe", which were rather conspicuously off-time; I know it's one of those things that not everyone would notice, but it definitely stands out to me, though it thankfully doesn't hinder my enjoyment of the song. Brilliant and recommended!  MTQ=7/7

The Muttering Retreats - "s/t" cd  (no label)
As many of you have surely noticed by now, Cleveland's had quite the pop explosion lately, spawning brilliant bands like the Afternoon Naps and Bears - well, now you can add the Muttering Retreats to that list! This is the debut album for the band, and it's really hard to briefly summarize the music, as the band seems to draw from a variety of influences. In the first four songs alone, we've got "Awkward Poetry" (which sounds a lot like the Radio Dept. - or at the very least, Swedish), "Cupid Always Misses" (which reminds me of Zumpano or the New Pornographers), "Roll The Credits" (a lo-fi tune that fits more in the vein of Park or Casiotone For The Painfully Alone) and a jaunty acoustic tune called "Oh, Agnes"... and there's still even more in the eleven songs that follow! Often, the results are successful, with other tunes ranging from fun, upbeat pop to darker, New Order-influenced synthy pop, though there's a batch of lesser songs bunched towards the end (the boring "Steven Says", the weird "A Bloody Mess" and "Tragedy Plus", which went back to boring but also added out of tune vocals). Despite the blemish, this is still a rather impressive debut, and I really hope to hear more from the band again soon!  MTQ=12/15

Pale Man Made - "Oh, My Treasured Things" cd  (Pinch)
On first listen, the songs on this record really reminded a lot of Spraydog - mostly due to their use of boy/girl vocals and range of musical dynamics, though the fact that they're also from Newcastle doesn't hurt things, either. I also hear a lot of similarities to the Delgados in many places (especially "Wild Boar", which injects a nice string section into a fairly volatile tune) and even Pavement (as filtered through the northern UK indie sound) during the band's lazier moments. The band certainly excels at playing noisy pop - as evidenced in "Memoirs Of A Sin Sister", "Don't Let The Bastards" and "The Chaffinch Scoop" - but I was also charmed by the gentler "Life Without A Car" (though I found the even softer "English Witches" a bit on the dull side). And then there are plenty of songs that incorporate both elements, finding a good balance between loud and quiet. A pretty interesting debut record, and definitely band I'll keep an eye out for in the future!  MTQ=10/12

Kai Reiner - "s/t" cd  (Lakeview)
This is Kai's debut album, completely written, performed, recorded and even released by himself! The cover is a cropped picture of a Rickenbacker guitar lying in the grass, while the back sleeve shows Kai also resting against the same grass - and those images pefectly depict what you can expect to hear in the songs within. Each of these songs is a laid-back pop delight with a gorgeous and lush sound, and together create a perfect soundtrack for the summer (especially the mild one we just had!). His songs are in the same vein as Teenage Fanclub and the Byrds, but given the production and general feel of the songs, I'm actually reminded more of fellow German band, Seaside Stars. I will admit that the songs on the record do kind of blend together and can feel a bit samey (an unfortunate side effect of an album full of midtempo jangly songs), but as this is one of my favorite kinds of music, it really doesn't bother me at all! Especially since all of the songs are so well-written, so I can easily listen to this on repeat and still not get bored!  MTQ=11/11

Rinaldi Sings - "Bingo" cd  (Tangerine)
It's been a few years since we last heard from Steve Rinaldi, but this record finds him in fine form, and is even an improvement over his debut. Most of the same elements remain, with the music sounding like a bubblegummy mixture of pop and northern soul that brings to mind bands like Spearmint or Dexy's Midnight Runners; but though I would still consider it somewhat kitschy at times, it doesn't have any of the cheesy parts that marred (if only slightly) the first record. The songs are much stronger this time around, with highlights including "Come As You Are, You're A Star", "Pick Me Up, Put Me Down", "Goodbye Steve McQueen" (which has Rinaldi sounding quite like Feargal Sharkey with his vocal vibrato) and the rousing title track (though it's essentially an instrumental). I was also really into the baroque-infused "She Don't Know", even if it does bare more than a slight resemblance to the La's classic "There She Goes". Here's to the sound of swinging London!  MTQ=9/11

School Police - "II" cs  (Best Kept Secret) 
Okay, I have to confess that I sort of cheated with this review; I received the self-released cd from this band a few months ago, and then recently, Best Kept Secret released an edited version of the album - ...like, a big 'excising half of the songs' kind of edit. I put the band's version of the album on, and found that whoever's idea it was to trim away the fat had a really good idea, so what started as a review of the cd turned into a review of the cassette. Not that the album was bad before - but with 27 songs in 77 minutes, there were way too many times that my interest waned, and also found that pretty much all of the songs that I actually enjoyed made the final cut, with two exceptions: I would've chosen the original opener, "The Devil's Backbone", over "On The Beach" (which started fine, but devolved into unlistenable noise halfway through) and the poppy "Tutankhamen" was way better than the meandering "Gruene River". Also, the cd's liner notes and artwork are cooler than the cassette's. But enough about what you don't get - what you do get is skewed, but generally laid-back, indie rock that sounds something like Marmoset, Butterglory (if they had even more of a Pavement fetish) or Pavement (if they had even more of an R.E.M. fetish). There are times when the band gets a little noisy, but the guitars are generally clean, even during the faster songs, like "Charleton Hest" and "Kickapoo" (though that last song kinda feels like everything's distorted somehow!). The band likes to toy with song structures, switching gears mid-song (frequently more than once), which actually works more often than not (see especially "Time Can" & "Silent Sip"). Whichever version you get a hold of, you'll find a number of interesting songs to enjoy.  MTQ=10/13

Utah Rangers - "Old Statistics EP" cdep  (Anorak) 
This EP is actually just a collection of older songs taken from this Swedish duo's past self-released EPs, which I find kind of funny, because surely these aren't their only good songs? Regardless, this 12 minute disc is packed with fun music that sounds like a cross between the speedy jangle (and bombastic drum machine sound) of Dorotea and the synthy playfulness of the Besties. One of the more recent songs, "Theme Song", even has an early Wedding Present quality to it, thanks to the guitar sound and the slightly extended outro (featuring said guitars). Their lyrics are frequently just as fun as the music, with the stories told in "You And Me In A Rented Car, Two Small Bags And A Plastic Guitar" and the autobiographical "Theme Song" (also note the silly graphs and scores of the songs on the sleeve). I do hope there's lots more where this came from!  MTQ=5/5

Tamas Wells - "Two Years In April" cd  (Popboomerang)
Though I typically tend to be uninterested in solo singer/songwriters, I've found myself drawn to each of Tamas Wells' records. I can't pinpoint what it is that he has that you can't find in the majority of the other quarter million "guys with a guitar" releasing records out there, but I just find his fragile songs and stories positively charming. I've preferred each of his records to the previous one, and "Two Years In April" is no exception, being my easy favorite of the three he's done so far. While the first two records had Tamas backed by a band in Melbourne, this one was recorded by himself in Burma (where he's been for the past few years), with help from a friend on viola on a few songs (including an extra thick layer of ominous mood on "Signs I Can't Read"). But though he performed almost everything alone, he did still add a variety of percussion to several songs, which certainly helps keep things interesting, not to mention the fact that most of the songs were recorded with layers of his acoustic guitar, banjo and vocals. A nice and understated record, fine for late-night listening...  MTQ=9/10

[V/A] - "Vollwert Records Compilation #01" cd  (Vollwert)
It's not terribly surprising that when a mailorder starts its own label, the first release is a compilation; after all, you're surrounded by all those great records and you really want to get the word out about them in a more effective way than merely listing them in a catalog (and hey, if you sell some of them in the process, score!). The majority of the songs on this disc are taken from other releases (which you'll likely find in the Vollwert shop!), but many of those are from excellent, under-heard bands who could certainly benefit from a little extra exposure! Some of the "bigger" names include Liechtenstein, Love Dance, Horowitz, Vermont Sugar House and Mazy Fields, with additional entries from a number of fine, though lesser-known new bands, like Catwalk, Elenette, Under Electric Light, Klas, Warm Morning and Funny Little Dream. And there are also a handful of great exclusive songs, such as the ones from Honeyheads, Death Valley Sleepers and Sunny Summer Day, and I was even introduced to a couple bands (Gentle Touch and Pull) who I hadn't yet heard of, but quite enjoyed. A few duds sprinkled throughout (including a weird synth piece from For Kings And Queens and a song from At Swim Two Birds that goes on way too long), but still this is a good collection of modern indiepop bands worthy of checking out!  MTQ=17/22