Boy Genius - "Anchorage" cd  (no label)
It took me quite a while to really get into this record - in fact, though I found it basically enjoyable on first listen, I just couldn't really get too interested in it. What cinched it was seeing (and meeting) the band last week in Athens; they put on such a stellar set that when I listened to this record again afterwards, it clicked with me pretty quickly. Funny enough, the bands they remind me of the most are bands that also took me a few tries to fully enjoy (despite their legendary status): the Feelies, Galaxie 500 and the Go-Betweens (but with Lou Reed singing in place of Robert Forester). Many of the songs are jangly and fairly poppy, but only a few of them (such as "Talk About Love" and "Radio Silence", an earlier form of which was also the star of their debut EP last year) are actually catchy enough to pick up on the first time. Instead, it takes a little while for them to sink in - and when they finally do, the reward is great!  MTQ=11/11

Kuryakin - "Still Here" 7"/cd  (Shelflife)
In case you haven't been paying attention, Shelflife Records have reinvented themselves as a bit of a speciality label, limiting their releases to short-run cds/7"s (each containing different songs) packaged together in a gatefold sleeve. I'll admit they're a bit pricey, but they're aesthetically worth it (perhaps the only detail missed is lavishly-colored vinyl). The music on this record is as gorgeous as the packaging, and sounds somewhat like the Radio Dept. covering the lesser-known works of Burt Bacharach and the Pet Shop Boys. Acoustic and electric guitars blend in with the drum machine and warm synthesizers, all serving as the backdrop for the soft male vocals - though the band does lose points for using that cursed digital voice effect in places...  MTQ=6/7

The Sneaks - "In An Instant" cd  (no label)
This new Boston-based band rises from the ashes of Anushka Pop, who released an excellent (and similarly brief) album a couple years ago. Like that band, this one shares some of the same power pop roots, but their songs are a little more playful and fun, bringing bands like the New Pornographers, the Salteens and Sarah Sarah to mind, though I'm especially reminded of the first Parkas record. And where Anushka Pop was a lean three-piece, the Sneaks add an extra guitar player and keyboardist, as well as male & female backing vocals, all of which add to the fun feel of these songs. Of course, the band still likes to show off their more rockin' side in tunes like "Monuments" and "All In Good Time". Clocking in at only twenty minutes (including the minute-long unlisted track which is mostly silence and then a few seconds of incidental noise), this record may be short, but there's still plenty to enjoy!  MTQ=6/7

Adrian Whitehead - "One Small Stepping Man" cd  (Popboomerang)
Popboomerang included a couple of these songs on a label sampler over a year ago (which shone brightly, believe me!), but the whole record took longer than expected to finally see the light of day, having just been released this summer. Despite the delay, I think its timing is a bit off, as this is less a summer record (or winter in Australia, from where Adrian & Popboomerang hail), and more a spring/autumn one. The upbeat and peppier tunes have a tinge of melancholy to them, while on the other hand, the sadder ones have a ray of sunshine holding them up, making for an album full of songs that simultaneously bring joy and tug at the heartstrings. The music and production on this record are deeply rooted in the '60s, with echoes of the Zombies (especially with the piano melodies and vocal harmonies), the Beatles (particularly John Lennon's tunes) and Brian Wilson throughout. There's even an ode to Phil Spector ("Spector's Dead"), to show you where he's coming from. A delightfully lush orchestral pop record!  MTQ=9/10

The Baskervilles - "Twilight" cd  (Secret Crush)
For the last couple years, the Baskervilles have been periodically releasing 1-song mp3 singles on their website, complete with artwork designed by themselves and about a dozen friends. The project was called "Twilight 14", and this disc collects all 14 of those songs, as well as a poster-type inner sleeve displaying a collage of their sleeves. Despite being recorded in bits over that time, and with a number of different guest musicians, this record manages to work quite well on the whole; and as you might expect from a collection of singles, there is quite a high concentration of catchy songs here! The band's influences are a little more scattered than they have been in the past - their TVPs fascination and new wave tendencies are still quite apparent, but you can also hear them dipping further into a '60s mod feel and even a somewhat baroque sound, thanks to the frequent use of a string section. Whether they were trying to or not, the Baskervilles have inadvertently created a masterpiece!  MTQ=14/14

The Brigadier - "The Rise And Fall Of Responsibility" cd  (no label)
I wasn't quite sure what to make of this record, to be honest. Sure, there were some rather catchy songs (like "Growing Up Is Hard To Do (Part 1)", "The Box In The Back Of My Mind" and the peppy "This, Is Why...") that I liked from the get-go, but it took a few listens for me to get into some of the other songs, due to Matt's style and voice. His musical influences appear to be fairly diverse, but pretty well rooted in the British psych-pop scene of the late '60s/early '70s, with similarities to early David Bowie and Mark Bolan, mixed with a little Donovan and a baroque Syd Barrett, with a hushed, affected voice that kinda reminds me of Eric Matthews. You can find lots of strings and synths throughout a bunch of these songs, as well as a mini-choir of backing vocals, which may or may not actually be Matt himself (the album sleeve contains no credits saying otherwise). Definitely an interesting record, and unlike a lot of what I've heard lately...  MTQ=9/13

The Brixton Riot - "Sudden Fiction EP" cdep  (Tabbycat)
Though the music on this record is somehow familiar and the type of thing I've heard millions of times before, it's kind of hard to liken this band to just one particular group or even genre. I could simply say they fall in that same "alternative" vein from the early '90s (before that word lost all of its meaning), melding jangly rock and a little bit of country influence, with nods to later-era Replacements, Buffalo Tom, the Lemonheads and maybe a little Teenage Fanclub. But then there are songs like the bouncy "The Single Life" and the spirited "Fiction", which instead remind me more of Spoon or the Oranges Band. No matter what you want to call them, though, there are some damn catchy songs on here that make this an interesting debut and a band I'd like to hear more from again soon!  MTQ=5/5

Hari And Aino - "s/t" cd  (Plastilina) 
I remember being rather fond of this band's Cloudberry EP earlier this year, but I wasn't prepared for how good their debut full-length would be! This Swedish band plays bouncy pop in the vein of the Snow Fairies and Would-Be-Goods (with similar female vocals, as well), with some bursts of Positions/Charming-ish disco-influenced pop in songs like "Rubble And Ruin" and "Hannah And I". With pretty much every song being catchy and summery, it's really hard to pick favorites, but I was especially fond of the opening "Gold (Or Something Just As Nice)", the incongruously jaunty "Lousy Day", and their ode to the land across the sea, "Finland". Plastilina has released a number of great records in the last couple years, but this might just be the brightest gem in their catalog!  MTQ=10/10

Mass Solo Revolt - "Easy Mark" cd  (no label)
Though the liner notes list four members in the band, the credits actually say that band leader Martin Brummeler recorded the majority of the record on his own (save for drums and a few assorted parts). Either way, this album is a fine display of skewed indie rock, the likes of which you don't hear too often anymore. Most of the songs remind me of bands like New Radiant Storm King and Polvo, who combined solid songwriting with structured experimentation to create truly interesting and riveting pieces of music. Sometimes you'll find catchy (but slightly twisted) pop hits like "Waiting" or "Hostage Taker", and sometimes you'll get songs like the moody and effects-filled "All Bark" or the rambling, spacey "Au Gres" (which took me a few listens before I warmed up to it). It seems the record is a little lop-sided, as it starts with the epic title track and takes us through the more experimental songs before finishing off with the album's four catchiest songs (including the unlisted tenth track), but that measly trifle is the worst thing I can say about this record... Definitely a band worth checking out for any fan of '90s indie rock!  MTQ=9/10

Merchandise - "Sometimes" 7"  (Cityscape)
I've heard this band before, but I didn't really think much of the previous release I heard. The A-side of this single, however, proved impossible to ignore, with its bouncy (but still subdued) rhythm, charming Rhodes-led melody and cheery lyrics. The b-side, "Glitterati", shares a similarly hushed style, but feels a little more intimate thanks in part to its drum programming. Musically, they remind me of the Prom and Nada Surf's recent output (with the latter especially noticeable on the flip) - mature and maybe a little glossy, yet not overly-so. Oh, and the single comes on white vinyl, which looks great alongside the attractive brown sleeve...  MTQ=2/2

Sarandon - "Kill Twee Pop!" cd  (Slumberland) 
Like the "Joe's Record" single before it (the A-side of which appears here), this record shows the band breaking their self-imposed mold of keeping songs short and even branching out their sound a bit - and doing a damn fine job with both. The songs are a touch longer (though mostly remaining in the two minute range, with only one barely passing the three minute mark), but the Minutemen, Big Flame and Gang Of Four influences are still readily apparent. In fact, like the Minutemen's later work, there's a fair amount of melody visible amongst the dissonance, skronky jangle and spastic rhythms. There are even moments of poignancy in the lyrics that I didn't notice before. I was a bit wary of the band's leap from EP to LP and how it would affect their songs, but they made the transition perfectly with this most impressive debut album!  MTQ=11/12

Scary Monster - "Makeout Party At Werewolf Club" cd  (Modern Soul)
I've been friends with Neal Ramirez for ages, and have loved all of his bands from the Skywriters to the Snow Fairies, but I have to say that this is my favorite project of his yet! The sound of this band is a bit rawer than the Snow Fairies, but in an early Pastels/Comet Gain/Vaselines way - all shambling and playful - while the softer songs remind me a lot of Small Factory. Heck, I can go even further with the Small Factory comparison when I say that the drummer, Carly, takes the lead for a few of the songs. The only bad thing I can say about this brilliant debut album is that it's all we're ever gonna get from the band, as that jerky Neal had to go and move across the country - damn you, Ramirez!  MTQ=10/10

The School - "Let It Slip EP" cdep  (Elefant)
Yet another excellent new find for Elefant Records, this Welsh band plays lush and pleasant indiepop in the vein of Belle & Sebastian and Camera Obscura, but also with a touch more energy, reminding me a little of Spearmint or a female-led Aerospace at times. All four songs on this EP are purely delightful and guaranteed to please any fan of the afore-mentioned bands. I definitely look forward to hearing more from this band soon!  MTQ=4/4

The Very Most - "Congratulations Forever" cd  (Coming In Second)
I've been a fan of Jeremy's work since first hearing his earlier bands, Pajama Party In A Haunted Hive and Yukon And You, nearly a decade ago, but this newer project is his best work to date. And as much as I loved his first record, this second one is substantially better - the good songs are great and the great songs are amazing! Like the previous album, this one took a few years to make, and has Jeremy joined by a couple dozen friends and relatives to create a beautiful pop record with a diverse array of sounds and voices. You'll find a number of catchy tunes (with "Good Fight Fighting", "Polygraph", "Dodged Ev'ry Bullet, Pt. 1" and "Spilt, Spilt Milk" being my favorites), as well as some fine, subtler songs, like "Neuron", "Love At Home" and their soft, acoustic cover of Built To Spill's "When Not Being Stupid Is Not Enough". I even kinda liked the short, instrumental "Dodged Ev'ry Bullet, Pt. 2"! The title track at the end of the record went on a couple minutes too long, but was otherwise pleasant. I quite like this record, and can't wait to hear from Jeremy again in another five years!  MTQ=12/14

Young Sportsmen - "If You Want It" cd  (Unsmashable)
As if I wasn't already impressed enough with this band (it took one EP to determine that they were easily one of the best bands to come out of Seattle this decade), the level of depth this record shows knocked me back even further! It also shows that their debut album was no fluke, and that the band really can write some amazing songs - and pretty quickly, at that, as this record comes less than a year after the first one! Of course, you'll find plenty of the Superdrag/You Am I-ish power pop that we already knew the band excelled in, but now you can hear them branching out their sound a little bit. Nothing too crazy or anything, but there's a lot more variety in the dynamics on this record than before, especially in the slower (yet still lively) "Tomorrow Disappears". I've always been astounded by how under the radar this band is within the world of power pop, but this record should really find them topping more top-ten lists (and were this a more just world, selling out arenas in Japan) soon!  MTQ=11/11

[V/A] - "This City Of Neighborhoods" cd  (Beechfields)
Free sampler cds are nothing new - tons of labels have used them as a successful promotional tool for years. Usually they're comprised of songs from the label's recent releases, with an unreleased song or two to pique your interest (or at least keep you from getting rid of it). This one, however, is a bit different, as all but one of these tracks are exclusive to this disc (and oddly enough, the one track that isn't was taken from the recent non-Beechfields album from the Seldon Plan). And these aren't just a bunch of throwaways, either - the label is more concerned with trying to get you interested in their bands than making a quick buck, so this free disc is comprised of quality songs from eight of their current and past bands. I'm already acquainted with (and fans of) some of their older bands on here, like Pupa's Window, Private Eleanor and the Seldon Plan, so I was happy to hear some new songs from each of them; and of the newer bands, my favorite was definitely the Red Vines, but most of the other bands (Among Wolves, Infinite Honey and the Honest Mistakes) had at least one song that I liked. A Cat Called Cricket was the only band that got one song instead of two, but unfortunately I wasn't too into it. Still, this disc is a great way to get a feel for the sound of this fine label from Batimore.  MTQ=12/15