The Airfields - "Up All Night" cd  (Humblebee)
Though I was blown away by their last EP on Humblebee, this debut album of theirs is somehow at least three times as brilliant! This is essentially dreamy pop, with all of the basic elements of a good dreampop band (especially the lush, reverb-laden production), but with most of the emphasis on the pop. Each song shimmers and shines with jangling guitars and rolling organs, while the singer's gentle voice reminds me quite a bit of the Radio Dept. (as does much of the music, for that matter). The mood of the record is highly spirited, with many of the songs having an exciting, driving feel, with even a couple loud Jesus And Mary Chain-ish moments (such as "Yr So Wonderful", which first appeared on a Cloudberry EP last year). Even the softer songs like "St. Monday" and "The End Of The Evening" have an advanced level of energy to them, with the latter sounding almost like a revved-up Clientele! This is easily the best dreampop record I've heard in quite some time...  MTQ=11/11

Tafra - "Why Even Bother" cd  (Series Two)
After a couple EPs on small Swedish labels, this is the first full length from this Swedish fellow who now lives in London. The music reminds me a lot of Suburban Kids With Biblical Names (so it didn't surprise me to learn that he is not only friends with those guys, but also played on their album) - basically bedroom synth-pop with a variety of sounds/samples that range from the clever use of that annoying cell phone static you sometimes hear when it's too close to your speakers on "Cheesy Epic View" to what sounds like a chorus of ukuleles in "Oh Daniel" to whatever the hell's going on in the irritating and crunky-sounding "Your Ex-Boyfriend's MP3s". There are a few duds on the album, as not all of his musical instrument experiments work out and the otherwise fine "I'm Sorry BrŠkne-Hoby" goes on way too long - but when he does get it right (like in "Why Do You Have To Be So Compilicated Baby" and "Oh Daniel"), he hits that spot perfectly!  MTQ=7/11

Times New Viking - "Rip It Off" cd  (Matador)
Goddamn, this is one loud record! I have the stereo volume under 1, and the speakers are still blasting out with a distorted mess... but what a glorious mess it is! This band has been around for a few years now, but I (and pretty much everyone else in the music community, judging from the buzz I've been unable to avoid) only just heard of them a few months ago with the release of their Matador debut. Take an early incarnation of Guided By Voices, transplant them to the UK during the heyday of Slampt, Chemikal Underground and Wiiija Records and put Chris Knox at the helm, and you can get a pretty good idea of where this band is coming from. Though I'm sure I'm the hundredth person to say so, the term "no-fi" fits the band so well, as this record is awash with treble and the levels are constantly way in the red (there are even times when the drums are drowned out by the guitar fuzz!). But despite the din, the songs and melodies are not too buried to be memorable and catchy, with a number of songs, like "Faces On Fire", "Mean God" and "The Early '80s" being instant favorites. I find it interesting that this band found their way onto Matador, because their sound actually fits in perfectly with the label's earlier, more adventurous output. If you like your noise-pop a bit challenging, then this is definitely the record for you!  MTQ=15/16

Twig - "Wentworth" 7"  (Cloudberry)
With a very successful and prolific year of releasing 3" cd-rs in limited quantities, Cloudberry Records quickly became the finest bedroom pop label in recent years. Now, with this inaugural vinyl release, they become a bonafide label, and finally release a record that more than a lucky few pop fans can enjoy! This is the second release from this Swedish band (having already appeared on one of the label's earlier 3" cds), and it contains a fine pair of pop tunes. They're both fairly similar in style, with a sound that reminds me of a somewhat modern Orange Juice or the early St. Christopher records (had they been remastered), with shades of Echo And The Bunnymen and the Bluebells, as well. The music is jangly with an obvious romantic feel, perfectly exemplified by Henrik's Morrissey-esque tenor. As for the packaging, it's blatantly obvious that Cloudberry is taking its cues from Sarah Records, with the insert modeled after that label's inserts, complete with a half page manifesto and duplicate catalog layout. There is one major exception, though: Sarah never individually numbered its records.  MTQ=2/2

Keith John Adams - "Unclever" cd  (Happy Happy Birthday To Me)
Keith John started to show off his rock side on his last record, "Pip", but on this record, he's embraced it even more fully. Gone are the simple toy piano/acoustic guitar ditties (though he does keep the acoustic handy for songs like "Nothing" and the softer "Yesterday Morning"), replaced by a tight guitar/bass/drums trio with Keith backed by Jason & Kay from Casper & The Cookies. But of course, his playful lyrics remain - they're just backed with beefier songs this time, with some of them (like "Bed" or "Lie") even having an almost rockabilly feel to them! Even some of the slower ones, like "Sorry That I Love You Badly" and "Found You", seem to have something of a menacing overtone due to the chunky guitar sound. I definitely like this record and its songs, but I feel that it obscures Keith's charm a bit too much, which is really one of his strongest qualities...  MTQ=11/12

The Higher Elevations - "The Protestant Work Ethic" cd  (Time For Action)
It's been a few years since we last heard from this Swedish group, but though they've changed their lineup a bit and their chief songwriter, Niklas Gustafsson, wrote and recorded an album with another band (This Year's Model), this album finds the band in top form. I was actually a little worried when that This Year's Model album came out last year that Niklas might've put aside this project - nothing against that record (as it deserved its spot on my top 20 LPs list last year), but I really loved this band's catchier, mod-influenced sound. That sound is certainly here in abundance, but this time, he seems to have employed more of the somewhat gentler style explored on the This Year's Model record. I didn't notice it the first time, but that sound reminds me a lot of My Favorite, with its synth overtones and romantic, almost idealistic, lyrics, particularly in songs like "Saturday Night Out Again", "Long Journey" and "Better Times, City Nights (For The Goth Kids)". Another fine release from this truly talented songwriter/band!  MTQ=13/14

The Jet Age - "What Did You Do During The War, Daddy?" cd  (Sonic Boomerang)
When I first got this and put it on, it sounded instantly familiar, and I quickly realized that this was basically the Hurricane Lamps with a new moniker (thanks mostly to Eric's unmistakable voice). And apart from a new drummer, there isn't really any major difference between this record and the last Hurricane Lamps record from a few years back (or the one preceding it, for that matter). But of course, I'm glad that they haven't really changed much, as I quite liked their sound, which mixes elements of some of my favorite bands, like Superchunk and the Wedding Present, particularly in the guitar playing. The entire record is a rock opera of sorts, which details the saga of an American man who becomes a suicide bomber to protect his family during a (semi-)fictional war; but with the exception of the lamenting "Ladies, Don't Cry Tonight", which starts the album (and closes it again with a reprise), most of the songs stand perfectly well on their own. Great to see this band back again!  MTQ=9/11

Lemuria - "Get Better" cd  (Asian Man)
Finally! After a bunch of singles and a split lp, we finally get a full length from this amazing indie rock band from Buffalo! I've been singing their praises here since that first single, so I've been looking forward to this for a while. Though their singles have generally been short bursts of punky pop, they appear to have made a conscious effort to show a lot more variety on the album, giving us a number of midtempo songs (like "Buzz" and "Hawaiian T-Shirt") and slower, more subdued ones, like "Lipstick", "Length Away" and "Wardrobe". But of course, you'll still find their trademark punkier sound in songs like "Dogs", "Get Some Sleep" and "Fingers". Other than slowing things down a bit, not much else has changed in the band's sound - Sheena still takes the lion's share of the lead vocal duties, with Alex singing lead on a few songs and providing lots of back-ups on the rest. And their sound is as punchy as ever, (still) reminding me a lot of Racetrack, Moped and Sarge. I hear this band plans on touring a whole bunch, so make sure to catch them when they come to your town - I know I sure will!  MTQ=11/12

Moira Stewart - "Sweetness, Yes!" cd  (Distraction)
In the tradition of bands like Michael Knight and Amber Smith, here's another band named after a person not actually in the group. This is their first album, and they play a dancey brand of pop that sounds almost like Baxendale or the Pet Shop Boys during their playful moments (especially "The Mr. Men Groove" and "Sprinkle Glitter On My Heart") and a more upbeat and extroverted Bobby Wratten project in songs like "You Are The Kids" or "Love Drops" (with this singer having a similarly soft and golden voice). As you can guess from the description, there are naturally a prevalence of various synths, sequencers and drum machines, with the guitars generally buried in the mix. I've read some reviews of their apparently outrageously fun and flamboyant live shows, but I didn't really get the same feeling from this album - there certainly are some fun moments, but the music here seems to be a bit more focused and serious (and I mean that in a good way)...  MTQ=8/10

Orwell - "Le Génie Humain" cd  (Twin Fizz)
On their third album, Orwell seems to have become less of a band and more of a loose collaboration between chief songwriter, Jérôme Didelot and over a dozen friends from France (including members of Fugu and Tahiti 80) and abroad (with members of White Shoes And The Couples Company and the Heavy Blinkers lending a hand). Musically, though, this album is not too different from their previous output: lush, baroque pop with ample use of strings and woodwinds and a sound not unlike the High Llamas, Louis Philippe or Fugu. Most of the songs are easy-going and sunny in nature, with stand-outs including "Tout Entier", "Elémentaire" and "Le Bon Endroit", but even when things seem to get a bit dense, like on the title track (which seems to have a bit of soundtrack-like tension running throughout), it still feels somewhat light. And like their previous record, this has no domestic issue, but the kind folks at Radio Khartoum have been helping out with US distribution, so you may have a chance to find it yet!  MTQ=11/12

The 75s - "Extra Fancy" cd  (no label)
Patience Please played with this band while in St. Louis last year, and I remember thinking they were quite good! They reminded me a lot of Cub or maybe Eggplant, playing a punky brand of indiepop (even teasing us with half a Buzzcocks cover during soundcheck!). Their self-released debut album captures everything that I recall about their set (even remembering a couple of the songs they played, though I only heard them once almost eight months ago!) - equal parts energy and melody, with mostly sweet female lead & backing vocals and an extra punchy rhythm section. At only 23 minutes, this may be a short album, but it's filled with all sorts of catchy tunes!  MTQ=9/10

Singing Bridges - "Sunny Day Rainy Day EP" cdep  (Skipping Stones)
Skipping Stones Records has a new house band - and I mean this literally, as the band contains William and Christine (on drums and bass, respectively), who are the lovely couple behind the label! This lineup of the band is relatively new (with lead singer Amity only being in the band a few months when this EP was recorded), but the songs on this record sound quite good. The easy favorite is the Lush-esque opener, "On Y Va", with its layers of acoustic & electric guitars, keyboards and twin female vocals. The music of the next one, "Disappear", reminds me a lot of My Favorite's darker moments, while the acoustic closer, "Permanent Ink", brings to mind the Carousel or maybe the Sundays. The only song I wasn't too into was "The Makeout Song", which seemed a bit too lethargic and didn't really fit in with the others. Still, this EP is a nice start for this new band!  MTQ=3/4

Spectacular Fantastic - "Consume" cdep  (75 Or Less)
Hey, I was recently wondering whatever happened to this band! I first heard of them a few years ago when I got their last album, "Goes Underground" - and it appears that the title had a ring of truth to it, as the band have since taken to only releasing their new music for free on their website. This EP is their first proper release in three years, and finds the band still making the same fuzzy pop in the vein of Elf Power, the Resonars and fellow Ohioan heroes, Guided By Voices (especially noticeable on the disc's opener, "Limitless And Free"). This five song EP clocks in under twelve minutes, but manages to pack quite a punch in that short time (though the closer, "Sympathy", was a bit too hard-rockin' for my taste)! Let's hope they stay above ground for a bit longer this time!  MTQ=4/5

Strawberry Whiplash - "Who's In Your Dreams? EP" cdep  (Matinee)
So last month, I reviewed the debut EP from Bubblegum Lemonade, a one-man band from Glasgow - well, this is a companion release of sorts, as it was released on the same day and was also written/performed/recorded by the same guy! With this project, though, he employs the vocal talents of Sandra, with the results sounding less like Jesus And Mary Chain (as was the case with his other EP) and a lot more like Lazy-era Primitives. It'd be too hard to pick a favorite between the two releases, but I certainly can't wait to see what else he's got up his sleeve, no matter what moniker he uses!  MTQ=4/4

The Up Set - "Making A Connection With The Ground" cd  (Workaholics On Holiday)
I first heard this disc at a friend's house a few months ago and did a serious double take when I found out who it was! I kinda liked the first Up Set record, although it was a bit too amateur-ish/lo-fi for me to get too into. With this record, however, KB has shown an impressive amount of improvement in his songwriting and presentation (listen to this record's version of "I'm Not Pulling Your Leg" and the original one found on the first disc back to back for proof), resulting in a great pop record with a sound quite similar to the Sprites or the Specific Heats. Heck, I even really enjoyed the instrumental "Hurry Up And Wait", so you know it's good! Though this was recorded at the Beechfields Records headquarters, I'm kind of surprised it didn't find its way onto the label's release schedule - it would've made a nice addition!  MTQ=6/6

The Whitsundays - "s/t" cd  (Pop Echo)
Armed with an arsenal of vintage instruments and musical equipment (with a particularly wide variety of keyboards), Paul Arnusch wrote and recorded this album (with a little help from a couple friends). With his vintage gear, it should be no surprise that the album is full of classic pop songs, heavily influenced by the Beach Boys and the Zombies (every time "It Must Be Me" starts, I keep thinking he's going to go into "The Way I Feel Inside"). But though many of the songs have bouncy rhythms, a lot of them seem to be in minor keys and have noticeable psych-pop overtones, giving them a darker feel overall. Though the record starts off benignly enough, it gets darker as it progresses, climaxing with the epic "Bring It On Home" (with its own little freakout in the middle), before the whole thing finally ends with the "Whitsunday Morning Theme", which seems more like a requiem than a theme. The only song that appears out of place is "Antisocial", a punkier tune that seems anachronistic with the rest of the record (though it's still a fine tune on its own). The band's sole member was already previously involved with a couple other bands, but let's hope this isn't the last we hear from his solo project!  MTQ=9/10