A Boy Named Thor - "Rocket Scientist Blues" cs  (Best Kept Secret)
Subtitled "old songs for new ears", this is just that: songs that Jason Corace (aka "Thor") wrote and recorded between 95-98. Nine songs in all, with the seven on side one being mostly two minute pop songs in the vein of Metronome or Seasick Crocodile or maybe a bit of Orange Cake Mix. Quite nice. Unfortunately the two songs on side two are long, boring instrumentals, also with an OCM sound.   MTQ=6/9

A Boy Named Thor - "No Cult Girlfriend" 7"  (Mobstar)
New single from Jason, and this one seems more quiet and heartbroken than usual. The first song, "Half Naked Heart", is pretty slow with a bassy beat, accompanied by acoustic guitar and Jason singing in a much lower voice. A short instrumental closes off side one. Side two is more like previous releases, and has a bit more of a country feel. But the songs are upbeat and quite nice, especially "True Stories" & "Cry Baby". The packaging, however, is amazing, with a cut-out mountain range over a blue background, and another cut-out range on the back that stands up on its own. Oh, and the single's on yellow vinyl, too. This was also released as a cd single, but why would you want that?   MTQ=4/5

A Boy Named Thor/Love Letter Band - "split" cdep  (Best Friends)  
This project ended up pretty differently than how it was meant to be. First off, it was supposed to be a split 7" on This Heart Plays Records, but since that label is no longer around, Best Friends in Denver (where Chris Love Letter Band lives now) has picked up the release. Also, originally, it was intended to be a project where Jason from A Boy Named Thor and Chris would record a couple songs on their own with just guitar and vocals, and the other person would fill it out with their own arrangements. However, when Chris received Jason's wonderfully stark songs, he couldn't bear to change them or add a thing - and that's why the project kinda stalled for a while. Apparently, Chris never sent Jason his songs, as the two Love Letter Band tunes are without him. Chris eventually did add a handful of subtle and melodic instruments (xylophone, melodica, shaker) to "The Pirates Of Temptation Island", which only add to the song's beauty, but he left "Scenes From Another Boy's Life" untouched, and it sounds like classic A Boy Named Thor. On the Love Letter Band side, the first song is an excellent acoustic tune simply called "I'm A Fool For Pop Music", while the other is a more complicated two-part instrumental called "Tim Burton" (and it does kinda sound like something out of a movie, too). Back-story aside, this is simply a split release between two good friends and their wonderfully pure and simple pop music.   MTQ=3/4

A Faulty Chromosome - "As An Ex-Anorexic's Six Sicks Exit" cd  (no label)
Hailing from Los Angeles (though they just recently moved to Austin), this is the first album from this young trio. It took a couple listens to grow on me, as the songs are a bit repetitive and generally much longer than I usually tolerate (with seven of 'em passing the four minute mark), but most of them have a driving quality that I liked, and kept them interesting. The band's sound is somewhere between Jesus And Mary Chain (had they recorded "Darklands" at the very beginning of their career), My Bloody Valentine's "Loveless" (had they recorded without a budget in their bedroom), and Spacemen 3 (had they been any good). There are certainly times when the songs overstay their welcome (eg. the tacked on coda to "A Frozen Lake" and the entirely dull 9 minute closer, "I'll Stop Swimming When I Drown"), but I found others, like "Anomie's The Enemy" and "Them Pleasures Of The Flesh", to be enjoyable, thanks to the afore-mentioned driving rhythms. And when the band does find themselves in a more concise mood on "Jackie O" and "Bad Thing", it turns out they can write a really good pop song!   MTQ=9/10

A Is Jump - "My Ice-Fingered Ghost" cd  (Future Appletree)
This is the debut record for this group, and it reminds me a lot of the Cabrini record - very good melodic and somewhat complicated pop in the vein of Death Cab For Cutie or John Vanderslice, with lots of attention paid to the arrangement and production of the songs. The vocals sometimes have a Morrissey-ish quality to them, especially noticeable in songs like "Everglade (Version)" and "Mercurial Hours". The whole album flows together well, showcasing these fine unconventional pop songs, except I would've broken up the two seemingly unrelated songs bundled together as track 4 (they do this a few times on the record); "Until The Roof Explodes" is an uninteresting psychedelic song, while "Restless Humming" is a brief and wonderful song that flows into the next track so well. It's a good album overall, though I find myself fading away during the less-focused bits, like the untitled intro to "Brilliant Late Start".   MTQ=8/11

A Million Years Ago - "1000000000000000000000000000" cs  (no label)  
I was introduced to this Seattle band last summer by playing a show with them, but then they disappeared for a few months. Now they're back and have just released this cassette containing nine energetic tracks, many of which I already knew after seeing them live only a couple times! The band's a three-piece, consisting of guitar, keyboard and drums, though while listening to these songs, you'd never know they were mising a bass player, thanks to Jordan's clever synth parts. If I had to describe the band's songs in a word, it would have to be "anthemic". Between their big sound and the the catchy songs, it's impossible not to sing or shout along once you've got even a minor grasp of the lyrics (seriously - try sitting still to "You Got A Heart" or "What You Are"). Anyways, seek this band out!   MTQ=9/9

A Passing Feeling - "s/t" cdep  (75 Or Less)
I'm always super-excited when I put on a record from a band I know absolutely nothing about, and love it instantly... and this is one such record. As far as I can tell, this is the band's debut release, and it sounds a lot like the Thermals (one of our favorites!). I mean they've got everything down, from the overdriven sound to the hyperactive vocals - hell, they're even named after a Thermals song! And although the songwriting is also a bit similar - with the band emphasizing melody as much as energy - there's not so much repetition as the Thermals like to use. These five songs clock in at just over 14 minutes, so the disc is over before you know it, but that only adds to the immediacy of the whole record. I'll definitely be looking out for this band!   MTQ=5/5

A Passing Feeling - "We Might Not Sleep At All This Year" cd  (75 Or Less)
Named after a Thermals song, this band really blew me away with their debut EP a couple years ago, so I was really looking forward to their first full-length. The music is a bit different this time around - not as hyperactive (and it sounds a bit less like the Thermals this time around, as well), but though the pace of the songs might have slowed a bit, there seems to be even more intensity to them somehow. Listening to these songs and the lyrics is like watching someone who believes they are completely indestructible (and quite possibly are) smashing through everything in their path, against all odds, to reach their destination. They may be exhausted or discouraged, but they rarely show it. A lot of the songs have a road/driving theme to them, as if they were written about (or in anticipation of) the trials of touring, which is something they plan to do a lot of, so look out for 'em!   MTQ=10/10

Aberdeen - "Sink Or Float" 7"  (Better Looking)
In case you were wondering, yes, this is the same wonderful Aberdeen that released singles for Sarah and Sunday Records, then disappeared many years back. The title track on the A-side is probably the best song I've heard from them since "Byron". They've got a more full sound, with real drums and very layered, shoegazy guitars. Heck, the sub-label this is on is called "The Tremolo Arm Users Club" and the cover is a picture of a guitar distortion pedal in a bed of flowers. That image right there is a pretty good description of the sound. Very Moose... The b-side is a softer song, but still very upbeat. Both songs are totally joyous, of course. And both songs will also be on their upcoming record, due out very soon, I hear! I sure am looking forward to that release!   MTQ=2/2

Aberdeen - "Homesick And Happy To Be Here" cd  (Better Looking)
To say that this record is long-awaited would be an understatement. Aberdeen came and went in almost a flash over seven years ago with two wonderful singles on Sarah Records and an equally wonderful single on Sunday. Then they broke up. Literally. The two key members, Beth and John, ended their romance, and therefore the band. Last year, rumours of an Aberdeen reunion became fact when the band released the "Sink Or Float" on Better Looking Records. This time around, though, they brought some friends, and Aberdeen is now a full band (meaning no more drum machine). And now, finally, we have their first full length release, essentially doubling the number of Aberdeen songs on record (which is a very good thing). The sound is more shoegazy than their past work, and much more layered, too (thanks to the use of a 24-track). Similar bands would be the Field Mice/Trembling Blue Stars (and not just because Beth has sung with TBS in the past), Moose, and the Brittle Stars. This album is very beautiful sounding, and just the perfect dreamy pop record. Though the only flaw I can find with it is that if you're not in the right mood, a few of the songs can go on a little long...   MTQ=9/10

Aberdeen - "The Boy Has Gone Away" cdep  (Better Looking)
It's been a couple years since their last album, and I haven't heard anything about a new full-length, but these three songs are the perfect reason to get excited anyways. The title track is a wonderful and catchy song, and easily their best yet. "Miss You Now You're Gone" follows, and is a fine mid-tempo song with their traditional dreamy sound. Ending the disc is a cover of the Field Mice classic, "Emma's House", which is a good effort, though I'm not sure if I like the vocal treatment; there seems to be a lot of energy and passion in the vocals, which I think doesn't fit with the lyrics/mood of the song. Still, though, it's a nice version of the song...   MTQ=3/3

Acid House Kings - "Mondays Are Like Tuesdays And Tuesdays Are Like Wednesdays" cd  (Hidden Agenda)
Of the group of bands that came from the Åhus, Sweden scene - including Starlet, Club 8, Red Sleeping Beauty, Poprace, and others - Acid House Kings were the first. At least one member of AHK is/was in all of the afore-mentioned groups. Well, Joakim Ödlund (Starlet) isn't on this album, but he's still a member of the band. And though Acid House Kings are one of the forefathers of the modern Swedish indiepop scene, they haven't been as prolific as some of those other bands, seeing as this is only their third full-length in ten years. The sound on this cd, like the recent albums from Club 8 and Starlet, is much less jangly-pop and more quiet, introverted pop. Many songs are hushed in tone, though there are some POP moments, like the near-perfect "Say Yes If You Love Me" and "Start Anew". The vocal duties are shared between Niklas and Julia, each of them with perfect pop voices. In fact, I'd even say that Julia's voice is nearly indistinguishable from Karolina Club 8's voice - especially since both bands share songwriters. And even though I've always thought that this group of bands were quite similar in sound, I still don't care - it just means that all of their songs are perfect pop!   MTQ=12/12

Acid House Kings - "Do What You Wanna Do" cdep  (Labrador)
It's been a while since we've heard anything from the Acid House Kings, although Johan Angergård has obviously been busy keeping us entertained with music from Club 8 and the Legends (who enjoyed a huge burst of popularity last year). This five track single (a teaser for a new full-length, at that!) finds the Angergård brothers in fine form, with five superb indiepop tunes. The title track is a classic Acid House Kings song, while the others are a bit on the gentler side, reminding me a bit of Camera Obscura (especially now that Julia is singing more often). This is exactly what you could ever hope to hear from the band, so I'm sure that the new record will be terrific!   MTQ=5/5

Acid House Kings - "Sing Along With Acid House Kings" cd  (Twenty Seven)
Where would the world of indiepop be without the Angergårds? The Legends, Club 8, Red Sleeping Beauty and of course Acid House Kings are all top-quality bands featuring one or both brothers, and are among the most adored indiepop groups. This is the fourth album from this group, and finds the band still playing their special blend of upbeat and soft pop. This album is full of instant of classics, like "7 Days", "Sleeping" and the single, "Do What You Wanna Do". This album has a much better production value than their previous records, with frequent use of strings and trumpet here and there. The only thing I don't really like about this album is the use of vocoder on the vocals (damn that useless toy), but this is an otherwise wonderful record. Oh, and as a special bonus, you also get a dvd that's a karaoke disc that lets you actually sing along with the record!   MTQ=10/12

The Action - "Rolled Gold" cd  (Reaction Musik)
A few years ago, I started discovering a bunch of those 60s bands that you always hear of influencing loads of today's bands. Hard to believe, but up until a few years ago, I hadn't heard more than two Zombies songs ever, hated the Who only because I knew of the hard rock crap, and had not even heard of the Creation. Thanks to the magic of scores of reissues and compilations and box sets, I've been exposed to many wonderful bands from the 60s. Now, there's another reissue label to pay attention to: Reaction Musik, from the folks who brought you Action Musik (namely Ric Menck & Geoff Merritt from Parasol). And their debut release is a collection of demos from the little known (though apparently highly acclaimed) 60s mod/pop band, The Action. Apparently, the band had recorded a string of singles with the legendary George Martin in the mid 60s, but even with his help, they never reached the masses. Soon after, they parted ways with Martin and Parlaphone Records, and they decided to record some demos to secure a new contract. Well, the contract never came, and the demos were shelved. Now, they've been restored and remastered by Reaction Musik, and are packaged along with some liner notes from fans (including Ric Menck & Matthew Sweet) and a former member of the band for the world to discover. The sound is similar to the style of the Creation and early Who; young, a little raw, lots of soul, and a hint of psychedelic influences (though thankfully not too much, though it does get a little out there at times). And just because these are demos doesn't mean they sound unfinished or even that rough (of course, that could be the remastering...). And hey, the press kit has a quote from Phil Collins claiming the Action was his all-time favorite band - how can you not trust an endorsement like that?   MTQ=12/15

Action Biker - "Sandy Edwards" 7"  (Break & Enter)
After a self-released cd-r ep, this is the first vinyl release from the one-woman disco-pop band from Gothenburg, Sweden known as Action Biker. With Sarah's sweet voice and a heavy emphasis on the keyboards and drum machine, the songs sound like a mix of Pet Shop Boys and OMD filtered through later Club 8. The A-side, "Sandy Edwards", could easily be a popular dance club hit - quite catchy! On the flip are two songs, "Wrong Side" and "The Perfect Job", the former is slower and darker than the others, while the latter is very upbeat and happy sounding.   MTQ=3/3

Action Now - "All Your Dreams... And More 1981-1984" cd  (Avebury)
In two sections, this disc collects the works of this jangle pop band from L.A. In the first half, we have all of the band's studio recordings, most of which originally appeared on a French posthumously-released album in 1985, while "Try" is taken from a "Rodney On The ROQ" comp lp. The second half of the disc is a complete live show from 1981, featuring several songs that the band never officially recorded. The whole thing was remastered, and sounds quite good. Their sound is very similar to many other bands of the time period: catchy three-minute songs, full of vocal harmonies and lean, jangly guitars. In fact, these guys seem a little more consistent than others from the era. If you're a fan of the Teenline comp cds on Hyped To Death (and it's a wonder they haven't picked up on Action Now yet!), then this is definitely for you!   MTQ=26/27

Keith John Adams - "This Is A Six Track EP" 7"  (Kabuki Kore)
This is the second 7" release from Keith, and it's a fun little record, filled with six whimsical tunes in the vein of the Television Personalities, XTC and the Kinks. The first track, "Never Look Down", is the best of the bunch with its very catchy and upbeat, British-sounding melody. "In Love" follows, and is a simple acoustic, Beatles-ish tune. "Inconsequential Thought" and "Weather" are found on the other side, and both are also good songs with the former being a simple, xylophone-led tune and the latter falling in the same vein as "Never Look Down". The last track on each side ("Sex Pest" and "Find A Body", respectively) are very brief song snippets, which are rather odd and disjointed, though I wouldn't say that they don't exactly fit on this record (I did say it was whimsical, after all!)...   MTQ=5/6

Keith John Adams - "Pip" cd  (Happy Happy Birthday To Me)  
I gotta admit - I wasn't too into the first Keith John Adams album when I first heard it, although I did love his follow-up single, "This Is A Six Track EP". Of course, after I saw him play live and met him last year, my opinion of that record changed somewhat, but I still have to say that I like this record considerably more than his first one. The sound here is a lot more fleshed out with a full band, but of course you'll still find some of his signature ukulele or toy piano songs (even adding an accordian to his repertoire!). A few of the better songs from his last single show up here, including "Inconsequential Thought", "In Love" and the single's highlight, "Never Look Down"; but you'll also find a number of new favorites like "Ever Been You?", "Dad" and the XTC-ish "Man Overboard". Keith's songs are best described as Robin Hitchcock fronting the Television Personalities: catchy tunes with lyrics as humorous as they are insightful. With this album's marked improvement, I hope that a lot more people are able to hear Keith's tunes, because they will surely be charmed (and that goes triple for anyone who gets to see him play live!).   MTQ=12/14

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

Aden - "Hey 19" cd  (Teenbeat)
When I first heard Aden in 1997, I liked them, but their songs were always too slow for me. They were very nice and all, but they couldn't hold my attention for too long. So I ignored them for a few years... When I saw them with True Love Always a couple times this summer, I was surprised when I found my toes tapping to all the songs! On a whim, I picked up this cd, and I see they've changed their sound a bit. Now, many of their songs are bouncy and much catchier, but still retain the gentle vocals and soft guitar melodies. In fact, they're very similar in sound to True Love Always - no wonder they often share bandmates on stage! Like their music, their lyrics are light-hearted, with songs about Josh Klein's (Vitesse) record collection & hard rockin'. I'm very into this new record!   MTQ=11/12

Aden - "Topsiders" cd  (Teenbeat)
This cd was obviously put together with love. From the wrap-around cardboard sleeve to the 24-page booklet, which is probably my favorite Mark Robinson/Timonium design yet, everything about this is quite visually pleasing. Now for the music: it's definitely different. With the introduction of Kevin's new guitar (a Telecaster B-Bender, which they go into great detail about in the booklet) and the frequent use of the banjo, they've created a very Southern-influenced, down-home-feelin' album. Heck, you just need to hear Jeff go falsetto in the chorus of "The Chase" to know what I mean. There are hints of the sound of Aden's previous records here and there ("Boggle Champs" and "Readenator", for example), but really, it's like they're a whole new band now. But the best part is that the "new" Aden is just as great as the old Aden. Just because they've changed quite a bit doesn't mean that you won't like this record (though I can see it being a little hard for some folks to get into right away). If you've been listening to the Currituck County album, you'll realize that Kevin's had a lot of influence in the songs on this record.   MTQ=9/11

The Adventures Of Jet - "Muscle" cd  (Suburban Home)
Though I've heard the name before, this is the first time I've ever heard Adventures Of Jet, and I do like it! They remind me a lot of Weezer/Rentals; which is a rather obvious point of reference, given their affection for moogy keyboards, impeccable melodies, and a big crunchy guitar sound (and an occasional solo or two). The entire album is loosely based on the concept of muscle cars (with the tone set by the dialogue and revving of engines in the brief instrumental opener, "Number One"), but we won't hold that against 'em. I have two main complaints about this record, though: the songs too often tend to be a little long (most are in the 4-5 minute range), and they also sound a bit samey. I mean, scan the first three seconds of each song, and half the time, you'll hear practically the same keyboard intro! But still, the songs are good enough for me to over look these faults. Hey, if they're gonna sound the same, they should at least sound good, right?   MTQ=9/12

Aerospace - "A Minute History Of Air And Space" 7"  (Strings Of Nashville/Modesto)
If I had to pick one band that perfectly defined the sound of summer, it would have to be Aerospace. This Swedish quintet is just full of bright, jangly guitars, lightly brushed drums, and a soft Wurlitzer, and of course it helps that most of their songs are about summer (falling in love in the summer, wishing for the summer to return, etc). They've got an energetic urgent sound that makes these four gentle songs so exciting. It's no surprise that a couple of these members have ties to the Shermans (another Swedish fave), though I find their sound different. This is comparable to 60s bubblegum pop classics like Herman's Hermits or the Association.   MTQ=4/4

Aerospace - "The Bright Idea Called Soul!" cd  (Seven Inch Soul Rebels)
The kings of sunny Swedish pop are back with their first full length. Now, I'm not sure if this is a legitimate release, or simply a cd-r (they sold all 50 copies they made at the San Francisco Popfest), but it's definitely worth talking about regardless. Three of these songs appeared on their recent 7" on the Strings Of Nashville label, but there are still nine new songs to be excited about! With song titles like "Summer Still Reigns Supreme", "Summer Bliss", and "Summer Days Are Forever", you can really see what the music will be like - all clean jangly guitars, lightly brushed drums, jaunty tambourines and bells, and optimistic vocals. Most of the songs are fittingly upbeat, though they do slow it down a couple times. Musically, I'd compare them to Rocketship, the Sea Urchins, the Shermans (well, Toby was in the Shermans and Christer still is), and various 60s bubblegum pop bands. Listen to this on the darkest of days, and you'll swear you can feel the sun shining...   MTQ=12/12