The Failures' Union - "Sinker" cd  (One Percent Press)
I first heard this band a couple years ago when I was really getting into Lemuria (Jason from Lemuria also plays bass for this band); I picked up their first album and thought it was pretty good, but it didn't really grab me. Now we have their second album, and it's an entirely different story. They've taken their Superchunk/Archers Of Loaf-inspired indie rock sound and refined it a bit, creating a much more original and interesting record than their debut. This record is chock full of catchy indie rock tunes, with instant favorites including the title track, "Give Way", "West Coast, NY", "The Worst" and a revamped version of an earlier single, "Friends In Jail". They also show off a bit of a country influence with the poppy "Useless Facts" and the sadder "Carry It Well", both of which feature prominent use of pedal steel guitar. Even with sixteen songs, the album still only clocks in at just over 41 minutes, thanks to the handful of minute-long tracks sprinkled throughout the album - they're not exactly filler, but seem more like song ideas that never got beyond just a single verse or chorus. I quite liked "Step Light", but found the other two to be less interesting. A big improvement for this band, and a rather good record, as well!   MTQ=13/16

The Faintest Ideas - "What Goes Up Must Calm Down" cd  (Magic Marker)
For those who don't already know, the Faintest Ideas is the new name for Javelins from Gothenburg, Sweden - same lineup and classic sound, but now with a name not already taken by lesser bands. Regular readers will be unsurprised by the fact that I completely love this record, both because I've been raving about each of their releases for the last few years and also because this album topped my "best of 2006" list. And that's just the tip of the praise they desreve, as every song on their American debut is a hit! Like their previous releases, these songs tend to be as melodic as they are speedy (with most lasting no longer than two minutes), taking cues from noise-pop bands like Boyracer and Wedding Present, as well as early Buzzcocks. No point in picking favorites, as they're all contenders. I guess my only complaint would be that a few of these songs are taken from earlier releases, but that doesn't matter at all because they're terrific songs and merit repeating, and many folks are unlikely to possess the entire Javelins back catalog (although, really, they should...). An amazing way to spend a half hour!   MTQ=15/15

Fairline Parkway - "s/t" cd  (Lazyline)
Debut album from this duo from Atlanta. I didn't really care much for it on first listen, but after a few more times, it sunk in a little better. It's very morose, quiet pop, similar to early Aden, Brittle Stars, and Vitesse. Maybe a touch of Pinback in places, too, in the sound of the production (see "Road On Fire"). The pair seem to handle the instrumentation fairly evenly, which includes guitars, keyboards, drums (both real and programmed), piano, and other assorted percussion. With the exception of a guest on a few tracks, the vocals are very nice, melancholic male vocals. The record has a very warm, atmospheric feel to it; very dreamy. Their songs aren't especially catchy (with the exception of "This Kid" near the end of the album), but they're not really boring either (well, most aren't). Most of the songs stay under the four minute mark, though a couple do stray into six minute territory. A very nice record, but it's the kind of music that I have to be in a certain mood for...   MTQ=8/11

Fairmont - "Transcendence" cd  (Mint 400)
Apparently, the band sees this record as a bit of a screenplay or novella, and though I might not fully agree with that statement, its opening track, "Being & Nothingness" (a 5½-minute long epic with a jaunty first half and a big-sounding extended coda a la Polyphonic Spree) certainly does fit the description. The rest of the album (despite a few blatantly autobiographical moments) does not have a transparent underlying theme. The band's sound reminds me of a mix between the Smoking Popes, the Prom (especially due to the frequent use of bouncy keyboards) and a little bit of Fountains Of Wayne (particularly in "Prick"), mixing a crunchy guitar sound with occasional fuzzy synths. A couple of the songs at the beginning of the record seemed a bit too "alt-rocky" for me, nearly scaring me off entirely, but digging deeper into the album proved rewarding, with favorites including "Luck Will Change", "True Love Waits For Me" and the final track, "Melt Your Heart", which is an uplifting tune whose outro contains echoes of the coda from the disc's opener.   MTQ=7/10

The Fairways - "Darling, Don't You Think?" 7"  (Matinee)
A long time in the making, but the Fairways have finally released a record! *applause all around* This is pure, gentle pop in the vein of Sarah Records. Imagine an early Blueboy 7" with a pop hit on the A-side and two gentle acoustic songs on the flip, and that describes this perfectly. The cover even looks like an early Sarah single! Pure beauty.   MTQ=3/3

The Fairways - "Is Everything All Right?" cd  (Paris Caramel)
I can't write this review without sounding like a thesaurus' entry for the word "beautiful". Simply put, this is perfect pop with super jangle and strummy guitars and wistful boy vocals. Blueboy, the Sea Urchins, Holiday... you name an indiepop classic, and this disc will sit well alongside. This is the best guitar-pop record since the Brideshead record. Everything about this shimmers. I'm honestly not too fond of the last song, "Let's Go", which is a bit long and slow; but god how I love "Close To Me"!! One of my top ten for the year so far...   MTQ=9/10

The Fairways / Three Berry Icecream - "split" cdep  (Dogprint)
Just in time for these two bands' West Coast tour together in July is this four song ep. It's one of those cool singles, where each band does a song, then covers a song from the other (not the same one). The Fairways songs are, of course, the breeziest soft pop songs this side of Blueboy. 3BI are a Japanese band that sing in English and use many different instruments, such as the violin & glockenspiel. Their soft pop songs remind me quite a bit of that Call And Response single on Shelflife. Very attractive sleeve design, too!   MTQ=4/4

The Fairways - "This Is Farewell" cd  (Matinee)
The Fairways and the word "delayed" seem to go hand in hand. Their first single took a couple years to come out, their second album took so long that it was finally scrapped when the band split up, and this release has been promised for so long that sometimes I worried for its existance - but at last here it is! Compiling several songs from that unreleased second record (some of which were finally completed specifically for this release), as well as the band's three singles (one for Matinée, a split single with the Aislers Set on Yakamashi and a split cdep with Three Berry Icecream on Dogprint), this is the definitive final release for this much-loved indiepop group from San Francisco. If you've not had the good fortune to hear this band, they can be perfectly described as soft and gentle indiepop in the vein of Blueboy, Camera Obscura and Holiday. Piano often plays as important a part as the jangly guitars, and Brent's melodious voice is always the center of attention. One listen to "Winter Song" and you'll know pure joy. The wistful title track reveals the most fragile sadness. And everything in between is just plain gorgeous.   MTQ=13/13

Fake Fictions - "Raw Yang" cd  (Fresh Produce)
I remembered this band and a few of their songs from when they were a Demo of the Week a couple years ago, but I really don't know much else about them except that they're a boy/girl three-piece from Chicago. Their sound ranges from the soft and sweet opener "Mess" to the post-punky "Innards", but most of the songs have a bratty indie rock sound that sounds like a cross between early New Grenada and later Bunnygrunt - mixing equal parts punk and twee. But no matter the style they're playing, the songs have a minimal sound to them (lots of treble and not a lot of extra parts or distortion on the guitars), although the delivery isn't always as restrained. Even though they aren't too noisy, there's still tons of energy coming out in songs like "Impossible You", "We Could Destroy You" and "Stuck In The Tide". This record may not be very deep, but it sure is a lot of fun!   MTQ=10/12

The Fall - "Totally Wired" dbl cd  (Castle)
Re-releasing Fall songs and records is a cottage industry for the band and their label, Cog Sinister. Along with reissues of classic early albums, such as "Live At The Witch Trials", "Hex Enduction Hour", and several others on Cog Sinister, we have this collection of songs from their heyday on Rough Trade Records. There is a lot of overlap, of course, with the album reissues and the essential "Palace Of Swords Reversed" singles collection (an album that would find a place in my top 20 records of all-time list, if I ever got around to making one). Most of their hits are here; personal favorites include "How I Wrote 'Elastic Man'", "Pay Your Rates", "Eat Y'self Fitter", "Tempo House" (the Fall are one of the few bands I allow to play songs longer than five minutes without balking), "Prole Art Threat", "Kicker Conspiracy", "Rowche Rumble", and of course the title track. It's no secret that I'm a major fan of the band's early work (too bad they haven't released a relevant record in ten years), so I am of course incredibly excited about this compilation; even if I do already have most of it on the original albums. For example, I'd never heard "Cary Grant's Wedding", which is interesting because it's referenced (in live form) at the end of "Putta Block" (which is sadly not included). And "That Man" is about the closest to on-key singing (well, singing, anyways) Mark E. Smith came during the band's first several years. Everyone who has heard the Fall already has their own opinion on the band; with their really edgy sound and Mark's insane lyrics and singing/speaking style-uh, they're one of those bands you either love or hate. I personally think they're brilliant, and encourage everyone who hasn't heard them to try them out. This collection (a double cd, that I usually see for a buck or two over single cd price) or "Palace Of Swords Reversed" are the best places to start.   MTQ=27/31

The Fallen Leaves - "That's Right" cd  (Parliament)
This band from western London may be somewhat new, but they've certainly been around for a while. Composed of participants in the late '70s UK punk scene (including a couple original members of the Subway Sect!) and leaders of the popular Parliament Club, the Fallen Leaves play high-energy garage rock in the vein of Mickey Hampshire and Billy Childish; you know, the original UK garage rockers, not the ones that have been tarnishing the genre's good name all over the charts in the last several years... The songs may be full of raw energy (check out the break in the middle of "The International Brigade"!), but they are also just as tuneful, with memorable melodies coming out in "Sylvie Says", "Listen To My Heart" and "Is She Somewhere". Yeah, so I wasn't too into the "Tequila"-styled one word party song, "Vendetta", but this is still a really fun and energizing record - and surely an exciting band to witness live!   MTQ=8/10

Fantastic Idea Project - "demo" cd  (no label)
Though the 19 songs on this cd-r run through a wide range of styles and influences, they are all basically very nice boy/girl indiepop. "Dreamliner" is an Autocollants-esque dreamy pop song with delayed guitars, "Big Dumb Me" is their nod to Aussie pop (think Huon or Cannanes), "Good Speed" is very similar to Dressy Bessy ("Jenny Come On", to be exact)... And there's also some admittedly generic sounding indiepop - which, of course, isn't necessarily bad if you happen to love indiepop! Fantastic Idea Project is actually a really good name for this band (which is just the duo of Liz and Matt from Portland), as this group of songs sounds less like an album and more like a bunch of great ideas/songs. Sure, there are a few duds ("Pussy Cat" was especially painful), but there are so many good songs to choose from. I also think the lyrics are occasionally a bit too "cute", but that only adds to the indiepop charm. This is only a cd-r, but I think it's definitely worth searching out, though I wouldn't be surprised if some or all of these songs were legitimately released within a year.   MTQ=14/19

Fantastic! - "Sun: What a Wonderful Word!" cdep  (Les Disques Aquatic)
New five-song ep from this Parisian band on the new offshoot label from the Riviera kids. The title track is an amazing song, in the vein of newer La Buena Vida records. Other musical points of reference I hear are Louis Philippe, the Pale Fountains & Super. Very well-orchestrated, full recordings. The cd is also very neat, as it's a partially clear where there is no music (like a 3" in a 5" size).   MTQ=4/5

Farmer Sea - "Helsinki Under The Great Snow EP" cdep  (no label)
This 3" cdep may look small, but it is anything but brief - the two songs on it are 5:13 and 6:00, respectively! The first song, "Neil Young Is Watching Me", is a mostly gentle song that kinda reminds me of Death Cab For Cutie until it gets to a Sonic Youth-ish noise bit near the end. The band does a good job at not making that song feel as long as it is, but unfortunately, I can't say the same for the title track that follows, which is a slow, effect-filled song (sounding like something you'd find near the end of a Grandaddy record) that just builds to nothing in particular. Still, I like the A-side enough to want to hear more from the band again.   MTQ=1/2

The Fastbacks - "Truth, Corrosion And Sour Bisquits" cd  (Book)
I've been a big Fastbacks fan for over a decade now, and I still love them now as much as I ever did. Their songs are so full of energy that it's hard not to get excited when you hear them. Okay, so the guitar solos were sometimes over the top, but that suits them perfectly - the band never really took themselves all that seriously, which helps to explain why they managed to last so long (though they sadly called it a day a couple years ago). This disc compiles fifteen b-sides and unreleased tracks from the last half of their existence - their favorites, anyways, so this is a lot like "The Question Is No", but with more unreleased songs (like the two amazing unheard ones that start off the disc!) and covers. Oh boy, did the Fastbacks love to record other peoples' songs; this collection includes nine of 'em, including classics from the Pixies, Raspberries, Soft Boys, UK Subs, and a pair from Kurt's brother, Al. These songs work well together, making this almost as good as any of their proper records. Plus, the disc was put together with a lot of care, including lots of photos and fun liner notes from the band. My favorite touch, though, is the bookend quality of this disc in my collection - I can tell this will be the last release from the band, as instead of their trademark "F" at the top of the spine, there's a "B", signifying the end of this brilliant band's long and rewarding (maybe not financially, but rather the reward of a job well done) career.   MTQ=13/15

The Femurs - "Modern Mexico" cd  (Homespun)
This band has been playing around Seattle for a few years now, so the name was quite familiar to me, but my first experience with them wasn't until I saw them open up for J Church last year. I'm not sure what I was expecting, but it certainly wasn't a duo of drums and acoustic guitar! I remember the band being quite a lot of fun live, with lots of energy and both of them singing together (that's where I picked up their first cd, too!). This is their second album, although it's really just a six-song EP with the six songs from their second release (last year's "Jack Cafferty v. Chuck Scarborough" EP) tacked on at the end, with the only difference between the two halves being a slightly clearer sound in the new recordings. It's near-impossible to pick favorites here, as I really liked every song right off (though I did think "Girl For Everyone" went on a bit too long). Here in town, the band is frequently put on punk rock bills (and both members are diehard Ramones fans), but if you just listen to the record on its own, punk is probably not the first thing you would think of. Sure, most of these songs are played quite fast, but with such a stripped down sound, these are really just catchy and fun pop songs - ones that any pop fan could love!   MTQ=12/12

The Few - "s/t" cd  (PSB)
I'm not sure what it was that made me pick up this cd - I'd never really heard of the band before, but the cover looked somewhat familiar, or at least interesting. Sure, there was a band called the Few on K Records years and years ago, but I knew that this wasn't them. Regardless, it was only a few bucks (ah, the bargain bins...), so I decided to give it a try. Well, it was a very successful gamble, as this turns out to be a rather good record! They remind me quite a bit of the later sounds of the Replacements or Superchunk - good, solid indie rock. The songs are straight-forward, well-written, and generally rocking (but never really out of control or noisy), while the vocals are often emotional (though I wouldn't label the band as emo). This gives songs like "Let Me Down" and"You're So Pretty" a certain charge, although the same quality makes the slower songs like "Dead Flowers" a little overbearing at times. The band's from L.A. (though you'd never guess it), but the record was recorded in Athens, GA with Andy LeMaster (of Bright Eyes). This is an excellent debut, and I'll wager that these guys are terrific live...   MTQ=8/10

Feyodor - "Aggressive Pedestrian" cd  (Powertool)
Though the label is based in New Zealand, this band hails from directly across the world in Finland. This record is pretty interesting, as not only are there a few different styles, but they're kind of grouped together, rather than spread evenly throughout the album. The record opens with a couple of bouncy and upbeat indiepop tunes, which naturally caught my attention right away, followed by the gentle and lush "She Has To Live With This" and then the Brendan Benson-ish power pop of "Or Something" (one of the album's highlights). Then the record quickly shifts gears - well, "stalls" is a more apt term - with two songs that have a lazy, Grandaddy-ish feel. The second one, "Sandpit", isn't too bad (albeit much too long), but the first is a complete bore. Then all of a sudden, we're greeted with my other favorite track on the record, "Getting Over Her", which reminds me more of the Tyde, followed by a few more tunes in a similar vein. The final track on the disc is one of those annoying "two songs separated by minutes of silence" tracks, although both songs are pretty good. Not a consistent record, but still a fairly enjoyable one...   MTQ=8/10

Ffa Coffi Pawb - "Am Byth" cd  (Empyrean)
Yow! I know it's a cliched thing to say, but man is the Welsh language ever strange, and some of these song titles are certainly a mouthful! This is a collection of rarities and lost songs from the pre-Super Furry Animals group, who were local legends in their time, though they had only a cult following outside of Wales (presumably due to the fact that they sang in their native language). These songs come from a variety of flexis, singles, albums and compilations recorded between 1986 and 1992, and certainly reflect the times well, with a mixture of classic British jangle pop and a bit of a Manchester feel, among other influences. Many of the later songs have a summery pop sound that reminds me a lot of the Jesus And Mary Chain and Honeyrider, while the earliest song (their first, actually) is a 45 second long poorly-recorded bedroom punk tune. Many of these songs could've been hits, were it not for people's aversions to foreign-language songs. For our benefit, the lyrics have been translated into English (along with some brief track notes), although they were the first to admit that the lyrics don't translate very well in many instances. This is really more than just fodder for diehard SFA fans - it's a genuinely interesting and enjoyable bit of Welsh-pop history!   MTQ=13/17

Fields Of Gaffney - "Nature Walk" cd  (Animal Friends)
Eric Gaffney co-founded Sebadoh with Lou Barlow in the late 80s, and appeared on the first five records, departing in 1993, after the band's breakthrough, "Bubble And Scrape". He's pretty much stayed under the radar since then, recording and releasing cassettes and a cd (as well as appearing on a couple 7" and compilation releases). This is his second album as Fields Of Gaffney, and the first since he moved to San Francisco a few years back. This is the first thing I've heard of Eric's new work (though I was a very big Sebadoh fan throughout the 90s), and it really isn't that different than what he did on the first few Sebadoh records - not the crazier stuff he was getting into on later recordings, like "Crisis" or many of his "Bubble And Scrape" songs, but more like what he did on "III". In fact, he even revisits "Scars, Four Eyes" (titled "Stars For Eyes" here), which is odd, as he hardly updated it at all; and the much of the album mirrors the same tone and sound that he used in Sebadoh. A few of the songs here have a more psychedelic bent (sometimes reminding me of Elevator), but for the most part, the songs are relatively straightforward and very enjoyable. The final part of the record is made up of an interesting assortment of covers, including Daniel Johnston's "I Did Acid With Caroline" & T. Rex's "Cosmic Dancer" (which I liked) and Devo's "Gates Of Steel" & Lonnie Irving's "Pinball Machine" (which I wasn't so into).   MTQ=10/12

The Film Stills - "s/t" cdep  (no label)
The Film Stills are four kids from Edmonton, Alberta, and are loads of fun! There's not much info on this cd-r, but it looks to be self-released. There are four songs in just over eight minutes, and they're all upbeat and catchy, reminding me of later Bunnygrunt (Matt's songs) or maybe the bouncier Kincaid songs. Among the jangly guitars and speedy drums, you'll find Sleepy Township-ish organs, lots of ba-ba-bas, and even a trumpet. With songs like "We Long For Summer Days" and "Let's Dance", it's clear that the lyrics are just as upbeat as the music, but they're not cutesy or anything. This is a great start for this band, and I hope that we hear more from them soon!   MTQ=4/4

Fire Don't Care - "Be What You Are" cd  (no label)
Yes! This is one of those records that makes listening through a foot-high pile of unknown/unsolicited promos completely worth it! The music is energetic, yet crisp, punky indie rock that mixes the sound of Braid and the Minutemen (I must say that I approve of the influx of Minutemen-influenced bands surfacing lately) to make songs that are both tight and concise (eleven songs in under 22½ minutes!). This band from northwestern Arkansas manages to keep these little balls of energy so trim by just having two people: Sam and Steve on baritone guitar and drums, which is probably the best two-person-band instrument configuration possible. Yet as intricate as some of these songs can be (in terms of multiple sections), most of them are also just as catchy and melodic, both in the guitar lines and the vocals (at least when they're not shouting). The only deviation from the band's noisy sound can be found in the quiet and acoustic "Desert/Ocean", but then again, the Minutemen were always known to have an out-of-place song or two on their records.   MTQ=10/11

Fireflies - "Goodnight Stars, Goodnight Moon" cd  (Music Is My Girlfriend / Lavender)
I had originally thought that this band was from Sweden (due to it being a split release between two brilliant labels from the country), but they actually hail from America, currently living in Chicago. And by they, I mean he, as Fireflies is the bedroom pop brainchild of a fellow named Lisle. The songs contained on this disc are mostly melancholic tunes in the vein of the Clientele (especially due to Lisle's quiet, breathy vocals), Harper Lee and Celestial (which is probably no coincidence, as the Lavender label is actually run by Andreas of that band). But you'll also find a handful of upbeat and jangly (yet still quiet and refined) pop songs, like "Kaleidoscope Eyes", "The Sky Turns To Black" and "The Dunes". The whole album seems to have a winter-y theme, so the timing for this album is as perfect as the songs are!   MTQ=11/11

Fishboy - "Little D" cd  (Business Deal)
This band from Denton, TX has been around for a few years, and this is their third cd, though it's the first record I've heard from them. They were one of the bands at this year's Popfest in Athens that stole the show and impressed pretty much everyone there, myself included. They're not as outrageously energetic on record as they were live (for example, there are a lot more quieter moments than I expected), but the album is still very enjoyable. The band plays catchy pop that doesn't take itself too seriously, reminding me a lot of Poison Control Center, as well as Of Montreal and Tullycraft. Songs like "Cheer Up Great Pumpkin!", "That's A... Jellyfish" and "A Surprise Return" all share a good sense of humor, although sometimes they get a bit too silly (like the opening track, "Intro (For Your Answering Machine)", which is exactly what it sounds like). In addition to some catchy tunes, you'll also find a fair share of orchestrated affairs on here, like "Start Again" and middle part of "Asian Grain". This is a very interesting record, indeed!   MTQ=10/14

Fishboy - "Albatross; How We Failed To Save The Lone Star State With The Power Of Rock And Roll" cd  (Happy Happy Birthday To Me)
Though this album just came out last month, I got a copy from the band way back in June, which means I've had a lot of time to listen to this record, and listen I did - at least several dozen times! Between that and seeing them play this same set of songs live a bunch of times this year, there was no way that this record wasn't going to end up near the top of my best of 2007 list (which I have yet to compile)! This band first came to my attention during an impressive live set a few years ago, which their first album, "Little D", just couldn't approximate (although it was still a decent effort). This record, however, actually manages to capture all of the spastic energy that makes the band so much fun to see live; you can actually see Eric and Adam leaping around with their instruments and the sweat pouring off John as he nails each complicated drum fill with precision. But what's more important is that underneath all of this manic energy is a batch of amazingly catchy songs with clever lyrics, which (in case you haven't yet heard) comprise a rock opera about being convinced by the ghost of Buddy Holly to save Texas with a simple song, going into a life of crime and ultimately getting caught (hey, operas are supposed to be tragic, right?). Basically, this is one of the best records released this year, and deserving of any and all praise heaped upon it.   MTQ=11/11