I Live The Life Of A Movie Star Secret Hideout - "Autumngirlarchershorsemenbringarrows" cd  (March)
I have been waiting for this record for over two years. It's been worth the wait, too! In the tradition of Beat Happening & the Go Team, Adam's songs are filled with sheer simplicity and beauty. At only 24 minutes long, this cd goes by all too quickly. The songs flow together very well, with occasional interludes in between songs. Though the number of instrumentals (four) is a bit above my limit, they fit in with the continuity quite well, and they still have catchy melodies; they're just sung by a xylophone or guitar, rather than a voice. But it is a shame, considering how much I love Adam & Maria's voices. In fact, it's good to see the a capella "Silver Hair" (always a showstopper) on here. Easily one of this year's best records!   MTQ=11/11

The Icicles - "Pure Sugar ep" cd  (Drive-In)
Debut ep from this Grand Rapids band, and this is pure indiepop, the likes of which I haven't heard since Cub, or at least B'ehl (but without the punk rock influences both bands occasionally showed). The song subjects on this record are about as indiepop as you can get: being a dorky kid at school, playing outside in the summer, cute boys, and hair dye. The band is made up of three girls and one guy, with girl lead vocals and lots of harmonies from everyone. Lots of glockenspiel and farfisa, and even some trumpet and cello. The record was produced by Dave Trumfio, chosen mainly because of his work with Holiday, and I have to admit that they've come really close to the Holiday sound in many parts, especially the guitar. Unfortunately, like most indiepop bands of this type, the songs are quite nice and fun, but they're pretty much forgettable.   MTQ=5/6

The Icicles - "A Hundred Patterns" cd  (Microindie)
I liked this band's first ep, but this debut album from them is miles better! It shows a big improvement in both their sound and songwriting - not to say they were bad the first time around, but the songs here are less derivative and much more memorable. Opting to work with the indiepop hit-makers at Marlborough Farms, the sound on this record has a bit more depth than the simple pop sound of "Pure Sugar", not to say there aren't plenty of simple pop moments on here, though! Songs like "I Wanna Know", "Snowman" and "Forever & A Day" are just as catchy as anything on the first ep! The lyrics have also matured a bit, though they can still be playful at times. Otherwise, the band hasn't changed at all, with girl lead vocals, lots of backing vocals, as well as glockenspiel and farfisa galore. A soft and fun winter distraction...   MTQ=10/11

The Icicles - "Arrivals & Departures" cd  (Microindie)
Like their debut album, which was a big improvement over their first EP, this second album is another leap forward for the band, in terms of sound and songwriting quality. Apart from the addition of a second guitarist (whose melodies complement the keyboard well and add a nice new layer to the sound), the band doesn't seem to have changed much since the last record; they still excel at writing catchy pop songs with deceptively simple melodies and lyrics that alternate between endearing ("Gedge's Song" is written from the point of view of an indoor cat that desperately wants to go outside) and bittersweet ("Nights Like These", for example). The only real difference is actually quite subtle (I didn't even notice it on first listen): every song seems to be a minute longer. And by that, I mean that their songs used to average about three minutes in length, but on this record the average is extended to four minutes. Like I said, it's subtle, but definitely noticeable during the longer ones, like "Whirling" or "Fall Day"...   MTQ=9/11

Ideal Free Distribution - "s/t" cd  (Happy Happy Birthday To Me)
This band was introduced to me (and most of the world outside of their home in Kentucky) at last year's Athens Popfest. They actually formed nearly a decade ago, but kept to themselves for most of that time, existing solely as a recording project for the three members. In the last few years, though, they concentrated on finishing their debut album, and greatly expanded their lineup in order to be able to perform the songs live. Sharing a love of the 60s pop sound of the Zombies and Scott Walker and the psych-pop sound of the Millennium and Love, this band creates a lush, orchestral sound (frequently fleshed out by mellotrons, synths and lots of extra percussion). But they have what so many psych-influenced bands of today lack: restraint and focus. At base, these are simple little pop songs (some, like "Saturday Drive", even borderline on bubblegum!), and they let things get a little wild at times, but then they rein it back in for another hook, rather than riding their tangent too long. The end result is a 47 minute long album that's both immersed in the psych-pop feel and packed with catchy pop songs!   MTQ=13/14

Ides Of Space - "There Are No New Clouds" cd  (Better Looking)
Debut cd from this Australian dream pop group. It's their first release on a US label, although it combines a couple eps that were recently released in Australia. Like most discs in this vein, there are a few too many slow, longer songs on here for me, though I do like a couple of them. If the rest of the cd had been like the first song, "This Side Of The Screen" (a slower one), I probably would've given up, but the next song, "Arthur's Car", just perked the record right up. As always, it's their upbeat songs that I like more, which actually sound a lot like the Mendoza Line at times (especially the soft male vocals). The record does tend to lean more towards the slow side, and half the songs break the 4-minute rule (especially the really dull 71/2 minute closer, "Movie Ending"), but I otherwise like this band's sound. Though I couldn't find a link to them musically, the sleeve is very Pale Saints-ish.   MTQ=7/10

The Inclined Plane - "I Am Pants" cd  (Popular Wallpaper)
This band already has a few self-released EPs under their belt, but this debut full-length is probably my favorite thing they've done so far. Each of their previous releases has had some great songs on them, but never really worked as a whole, whereas this record does. The band has calmed down a bit for the record, toning down their psychedelic tendencies and pretty much removing their noisier elements (meaning there aren't any crazy freakouts on here), though they're certainly still plenty lo-fi. But even though their sound is tamer, their songwriting is definitely much better now; the most appropriate (albeit obscure) comparison is the Mezzanines, but other obvious reference points include the Gerbils, the Velvet Underground and Pavement's slower moments. Unfortunately, it seems that the album is a bit too subdued overall (and contains a few dull spots), making it feel a bit longer than the 37 minutes it spans; but tracks like "Elbow Job" and the psych-poppy "Killer Roentgens" are definitely worth checking out!   MTQ=8/10

Incredible Weapons - "s/t" cdep  (no label)
This disc was actually submitted to me for inclusion as Demo of the Week, but a) it had an attractive package, b) Danny wrote me a really nice letter and c) I liked the record and thought it deserved a little more attention, so here's a full review! It starts off with "Pure '82", an Elliott Smith-inspired softer tune with a 6/8 waltz-y feel, and then goes into "Anna With Stripes", which hints at the power pop of the Sneakers or maybe one of the earlier Parasol releases. Well, if that song hinted at power pop, "Solipsister" goes several steps further and proclaims it from the rooftops! In his letter, Danny mentioned that this was his bandmates' favorite of the repertoire, and I must say I concur! The last two songs ("Ease Back On My Mind" and "Asking For Trouble") are gentler fare; the latter one is stark and lonely (and I didn't find it too interesting), and while the former is a good tune, it unfortunately suffers from being slightly out of his vocal range, and therefore lost the MTQ point. Still, I can see some potential here and look forward to hearing more from the band soon!   MTQ=3/5

The Individuals - "Fields/Aquamarine" cd  (Bar/None)
I hadn't heard of this band before, but the brief essay in the liner notes reads like an excerpt from "Our Band Could Be Your Life", with mentions of highly interesting/almost enviable things like Glenn Morrow's previous band (which featured most of what became the Bongos) playing the venerable Maxwell's inaugural show and the band working on their "Fields" LP with Mitch Easter at the same time that R.E.M. were recording "Chronic Town". And as their pedigree suggests, this band from the early '80s not only fits in perfectly with their peers of the time, but you have to wonder why this reissue hasn't seen the light of day ages ago! The band's sound incorporates both the catchy, jittery pop of the Feelies and the dB's and the artier pop of bands like Talking Heads and Oh-OK (with the latter especially noticeable on "Monkey", which was sung by bass player Janet), with a bit of the roughness of Television. With everything presented on this disc, I think I prefer the sound and songs on their debut EP, "Aquamarine", but the diverse range of styles and sounds found on the "Fields" LP is rather impressive. There are a few bonus tracks tacked on the end, but they're no more than an afterthought consisting of throwaway tracks and alternate versions of two album tracks (though I do have to admit I think I prefer the single version of "Our World"). Still - I'm grateful that these gems have been uncovered for the many of us who missed out on 'em the first time around...   MTQ=16/21

The Innocents - "Pop Factory" cd  (Zip)
This Tasmanian group was very one of the most important power pop bands in all of Australia during the late '70s (when they were known as Beathoven) and the early '80s. They took their musical cues from the Raspberries, the Easybeats, Badfinger, and of course, the Beatles, and at their prime were HUGE in their homeland. The band disintegrated in the mid '80s, but thanks to a key appearance at 2000's IPO in Los Angeles, followed by a highly successful double-disc career retrospective (the indispensable "No Hit Wonders From Down Under" on Zip) a few years later, they've decided to give it a go again. While reunions after such a large hiatus typically range from mediocre to disastrous, I'm happy to say that the Innocents managed to find the spark that made their early records so magical; in fact, this album is better than the one that preceded their breakup! They prove this point by re-recording one of their earlier classics, "I Wouldn't Have It Any Other Way", and doing a fine job of it. There are a few low points on the album (especially "While I Sleep" and a couple of the other slower songs), but some of these new songs, like "Your Precious Touch", "My Home Town" and "Nothing Like Success" would've easily fit in with their early '80s material!   MTQ=10/13

Inspaceno! - "Abraham Spaghetti And The Orb Weaving Spiders" cd  (no label)
This simple cd-r came to me in a hand-drawn and decorated sleeve; I'm not really sure if this is an actual release or just another demo (and there is virtually no information anywhere to answer this question), but what the heck, I like this band and they've already been featured as a Demo of the Week anyways... The band hails from Portland, but sound like they could've come from either Australia or the UK circa twenty years ago, combining influences from Crabstick, the Canannes and any number of the unknown geniuses that litter the Messthetics compilation series. One song will be quiet and melancholic, then you'll get a quick and catchy tune, followed by something skronky and noisy, and then they'll throw in a 30-second hardcore song for good measure. Sure, not every song is a hit, but with nineteen songs in 40 minutes, there's plenty of great tunes to be found! Like many of the afore-mentioned bands, you're gonna have a hard time finding this one; but when you do, it'll be worth it...   MTQ=15/19

The Instant - "I Stay Away e.p." cd  (Swing 'Em Low)
Musically diverse eight song cd from this Swedish band. Well, it's not really, since I can compare most of the songs to the Orchids. It starts out with a wonderful dancey-pop tune very much in the vein of the last Orchids record or a male-led St. Etienne. There are a few more quieter songs, too, not unlike the last Field Mice lp. And "(All I Need To Find Is) Someone To Love" would've fit quite well on the first Famous Boyfriend lp. The two instrumentals (let's say, um... Bark Psychosis) I could've done without, though. Very good, otherwise!   MTQ=6/8

Isabel At Sunset - "Meet The Gang!" cd  (Tea Kettle)
Hailing from a small town in northern Italy, this is the first album for this quintet of indie rockers. The record's sleeve may paint them as a rather jokey band (the artwork consists of various cutouts from the 50s, while the band themselves are given amusing nicknames and credits) and there's more than a little bit of humor found in the lyrics throughout the album, but the music is frequently not as fittingly lighthearted, often seeming more melancholic than catchy. Pavement stands as an obvious key influence (particularly the later era), but I can also hear other bands in the mix, such as Grandaddy and the Flaming Lips. Occasionally, there's even a bit of Oasis in their more grandiose moments, but the lyrics keep the band from coming off as too serious. Thankfully, the band printed the lyrics, because although they sing in English, the singer's accent is sometimes a bit too thick to understand the words, and I found myself referencing the lyricsheet a couple times to make sure he didn't say what I thought he said (although one time, he actually did!).   MTQ=8/11

The Ivory Coast - "The Rush Of Oncoming Traffic" cd  (Big Wheel)
Very melodic indie-rock from this Boston-area band. The songs I like from this (especially "Boys Being Boys", "Beating Of A Man On Fire", and "Breaking The Harness Straps") are pretty straight-forward songs, similar to Superchunk or Versus, maybe. The vocals are a bit emo, but still very enjoyable. This has many subtle synths and a great guitar sound, and is usually pretty upbeat. And with the exception of the dragging 9-minute "Grovers Mills", they're a good length, too. What I don't like about this, though, is something that the press kit tries to emphasize, which is the band's jazzy and subtle-dub elements. It kind of ruins it when the band starts jamming, like on "Ninety, Eighty-four, Ninety-one, Ninety-five" which isn't even a song, but a drum solo with bass accompaniment. I don't know: I really like half of this, and don't like the other half. I'd be interested to see them live, though...   MTQ=7/13

Ivy League - "London Bridges EP" cdep  (Twenty Seven)
I raved about this band when I featured them on the Demo of the Week page earlier this year, saying that they'll surely be a hit, with a special tip of the hat to "London Bridges". Well, it looks like it took about ten minutes for Twenty Seven Records (fast becoming a reliable name for indiepop!) to snatch them up and release this four-song EP, led by that very song! The title track is a slice of soft and sunny pop, not unlike something we'd hear from Blueboy or Lovejoy. The rest of the songs on the disc take an even softer approach, featuring finger-picked acoustic guitars, piano and Simon And Garfunkel-esque vocal duet melodies (although the end of "P Is For Penelope" breaks the mood a bit by going into a disco-ish beat with an interesting dual-guitar line). I hear there's a full length in the near future, so I'll be looking forward to that!   MTQ=4/4