Racetrack - "City Lights" cd  (Skrocki)
I'm friends with the members of this Bellingham trio, as well as the label that released this disc, so I guess I have a bit of a bias here, so you won't be surprised if I say I love this record. Actually, you wouldn't be surprised anyways, as this is exactly the kind of music that I love: really strong indie rock that's as catchy as it is noisy. They remind me a lot of the indie rock of the early 90s, in the vein of bands like Hazel, Team Dresch, Juniper and Meredith. The songs are tight, with Chris's bass playing as melodic (and noisy - most of the album's feedback comes from the bass!) as it is rhythmic. Jackson, the drummer, sings lead on a few songs, though most are sung by guitarist Meghan, whose bitter lyrics fit the music perfectly. Many of these songs have been live staples for a while, so I'm already well-acquainted with most of the record, and it sounds really good and close to their live sound (though toned down a little; they get mighty noisy at times!). Sometimes, their songs get a little long, like in the breakdown in the middle of the title track and the extended outro to the album's closer, "Our Favorite Day", but only during the slower "Epitaph", do I find my interest waning. This is a very strong record, and it's a shame more bands don't make music like this anymore.   MTQ=9/10

Racetrack - "Go Ahead And Say It" cdep  (no label)
One of the best noise-pop bands to ever grace the northwest, Racetrack never really got much recognition outside of the area - which is a shame, as they definitely deserved it. I've seen 'em play at least a dozen times, and every show was pretty amazing; this EP lives up to everything they promised and is easily their pinnacle. Unfortunately, that's now a moot point, as the group disbanded a couple months ago upon this disc's release (actually, they were planning the break-up for a while, and released this disc to tie up the loose ends). But even though the band's now gone, the small legacy they left behind (this EP and their debut full-length from a couple years back, as well as a couple very limited cd-rs) will show others that they were seriously an indie rock force to be reckoned with. Any fan of bands like Moped, Sarge, Lemuria or Hazel will instantly fall in love with this record. Dear Racetrack, you'll be missed...   MTQ=5/5

The Radio Dept. - "Lesser Matters" cd  (Shelflife)
Co-released with Labrador Records in Sweden, this is the debut album from this ace Swedish band! I had initially heard that they were similar to early Jesus & Mary Chain, but I don't really see how that applies to them apart from a couple tracks (especially "Why Won't You Talk About It"). Alternating between shoegaze and jangle-pop (but generally gentle), they remind me more of a mixture of Lasse Lindh, early Cessna, later Field Mice, and Aberdeen (only with male vocals). I really love the singer's voice, too - very smooth and hushed, which works just as well on the slow songs as it does on the more upbeat ones. Occasionally, though, they do lose my interest ("Keen On Boys" goes on a bit too long and "Slottet #2" is a rather uninteresting instrumental), but overall this is quite a lovely record.   MTQ=10/13

The Radio Dept. - "Pulling Our Weight EP" cdep  (Labrador)
Brand new EP from the fantastic Radio Dept. from Sweden. These five songs follow in somewhat the same style as their debut album, "Lesser Matters", but I see them also going in a more New Order-ish (via the Honeymoons) direction, especially noticeable in the title track (which sounds a lot like the Honeymoons, but with more reverb, of course). The overall sound on this disc is a big improvement over the album. All five tracks on this EP are previously unreleased; apart from the title track, there is the very haunting "We Climb The Wired Fences", followed by the lone upbeat song on the disc, "I Don't Need Love, I've Got My Band", then "Someone Else", and finally "The City Limit", which makes great use of layers of ambient guitars, though it is a little too long. Not sure if they have a new full length coming soon, but I'm sure it'll be impressive!   MTQ=5/5

Rat Cat Hogan - "Vitamins & Calcium = Health & Happiness" cd  (Elsinor)
Rat Cat Hogan is the brainchild of a guy named Herbert (who occasionally goes to the Sierra) who writes and sings short, catchy songs (the best kind). Robbie from the Revolutionary Hydra drums and there are a whole lot of guests on here. It's kinda funny listening to this record and noticing all of the Seattle references that others wouldn't otherwise get - you know, like watching a movie filmed in your town and saying "hey, I've been there...". But that's not what's really funny - no, that would be the clever, storytelling lyrics that never rhyme. I pretty much loved this disc within the very first 5 seconds, but when I heard/read the lyrics to "Tofu & Crickets", I knew this was a real winner. The song is basically a conversation between the narrator and his talkative and nosy, but helpful, mother; he tries to tell her about the girl he's met, while fielding inane questions, like "Do you still sleep on the floor?" and "Are you eating meat again, or is it still tofu and crickets?". The whole album's like that, really. Musically, it reminds me a lot of Milky Wimpshake, complete with the nasal voice; but I swear "P. Adam's All Stars" has a hint of the Minutemen in it. In addition, he plays a baritone guitar, which sounds really cool in the live two-piece version. This record definitely comes highly recommended.   MTQ=14/14

Rat Cat Hogan - "We're Bicoastal" cd  (Skrocki)
Herbert Bergel is one of my favorite songwriters because he can make telling a story seem so simple and effortless. And that's what his songs tend to be - simple anecdotes, from the time they adopted their cat to meeting up with old friends in the street, and they're always interesting and told with great attention to detail. Herbert's lyrics are almost like postcards in a way. Their previous record, "Vitamins And Calcium...", was their first "proper" release (after a bunch of cassettes and homemade cd-rs), and though it sounded very good in quality, this one is actually miles better. I remember the first time I heard this, I was very surprised by how different it sounded, from Herbert's softer vocals to the subdued quality in many of the songs (up until now, the songs used to have a somewhat spastic quality to them, which is almost entirely missing here). Of course, I love this album, but I will admit that it took a few listens to fall in love with some of the songs like "Business Trip To Portland" and "Big Stan/Small Stan", since the music here is quieter and not as instantly catchy as on the earlier releases (even if the lyrics are). Still, it's a wonderful record, and a joy to hear new songs from the band, even though (as the album title suggests) the duo now live on opposite sides of the country.   MTQ=13/13

The Raveonettes - "Whip It On" cd  (Crunchy Frog)
I've heard that these guys were supposed to be hyped as the next big thing, but I haven't really seen anything yet, so who cares. I imagine it's just because they're part of the "new wave of garage bands" or something. The funny thing is I don't even like garage music. Heck, the fact that this Danish band is a boy/girl duo should raise a "White Stripes rip-off!" flag, but I decided to give it a chance anyways. I put this on, fully expecting to not like it, bit I was almost instantly sucked into the Jesus And Mary Chain-ish everything's distorted wall of noise. There's also a hint of "Isn't Anything"-era My Bloody Valentine. Even though there are only two of them, they choose not to take the minimalist route, and there are layers and layers of guitars and vocals. I'd be curious to know how this band pulls it off live. Not all of the songs are as instantly catchy as some of the other bands in this genre, but they do have their moments ("Do You Believe Her", "Chains", "Beat City"); and they are pretty short - these eight songs last 21½ minutes. The songs are pretty samey, too, but I don't hold it against them. Definitely an interesting record from out of nowhere, and I'd like to see what these guys do next.   MTQ=7/8

The Raveonettes - "Chain Gang Of Love" cd  (Columbia)
Though the Raveonettes were initially sucked into the same hype machine that's pushing the garage-rock sound of the White Stripes, etc, I don't think it's an apt place for them to be. I mean, I don't even really think they're garage rock, to be honest; and it makes it all the more easier to (wrongfully) dismiss them. I think that the classic Jesus And Mary Chain "surf music through a fuzz pedal" style is a more applicable description of the Raveonettes' sound. On this, their debut full length, they took a few of the fuzz pedals out of the mix, cleaning up their sound a little bit to make more room for the boy/girl vocal harmonies and reverb (though even that's been turned down a bit). The sunny sound of these songs is one of the key differences between this album and their previous "Whip It On" EP, possibly due in part to the help they received from producer Richard Gottehrer, who previously worked with the Go-Gos. The brighter sound also seems to have yielded catchier songs, as well, with instant winners like "Untamed Girls", "The Great Love Sound" and "Heartbreak Stroll". Like the EP, the songs on this record start to sound the same as you approach the end, but when you only use a few chords and progressions, that's a bit inevitable. I still forgive them that minor flaw, though, as one could say the Jesus And Mary Chain shared it as well...   MTQ=11/13

Razorcuts - "R Is For Razorcuts" cd  (Matinee)
To say that this cd is long overdue would be a great understatement. Most of you have probably heard the Razorcuts by now, or have at the very least heard of them. They were one of the quintessential pop bands of the late 80s UK scene, releasing a handful of singles on Subway and Flying Nun UK followed by two albums on Creation Records. They are probably, along with (EARLY!) Primal Scream, my favorite band of that era. This disc is a retrospective of their singles and albums, hand picked by the two main members of the band, Gregory Webster (now in Sportique) and Tim Vass. Since this cd only has 20 of the 35 songs they've ever released, everyone who cares will, of course, have their complaints about what's missing. For me, that would be the omission of "Snowbirds Don't Fly" (I mean, come on - that song is FAR superior to "Mary Day"!). And "Snowbound". And "Mile High Towers". Okay, I'll stop now. ... "Waterfall". (Sorry.) ... But aside from that, this is a very well done collection of their work, complete with liner notes from Tim and Gregory, as well as Everett True, who released "Sad Kaleidoscope" on a flexi back in 1987 (and yes, it's included here). There is also a previously unreleased track, "The Horror Of Party Beach", a demo from 1985, which isn't really of the same caliber as their later work, but is still a hell of a lot more entertaining than "Music From Big Pink" (thankfully, not included)! However, as much as I love the fact that this release has finally seen the light of day, I think this cd is more to the benefit of the folks who don't own the original records (which are by now quite rare, of course), than those who already have and cherish them...   MTQ=20/21

Razorcuts - "A Is For Alphabet" cdep  (Matinee)
After what I can imagine was an immense amount of pressure, Matinée has released another small batch of Razorcuts gems! The title track is taken from the essential Razorcuts collection, "R Is For Razorcuts", and it's backed by four songs not on that cd. The first two are "First Day" from the Flying Nun UK 12" single & "Snowbound" (THANK YOU!) from the "The World Keeps Turning" lp on Creation, both of which are top-notch, of course. The other two songs, "Sometimes I Worry About You" & "For Always", were demos that were originally issued on the notoriously rare Caff 7". While good songs, they lack the shimmering quality of the rest of the bands's output. However, the rarity of them makes them a definite welcome sight. No fun liner notes this time around, but I think the full length (which you do own, right?) covered that well enough...   MTQ=5/5

Tracey Read - "Everything Is Real" cd  (Chapter)
This is the first thing that Tracey has released since her excellent debut 7" on Chapter back in 1998, and this batch of songs is just as endearing as the first. The music is nice and gentle, with Tracey's guitar and vocals occasionally backed up by Mia and Guy from Sleepy Township (who also played on her first single) and Andrew and Matt from the Tucker B's (who also play with Tracey in her new band, Those Tiny Lights). The sound is mostly quite sparse, even when she's backed by a full band, and she really does have a beautiful voice. The vocal harmonies on the title track are as lovely as anything the Softies have done. And the a capella "All The Wrong Shoes" would fit well on a Julie Doiron record. I really like the drawings in the booklet, and at just over 24 minutes, this disc is literally short and sweet!   MTQ=7/8

Readymade - "The Block Alone" 7"  (Endearing)
Two song single from this Vancouver band, with a heavy emphasis on the electronics. The first song reminds me a lot of Hood with better recording equipment. It has quiet electric guitar and bass, electronic drums, and soft vocals - very sparse and spacey. However, the b-side ("All Different Things" - a Bark Psychosis cover) is a lot more full and lush. In fact, it reminds me a lot of Disintegration-era Cure! Unfortunately, it's an instrumental and quite boring.   MTQ=1/2

Rebuilthangartheory - "Rival Of The Cold" cd  (Brentwood Estates)
New full-length from this Providence three-piece. They play complicated but melodic indie rock, similar to New Radiant Storm King, Spent, or maybe early Versus. The guitar and vocal melodies are quite nice for the most part, but unfortunately not very memorable. On this 30 minute disc, a few of the songs are instantly likeable, but overall, this is definitely a grower...   MTQ=8/10

Red Bee Society - "Two Cops" cdep  (Gantry)
I found the A-side to this two song single to be a nice and vaguely hypnotic tune. Building slowly, but not to anything in particular, this song just chugs along at a reasonable pace for 4½ minutes, like Yo La Tengo or Luna reworking an old, unheard Modern Lovers classic. I think it's the guitar sound that I like so much - just the way that it enhances the song's rhythm. Unfortunately, the b-side, "The Homecoming", doesn't hold my attention for even a minute, though it shares many of the same qualities as the first song (only longer). I think this is the band's debut release, and it'd be interesting to see if the rest of their material stands up to "Two Cops", or if it just gets lost in the sea of the other dull, long-winded bands.   MTQ=1/2

The Red Button - "She's About To Cross My Mind" cd  (no label)
Wow, this is one of the best 60s/Beatles-influenced records I've heard in a while - in fact, if it weren't for the crystal clear production, I might've even been fooled to think a few of these songs were authentic! These songs meet every single requirement for a perfect 60s/jangle pop record. Pristine vocal harmonies? Check. Chiming 12-string guitars? In abundance! Catchy three-minute songs with bittersweet lyrics about girls that you either long for or wish to stay away from? See tracks 1-11. They even threw in a little psych-pop and folk for good measure. George Martin himself could not have put together a better band (ahem)... The Red Button is not exactly a band, but rather a project betwen Seth Swirsky and Mike Ruekberg, a pair of L.A.-based songwriters whose union has far surpassed anything I've heard from them yet. A few of these songs may sound like they were plucked right out of a bubblegum commercial, but really, this is the only style of music where that's perfectly acceptable. Give this record a few listens and you'll have a damn hard time trying to get the songs out of your head!   MTQ=11/11

Red Pony Clock - "Tunes From Terrace Towers" cd  (no label)
I have some mixed feelings about this release. On the plus side, I have to say that this is easily the Ponys' best and strongest batch of songs yet. Sure, they've released some amazing songs before, but they've never been as consistently good as they are on this record. So what's the problem, then? Well, they rushed the recordings and production of this disc to be ready in time for their tour this summer - and it shows. The sound is kind of muddy in parts (there are a couple songs that sound like they were never even properly mixed) and the whole thing just looks thrown together. Yeah, I know that these guys aren't exactly professionals, but if they had just taken the time and put a little more effort into this release, then I'm certain that a lot more people would take notice of this band and take 'em more seriously. I mean, with songs like "Love And Understanding", the humorous "Hayward Gurlzz" and "Never Had A Lesson" (a fantastic Beach Boys-ish pop song), the Ponys show that there's definitely more to them than a shamblingly fun orchestra - although there's plenty of that here, too...   MTQ=8/10

Red Pony Clock - "God Made Dirt" cd  (Happy Happy Birthday To Me)
I've always been a fan of Red Pony Clock, thanks to their fantastic live shows, but their releases have usually left me wanting more; they've always been one of those bands that plays up the lo-fi angle a bit too much, when their songs deserved so much more. Now, I'm not usually a fidelity-snob, but with Red Pony Clock's ten piece (give or take) ochestra, sometimes instruments and parts can get buried or muddled with lesser recording quality - so you can imagine my year-long excitement when Gabe told me last summer that the next album would be recorded in a proper studio! This is that album, and the wait was definitely worth it this time. Apart from the greatly improved sound, though, this record isn't too different from the previous one - they still mash up musical styles within songs, going from folk to ragtime to bouncy Beach Boys-ish pop, and even adding in other styles, like reggae ("Twelve Color Step"), ska ("My New Best Friends") and a playful stab at disco in "Don't Forget Who Your Friends Are". And Gabe's lyrics are as sarcastic/poignant/geeky (usually at the same time) as ever. There aren't quite as many instant classics on this album as the last one (though "Take A Side", "Special People" and "Don't Forget Who Your Friends Are" certainly qualify), but this is still possibly the band's best release yet!   MTQ=10/13

Red Sleeping Beauty - "Stupid Boy" 7"  (Siesta)
Yay! I'm so happy to hear five new RSB songs, even if they are old songs! Four of these songs appeared on the Japanese pressing of Bedroom, their first cd; and the last is taken from an obscure comp. In my mind, there's no such thing as a bad RSB song, and this is no exception. It's sad that they broke up, but at least they left behind a perfect track record. After all, this is the band that started the world's new love affair with Swedish pop! This has it all - soft female vocals, upbeat pop songs, trumpets, xylophoney-keyboards... "Two Hearts"' lyrics are a bit corny, but hey, it's pop! (By the way, these five songs are not on the new singles comp cd, so buy both!)   MTQ=4/5

Red Sleeping Beauty - "Singles" cd  (Siesta)
Truly one of the best indiepop bands of the 90s, Red Sleeping Beauty released many singles in their five years of existence, all of them represented on this compilation (except the newest one that was released at the same time). They also appeared on many compilations, but only two of those songs appear on this cd, leaving at least six songs unaccounted for. Where's "Hey!"? How about "Summertime"? Or "Breaking Up"? I think that if you're releasing a collection of songs, you should be more complete, but maybe there were licensing issues... My other problem with this cd is the lack of liner notes, an important aspect (I feel) of singles comps. Yeah, the artwork is gorgeous, like all other Siesta releases, but I feel the package lacks a sense of closure for a band that will be sorely missed. In any case, this is an otherwise fine collection, with favorites such as "Summer Tells Stories", "Can You Say Love Will Last?", and "Stay", all of which prove RSB's greatness. And this is absolutely essential to anyone missing at least one song here. But if you have all the original records, is it really necessary?   MTQ=21/21

The Red Thread - "After The Last" cd  (Badman)
This is a nice, gentle little record, with a bit of country influence (such as the gratuitous use of pedal steel guitar). I just put it on on a whim, and let it play as I did some chores, and found that it was quite enjoyable. Not exactly the kind of record I'd play on a regular basis, but there were enough upbeat songs on here to keep my interest. I guess I just happened to be in the right mood for this this morning. Mostly, this falls in Elliott Smith territory, but a few songs also remind me a bit of "Eerieconsiliation"-era Elevator To Hell, when they're not being weird. Do check out the cover of Bad Brains' "Sailin' On"!   MTQ=7/9

Desmond Reed - "Guinea Pigs" cd  (Wee Pop)
This fellow from Massachusetts was a Demo of the Week earlier this year; and since both "Guinea Pigs" and "Neat" from this very cd were featured at the time, you can already tell that they're good! Desmond's songs are a lot of fun both lyrically (particularly the title track, which is an ode to his prolific pets) and musically, with his bouncy melodies presented with just an acoustic guitar and double-tracked vocals, sounding like a cross between Let's Be Honeys and early Boyish Charms. By the way, if you haven't already heard of the Wee Pop label, they're a new 3" cd-r label from England, with a large handful of terrific pop releases available now, and definitely a label to keep your eye on!   MTQ=3/3

Desmond Reed - "Window Shopping EP" cdep  (Susy)
Here's the second release from this fine new label in Peru (and one that's already off to a great start, having even more fine releases ready since this one!), and it contains three new songs from one of my favorite acoustic popkids around today, Desmond Reed! Though he adds some keyboards in a couple spots, these are all rather sparse arrangements, with just an acoustic guitar and multi-tracked vocals. But I kind of have to wonder if Desmond is wanting a full band behind him; I can easily see "Dizzy" and "No More Room" turning into Weezer-ish rock tunes with a pop edge. What I find really funny is that though Desmond hasn't released too much to date, everything he's done so far has been on 3" cd (with this, as well as releases on Wee Pop! and Cass-et-tape), though he does have a full length album coming soon on Series Two - watch this space, I'm sure...   MTQ=3/3

Desmond Reed - "10 Acoustic Demos" cd  (Series Two)
After a bunch of 3-song EPs (mostly on the 3" cd format) on Wee Pop!, Anorak, Susy and Cass-et-tape Records, Desmond finally gives us a full album! Well, almost - most of these songs come from those releases (one each from Anorak & Cass-et-tape discs and the other two in their entirety), with only two previously unreleased songs. I don't know exactly why he didn't bother to collect all of the songs in one place to make it more complete (c'mon, no "Baby-Sitters Club"?), but I hope that this album will find a larger audience for him than those limited EPs. Desmond's songs are very basic in nature, generally comprised of an acoustic guitar and double-tracked vocals, with the occasional keyboard line here and there. His lyrics are where his real charm lies, though, with fun little ditties involving subjects like friends, pets and good times, bringing to mind the early solo Jason Anderson stuff. And those good times sure are mighty infectious!   MTQ=10/10

The Reindeer Section - "Son Of Evil Reindeer" cd  (PIAS America)
Q: What is 162 feet tall and weighs over two tons, yet is as light as a feather? A: The Reindeer Section. Har har. Anyways, this is the brainchild of Gary Lightbody (Snow Patrol), who has enlisted the help of members from top Scottish bands, including Teenage Fanclub, Belle & Sebastian, Mogwai, Arab Strap, whatever band Eugene Kelly is in these days, and his own bandmates from Snow Patrol to create a very typically beautiful and lush record. You can kind of imagine what it sounds like from the bands involved, and you'd be mostly right - warm, gentle acoustic-based folky Scottish pop. Even with the many people involved, including multiple lead singers, the record still sounds cohesive. It seems that it would've been easy for this to sound like a mess, but this was pulled off very well. Actually, my least favorite song on this record is "Whodunnit?", the only song not written by Lightbody.   MTQ=10/12

Kai Reiner - "s/t" cd  (Lakeview)
This is Kai's debut album, completely written, performed, recorded and even released by himself! The cover is a cropped picture of a Rickenbacker guitar lying in the grass, while the back sleeve shows Kai also resting against the same grass - and those images pefectly depict what you can expect to hear in the songs within. Each of these songs is a laid-back pop delight with a gorgeous and lush sound, and together create a perfect soundtrack for the summer (especially the mild one we just had!). His songs are in the same vein as Teenage Fanclub and the Byrds, but given the production and general feel of the songs, I'm actually reminded more of fellow German band, Seaside Stars. I will admit that the songs on the record do kind of blend together and can feel a bit samey (an unfortunate side effect of an album full of midtempo jangly songs), but as this is one of my favorite kinds of music, it really doesn't bother me at all! Especially since all of the songs are so well-written, so I can easily listen to this on repeat and still not get bored!   MTQ=11/11

The Relationships - "Trend" cd  (Twee Kitten)
This debut cd from Oxford's Relationships leaves me a little cold. I mean it has very good playing and the songwriting is okay, but I didn't think it was anything new or interesting. In fact, if anything, it reminds me of a Tuesday night bar band; or the Tender Engines. And the production is kind of crisp and sterile, with the many chorused-out guitars. In its favor, it is very strummy and relaxing and it features guests like Amelia Fletcher and Andy Bell, and it also has a beautiful full-color sleeve. But I guess you could say it's not my cup of tea...   MTQ=4/12

The Relict - "Along The Avenue" 7"  (Smashing Time!)
Kind of like a lo-fi version of the Clientele, this has a quiet, understated feel to it. Driving psych-pop that at times also reminds me of Madison Electric or Veronica Lake. Although the quality of these songs is decent, they sort of sound like they're demos.   MTQ=2/2

The Relict - "Tomorrow Is Again" cd  (Vegas Morn)
The Relict is often closely associated with the Clientele, and for good reason: both bands share a very similar sound, and all three members of the Clientele have played with the Relict (on this very album, in fact), not to mention the fact that chief songwriter, Innes Phillips, was once a member of the Clientele. So naturally, the songs are in the same soft, gentle Bacahrach-esque style of pop. In fact, aside from the vocals (sometimes by Innes, and sometimes by Lupe from Pipas and Pam Berry - even a few duets!), it's rather hard to tell the two bands apart - not that I'm complaining. Even with all the similarities, I wouldn't consider one a copy of the other; both bands exist together, only one has achieved popularity, while the other has remained somewhat obscure. As this is the band's first album, and therefore the first that many would hear of them, I do hope that no one would accuse them of being a knock-off... Also, you may have noticed that some of these songs were previously released on the band's earlier singles (many of them now sold out), but all of them have been re-recorded specially for this album.   MTQ=12/12

Remember Fun - "Train Journeys" cdep  (Matinee)
Matinée's surprised us with another blast from the past, this time from Remember Fun, a late 80s Scottish band that released about three songs (on a Sha La La flexi and two comps) before disappearing. So, I guess that this 4-song ep doubles their output, right? The lead track was recorded back in '89 (I think the others are older, too, but I'm not sure), and was meant to be released as a single, but never made it. It's excellent jangle pop that that period was known for. "Doze Off Them" is a bit slower and quieter, but still nice, though I'm not into the following track, "Three Chers (When She's Dead)", which is a bit dull. The final track is another classic upbeat tune. No word on if these guys are planning to record or release new material, but if anyone can get them to do it, it's Jimmy!   MTQ=3/4

Remodel - "British Racing Green " 7"  (Sad Gnome)
I typically don't fall for the double A-sided single concept - singles are naturally meant to have an A-side and a b-side (and whether the band contributes a solid song or a throwaway on the b-side is up to them). This record is one of many double A-sided singles I've seen, but they actually provided an alternate sleeve design for each side, so I guess that were it not for the A/AA markings on the record's label, either side is worthy to be considered the lead track. The music itself is mod-inspired pop in the vein of Sportique and the Higher Elevations, with a pair of energetic and catchy songs. I don't know much else about this London band - most importantly, how I can hear more from them), but I'd certainly love to!   MTQ=2/2

The Resonars - "Lunar Kit" cd  (Get Hip)
After hearing (and loving) a couple singles from this band, I thought I'd try out a whole album. Well, the operation was a success, as these songs are just as good as the singles. Of course, both songs from their second single are on this ("Flood Lamp Eyes" & the awesome "She's In Love With Her"), but still... Though the disc was released just last year, it sounds like it could've been lifted right from the 60s, from the vocal harmonies to the psych-influenced guitar lines to the crashing drums. This is the type of sound I want to hear when I listen to those Nuggets comps. Some people dismiss this sort of band, saying that they're merely retro ripoffs, but this record is more solid that the Nuggets discs!   MTQ=11/11

The Reverse - "The Longest Day Of The Year" cd  (Heartcore)
The Reverse is a two-piece, consisting of our old friend, Tara Emelye Needham (ex-Mad Planets) on vocals/guitar and Todd Karasik (from our other favorite Long Island group, My Favorite) on drums. I'd heard a pair of these songs a couple years ago (and featured them as a Demo of the Week here, as well), but apart from those, this is the first we've heard from Tara in quite some time. These songs aren't too different from what Tara did in the Mad Planets a decade ago in terms of songwriting style - both in her lyrics and guitar-playing style (using chords that make it hard to believe you're only listening to a single guitar). Musically, though, this is pretty different from her old band, mostly due to the stripped down line-up (although you'll find keyboards and backing vocals embellishing the sound here and there). The general mood of the record is pretty low-key, but songs like "Tell Your Mother" and "New Stars" are engaging enough to hold my attention, though I did find it harder to get into the more stark parts of the record, like "Lights Gone Out" or the instrumental title track.   MTQ=7/10

The Revolutionary Hydra - "Ratcheting Down The Melancholic Afterbeat" cd  (Elsinor)
I wasn't sure what to expect of this cd, what with the odd name and even odder song titles ("Oatmeal, Son Of Sopebocks" ???), but I really do like this. I know that if I listen to this a few more times, I'll like it even more. At times, they come off as Pavement or GBV, but not really lo-fi and with more pop influence. In fact, I bet this would fit really well on Merge Records... One of the first things I notice about the album is that it's got 19 tracks, and more than half are under 2:00 (with four around :45!), and that's great for me! Some people would say that this doesn't flow as an album, but that's never bothered me before. Also, there's an interesting novella on the cd, in Adobe PDF format. Warning: The first track on the cd is said novella - do not play it; unless you're a Merzbow fan or something.   MTQ=15/19

The Revolutionary Hydra - "The Antiphony" cd  (Elsinor)
Second full length from this Bellingham band, and it's very different from the first! Oh, they still play very skewed indie rock like (early) Pavement or Swell Maps, but where the last disc seemed more like various songs thrown together, this time they've put together a very cohesive album where the whole thing flows smoothly. That's especially reflected in the music, which seems a lot more thought out this time, too. The melodies are much stronger, and the production is a lot cleaner, thanks to Death Cab For Cutie's Chris Walla. Actually, they kind of sound more like DCFC here, especially the way the instruments play off of each other. Still present are the bizarre stream of conscience lyrics and clever plays on words. There's even a song about our sorely-missed old video store, "Crazy Mike's Video"!   MTQ=17/17

The Revolutionary Hydra - "L'amiral Suisse e.p." cdep  (Burnout)
Though this release is new, these songs were recorded back in 1998 with Phil of the Microphones, predating much of their first cd! Like their first cd, the songs on this are pretty short (5 songs in 12 mins!), and fit in the skewed early Pavement-esque indie rock vein. Actually, the first song sounds more like Eric's Trip. And all of these songs follow the usual Hydra caliber of excellence, though the lyrics to "20,000 Softball Leagues Under The Sea" are a bit dorky.   MTQ=5/5

The Revolutionary Hydra - "Airport Transit Guide" 7"  (Montesano)
Oh, Revolutionary Hydra - one of my favorite bands in Seattle, and amazingly funny guys, to boot! They're also one of the laziest bands I know. For example, their new album is pretty much finished, but there's no telling when it will actually be released. And though this single has a date of 2001 on it, I got it hot off the press at the end of May. But I'll take any new RevHydra songs I can get, whenever I can get 'em. And these two songs are similar in style to the ones found on their most recent album, "The Antiphony", and are both excellent, of course. The music is skewed indie-rock that, while it doesn't sound much like Pavement, owes a bit to their style. And the lyrics are equally skewed, with "Airport Transit Guide" being about a guys with writer's block becoming obsessed with writing one such guide, and I'm not even going to try to pretend that I know what the heck "Snowbound The Blue Flowers" is about (actually, it's now unusual to be perplexed by Hydra lyrics...). So let's hope that their record gets released before year's end. Wanna start a petition?   MTQ=2/2

The Revolutionary Hydra - "Knockout To Dispense" cd  (Elsinor)
The Revolutionary Hydra are most likely my favorite band in Seattle now. Their infrequent shows are always a treat, their songs are always excellent, and they're nice guys, to boot. This album is a little more downbeat overall than their last record, "The Antiphony", but there are still plenty of upbeat tunes (such as "Remember Little Satan", "That Swingin' Rubicon", and "The World Would Be Lost Without Raincoats"). Other than that, it's not too different from "The Antiphony": the music is clean, but still pretty skewed indie rock, with clever, storytelling/stream of conscious lyrics. And though the core of the band is the same four guys (Joe, Jay, Bart, and Robbie), this record involves many of the band's friends, including Chris Walla (who recorded and produced again) and Allisyn Levy (who sings a lot of backing vocals, and even lead on "In The Movies"), among others. The sleeve and artwork of the album has a "book" motif, which works quite nicely; especially the song list on the back cover, which has all of the song titles smashed together to resemble a quote about the book. An excellent record, indeed...   MTQ=10/10

The Revolutionary Hydra - "The PEEFs" cd  (Skrocki)
This is the fourth, and possibly final, album from Seattle's finest indie rock group, the Revolutionary Hydra. It's similar in style to their last album, "Knockout To Dispense", though the general mood is a lot more upbeat, both lyrically and musically. It starts out with the band's most rocking song to date, "William Wizard Cauliflower"; then a couple songs later you'll find "Space Movie", which is probably their catchiest song since "Oxygen=Death" from their first record. And, of course, each of the other eight songs are ace, as well, from the Smiths-esque melody of "Frenchies" to the Butterglory-ish title track. This record is a lot more engaging than the last one, and it might even be their finest album to date!   MTQ=10/10

The Rhinos - "Year Of The Rhinos" cd  (Rainbow Quartz)
Continuing a welcome spree of new 60s-styled jangly guitar pop records I've been getting lately, this is the debut album from the Rhinos of Sweden. The Rhinos isn't really the type of moniker one would expect of a band so gentle and lovely as this one, not to mention the kinda off-putting album cover. But this band is as pure as they come: full of jangling 12-strings and superb vocal harmonies (the band even recently hired an extra member to assist them live!), with songs that are usually best compared to the Byrds & the Hollies, though they occasionally stray both into America-esque soft rock and even Raspberries-ish power pop ("I Don't Want To Be Alone Tonight", though they briefly break into a Beach Boys harmony right in the middle). Unfortunately, though, I found that despite all of these very positive qualities, the record doesn't really contain any real "hits"; there aren't really any songs that stick with me after the record is over. That's the thing about this style of pop music: if the song doesn't stick with you after one or two listens, it probably never will. Yes, these are extremely enjoyable songs, but they're not especially memorable...   MTQ=9/10

The Rhinos - "In Rhi-Fi" cd  (Rainbow Quartz)
It's been quite a while since I last heard from this Swedish group, but I'm glad to finally see another record from them. Their forte is jangly, melodic guitar pop in the vein of British groups like Cosmic Rough Riders and the La's (check out the guitar line in "Before I Set You Free" that's incredibly reminiscent of "There She Goes"!) - and they definitely excel at this style. Though I usually tend to give preference to faster, catchier songs, I almost prefer the band's gentler moments, like "After Love Has Gone" and the psych-infused "Sometimes"; although even their catchiest one - "PTO" - is still considerably gentle as it is. However, though I love many of their songs, the Rhinos fall into that trap the genre is prone to, where too many similar-sounding and tempoed songs give the record a samey feel (especially considering its nearly hour-long duration). Still, there are plenty of enjoyable tunes to melt away the winter days...   MTQ=11/14

Bill Ricchini - "Ordinary Time" cd  (Red Square)
This is the first full length disc from Philly's Bill Ricchini, which he self-released on cd-r last year. Bill plays almost all of the instruments on this album (and there are a lot, including accordion, xylophone, bells, and more), though he is joined by friends on drums, piano, cello and trumpet. His influences are pretty obvious, as the 16 songs here alternate between (and sometimes combine) the starkness of Elliott Smith with the lush arrangements of Brian Wilson. Other times, I can hear hints of Belle And Sebastian ("Truth And Secrets" sounds like it could've been taken right off of "Tigermilk"). Most of the time, it's a bit of a downer of a record, though there are a few upbeat moments (songs of note: "Julie Christie" and "Rain Parade"). The vocals are nice and soft, and at times the lyrics are sung in distinct phrases, rather than flowing smoothly (which I thought was kinda cool). I like the packaging of this disc, too, which is a fold-over sleeve, with a velcro seal and lyric sheet insert.   MTQ=12/16

The Richies - "Forever And Today" cd  (Popboomerang)
Formed a few years ago by Charley Davis (of the Stereos) and most of the Pyramidiacs (including renowned producer and power popper, Michael Carpenter), this record took a while to finish due to conflicting schedules, but it was well worth the wait! This record is chock full of perfect jangly, melodic pop songs, in the vein of the Posies, Teenage Fanclub, Jellyfish, and the like; nothing very new or different, but absolutely joyous nonetheless. Every song on this record sparkles and shines, thanks to Michael Carpenter's production. And the songs are very catchy, of course. I'd try to pick out key tracks, but it's really hard to pick just a few... Really, any fan of power pop will instantly fall in love with this record, much like I did.   MTQ=13/13

Rick Of The Skins - "Here Comes The Weekend" cd  (ROTS)
I'm trying not to compare this to Thrush Hermit, but it's hard seeing as there are two ex-Hermits in this band. But really, this doesn't sound like TH at all. In fact, I'd say this fits in more with the current northwest US indie sound, like the Microphones or something. It mixes good pop music with some cool noises/noise, and has boy/girl vocals. I would totally believe this was on Elsinor or K, but instead it's self-released. It may be a pain to find, but do look out for it... Parasol's got it (and oh so much more!). It comes with a free iron-on patch, too!   MTQ=12/13

Rinaldi Sings - "What's It All About" cd  (Tangerine)
This cd kinda took me by surprise. It has a jazzy bubblegum, almost kitschy pop sound full of jaunty horns, strings, soulful backing vocals and of course Rinaldi's croon - what's surprising is that I kind of like it! The sound is somewhere between the Foundations and the Divine Comedy (as well as a bit of Neil Diamond in songs like "Avenues & Alleyways"), with lyrics as upbeat as the accompanying music and a style firmly rooted in 60s Britain (you know: swinging London, Carnaby Street, etc). Yeah, it's often a bit over the top, even bordering on completely dorky at times ("Come Fly With Me" or "A Matter Of Life & Death", for example), but it's still quite enjoyable, as I do have a soft spot for modern soul-influenced pop. I quite enjoyed songs like "Happy" and "Rollercoaster", but I wasn't too into some of the slower ones (apart from the lovely "This Time Tomorrow") or the songs that sounded like a Vegas sideshow.   MTQ=8/12

Rinaldi Sings - "Bingo" cd  (Tangerine)
It's been a few years since we last heard from Steve Rinaldi, but this record finds him in fine form, and is even an improvement over his debut. Most of the same elements remain, with the music sounding like a bubblegummy mixture of pop and northern soul that brings to mind bands like Spearmint or Dexy's Midnight Runners; but though I would still consider it somewhat kitschy at times, it doesn't have any of the cheesy parts that marred (if only slightly) the first record. The songs are much stronger this time around, with highlights including "Come As You Are, You're A Star", "Pick Me Up, Put Me Down", "Goodbye Steve McQueen" (which has Rinaldi sounding quite like Feargal Sharkey with his vocal vibrato) and the rousing title track (though it's essentially an instrumental). I was also really into the baroque-infused "She Don't Know", even if it does bare more than a slight resemblance to the La's classic "There She Goes". Here's to the sound of swinging London!   MTQ=9/11

River - "Poseidon's Girlfriend" 7"  (Shelflife)
Three song French pop single, with its finger on the bossanova button. I don't know about this. The first song sounds very comical, almost like a showtune with high-pitched vocals. When I listen to this, I see a white-faced clown with oversized shoes shuffling across a stage. The two songs on the flip are a bit more serious (?), and sound perhaps like Momus.   MTQ=1/3

Robert Church & The Holy Community - "Le Rouge" cd  (Series Two)
Here's another fine Swedish band on the Series Two label, as well as another past Demo of the Week! After a self-released EP, a cassette on Best Kept Secret and a Cloudberry EP, this is their first full-length album (and to make it even lengthier, they tacked on the "Low At The Disco" EP that appeared on the BKS cassette). The band's sound is kinda lo-fi, but kept pretty stripped clean without many extraneous noises, sounding like a hybrid of the Radio Dept and the Furtips. The guitars are generally distortion-free and most of the songs feature keyboard melodies while the gentler ones like "Eye In The Clouds" or "Grandmas Gold" put the keyboard (or piano in the latter's case) in the starring role. The older songs from the EP are all set to a drum machine, but most of the album tracks use live drums. Though the music makes them appear somewhat serious, their playful side comes out in the lyrics, particularly in songs like "Pimpin" or "SA10/UFO". Pleasant bedroom pop!   MTQ=14/16

Gina Rocco and The Rockettes - "Sea Tulip" cd  (Powertool)
Wow, even if I didn't already know the band's lineup (which includes Robert Scott of the Bats/Clean), I could've told you they were from New Zealand. What is it about that country that gives its pop bands such a unique, yet somewhat unifying, sound? The sound on this album is best described as female singer/songwriter with poetic lyrics - a combination that typically sends me running in terror, but some of the songs here were catchy enough on first listen that I couldn't turn it off. The opening song, "Frisbee", had me a bit tentative, but the next song, the upbeat "Jandals", sucked me right in, while the brief, Cat's Miaow-ish "Splinter" kept me in. Sometimes the songs are poppy and other times, they have a fragile quality that reminds me of Julie Doiron. There's also a lot of Clean-ish droney stuff going on in songs like "Seasore" and "Drugstore" - sometimes it works, and sometimes it doesn't. A rather pretty disc, overall.   MTQ=9/15

Rochester Fosgate - "s/t" cd  (Smooth Excavator)
This disc is the work of one fellow, playing all the instruments (though his name's not Rochester Fosgate, but Kevin Fullerton). The music is mostly acoustic-based, but with a more indie rock than folky sound, thanks to the frequently upbeat tempos and the use of bass and drums (though the quieter songs, like "The Faces Of People" and "Hold 'Em" are still rather folky). A few songs are a little louder, and in the case of "My Friend Greg" and the hard-rockin' "Arm And Hesher", it even gets rather messy and chaotic. It's obvious that the songs were recorded over time, as the sound varies between crisp and clear (like in "Pray For The Living", and my favorite track, the Gears-ish "Dr. Owner Operator") and the somewhat muddier (though not lo-fi at all) "Black Asphalt". The press kit says that when he plays live, he plays guitar, drums and keyboard simultaneously, but all I can think of is Homer's one-man band getting a monkey in the face!   MTQ=9/11

Anthony Rochester - "Music For In The Spaceship" cd  (Series Two)
I'd heard of Anthony Rochester before, but hadn't actually heard his music until a fine song of his ("Friend, Request Manager") jumped out at me from a Series Two compilation earlier this year. And then recently, I received this album from the same label, and was delighted to find out that the excellent song I heard from him before was no fluke! His music is a mixture of Jens Lekman-style crooning mixed with a Burt Bacharach-like laidback attitude and a good knowledge of vintage electronics. The songs run a fairly wide range from simple jangly numbers, like "Did You Lose Weight?" and "Mathematics" (the latter of which kinda reminds me of Eggstone), to the elegant Lightning Seeds-ish '80s pop of "Just Sigh And Move On" and from the quiet '60s movie soundtrack-worthy "Rain" to the '70s lounge/smooth funk feel running through "Lipscombe Larder" and "The Zoologists' Star". I didn't find every song interesting, but the ones that I did like, I really liked! But I definitely can't fault him for his diversity...   MTQ=9/12