R.E.M. – “And I Feel Fine…” (Capitol)
The best of R.E.M. on IRS Records is sort of an expanded Eponymous– most of the same tracks, but a whole lot extra, as well. Let’s be hones: either you know these songs or you don’t (and if you don’t know at least one of these songs, why the hell are you calling yourself a music fan?). The first disc is pretty much all the old stuff you know, the second disc is alternate takes of some of the same songs, as well as stuff that was popular, but not singles. Make sense? Probably not… but it’s R.E.M., and if you like them you’ll probably find a track or two that tickles your fancy.
Download “Finest Worksong.”
The Doxies – “In Search Of…” (Co-Opt Records)
Waaaaaaaay poppy. Not like Wilco, as the sticker on the back states. More like a little Guster mixed with the Anniversary. Based on the cover art (the same fella who’s done a couple This Bike Is A Pipebomb releases), I was expecting something a little grittier. When they say they sound like the Kinks, it’s latter-day, “Come Dancing” era Kinks. The Doxies are such a middle of the road wanting indie cred kinda band, it hurts. The opening from “Ghost” totally rips off “Breakdown” by Tom Petty, then the vocals rip off the Get Up Kids, for example. You could do worse, but you could also do better.
Download “Goat” and “Touch & Go.”
The Black Keys – “Magic Potion” (Nonesuch Records)
They’re back, with more of the same. It’s a cleaner recording sound, as opposed to the dirty lo-fi of the Big Come Up. Magic Potion sounds more like it’s studied lo-fi, as if the producer decided to mess it up a bit after it was all said and done: “Hey, let’s slap some reverb on the vocals!” It’s low-down blues-rock that the Black Keys play, but the novelty seems to be wearing thin on their fourth full-length. A bass guitar or keyboard wouldn’t hurt to mix things up.
Watch the video for “Your Touch.”
Ima Robot – “Monument to the Masses” (Virgin Records)
Might just going out on a limb here, but I’m gonna guess that Ima Robot really likes Devo. Just a suspicion. They do the whole new wave synth rock thing well, tho’. You’ll want to make with the robot rockin’ when you throw this disc in the player. It’s good, but the schtick requires an ability to look beyond the fact that the lyrics are a tad too serious. It’d be better if they sang about robots and spaceships and stuff. Maybe a song about Godzilla or something. I understand the whole idea of making the revolution accessible to the people, but “Stick It to the Man” had me laughing my ass off.
Street to Nowhere – “Charmingly Awkward” (Capitol Records)
Think of this album as a meeting place halfway between the chaotic joyfulness that is Against Me! and the self-absorbed songs about girls of Dashboard Confessional. When Dave Smallen and company get their shit together (as in “Tipsy”), the music is a joyful singalong. When Street to Nowhere fails (as it frequently does), you’re stuck with whiny songs about girls. Stick to the tracks like “Boxcars Boxcars Boxcars”, which have a strength to them that tracks like “Screamin'” do not, and you’ll be much better off.
Download “Boxcars Boxcars Boxcars.”
By starting in with musical education early children have a better chance of a musical future.