Philadelphia Weekly

MUSIC

On The Record

Album reviews in 30 seconds or less.

By Bill Chenevert

Add Comment | Comments: 0 | Posted Jun. 1, 2010

Male Bonding

Nothing Hurts

(Sub Pop)

Sounds Like: Brit trio’s debut of washed-out garage rock is fast, noisy and a little punk. But this is Sub Pop, so nothing’s very hard to swallow.

Free Association: “Year’s Not Long” single and video is a delightful play on the band name.

For Fans Of: Japandroids, Thermals, Buzzcocks, white-boy thrash.

Far

At Night We Live

(Vagrant)

Sounds Like: Sacramento quartet’s big reunion record after disbanding some 10 years ago is a power-rock tour de force with touches of metal and screamo.

Free Association: Perfect for teenagers and soundtracking WB moments.

For Fans Of: Live, Weezer, Our Lady Peace, the Verve Pipe.

Transmit Now

Downtown Merry-Go-Round

(Silent Majority Group)

Sounds Like: Blistering MTV-supported power-pop from Orlando’s debut is a horrendous mix of computers, Auto-Tune, power chords and sunshine-y angst.

Free Association: That cover is a total farce. That ecstatic pony must be on drugs.

For Fans Of: Paramore, Fall Out Boy, things that suck.

Windsor For The Derby

Against Love

(Secretly Canadian)

Sounds Like: Hushed and atmospheric rock from Philly transplants from Austin and Tampa—simple, ambient chamber rock that makes you want to nap.

Free Association: This is so chill, let’s just rest our eyes for a minute or two.

For Fans Of: Tortoise, Stereolab, Yo La Tengo, the Notwist on ‘ludes.

Toy Soldiers

Whisper Down the Lane

(Mad Dragon)

Sounds Like: Local folks make a bluesy, folk-rock record that feels sun- and bourbon-soaked, and also par for the course for a Mad Dragon record.

Free Association: Some of the finer moments feel reminiscent of Zeppelin’s blues joints.

For Fans Of: Hoots & Hellmouth, the Swimmers, Wilco x DeVotchka.

Paul Weller

Wake Up The Nation

(Island/Yep Roc)

Sounds Like: The Jam and Style Council legend has been making solo records for almost two decades. This one’s full of punchy, upbeat bursts of rockness.

Free Association: Takes you back to swinging ‘60s London, then right back to now.

For Fans Of: Stone Roses, Billy Bragg, Kinks, legends aging gracefully.

Holy Fuck

Latin

(Young Turks)

Sounds Like: Try to hate these knob twisters and tweakers, but the music speaks for itself on this one—energy, rhythms and funk emerge out of the noise.

Free Association: Singing feels overrated. It’s not necessary or missing here.

For Fans Of: Kraftwerk, LCD Soundsystem, Can, sweaty dancing with lasers.

Crystal Castles