Even More Goodies From the Record Pile

Posted on 20 November 2008 | No Comments

Filed Under: Album Reviews

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I could write these sort of purges every day for a month and still have stuff sitting in a pile on my desk downstairs. Since that is the case, I’ll keep on giving you the quick run down on some of the stuff that is taking up space ‘round here but worthwhile enough you might want to check it out.

On their sophomore album, Out Of Our Mouths, Philadelphia’s Illuminea plays mostly-moody and highly orchestrated indie rock/chamber pop that is much sleeker and more restrained than you might expect from a seven-piece ensemble featuring both female and male lead vocals.

MP3 | Illuminea – Homewrecker Out Of Our Mouths

Heath Street’s self-titled album is anchored by some superb acoustic guitar playing and glidingly pleasant vocal melodies. I’d recommend this to fans of James Taylor or (perhaps) maybe even bluegrass fans (???) that like pop music. A melodic and solid alt-folk release that’s super easy on the ears.

MP3 | Heath Street – Yellow Shoes Heath Street

Deerhunter’s Cryptograms plays like noisy and doomy Joy Division-y rock permeating through a haze of static with ambient synths blasting along. Maybe a little like a warped sorta electro-shoegazey Cure from the gutters of NYC. Yeah, something like that.

MP3 | Deerhunter – Cryptograms Cryptograms

So what the fuck is up with The Mars Volta? I didn’t even realize until fairly recently that they released an album, The Bedlam In Goliath earlier this year. Let’s just say this that it sounds like The Mars Volta, ya dig?

MP3 | The Mars Volta – Wax Simulcra The Bedlam In Goliath

I remember when Punchline’s debut was released back in 1998, it was embarrassing and awful. The band has gotten significantly better since then and the slick power-pop-punk of their latest Just Say Yes now falls sorta between Over It and Bayside.

MP3 | Punchline – The Hit Just Say Yes