This Minneapolis group has the knack of creating serene melodic

melodies then tearing them down with an attack of full out thrash.

The female vocals are quite remarkable and to throw in a cello on

top of that excites me as skeptic.  The drums are quite basic but fit

overall into an appealing product.   

First off let me tell you that this album contains different material

from earsugars seven inch series. There’s a mix of everything on

here from lo-fi rock to early Americana to Downtempo House. This

is a good starter for anybody wanting to listen to some good solid music

I’ve tried over and over again but seem to keep coming back to

the same conclusion this new Z-Trip album is flat. I was expecting a

lot more from this record and seem to feel a little cheated. I guess

Z-Trip should go back to the drawing board for his next release. 

The Frames Burn the Maps Anti (2005) Rating: 70%   Recommended if you Like: My Morning Jacket, Mercury Rev, Palace   This Frames release is steaming with anger and contempt and  at the same time sparkles with a searing and georgeous poignancy. It is however a mediocre release from a group with such a vast repertoire. There are a few gems worth checking out on this release and is a compliment to anyone with any of their previous material.           _____________________________________________________________________________

Narnack Records Is.. Compilation                         Narnack (2005) Rating: 84%   Recommended if you Like: The Fall, Langhorne Slim, Coachwhips   This Narnack sampler scans pretty much what has come out on this label in the last year or will be coming out in the next couple of months. Standout tracks from Langhorne Slim and The Fall displays the vast amount of talent this label develops. If you are not a fan already go pick this up for an affordable and persuasive price.   _____________________________________________________________________________

Novillero Aim Right for the Holes....                                                    Mint (2005) Rating: 81%   Recommended if you Like: New Pornographers, Spoon, Communique   Wow! this was a great surprise from one of the prairies few hidden talents. Novillero has more then one multi talented member in their group boasting piano, organ and the moog synth. Other then smashing the keys on all their finger prancing melodies they seem to rock out quite graciously. These guys are crossing back and forth over this Great White North this summer so I recommend you check them out as soon as possible.    _________________________________________________________________________________________   Suit of Lights S/T                                                          Visiting Hours (2005) Rating: 70%   Recommended if you Like: The Boredoms, Swell, Gazino    The Suit of Lights play an epic style of rock that comprises of loud guitars and soft and unassuming breakdowns. The production on this piece is top notch however, I still feel they have some maturing to do as an outfit. Overall this was a decent and practical first full length for a nouveau group.    _________________________________________________________________________________________

C-Rayz Walz Year of the Beast                                                   Definitive Jux (2005) Rating: 55%   Recommended if you Like: Kaze, M.F Grimm, GZA     This album turned out to be a minor disaster and left a horrible and gritty taste in my mouth. In an absurd twist of fate C-Rayz Walz has possibly put the final stake into the heart of a collapsing pool of talent that once was Def-Jux. It is not just his sub-par rhymes that weakened this recording it is also the crappy beats and production that leaves much to be desired. I guess all the backpackers will buy this album anyways so its not a loss to C-Rayz Walz.

 

 

Xiu Xiu La Foret                                               5RC (2005) Rating: 90%   Recommended if you Like: The Cure, Davendra Banhart, Hidden Cameras    Yet Another intense and dramatic creation from Jamie Stewart and the vividly talented Xiu Xiu home front. At times, this release is quite intimate and beautiful and at other times, it will have you lunging in anger at anyone who has crossed you in the past. You have to give praise to the creativeness and emotional anguish that soaks this gripping and theatrical journey. La Foret builds upon where Fabulous Muscles left off and will have you reconsidering the mental fabric that holds yourself together.    _________________________________________________________________________________________   Benoit Pioulard Enge                                                        Moodgadget(2005) Rating: 86%   Recommended if you Like: Fennesz, Oval, Pole   Exquisite and provoking are a couple of terms one could use to describe this serene escapade from Benoit Pioulard. It is always nice to uncover an album you know will not leave your player for an extended amount of time. A nice an innovative composition with multi-layered instruments displays a uniquely talented setting anyone could settle into. Overall, this is an unexpected gem from a humble and surprisingly talented young musician.    _________________________________________________________________________________________

Dynamite Club I'ts Deeper than....                                                 Funhole (2005) Rating: 67%   Recommended if you Like: Naked City, Weird Al, Shiuop   Judging from the bands press release there suppose to sound like a punk influenced version of John Zorn’s carnival antics. They do have a tendency for off timed hooks and scattered avant worship however, it never really seems to materialize into the free jazz masterpiece their trying to create. Maybe when they decide to get serious I will give them another chance.   ___________________________________________________________________________     TTC Batards Sensibles Ninja Tune (2005) Rating: 81%   Recommended if you Like: Ty, Diplo, Roots Manuva   This is the fun and entertaining music, us critics are blessed with every so often. It is a shame more French groups do not seem to have the flair and sarcastic-ness these fine gents possess. I just have to say thanks for brightening up this afternoon.            _____________________________________________________________________________         Stephen Malkmus Face the Truth                        Matador (2005) Rating: 85%   Recommended if you Like: Grandaddy, Black Mountain, Grifters   I think this is the album that everyone was waiting for considering his last two efforts were mediocre at best. Malkmus lets it all loose with a little traditional styled indie rock and some decent and proportionately affluent electronic instrumentation on this new release. I suggest getting out to your local shop and picking this beauty up because you never know when Malkmus might all of a sudden start sounding like Neil Diamond.                  _____________________________________________________________________________   An Angle We Can Breathe...                                                Drive-Thru (2005) Rating: 57%   Recommended if you Like: Bright Eyes, Cursive, Yo La Tengo     This is just the trendiest O.C ready indie-bashing piece of crap out there. Did you know that? The record amount of ice cream consumed in one sitting was 76 litres by a man out of Kentucky. I guess that Believe it or Not fact is a little more interesting then this horrible mess of an album.