The Bamboo Kids "Suck The Life Out Of Me B/W Right On" 7"
Finally! I get some more vinyl in the mail! Labels take note, if you send me singles, you'll get immediate thanks from me. The Bamboo Kids make things happen with some snotty, singalong bar punk that will get your pulse pounding and the air guitar flailing. It's dirty, drunk, young and tuneful. Garagey blasts,with what I detect as a penchant for Elvis Costello and arena rock as well. It's on gorgeous white vinyl too! I hope to hear more.

Listen while you play: Virtual On: Oratorio Tangram
(Pro-Vel Records)

The Chargers Street Gang "Through The Windshield" CD
The Chargers Street Gang aren't your typical Get Hip band. They aren't even your typical band that records with Tim Kerr. The Chargers might fall somewhere in the Rocket From the Crypt/Hot Snakes/Drive Like Jehu camp as a beginning point of reference. Additionally, they have the clattering exuberance of early Superchunk and there is a bit of Hot Water Music running through the pipes. It's a little more serious and introspective than you might expect from Get Hip, but it still sounds like these guys are having a riot in the studio. There is a lot to like here: torn vocal chords, hooting and hollering, relentless hardcore snake-handler riffs, driving rhythm and raw power to spare. Don't miss it.

Listen while you play: Bionic Commando
(Get Hip)

Guided By Voices "Earthquake Glue" CD
Is it that time again? Guided By Voices are back for another of their many rounds, and by now you've picked which side of the fence you are on. I simply love this band, and "Earthquake Glue" is just another reason to feel that way. It's packed with loud, climactic pop music that goes perfect with too much beer and cigarette smoke (one of the reasons why their live shows are so much fun). Some of the recent Guided By Voices albums are the type of records that have to grow on you, but I immediately took to this one. The standout tracks are "Useless Inventions" -- a song that isn't anything you haven't heard from Bob and his bandits before, but it's a perfect example of their mastery of the power pop ditty -- and "The Best Of Jill Hives -- another archetype for what Guided By Voices can achieve.

Listen while you play: Spacewar
(Matador)

Iron & Wine “The Sea and the Rhythm”
Here’s an acoustic album that I wouldn’t find myself enjoying if it weren’t for the country and twang undercurrent. “The Sea & The Rhythm” is an EP with five breathy, quiet, navel-gazing country-folk numbers with some nice harmonized vocals. It’s kind of sweet and sappy but there is something primitive about it that I like. It’s kind of like the Byrds if they were stripped way, way, WAY down. I also like the fact that the cover design actually had me wondering if someone spilled something on the disc!

Listen while you play: Gunsmoke
(Sub Pop)

The Link Quartet "Beat.It" CD
I've always wished that more bands would bring the organ back into their songs, and wouldn't you know? Someone in Portland runs a label with a near-religious devotion to the Hammond B3. The Link Quartet share that devotion, and check in with a dozen triumphant organ-centric chunks of solid groove. These guys are touring-mates of The Diplomats of Solid Sound, and you can tell that they draw from the same book of influences -- the Meters, Booker T & The MGs, etc. But, you can maybe detect an affinity with the space age sounds of Hugo Montenegro or even Esquivel. It's very stylish and cosmopolitan, and doesn't get so retro that you feel like you need to be in costume. This is just great stuff -- especially if you love the sound of an organ.

Listen while you play: Las Vegas Poker & Blackjack
(Hammond Beat)

Monkey House "Monkey Pox Mixes -- Disque De Musique 1" 3" CD/EP
Roger at Coach and 6 is never one to shy away from something new and strange -- and he's got a live one here. Monkey House is another Modern Man project, I believe. He (and alter ego?) DJ C.I.L. are credited as members. This time, you get a wierd patchwork of spooky guitar, sound effects, samples, random-sounding loops and spacey, off key vocal sounds. This is a very short release -- only about 8 or 9 minutes -- but judging by the packaging it looks to be part one of a longer project that will be spaced out over four releases (Coach and 6 has never been real generous with the supplemental information). Overall this is a quality release from Modern Man, probably my favorite that he's done so far. If you've got a taste for something bizarre, this is the right stuff.

Listen while you play: Ape Escape
(Coach and 6)

The New Pornographers "Electric Version" CD
As much as I like to rock and roll, I am still a sucker for a great pop record -- and the sophomore album from Vancouver's New Pornographers, "Electric Version," is about as satisfying and sticky-sweet as a pop record can get. I really liked "Mass Romantic" and I put off this purchase as long as I possibly could. The Pornographers deliver layer upon layer of sugar-rush guitars, keyboards, random sounds and slick vocal work of Dan Bejar (Destroyer), Neko Case and Carl Newman (formerly of Zumpano and the amazing Superconductor). It's bubbly, bouncy, syrupy and smart as a whip. Sugary descriptions aside, the music itself has a lot of substance. The melodies are always the right ones, and they pack a lot of power into the delivery. You can listen to this over and over without getting sick of it. At least I can. To hell with these video games, I'm going to start a Canada fanzine!

Listen while you play: Dance Dance Revolution
(Matador)

Preacher's Kids "Wild Emotions" CD
Tyler Keith, of Neckbones fame, is back with his latest, The Preachers Kids, and their new album "Wild Emotions," an Exile on Mainstreet meets Carl Perkins blast of capital F-U-N. If you were a Neckbones fan, you'll be one pleased little buckaroo. It's pretty similar to what Keith has done before, with wailing, swaggering, skull-stomping, soulful punk rock, but it's probably a little glossier and (just a little) more refined. It's got a great beat and you can get drunk to it. YES!

Listen while you play: Grand Theft Auto (and download GTA absolutely free for PC)
(Get Hip)

The Romantics "61/49" CD
Yep. It's the Romantics you're thinking about! The ones who sang "What I Like About You." The ones who you heard at countless parties and on numerous road trips while cranking the radio dial to the classic rock station. The Romantics are still at it, the rock is a bit raunchier nowadays compared to when they topped the charts, but they've always had a bit of a 60s garage influence rearing its ugly head from time to time. Here it's more prevailant than ever, with stupendous covers of The Kinks "I need you" and Pretty Things' "Midnight to Six Man." Their originals on 61/49 have a dirty, bluesy quality, but they still retain some of the power-pop that made them famous. This is quite a comeback album, and I hear that they have a split single with the Dirtbombs in the works!

Listen while you play: Tron
(Web Entertainment)

Rosie Thomas “Only With Laughter Can You Win” CD
I am not the target audience for this album. I should probably start looking for someone with more of a soft spot for singer-songwriters so he or she could review stuff like this for me when it comes in, because I can’t actually tell you whether or not this is better or worse than Joni Mitchell, Ani DiFranco, Tori Amos or any of those artists that Rosie Thomas will forever be compared with. It all sounds pretty much the same to me. What I find most interesting about Rosie Thomas is that she combines really soft, delicate folk songs with standup comedy. That’s really impressive unto itself, because I think the typical singer-songwriter takes his or her material way too seriously. These songs, however, are not funny, so don’t think this is an Adam Sandler routine in the works or anything like that. “Only With Laughter Can You Win” seems like your typical singer-songwriter fare, with rainy-day musings accompanied by piano and acoustic guitar. I'm a little disappointed, actually, that there aren't a few comedic moments on the disc. I can listen to this stuff with an open ear, and maybe even like occasionally, but it’s just not my thing. I always come back to the knuckleheaded glory of a rock and roll tune. Even the really earnest, heartfelt stuff needs to be couched in a big, monstrous sound to get me to sit up and take notice (re: Chargers Street Gang). I can’t take all of this drama. I wouldn’t listen to this disc again, but I would definitely go see her live so I can catch the screwball comedy stuff. That sounds very appealing – especially to see the look on the face of everyone who doesn’t know what to expect.

Listen while you play: Ladybug
(Sub Pop)

Various Artists "It Came From Uranus" CD
The latest, greatest label in showbiz, Pro-Vel, decided to showcase the latest and greatest in Midwest dirtball punk and garage bands. They didn't mess around. They enlisted the bands that are seriously worth your time. It starts out with a song from the new Mistreaters album, who will give you a case of the wows if you haven't heard their latest on Estrus. I finally got to hear a band that I've been putting off for a long time on here, the wicked Wisconsin band Sagger. I'm a convert. Their song "Black Market Body Parts" is evil genius. The Tyrades bring "Can't Stand It" aboard, and give you a solid dose of vital Chicago tantrum action. If you haven't seen them live you need to get to to work. Other highlights are tracks by Bleed, Tomorrow's Cavemen, The Lordly Serpents, The Cripplers, The Bitter Pills and All-Night Movers. All-in-all, I was happy to hear the great tracks from bands that I was familiar with, and I was exposed to some really good new shit as well. Compilations are a mixed bag by design, and this is one example of that being a very cool thing.

Listen while you play: Burgertime
(Pro-Vel Records)