Blitzen Trapper – Black River Killer (Sub Pop) – Indie-folk with a country twang is a dollar a pound these days, but few do it quite as well as Portland’s Blitzen Trapper. Started in 2000 and composed of six of the finest musicians the Pacific Northwest has to offer, BT has really put together an excellent album (their fifth and second on Sub Pop), even if it is only considered an EP. The requisite link to an in-studio of the title track, complete with bearded hipsters is here. For fans of Wilco (seriously), Of Montreal and Stephen Malkmus.

Sondre Lerche – Heartbeat Radio (Rounder) – This Norwegian megastar released his first album when he was just nineteen, and since then has toured with the likes of Beth Orton and Elvis Costello (not to mention embarking on his own ambitious world tours, of course), and yet the hits just keep on coming. The new album opens up with “Good Luck,” which is a bright poppy tune complete with his Norwegian drawl. Tres chic! Here’s a youtube link to the lead-off track for you: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0hULtmHm4g

Fanfarlo – Reservoir (Self Released) – An Arcade Fire clone? Perhaps, but there’s nothing wrong with that. Fanfarlo are release their debut full-length, and it’s jam packed with the orchestral indie pop you know and love. This album includes a lot of material found on their earlier EPs, but if you’re like me, it’s all new! Fanfarlo are a London-based indie group, and their video for “Harold T Wilkins” is pretty great!

Choir of Young Believers – This is For the White In Your Eyes (Ghostly International) –  Dusted magazine has called this the “missing link” between indie sensations Fleet Foxes and alt-pop mega humans Coldplay, and The Onion’s AV Club says “is majestic and haunting in the best sense, as Makrigiannis uses strings, chopped-up percussion tracks, and his own multi-tracked voice to create the sense of a gradually unfolding moment.” RIYL: Mew, Sufjan Stevens, Speaker Bite Me.

Jamie T – Sticks N Stones (Virgin) – Just four songs, but so much fun! A combination of the Streets, Conor Oberst, the Beastie Boys, Ted Leo and a kick ass summer night. That’s Jamie T’s new EP Sticks ‘N’ Stones.  Check out the video for Sticks N Stones here (also, check out the radio-friendly edit of this track on the computer).

My Favorite Girl – Another Bite at the Apple (Golden City) – My Favorite Girl is a Seattle-based duo who have put together ten indie-alt-country tracks featuring all the two-part harmonies you could ever want, plus a healthy dosage of sparkly piano melodies. For fans of the Indigo Girls and Fleetwood Mac (?)

Asleep in the Park – Coming Home (Self Released)

Dark Meat – When the Shelter Came (Emergency Umbrella)

Desolation Wilderness – New Universe (K)

It’s Elephant’s – Gets Along (S/R)

One Eskimo – S/T (Shangri-La)

Sally Shapiro – My Guilty Pleasure (Paper Bag)

The Sexy Accident – Mantoloking (Self Released)

Topherman – S/T (S/R)

Van Ghost – Melodies for Lovers (Split Red)

Timber Timbre – S/T (Arts and Crafts) – Hailing from Toronto and signed to Arts and Crafts (Feist, Broken Social Scene, Stars), Timber Timbre (notice the deft spelling) has been described as a modern Screamin’ Jay Hawkins (seems like a stretch to me), and as emulating other early blues musicians. This album is pretty sparse, and definitely dark, music-wise.

These United States – Everything Touches Everything (United Interests) – Hearya.com has called Everything Touches Everything one of the best albums of 2009, and it’s not even September yet. That’s saying something. Hearya.com also said that “you’ll taste some mainstream flavors, but you’ll also get lost along the way and sip on some home-distilled shit in some backwoods cabin.” Think Son Volt meets Andrew Bird meets Devendra Banhart meets quiet Wilco, and you’ll be getting pretty close. “Night and the Revolution” (track four) kicks some serious ass.

Anna Ternheim – Leaving on a Mayday (Verve Forecast) – You love Swedish artists, I love Swedish artists. Anna Ternheim is yet another Swedish artist, signed to Verve Forecast, which is something like the Fox Searchlight of the music world. This album varies from dark, rolling pop songs strummed entirely on the guitar (a la Nina Nastasia), to Bjork-fueled departures into the world of the electric. A great album if only for the wildly varied content found throughout!

Marmoset – Tea Tornado (Joyful Noise) – Good 90s sensibilities updated for the new millennium. Something like the Pixies, only without Kim Deal, or even closer to a lower-key Guided By Voices. Marmoset hails from Indianapolis, and I know you wanna support the Midwest scene, right?

Park Avenue Music – By Hearts+Horses (Mushpot) – Mushpot records is something of an upstart record company, and they’ve been handling all of their own radio promotion. I have a soft spot for record companies that try to do it all in house, so it’s always nice to give them as much airplay as possible. PAM is mellow, somewhat ambient indie music, with ample pianos, accordions and the occasional drum machine insert. Reminds me a lot of Panda Bear, or a REALLY laid back Broken Social Scene.

The Antlers – Hospice (Frenchkiss)

Leo Blais – Sincerity (Carbon Neutral)

Holiday Shores – Columbus’d The whim (Twosyllable)

Division Day – Visitation (Dangerbird)

Jared Goode – Timber EP (S/R)

The Jaguar Club – And We Wake Up Slowly (S/R)

Cary Kanno – One (S/R)

The Mumlers – Don’t Throw Me Away (Galaxia)

The Receiver – Length of Arms (Self-Released)

Tiny Animals – Sweet Sweetness (North Street)

DIGITAL ONLY (find them through the Automation):

Groundation – Here I Am (Young Tree) (Reggae)

Scott Hardkiss – Technicolor Dreamer (God Within) (Mostly instrumental RPM, like RJD2, but less hip-hop)

The Very Best – Warm Heart of Africa (Single) (Green Owl)

Zion I – Coastin (Single) (Gold Dust Media) (Hip Hop)

Brother Ali – Us (Single) (Rhymesayers) (Regional Hip Hop)

Shad – The Last Prince (Black Box) – Born in Kenya as Shadrach Kabango, this is Shad’s second full-length album. This record isn’t actually new (it was released in 2007 in Canada), but it’s just hitting the CMJ world now, and it was well-worth the wait. I love, love, love this record – it reminds me of the old-school De La Soul and Brand Nubian I started out with back in the day. Lots of samples reminiscent of a time long ago and a playful approach make this one of my favorite records of the year. It’s obvious he’s having a lot of fun doing what he does, and mixed in with less-serious (but still amazing) tracks are some top-notch political lyrics.

Those Darlins – Those Darlins (Oh Wow Dang) – Everyone loves alt-country, right? Well, Those Darlin’s dream it up with the best of them. Unlike old-school Neko Case, though, Those Darlins conjure up a lower-fi version of indie country, along the lines of Whispertown 2000 annnnnd… maybe Jenny Lewis? I dunno, but this album is a LOT of fun and a great addition to the summer rotation. If you can imagine me dancing around the office while I type this then you’ve got it… ….. …actually, don’t imagine that.

Throw Me the Statue – Creaturesque (S/R) – I’m a big softy for bands coming out of Seattle, it’s true. Throw Me the Statue is a band from Seattle, and maybe that has something to do with why I like this new EP so much. If you remember their last full-length, they’ve taken a lower-key approach to this album… hard to pin down what they sound like, but it reminds me of a more indie-rock Cure or something. All of these tracks are off an upcoming full-length album due out next month!

Tiny Vipers – Life on Earth (Sub Pop) – Creative Loafing calls Jesy Fortino’s new album a “candle-lit depression via songs more concerned with asking questions than providing answers,” and that’s pretty accurate. The latest Sub Pop release is a gloomy ass trip through all sorts of heady thoughts. Think of an even more mellow Cat Power, and maybe combine that with Julie Doiron… and then slow it all down and close the window curtains. You’re getting pretty close to the sound of the Tiny Vipers…

Sean Walsh and the National Reserve – Homesick (Lover’s Dream) – Another record from one of the newer promoters in town – Jenn Misko @ the Band Mom. The last release she worked, Tereu Tereu, has been doing quite well at the station and in the wider college music world. This record is quite a bit different, departing from the indie rock sound of Tereu Tereu to a more folky-indie sound, along the lines of Wilco, perhaps. Be sure to give it a spin, track 7 is the one I’ve been hanging out with the most…

Actors and Actresses – Arrows (The Mylene Sheath)

April Cover – Alive (S/R)

Bob Marley and the Wailers – B is for Bob (Island)

Brad Hammonds – Through It All (S/R)

Buildings Breeding – Colors Bent to Seasons (Mushpot)

Dear Landlord – Dream Homes (No Idea)

Demian – S/T (Le Plan)

Duck and Cover – S/T (S/R)

Eminem – Relapse (Aftermath)

Eugene McGuiness – S/T (S/R)

Lord Cut-Glass – Lord Cut-Glass (Chemikal Underground)

Low Anthem – Oh My God, Charlie Darwin

Magic Magic – S/T (S/R)

Modest Mouse – Satellite Skin (Epic)

Mos Def – The Ecstatic (Downtown)

Most Serene Republic – …And the Ever Expanding Universe (Arts & Crafts)

Ohbijou – Beacons (Last Gang)

One Hundred Hurricanes – 60 Years Under the Stars (S/R)

R.E.M. – Reckoning – IRS – DIGITAL ONLY

Ray Charles – A Message for the People (Concord) – DIGITAL ONLY

Ray Charles – Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music (Concord) – DIGITAL ONLY

Still Life Still – Pastel EP (Arts and Crafts)

Sunset Rubdown – Dragonslayer (Jagjaguwar)

Teresa Peterson – Say Something (Self Released)

The Builders and the Butchers – Salvation is a Deep Dark Well (Gigantic)

The Latin Project – Intermission (Gold Dust Media)

The Wallflowers – Collected 1996-2006 (Interscope)

Tiny Masters of Today – Skeletons (Mute)

Tonic – A Casual Affair (Polydor)

War Tapes – Continental Divide (Women)

It’s been a big week for WRNC in terms of returning DJs. BC Bob came out of hibernation to hit the airwaves with Funky Free Flites on Saturday night. This week: Pete Georgeson is back with his take on the latest underground Hip-Hop. It’s been a while since we’ve had a good Hip-Hop representative on the air, so be sure to tune in Saturday night from 10-Midnight to catch Pete’s return.

ADDS:

This week:

Busdriver – Jhelli Beam (Anti-) – Featuring guest appearances from Nocando, Myka 9, Nick Thorburn (Islands) and members of Deerhoof (not that you can play most of those tracks – the Myka 9 track is the only clean one among them), underground LA hip-hop artists Busdriver is back with an album described as being equal parts “smart and smart-ass” and being “theatrical without being pompus, and, as always, funny as hell. Complete with classical samples, jazz drumming and proggy guitars, all laid in to his trademarked electronica-oriented sound. For fans of artists ranging from Beck to The Yeah Yeah Yeahs to Animal Collective. Check it!

Elizabeth and the Catapult – Taller Children (Verve Forecast) – Another great record for folks who dig rolling, woman-fronted country-folks. In the neighborhood of Neko Case and Emmylou Harris, but also with a heavy hint of Regina Spektor. Combine those three artists and you get NY-based Elizabeth and the Catapult’s new release. This record was produced by Mike Mogis (Bright Eyes, M. Ward and Rilo Kiley) and has been described as a collection of “effortlessly soulful performances.” Featuring a cover of Leonard Cohen’s “Everybody Knows.”  For fans of the recent Zee Avi album, as well! This is a DIGITAL ONLY release, so you’ll have to find it on the computer, but I HOPE YOU DO!!!

Iggy Pop – Preliminaires (Astralwerks) – Iggy’s a better shouter than a crooner, but time has burnished his instrument with the character to fit these lyrics, and the best moments on this disc are truly inspired. Iggy Pop would be ill advised to give up on rock & roll, but Preliminaires shows he can do other things and do them well, and it speaks of a welcome maturity missing from many of his efforts outside the realm of fast and loud. (from allmusic.com)

Miike Snow – Miike Snow (Downtown) – Based in Sweeden, Miike Snow is a electro-pop trio that has worked with golks like Britney Spears (on “Toxic,” no less”), Madonna and Ms. Dynamite. For fans of crazy electro-pop and Swizz Beatz and The Neptunes.

The Ruse – Midnight in the City (S/R) – The Ruse’s arena-ready sound distinguishes this band from other popular indie groups. Mixed with intimate and thoughtful melodies, their songs crawl into your head and take hold of your heart.

Armed with the new album Midnight in the City, The Ruse is taking its brand of epic rock to new heights. From the punky New Wave first moments of the opener ‘Beautiful is Gone’ to the classic rock swagger of title track ‘Midnight in the City,’ The Ruse takes listeners for a night out on the town and doesn’t bring them home until the sun comes up. (from their myspace)

Black Mercies – Murder It Sweetly (S/R) – post punk

Andrea Nardello – Until Now (S/R) – folk

Redgy Blackout – The Leap (S/R) – proggy rock

Crown of Thorns – Faith (Lost Cathedral) – hard, arena-style rock

So Many Dynamos – The Loud Wars (Vagrant) – RIYL: Hot Hot Heat, Racetrack, We Versus the Shark

U-N-I – Land of the Kings (Single) (Green Label Sound) – Hip Hop RIYL: Blu & Exile, Ugly Duckling

Alexa Woodword – Speck (S/R) – RIYL Neko Casie, Jolie Holland

Digital Only:

LANDy – Eros and Omissions (Apology)

Magic Wands – Magic Love & Dreams (Bright Antenna)

Joyo Velarde – S/T (Quannum) – Hip Hop

The Glass – Wanna Be Dancing (Plant)

BPos – The Upside (One League) – Hip Hop

Last week:

Future Future – Future Future EP (Planetary)

Aggrolites – IV (Hellcat)

Anti-Flag – The People or the Gun (Side One Dummy)

Bike for Thee! – More Heart Than Brains (Anticon)

Blackout – The Best in Town (Epitaph)

Cubists – Mechanical Advantage (Semi-Precious)

Deastro – Moondagger (Ghostly International)

Dirty Projectors – Stillness is the Move (Single) – Domino (look for a full length next week!)

Elvis Costello (DIGITAL ONLY) – Secret, Profane and Sugarcane (Hear Music)

Love in October – Love in October EP (S/R)

Marilyn Manson – The High End of Low (Interscope) (really, check out track #1)

MeWithoutYou – It’s All Crazy! It’s All False! It’s All a Dream! It’s Alright. (Tooth and Nail)

Miss Kittin and the Hacker – Two (Nobody’s Bizzness)

Morakestra – Witness to Connection (Stratking)

Nickodemus – Sun People (ESL)

Wand – Hard Knox (Estatic Peace)

This Week:

Apostle of Hustle – Eats Darkness (Arts and Crafts)

Black Moth Super Rainbow – Eating Us (Graveface)

Mungus – Liminal (S/R)

NOFX – Coaster (Fat Wreck)

North Lincoln – Midwestern Blood (No Idea)

Passion Pit – Manners (Frenchkiss)

Polly Scattergood – S/T (Mute)

Tereu Tereu – All That Keeps Us Together (S/R)

Tin Star Orphans – Yonder (Sparks)

Zee Avi – Zee Avi (Brushfire)

Digital Only:

Ancient Astronauts – We Are to Answer (ESL Music)

Bpos – The Upside (One League)

David Last vs. Zulu – Musically Massive (Staubgold)

Elizabeth and the Catapult – Taller Children Single (Verve)

Elvis Costello – Secret, Profane and Sugarcane (Hear Music)

Esser – I Love You (Chocolate Industries)

MC Rut – 25 Years EP (Bright Antenna)

Nickodemus – Sun People (ESL Music)

Miss Kittin & the Hacker – Two (Nobody’s Bizness)

Zap Mama – Recreation (Heads Up)

Two Weeks:

Ben Harper and Relentless7 – White Lies for Dark Times

Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band – Outer South

Depeche Mode – Sounds of the Universe

Ed Harcourt  – Russian Roulette

Hugh Cornwell – Hoover Dam

John Vanderslice – Romanian Names

Julie Doiron/Calm Down It’s Monday – Split (DIGITAL)

Major Lazer – Hold the Line (single)

Maximo Park – Quicken the Heart

Mika Miko – We Be Xuxa

Proclaimers – 17

Suckers – Suckers EP

Thieves Like Us – Play Music

Last Week:

The Curious Mystery – Rotting Slowly (K)

Panic Years – S/T (S/R)

The High Strung – Ode to the Inverse of the Dude (Park the Van)

Soul Tree – One Part Lonely, One Part Fire (S/R)

Marcio Local – Don Day Don Dree Don Don Don (Luaka Bop)

Children – Hard Times Hanging At the End of the World (Kemado)

The Cliks – Dirty King (Silver)

Iron and Wine – Around the Well – Sub Pop

Loxsly – Tomorrow’s Fossils

Naomi Shelton and the Gospel Queens – What Have You Done

The Crystal Method – Drown in the Now

I also finally got through a SERIOUS backlog of digital releases. You can find all of these on the computer ONLY. All the clean tracks should either be in the “Heavy” folder or the “Regular” folder:

New York Dolls – Cause I Sez So

Headless Heroes – True Love Will Find You in the End

V/A – Causes 2 (ft. LCD Soundsystem, Gnarls Barkely, Devendra Banhart, more!)

Mocky – Music to My Ears

Staff Benda Bilili – Je T’aime

Federico  Aubele – Luna Y Sol

DJ Vadim – Thrill 103

Fischerspooner – The Best Revenge

Jeremy Enigk – Mind Idea

Hey Champ – Cold Dust Girl

Medeski, Martin and Wood – Amber Girls

Jane’s Addiction – Cabinet of Curiosities

Doom – Gazzillion Ear

PJ Harvey and Josh Parish – Black Hearted Love

Some weeks, there’s just not enough to make it through everything. We’ve been neglecting our friends at Spectre Music for a time, and this week we’re making amends. Check out these massive adds, featuring the likes of Doom; Medeski, Martin and Wood; Fischerspooner, New York Dolls, PJ Harvey and much, much more. These albums are all digital – so if you call and request something, be sure to remind your wonderful DJ that these tracks can be found on the computer. Click through to reviews for each album!

Federico Aubele – Amatori (ESL)

Mocky – Saskamodie (Crammed)

The Crystal Method – Divided By Night (Tiny E)

Various Artists – Cause 2 (Waxploitation)

Staff Bendi Bilili – Tres Tres Fort (Crammed)

DJ Vadim – Thrill 103 (BBE)

New York Dolls – Cause I Sez So (Atco)

Fischerspooner – Entertainment (FS Studios)

Jeremy Enigk – OK Bear (Lewis Hollow)

Hey Champ – Cold Dust Girl (1st and 15th)

Medeski, Martin and Wood – Radiolarians II (Indirecto)

Jane’s Addiction – Cabient of Curiosities (Rhino)

Doom – Born Like This (Lex)

Misc. – Happiness is Easy (Badman)

PJ Harvey and Josh Parish – Black Hearted Love (Single) (Island)

It looks like winter may have finally given up the ghost. I’m sure that, in five months or so, everyone in the Northwoods will be pining again for the powdery goodness that winter guarantees, but for now we’re super stoked to see the long days return.

Finals are this week, and that means that many of our student DJs will either not be doing their shows this week, or will be wrapping up their programming for the year. Be sure to tune in and give a call to your favorite DJ and thank them for spinning the tunes all year long! Also, check out our schedule periodically as we shift programs around and open up new blocks of time. Finally, get involved! If you’re sticking around for the summer, or you find that you just have a few more hours of free time as June rolls around, why not spend it with us and 20,000 of your closest friends? We’re always on the lookout for new programmers and DJs to join the WRNC radio family!

As always, drop us a line at radio@wrnclp.org for more info on how to get involved.

Metric – Fantasies – Last Gang – It’s been a while since the last Metric release, but I can safely say that the wait has been worth it. Fantasies is a sure lock for my top album of 2009 unless something impossibly epic comes along between now and December. Sure, it’s only April, but this CD is that good! There is nary a clunker to be found on this record. Acoustic guitars combine with wicked electric licks, thoroughly danceable drums and an awe-some interplay between the vocals and the music. Honestly, this is one of the best albums I’ve heard in years… I’ve only been listening to it a week, but I’ll go out on a limb and say that this will take its place along with Dookie! and The Misdeucation of Lauryn Hill as one of my all-time favorite records. The only FCC-unfriendly track is numba three. The entire album is the highlight, but I especially dig “Sick Muse,” “Gold Guns Girls,” and “Gimme Sympathy.”

Easy Star All Stars – Easy Star’s Lonely Hearts Dub Band – Easy Star – So the deal with the Easy Stars is that they take classic records, rework the tracks, Reggae-fy them and lay them down once more. This is their third album, following up Radioread and Dub Side of the Moon. This time Easy Star takes on an up-and-coming group called the Beatles, and their Sgt. Peppers’ Lonely Hearts Club record. Good times!

Samantha Crain and the Midnight Shivers – Songs in the Night – Ramseur – Samantha Crain is back with her followup to her 2008 release The Confiscation. Her last record did quite well at the station, and the folks who live at my house have already given this one their seal of approval. The songs on this album shift from moody, light folk along the lines of Mirah and Devendra Barnhart to the louder, faster sounds of Jenny Lewis and Rilo Kiley, and even Hello Saferide, if you’re familiar with her. It’s a pretty sweet mix, and I highly recommend this record to you!

Black Blondie – Do You Remember Who You Wanted to Be – S/R – This is a curious record that reminds me of early Amy Winehouse. Slightly caustic vocals paired with modernized blues makes for an interesting record.

Paleface – The Show is on the Road – Ramseur – The faster tracks on this record remind me of a Charlie Parr tune crossed with Hobo Nephews vocals. A fun, light, bluesy-folk sound awaits you on this record. For fans of Langhorne Slim, Ryan Adams and Ben Kweller.

Peekers – Life in the Air – Park the Van – This record reminds me a bit of the New Pornographers, if the New Pornographers sounded a bit more like Arcade Fire. Lots of layers and male-female harmonies make up a sound that has been called “retro-indie,” whatever that means. This is for fans of A Night in the Box, Dr. Dog, and Jenny Lewis.

Harlem Shakes – Technicolor Health – Gigantic – I’ve been listening to this record for about an hour, but I like what I hear, so far. Harlem Shakes comes to us from Brroklyn, and this is their first full-length since 2007’s Burning Birthdays EP. Special guests on this record include members of Beirut. This record continues the work of Arcade Fire and Wolf Parade in that it’s a highly produced record with lots of depth and complexities. This band, though, takes it in a different direction with goofy drum machines, more acoustic guitar and a little lower-fi sound. For fans of Walkmen, White Rabbits and Vampire Weekend.

Also:

Art Brut – Alcoholics Unanimous (Single) – S/T – Downtown

Black Dice – Repo – Paw Tracks

Chester French – Love the Future – Interscope

Empire of the Sun – Walking on a Dream – Astralwerks (RPM)

Eulogies – Here Anonymous – Dangerbird

Courtney Leigh Heins – Hot Coffee – S/R (Bluesy-Folk)

Immaculate Machine – High on Jackson Hill – Mint

MSTRKRFT – Fist of God – Downtown

The Thermals – Now We Can See – Kill Rock Stars

Poles – Twelve Winds – S/R

Rye Rye – Bang ft. MIA (Single) – Interscope

Scott Weiland – Happy in Galoshes – S/R

Yonlu – A Society in Which No Tear is Shed – Luaka Bop

And there are actually quite a few more… be bold, check one out, and tell me what you think!!

Yeah Yeah Yeahs – It’s Blitz! – Universal – The super stars of NYC are back with their third full-length album, and first since 2006’s “Show Your Bones.” This album is a slight departure from their earlier works, and has been called “Yeah Yeah Yeahs 2.0.” It’s still full of noisy guitars and alarming vocals, but there’s an added emphasis on the electro-pop that kids love so much these days. There are a lot of great tracks on this album, but the “lead singles” are “Zero” and “Heads Will Roll.” Right now this is a DIGIAL ONLY release, but I’ll try to copy it onto CD by midweek. For what it’s worth, we have the deluxe edition, which includes an handful of extra tracks. CHECK IT OUT!

Hopefuls – Now Playing at the One Seat Theater – Draw Fire – The rumor is that this Minneapolis-based sound like another coming of the New Pornographers. There’s some truth to that, and there might even be a hint of Mate of State-styled keyboards, but their sound is a little less polished than both. That said, I’ve been listening to the second track, “Idaho” all day on repeat. PLUS, supporting this band means you’re supporting a regional artist, and that makes you a better person.

Mansions – New Best Friends – Doghouse – This is a nice record… the jacket says they sound like Bright Eyes, and I suppose there’s a smidgen of Conor in the vocals of this album, but this record is far more upbeat and bumpin’ than anything I’ve heard from the Omaha-based megaband. Anyway, all comparisons aside, “New Best Friends” features some great 90s-era emo sensibilities and clever 2000s era beats to back them up. Not digital beats, mind you, just clever ones. Trivia: on the record, this is a one-man band (with some background vocal help here and there), but Mansions on-the-road is a full-service band. There are extra clean edits on the computer.

Maudlin – …And the Third Law of Thermodynamics – S/R – Perhaps the more noteworthy aspect of this band is that they claim to be from St. Paul. St. Paul? Really? It’s pretty gutsy to turn your back on the capitol’s bigger brudda to the west, but I guess these folks like to go big. Or something. Anyway, this record evokes some old school 90s alterna-pop (Weezer, Pixies, etc), and the more I listen to it, the more I think that’s it’s something I could have been rocking out to in high school. All around, I think the tracks that feature the female lead over the male vocals are the better bets. Some infections hooks on this record, though, and a nice kick through the door to spring.

Beach Patrol – Riding Dinosaurs – Duck on Monkey

Beep Beep – Enchanted Islands – Saddle Creek

Justin Bennett – Wanting More

Les Claypool (of Primus fame) – Of Fungi and Foe – Prawn Song

Chris Cornell – Scream – Mosley (Yes, that Chris Cornell)

Conshafter – Bombs Away, Baby! – Dark Epiphany

Doctors and Dealers – Lost Friends and Newfound Habits – Blue Song

Drag the River – Bad at Breaking Up – S/R

East Hundred – Passenger – S/R

Eula – Language of Threat EP – S/R

The Fatal Flaw – We Are What We Pretend to Be – Lunch

Fever Ray – Fever Ray – Mute (RPM/electro pop)

Bill Frisell – The Best of Bill Frisell Vol 1 – NonesJuch (instrumental folk)

Morgan Grace – Valentine – Lady Lush

My Glorious – Leper – S/R

Jeremy Jay – Slow Dance – K

Caitlin Nicol-Thomas – Troubled Times

Obits – I Blame You – Sub Pop

Ramblin’ Dogs – Rockin’ Blues

Jason Shannon – S/T – S/R

John Snodgrass – Visitor’s Band

United Truce – 1041 – S/R

DIGITAL ONLY:

BB King – Live at the BBC

Steve Earle – Live at the BBC