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Utilizing every instrument from marimba and steel drum to sitars and power tools, this eight-piece collective from Australia proves that pop music can be instantly accessible without being steeped in predictability. The band shifts identities so often and so haphazardly, it feels ridiculous and somewhat hopeless to attempt to catalogue them all. An album as abstract as this one, however, is a hit-or-miss type endeavor, and it’s likely the listener will find it to be either a distracting jumble of nonsense or a schizophrenic joy. -Brian Graham
Everyday
Squared Circle
C+
This is a solid underground hip hop release hailing out of California and it has a definite Bay Area sound. While it’s not bursting through any real boundaries lyrically or production-wise, this CD holds its own against anything out there right now. Savor the hotness of “Lock and Load” and bump this during your summertime festivities. There are really no weak joints on this album, which is saying something. The L.E.F.T. and Piseas are staying true to the spirit of real hip hop. Can’t wait for the next one. —Kristopher Monroe
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Either an emcee steps up with on-point lyrics or never makes it beyond the comfortable confines of their bedroom mixtape sessions. BK has chosen to deliver. “Shit List” challenges cats with lazy skills over one of those scheming, up-to-no-good beats. “What I See” tests the strength of family, and on the optimistic “Shimmy Shake,” she floats effortlessly over a disco-inspired backdrop. Elementary production is the obvious hindrance, but it’s not enough to dismiss the emcee—a clear vision and battle-ready lines will have heads emitting a collective “Oh shit!”—Emily Youssef
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If indies united to recreate “Grease,” this would be the soundtrack. “Mars Loves Venus” is a super-duper fun ‘60s bubble-gum pop album where vocalists Jonathan Bree and Heather Mansfield playfully preach, feeding off each others’ quirky lyrics. The New Zealanders’ second full-length results in a little bit country twang and slide and a little bit bossa nova, and a lot a bit keyboards, strings, harmony and smiles. The Brunettes bring a childish excitement on first listen as Bree’s rash voice rakes over a plethora of musical diversity. -William Goodman
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Was it really 12 years ago that Buzzov*en was on the scene making their unholy and sludgy racket? I must be getting old. Although the speed freak metalheads these days could take some lessons in harmonics found on this reissue of two EPs and one full-length, the ridiculous film dialogue samples and horror story lyrics have not aged well at all. —Robert Ham
Invisible Invasion
Sony International
D
The once-lively band of Brits who sang of pirates, sailing and lost loves have pretty much drifted off the ends of the earth. While the Coral still sing of the stale sounds of the sea, the passion is gone. The psychedelic rock’n’roll has dried up and drifted off into the sunset only to be replaced by some dull music, a singer who sounds bored and some rather uninteresting lyrics. I was hoping last year’s sophomore release was an experimental fluke. But with the release of their third album, “Invisible Invasion,” it would seem as though the Coral are destined for Davey Jones’ Locker. -Josh Davis
Cats and Kittens
Theory 8 Records
B-
Genre-hopping is so hot right now. Everyone loves ADD-infused music (Unicorns fans, I’m looking at you) and De Novo Dahl are no different. Despite forays into new wave, dance and an occasional Roxy Music-sound-alike song, the main undercurrent that tethers each song together remains that they all sound a bit like French circus music. And while it is always ambitious to release a two-disc set as your debut album, the second disc should include more than shrug-inducing remixes of the first one. But, to counteract this disappointment, there is a cute little kitten on the cover. Awww. -Brian Graham
Axes
Too Pure
B
Electrelane’s third album advances their sound still closer to the Krautrock they claim as an influence. “Axes” captures your attention with a live feel juxtaposed with angular rave-ups and pace-quickening shifts in direction. Unfortunately, it loses your attention with several inclusions of what seems, to me, to be the sound of the band warming up. Several breathtaking songs lurk between random instrument banging. -Nathan Walker
Ezeetiger
Kimosciotic Records
A-
While the denizens of hip lie at the foot of Beck, harkening his rebirth and return to the world of out-there, slacker, hip hop punk rock, people like EzeeTiger are laying down music that slays all genres. A mix of teenage garage, keyboard freakouts and crazy hessian rock culminate in one rocking, weirdo album. -NW
Demon Days
Virgin Records
B+
Let me just start this off by saying this is a really good album, and while I’m not blown away by “Demon Days,” it has easily found its way into constant rotation. Something about it tickles me like a cancer patient at Neverland Ranch. For being a comic band, the Gorillaz sure do know how to flow. Each song flows from frame to frame with smooth, illustrated arrangements and cunning dialogue; and like a good graphic novel, the CD as a whole flows from start to finish leaving the listener wondering what happens next. -JD
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America has Tortoise, Norway has Jaga Jazzist; though both are similar, the small differences in the bands’ instrumental swathes of soundscapes are not trivial. Where Tortoise will take its post-rock/jazz workouts to dark, crazed heights of discomfort, Jaga Jazzist create icy cool atmospheres that manage to give off warmth like a heavenly light in the arctic circle. Patriots will stand by their hometown heroes but I suppose I’m more akin to these Northern Europeans. -William Hillcrest
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Langhorn Slim is pickin’ and grinnin’ all the way into the not-so-distant sunset. I guess this is the new alt-country—banjos out of Brooklyn. Sounds like a summer hoe-down in some strange enclave of the city and it makes me want to shuffle right over and see what’s going on. There’s some really good songwriting here and some amazing guitar playing. “Drowning,” a slight downer, is a special favorite. Otherwise this disc is going to make you forget whatever cares you have, at least for a minute. -KM
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They’re the Newcastle quintet behind jagged little number “Apply Some Pressure” that’s been all over KEXP lately. Alas, they suffer from the same illness as a number of post-Franz Ferdinand UK acts: onehitwonderitis. With the Kaiser Chiefs, it was “I Predict a Riot.” The album paled in comparison. Same thing here, with the exception of “The Coast is Always Changing.” Maximo Park have a cool sound and a distinctive vocalist, akin to pals the Futureheads, but their songwriting could use some work (see “I’ll do graffiti if you’ll sing to me in French”). -KCF
Born to Boogie
Sanctuary Records
C-
Having picked the dead skeleton clean of rarities, B-sides and alternates for double and triple disc reissues of every album Marc Bolan ever produced, the powers that be discovered the unreleased soundtrack to “Born To Boogie;” Marc Bolan’s attempt at recreating Beatlemania. If you’re a Bolan fanatic, promise me you’ll buy every one of his albums before you pick this one up. -WH
Push Comes to Shove
Stones Throw
B
You may recognize this voice from Madvillian and Quasimoto albums, but for the artist best known as Medaphoar, his first-full length flexes dominant and reliable. “Can’t Hold On” is memorable for reminiscent rhymes and mood-matching beats, while “Pressure” fights back and declares exactly what the MC is about. “Push” is easily recognized for its club-rotation potential, but the lyrical content walks the line between predictable and confusing. Fortunately, production from Madlib, J. Dilla, Oh No and Just Blaze blend easily and allow MED to show just how precise his steez is. -EY
Menos El Oso
Suicide Squeeze
D-
If there is music that can induce an immediate panic attack, this is it. This album is like doing a three-foot line of coke before doing your math homework. “Menos El Oso” is all over the place; with a lethal dose of rhythm changes, bleeps and schizophrenia. It would be an understatement to say this album is annoying. A few cool-sounding guitars and interesting things do happen but incite less than a “hmmmm.” Minus the Bear are a talented bunch; it takes precision to make music out of mathematical robot talk. But I don’t want my music attacking me. -William Goodman
Face the Truth
Matador Records
A+
Malkmus has once again delivered to the masses. But who would expect less from this ex-Pavement great? Obsessive songs that leave you stuck for days, long songs worth reveling in and lyrics perfected. I’ve found myself unknowingly, then frustratingly humming “It Kills” hour after hour with no relief—hearing the song itself only a brief respite from its sweet torture. “No More Shoes” is eight minutes of deep guitar Zeppelin-like licks, ending in a screaming climax. “Baby C’mon” is plain, fun party music. Definitely an album to play in its entirety. -Angela Larck
Disenchanted Hearts Unite
Magic Marker
A
It’s summer again and what better way to ring in the new season than by picking up the latest release by Seattle popsters, Tullycraft? If the giddy harmonies and habit-forming hooks don’t inspire you to hit the highway for a weekend road trip, they should at least provide you with a fun soundtrack for your yard work. -RH
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AH, DEE-STORE-TION PET-ALL, SO LOUD, SO MUCH FUZZ, MAKE ME TALK LIKE THIS. Until ears stop buzzing. Harkens me back to the early ‘90s when grunge ruled all forms of rock’n’roll. But this Seattle three-piece makes its raucous debut fresh and devoid of glaring influences. At the front of all eight tracks is Dan Beloit’s dragon-like guitar, roaring and thunderous with its mighty wings. Of course the bellowing would be nothing without the tight support of the rhythm section, whose Semper Fi steeliness rounds out the sonic assault. -Shawn Telford
Worst CD of the Month
The Matapolitan
Second Nature
Another example of the sad reaction to the success of the Postal Service. It seems so many artists these days want to couple their sad sack, pseudo poetic lyrics with over-processed beats. An album that goes nowhere and goes there really, really fast. —RH