Vivian Girls myspace/viviangirlsnyc
Everything Goes Wrong (Rhymemethod/Inertia)

Featured tracks: The End, Out for the Sun

Vivian Girls are one of those bands that received what seemed like an undeserved amount of blog attention and therefore their first album purposely passed me by as I refused to buy the hype. Then they toured relentlessly to rave reviews, answered some terrible questions (things like “If you had to be an ice cream flavour what would it be” in magazines that shall remain nameless) hilariously and released a sophomore album in an impressively timely fashion and I subsequently started to pay attention. Apparently the title Everything Goes Wrong is unrelated to band woes of any kind because there are none, instead referring to those minor details that disrupt our lives, and with straight up track titles like “I have no fun”, “Can’t get over you” and the straight up aggressive minimalism with which they engage the instruments, it seems like three members of Vivian Girls attack everyday foibles with equally as much pent-up reverbed fury. If only everyone who fell over in the street or had a lame time at a party could have so much fun recounting the fact.

Brendan Benson myspace/brendanbenson
My Old Familiar Friend (Shock)

Featured tracks: Eyes on the Horizon, Don’t Wanna Talk

Ever since I saw the video clip to ‘Cold, Hands, Warm Heart’ (the cutest way I think stick figures have ever been personified on film) and a friend then introduced me to Lapalco I have been hooked on Brendan Benson. Even though he’s all super-group famous as the co-frontman to Jack White’s The Raconteurs, he’s still a gentle, pop-writing heartbreaker underneath and he took time out from world tours and rock ‘n roll debauchery to sit on the deck of his Detroit farm house (or so the cover sleeve would have you believe) and pen some ditties about his usual lyrical fodder; girls. And it’s the same as it ever was, which makes the title of the album My Old Familiar Friend just perfect. Brendan Benson is back, with the same synthesized-cum-pop riff prowess of before in the most Benson-y of cutely optimistic hand-clapped lovelorn ways.

The Nevernudes myspace/nevernudes
Nevernudes EP (Independent)

Featured tracks: Grade F Meat, Crop Circles

THE NEVERNUDES EP IS LIKE THE SHORTEST REVIEW OF AN ALBUM PRODUCED ENTIRELY IN CAPITAL LETTERS THAT IS OVER BEFORE YOU KNOW IT SUMMING UP EVERYTHING ABOUT YOUTHFUL POST-PUNK SPAZ ROCK WHILE IT’S AT IT.

Casiotone for the Painfully Alone myspace/cftpa
Advance Base Battery Life (Tomlab/The Label)

Featured tracks: Holly Hobby, Streets of Philadelphia

Aww ever since ‘I Love Creedence’ found its way onto my computer and the downright sadness of a man singing about losing the one person “apart from his dad who’s ever said he’s loved” him I have been hooked on the melancholic drum-machine synth-tears that Casiotone for the Painfully Alone delivers. Advance Base Battery Life (what does that title mean – it’s the type of draining that you expect … experiences a lot) opens with a reservedly aggressive drum bear and an underwater washiness that peaks and lulls as the lyrics are appropriately droll or emotional. And then that cute girly vocal interrupts from track two with “and she’ll probably never have a clue, because he’ll probably never say a thing to you” and the emptiness (that in turn produces fullness in the tracks, naturally) of typical CFTPA is realized *sob**sniffles*. Oh and there’s a borderline obsession with Bruce Springsteen at the tail-end of this album in the form of three covers. Weird, but oddly fitting.

The Brunettes myspace/brunettes
Paper Dolls (Lil Chief/Rhymemethod)

Featured tracks: Rollerskate Song, The Crime Machine

This is the first full length from the Auckland duet since things went sour with their American representation Sub Pop and I’m guessing they wanted to come out kicking. And while not as subtley or intricately constructed as their previous albums (particularly Structure and Cosmetics), Paper Dolls is back-to-pop basics at it’s best. Heather’s ironic, Jonathan’s crooning, and there’s 12 tracks that still make you think that they’re dating and experiencing all the niggles that go along with that: in a 1950’s Pleasantville colour palette of course.

Julian Plenti www/julianplenti.com
Julian Plenti is… Skyscraper (Matador)

Featured tracks: Skyscracper, Unwind

Crapola ‘Unwind’ is a great track. IT MAKES ME WANNA HUG EVERYONE. When Mr Banks says ’sexy’ or ’sex appeal’ it kinda makes me cringe – like when parents say it and you think that PARENTS DON’T SAY THINGS LIKE THAT, or when they joke about that kind of thing too. It’s all – you aren’t supposed to have a sense of humour parent, you are in a serious band called Interpol who are well past their used by date. Think of yourself as the child of Paul Banks (he went ’solo’ on this album – great imagery for THAT one kiddies) – and this album is you realising that he is not in cringey Interpol, but is Julian Plenti. A real person who talks about boobies and things – like you do.

The Flaming Lips myspace/flaminglips
Embryonic (Warner)

Featured tracks: I can be a Frog (feat. Karen O.), Worm Mountain (feat. MGMT)

I normally use the words ZANY and KOOKY to describe things that are really lame and piss me off. So I’m not gonna use those words to describe this album. The embryonic stage is just before the fetus stage – which is funny cause I feel like this is the perfect, solid formation of Flaming Lips bits – not all floaty, weird body bits. The album is like a lot of ideas smooshed together to form an acid baby that I love instantly as it comes hurtling at me straight from Wayne Coyne’s vagina.

Monsters of Folk myspace/monstersoffolk
Monsters of Folk (Rough Trade/Spunk)

Featured tracks: Slow Down Jo, His Master’s Voice

If the dudes from Slow Boat Records somehow jizzed together into a cup and then genetically engineered the majority of their Top 50 albums together into the mix it would probably sound like this. I was gonna call Monsters Of Folk dicks for calling a song ‘His Master’s Voice’ but then I listened to it and it’s actually a great song. Just a couple of bros jammin out an album, and it sounds like they couldn’t really give a shit what you think – they are stoked with it. Someone told me it would be a great album to get blazed to on a Sunday. Production wise it’s a little heavy handed, but some of the tracks are absolute rippers.

The Drab Doo-Riffs myspace/thedrabdooriffs
Bury Me In Drab (Independent)

Featured tracks: Drives Me Crazy, I Wanna Be Spock

Spock, Bruce Springsteen, cars, Plan 9, squealy girls with ‘tude – if you can’t get off on this album (in a seriously retro, shake your whole body like you are in skin tight leopard print anything – as long as it’s b-52’s/Cramps-sy) then I will personally come over to your house and smack you round the side of the head. YOU OBVIOUSLY HAVE NO JOY IN YOUR LIFE.

The Very Best myspace/theverybestmyspace
Warm Heart of Africa (Downtown/Inertia)

Featured tracks: Warm Heart of Africa (feat. Ezra Koenig), Mfumu

OMG IT’S A LEGITIMATE VAMPIRE WEEKEND. Haha I’m just being a dick. It’s an awesome album (and also features Ezra Koenig from Vampire Weekend!). You’ve got some zappy 80s tang happening, mean beats and pop-tastic afro bliss. This album makes me feel like we can all get along.

Air myspace/intairnet
Love 2 (Virgin France/EMI)

Featured tracks: Be a Bee, Heavens Light

Air release their new long-player ‘Love 2′ to what is a certain amount of anticipation. Reason being, Air are champions of the ‘Downbeat’ genre. Air releases always contain their trademark ’sound’ which most people are familiar with – Psych-Pornotronica with silky, mysterious vocals. But it’s what they do with it that really counts. So an album summary then? ‘Premiere Symtones’ & ‘Moon Safari’ were landmark. ‘10,000 HZ Legend’ leaves me confused, even to this day.’The Virgin Suicides OST’ was a fine return to form & ‘Talkie Walkie’ was outstanding.’Pocket Symphony’ was pretty average which brings us to 2009… ‘Love 2′ = 6/10 (margin for error +/- 1).

I Heart Hiroshima myspace/ihearthiroshima
The Rip (Valve Australia -import)

Featured tracks: Tracks Got Out, The Corner

I Fuckin’ Heart I Heart Hiroshima! I Heart them on album, and I Heart them live. A spikey-punky-Indie-Pop 3-piece who call Brisbane, Australia home. ‘The Rip’ is their second album (1st album ‘Tuff Teef’ was released in 2008) and this time round they have been helped by a Post-Punk music icon – Gang Of Four main man Andy Gill on mixing duties. The IHH style is unique, but happily references heroes of the past like GO4, Mission Of Burma & Husker Du. The dual guy/girl vocal attack gives them a vehicle to tear apart society’s ill’s but with melodies to trip you up, just when you think you have them sussed. Genius.

Chromeo myspace/chromeo
DJ Kicks (!K7/Border)

Featured tracks: 4 mix tracks – Shazam!, Chromeo, Diane Tell, Alan Parsons

Chromeo released their debut ‘Fancy Footwork’ a couple of years back now. A new album on the way but the Canadian duo reknowned for making dancefloors move, have dropped a gem of a compilation mix by way of the latest in the !K7 DJ Kicks series. A reliably ecclectic collection of tunes featuring the new (Lifelike, Chateau Marmont, Shazam), the old (Alan Parsons, Chromeo covering The Eagles, Leo Sayer), and everything in between. Exactly as the creators of the compilation series intended. Chromeo joins Booka Shade, Daddy G, Hot Chip, Erlend Oye, Rockers Hi-Fi & Carl Craig as an essential release in the !K7 DJ Kicks catalogue.

LCD Soundsystem myspace/lcdsoundsystem
45:33 The Remixes (DFA/EMI)

Featured tracks: Idiot Heart, Black Swan

James Murphy and his NYC based label DFA continue to release innovative and inspiring (mainly) Electronic music with a Punk ethos. It’s consistent enough to go down as one of the great labels / music movements in recent memory. Really? Hey, it’s my opinion. James’ band LCD Soundsytem released the concept album ‘45:33′ last year and this year it has been given the remix treatment by 9 different artists, all impressive in their own right. Including – Runaway, Pilooski, Padded Cell, Prins Thomas, Theo Parish & Prince Language. An essential addition to your L-CD collection. Of course you already own the self titled debut & ‘Sound Of Silver’ right?

Cougar Cougar Cougar myspace/cougarcougarcougarband
Big Time Party Pussy Animal (!K7/Border)

Featured tracks: Satan’s Blues, Radio Waves

Wellington’s Cougar x 3 have been applying their trade to the NZ live scene for some time now. They have an album under their belt & a swag of gigs played with a load of cool bands, and the 3 members all have the last name Cougar! What else needs to be said about a legit sounding Rock band? By legit i mean you believe them. I believe what they are saying and why they are saying it. Being a ‘believable’ Rawk band today is no easy thing. So much faux bullshit. Cougar Cougar Cougar have just released an EP called ‘Big Time Party Pussy Animal’. And I believe them. You should also.