Song: Ohia - Didn't It Rain

I listened to this album six times today on accident. I think that means it’s good. It's only seven songs, but you wouldn't want any more.

Dead Man’s Bones – Dead Man’s Bones

Anyone seriously in the know knows this is Ryan Gosling’s band. Yes, that Ryan Gosling. The guy from The Notebook, the movie your girlfriend made you watch which actually wasn’t that bad and so what if you cried? Ryan Gosling and his friend rounded up some elementary school kids to sing a bunch of songs about zombies and death. I think it’s a great concept. And I heard when they went on tour they had a different group of kids play with them each night. How awesome is that? There are some really great songs on this (In The Room Where You Sleep, Pa Pa Power, Lose Your Soul) but unfortunately it’s not enough. As a whole there’s too much filler. The up tempo stuff is great, but you end up wishing there was more of it.

Ratatat - LP3

It sounds like Ratatat grew out their hair and started doing all the right drugs.

Cymbals Eat Guitars – Why There Are Mountains

This is what Modest Mouse might sound like if they had stayed weird. Any of the songs on this album would fit great next to Cowboy Dan on a playlist. Oh, and that playlist would be perfect for a road trip. My friend Matt from high school would call this “angular” but I still don’t know what that means.

Lightning Dust - Infinite Light

I used to run sound at a small venue in Chicago and a band came thru that was on Jagjaguar records. I remember thinking, isn’t that kind of a good label? I can’t remember what band it was (because they weren’t worth remembering), but Lightning Dust makes Jagjaguar proud. Powerful, dark, moody music rounded out by an amazingly delicate female voice. Church organ, piano, simple strummed acoustic, subtle drums and just the right amount of reverb on all of it. Everything’s played and placed perfectly. Well done.

Jay Reatard - Watch Me Fall

What can I say about Jay that hasn't already been said? Fuck it, who cares. Jay Reatard writes some of the poppiest punk songs in this day & age. This new record is just pop hit after pop hit. Catchy choruses and licks that think 'hey, maybe I could write this.' But you know what? You didn't. Jay totally beat you to it.

Umphrey's McGee - Las Tortugas Music Festival

I had originally heard of these folks a few years ago while I was working at a coffee shop, from some younger, almost high schooly girls, so I didn't have much hope for them from the get go. Last night I had the opportunity to see them live for zero dollars, so I was pretty much like Yeah! I'll go. I went. There's this four day music festival here where I work, Las Tortugas, and if I didn't work here, I'm pretty sure I wouldn't pay to get in. I was under the impression that Umphrey's may very well be a jam band, but like I said, it was free. They had some tasty guitar riffs, and lo and behold, the crowd was moving, but I got jammed out. Not even like the cool 'melt your face off' jam, just the 'ehhh I'm bored now' jammed out. The drummer from The Grateful Dead was also there. He also played. I went to bed.