Townes Van Zandt - Delta Momma Blues

The only country album you need to own.

David Sandström - The Dominant Need of the Needy Soul Is to Be Needed + Om Det Inte Händer Nåt Innan Imorgon Så Kommer Jag + Pigs Lose

You might remember David Sandström as the drummer from Refused. You know, the hardcore band that has only gained popularity since they broke up and have basically attained a legendary status. It's members have gone off and done other projects. The singer was doing The (International) Noise Conspiracy for a while. Which was good, but not as good as Refused. Then there was the band Text which had the other three members of Refused and the album Text released sounded absolutely nothing like Refused which could be disappointing if you were looking for The Shape of Punk to Come PT. II. So when I finally tracked down these David Sandström albums I was a little worried. Would it sound anything like Refused? Would it still be good? And the answer is no to the former and yes to the latter. Pigs Lose is more of a throwback to straight up rock and roll while still being good. He's got a good voice for a drummer. Who knew? And the Om Det... album is incredible. It's full of piano and strings and xylophone and delicate guitars (and I swear I heard an oboe in there) and distorted bass over hard hitting rock/n/roll drum beats. All while singing entirely in Swedish. My friend from high school would call it "powerful." The point is that this dude is awesome and you should give him all your money.

Songs: Ohia - Ghost Tropic

Here's another guy that seems to have released close to a million albums with all of them being perfect. This one is less rock and roll with very subtle percussion, but it's great if you're in a chilled out mood. Jason Molina is so good I hate him.

Frank Black and the Catholics - s/t

Frank Black has released over 20 albums under many different names (Pixies, Black Francis, Grand Duchy, etc.) Since 1988 he's released an album virtually every year. I'm still catching up. This was the first album under the Frank Black and the Catholics banner and it's awesome. I don't understand how someone can be as prolific as this man and stay as consistently good. It's ridiculous, a complete anomaly. Add this one to your Frank Black collection.

Weezer - Pinkerton

Weezer should have started and stopped with this album.

Warpaint - Exquisite Corpse EP

This is all I've been listening to for the past week. And knowing that you would think I would have something to say about this, but I got nothing. It's pretty girls making pretty music that's drowned in reverb until it becomes dream-like. The singer's voice resembles Bjork occasionally but not in an obnoxious way. Actually, forget I mentioned Bjork. These girls are a million times better. Check it out yrself!

The Knife vs. Fever Ray

So if you are, or have been, a fan of the Swedish duo The Knife, you're probably aware that until recently they haven't put out much for music, but in the last couple of months The Knife put out Tomorrow in a Year and the girl, Karin Dreijer Andersson (Fever Ray) of The Knife, put out her own solo album Fever Ray. I bought both of these, and some part of me wanted half of my money back. My expectations were flipped, and I, left in a state of bewilderment. Tomorrow in a Year was a bunch of long drawn out noise and sounds, and made me miss the older songs that'd make you want to dance with trans gender beings, ah the good old days. Fever Ray, on the other hand, had more of what I expected The Knife to have, but still not on the same level as The Knife of old. If I were on a heroin withdraw,Tomorrow in a Year would be all I could hear, and it'd feel like tomorrow was a year away, because I had no more smack, and getting to tomorrow would suck dick. Fever Ray didn't make me want to kill myself. Both of these albums are dark and ominous, but Fever Ray has been more visual, has painted the night with a few more constellations, and has done a better job of conducting this choo choo train. In my opinion, skip Tomorrow in a Year and get Fever Ray instead, you'll be much happier.

Yeasayer - Odd Blood

Yeasayer's new album, Odd Blood, is definitely a move away from the "middle eastern-psych-snap-gospel" sound of their debut album, All Hour Cymbals, but awesomely poppy and dance-esque. I mean, they still sound like Yeasayer, but if you're looking for an All Hour Cymbals 2, I don't think you'll find it in here, but I don't think you'll be disappointed at all. What do I want to do when listening to this? Pretty much live, possibly shake it whilst doing all that living, run around in environments hugging pretty girls I don't know, and smiling. Also I am super stoked to see them with Sleigh Bells, April 28 in Madison WI, or in Chicago the following day at the Metro, but if you are cooler than I, I'm sure you'll have plenty of more opportunities to check them out this year, they'll be coming back to the states at the beginning of April, so go check them out!

Grizzly Bear - Ready, Able

I laughed, I cried, and experienced some flashbacks. If you haven't yet seen this video, you got to check it out. Grizzly Bear is pretty rad, too.

Laura Veirs - July Flame

I would like to introduce the first great record of the New Year. Veirs' 2005 album Year of Meteors was incredibly sweet, unabashed and pure (not to mention catchy) but at the same time I almost forgot about her after I was through listening to it. Listening to this album was a reminder of how great of a songwriter Veirs truly is. The production is smooth, but never too perfect. At times you can hear Karl Blau singing backup harmonies. It's quite different hearing him without the standard sloppiness that accompanies his solo records. Overall, July Flame is a great gem that won't go unnoticed or forgotten.