Lately I've been posting my new acquisitions as part of the the "Albums You've Lent Your Ears to Today" thread, but I miss singling them out here are new discoveries. So I've broken out the last few from this week.


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Ed Schrader's Music Beat - Party Jail (2014)
First listen to this one, after 2012's Jazz Mind. They offer a sometimes spastic take on Post-Punk, and I'm noticing for the first time that there must be two vocalists. One has the energy and nasal voice of someone like Jello Biafra mixed with the nasaly guy from TV on the Radio, the other is more laid back and deep, think Protomartyr's latest or The Jam's Paul Weller. The ladder is what I remember from the previous album. The energy here makes me think a bit of Dance Punk but there are no electronics involved, it's mostly bass, drums, and guitar. Production is quite stripped down. It seems like there are more melodic elements here than on their last one - but I only listened to that one a couple of times so they may be closer in style than I think.


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Viet Cong - Viet Cong (2014)
This has been leaked for a while, but since I pre-orderd the vinyl last month and was going to get access to MP3s today (prior to the official January 20 release date), I decided to hold off. So I had my first listen today. I've been eagerly anticipating this release since discovering the band and their re-released demo Casette last summer. I was immediately enthralled by their infectious shattered-glass-like guitar melodies, kind of blending a 60s psychedelic pop sound with post-punk (on some songs). But the EP wasn't all melodic, a few of the tracks were pretty noisy, including a cover of Bauhaus' "Dark Entries" (on the re-release) and a couple of dark, mostly instrumental tracks. Anyway, 3 tracks in and so far I'm happy to hear the sound is consistent with what I was expecting - in fact a little less melodic so far, which is probably good as the songs will develop with further listens rather than being immediately accessible. One exception would be "Continental Shelf" which I've heard already, and is infectious like the best ones on the demo/EP. Oh ****, track 4 just started, I forgot "Bunker Buster" was on here too, another I heard over the summer that was previously released. Great, great tune also. I'm seeing them live in March and already bought my ticket last month. Now that I'm done with the album - I don't think I've heard a non-prog 10-minute+ rock song as good as the 11+ minute closer, "Death". Well done, gentlemen.


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Faux Fur - Faux Fur (2013)
Another Women-related project from Calgary, this one sounding much more like Women than Viet Cong does - as it's more pop-oriented while retaining the vocal and guitar styles of Women. Like an album's worth of Women's most accessible songs, but with a bit a more care-free energy. The album cover is more bleak than the music.


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Ex Hex - Rips (2014)
Mary Timony is on my list of approved female singers. I'm not necessarily a loyal fan (she has an extensive back-catalog and I've only heard a few), but I generally like her voice and style. I've heard a few of these songs and the album seems to be doing quite well on year-end lists. I picked up on this when I first heard a few songs, but there's a very Cars-like sound to much of the album. From the guitars to the Ric Ocasek singing style, it's almost like a female-fronted version of The Cars.


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The People's Temple - Weekends Time (2014)
I've really enjoyed Musical Garden over the past few weeks, their first of two 2014 release. I found this one decent but far less interesting. I can't say they sound like a different band, but the albums are wildly different. Had I heard this one first, I may not have jumped to other album(s) so quickly. In fact, it was their debut Sons of Stone that I first heard some time ago, and while I enjoyed it, it also didn't inspire me to check out more of their work right away. I guess I'm spoiled by Musical Garden now. In regards to Weekends Time, I just learned from the label website that two of the nine tracks are Ariel Pink covers. :confused:


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The Adicts - Songs of Praise (1981)
First listen earlier, at the gym. Good for running and pumping iron. Didn't impress me too much though, except one song in the second half that had a bit more of a post-punk sound.


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Eyelids - 854 (2014)
A recently-formed group with the other two members of the Robert Pollard group Boston Spaceships (which I've yet to listen to), and three other people rounding out the band. It's quite pleasant indie pop/rock with jangly moments.

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Alice Coltrane / Pharoah Sanders - Journey in Satchidananda

Trying to get into different genres as of late. Liking everything so far, including this.

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Aphex Twin- Richard D. James Album

I'm already familiar with Aphex Twin of course. First time hearing this album in full and I'm in love.

Tonight so far

Lana Del Rey - Ultraviolence
Jackson C. Frank - Jackson C. Frank
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - Let Love In
Aspidistrafly - A Little Fable
Aphex Twin - Richard D. James Album
Alice Coltrane - Journey in Satchidananda
Great Lake Swimmers - Great Lake Swimmers

So far..

The Flaming Lips - The Terror

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Earl Sweatshirt - Doris

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Andrew Jackson Jihad - Christmas Island

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Andrew Jackson Jihad - Candy Cigarettes And Cap Guns

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BADBADNOTGOOD - BBNG2

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^ That's always been my favorite Aphex.

You don't say what you thought of it.
I wasn't impressed: too straight Country compared to his dad's more tough, rock-meets-Country-and-they-get-into-a-bar-brawl approach. Thought it would have more guts but I was just very disappointed in it. You couldn't even tell he was related to Steve from the music. But I guess he don't want to be like his old man --- think his mother and himself were abandoned by him, that's why I thought big anger issues to work out. But I don't hear any of that on this album.

Do you not appreciate "Knife Man" as much as their other records? Cause you never seem to listen to it as much.

No I ****ing love Knife Man, but it was the first one I listened to, and kind of got burnt out on it. Although I will say it's not my favorite by any means.

Can't Maintain was my first foray, but Knife Man I burnt out as well. After 25 times of continuous listening, it becomes stale. Still very much fantastic though. And props for listening to Badbadnotgood.

It happens with any album it seems. I'd personally much rather listen to People or Christmas Island. Oh yeah I'm a big fan of BBNG, but up until now I only had III, so I have a bit more variety now.