What might look a slower release week in terms of some of the more marquee titles, this week has provided us with so many damn good albums we had a heck of a time picking out what Record of the Week was going to be. Sure we had new releases from Crystal Castles, Tobacco, and even Stone Temple Pilots but it’s the new albums by Grails, Rangda, Ty Segall and others that have us incredibly excited. Who are those others? Well…
Record of the Week goes to the debut album by Minneapolis group, Peter Wolf Crier. Peter Wolf Crier have absolutely nothing to do with former J. Geils frontman, Peter Wolf, who did just put out an excellent full length recently with his album Midnight Souvenirs. That’s neither here nor there though.
With that out of the way, what Peter Wolf Crier bring to the table is more of the Bon Iver / Megafaun / Grizzly Bear variety than anything. Just a two piece, you wouldn’t believe it if you heard the full pallet of instruments showcased throughout their songs. The drums are very reminiscent of the style from Grizzly Bear’s last two albums. Lead singer, Peter Pisano’s, voice brings to mind the Bowerbirds and even M. Ward on a song or two. Piano, wurlitzer, and organ all back up some great vocal harmonies and an all around great folk-pop album.
As an aside, Peter Wolf Crier will be playing here in Toledo, opening up for the Heartless Bastards on July 20th. This will be a don’t miss show for sure.
Listen to “Hard As Nails” from Peter Wolf Crier’s Inter-Be
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Honorable Mentions
The new, vinyl only EP, from store favorite Kurt Vile is a bridge between his excellent full length that came out last year, Childish Prodigy, and his upcoming full length coming this Fall. The songs on here range from upbeat acoustic folk numbers, such as the opening track “Ocean City”, to some of his trademark, long playing, lo-fi sounds on the track “Invisibility Nonexistant”. All in all, another great effort from our favorite weirdo in music.
Listen to “I Wanted Everything” from Kurt Vile’s Square Shells
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Damien Jurado have been putting out records for what seems like forever now, and he is showing no signs of slowing down. This time around he has enlisted fellow labelmate, Richard Swift, to handle production and we have to consider it an all around success. Much more hopeful sounding from the usual sad-bastard stylings of Jurado, this is one of his finest efforts in years.
Listen to “Arkansas” from Damien Jurado’s Saint Bartlett
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The fourth full length from one of my favorite Type Records artists, the Alps return with Le Voyage. Bringing to mind the sort of kosmische sounds of Popul Vuh and Cluster, the Alps have gone towards a bit more of an organic sound with this record which harkens back to the bands roots of being part of the Jewelled Antler collective. Absolutely essential for any fan of psychedelic rock.
Listen to “Le Voyage” from The Alps’ Le Voyage
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The Depreciation Guild, made up of members from store favorites Pains of Being Pure at Heart, put out an album that isn’t far from the aforementioned band and has a lot in common with Asobi Seksu. Shoegaze pop that uses a modified Nintendo as an instrument in the band, their new album, Spirit Youth, is a damn good album and a proper hold over until we get something new from Pains of Being Pure at Heart.
