Yuck – Yuck (Fat Possum)

When I first saw the album cover for the debut album by Yuck, I completely judged the book by it’s cover. Mark my word, that will end up being THE WORST ALBUM ART OF THE YEAR. It’s atrocious! Luckily, I gave it a chance as this is one of the best albums I have heard in a long time. Take equal parts Dinosaur Jr., Pavement, Sonic Youth, and maybe even some early Smashing Pumpkins and you are on the right track. There is a very distinct 90′s sound to it. A sound of teenage years and rebellion, although that might only apply to those born from the late 70′s to the early 80′s. Regardless, this album is one of the most essential albums this year.

Listen to “Get Away” from Yuck’s Yuck

Toro Y Moi – Underneath the Pine (Carpark)

We absolutely loved the first Toro Y Moi album. It rode the chillwave(pun!) to the height of popularity but on this second album, he’s taken a step back and brought in a layer of 60′s psychedelia, along with some rather choice funk bass lines to put together a much more organic sounding record. Beyond organic, this record is absolutely killer.

Listen to “New Beat” from Toro Y Moi’s Underneath the Pine

Kurt Vile – Smoke Ring For My Halo (Matador)

Our favorite Philly weirdo is back with a new full length! Thing is, he is getting less and less weird but that certainly doesn’t effect how great his output has been or continues to be. Smoke Ring For My Halo finds Vile and his backing band the Violators, toning it down a bit and focusing more on the folk and pop side of things. You could almost consider this album a spiritual sequel to his God Is Saying This To You LP on Mexican Summer. With this record he’s written some of his best songs(see “Jesus Fever”, Peeping Tomboy”, “Runner Ups”) and continues to grow as a songwriter. Essential.

Listen to “Jesus Fever” from Kurt Vile’s Smoke Ring For My Halo

Obits – Moody, Standard, and Poor (Sub Pop)

First things first: Even though they didn’t put it in their album title, I took it upon myself to add the serial comma in the title. It’s just right.

The other thing that’s right is this album. Undoubtedly one of the best rock bands out there today, and they haven’t slowed down with their sophomore album. Sure, it might not be balls to the wall all the time but we’re completely fine with that. Songs like “You Gotta Lose” and “I Want Results” certainly sound like a continuation of the first album but tracks like “Shift Operator”,  “No Fly List”, and “New August” show a band that continues to grow and get better. There is even a bit of Shadowy Men On a Shadowy Planet on the track “Spot the Pikey” and god does that get us excited.

Listen to “You Gotta Lose” from Obits’ Moody, Standard, and Poor

True Wid0w – As High as the Highest Heavens and From the Center to the Circumference of the Earth (Kemado)

Quite a few sophomore albums on this list, bucking the trend of the sophomore slumps. Not many people got to hear True Widow’s self titled debut, which is a shame because it was absolutely incredible. This three piece from Austin, TX play what could only be described as a crushingly heavy version of slowcore. If Codeine or Bedhead members got really into getting high and listening to doom metal, you might be on the right track. The dual male / female vocals add a whole lot to the mix and keep the album from ever going stale. One of the best albums this year, bar none. Absolutely essential.

Listen to “Skull Eyes” from True Widow’s As High as the Highest Heavens and From the Center to the Circumference of the Earth

Anna Calvi – Anna Calvi (Domino)

If you’ve been in the store in the last month, you’ve heard us playing Anna Calvi. We’ve listened to this album so much, I should be absolutely sick of it. Thing is, it’s seriously incredible and we cannot get enough of it. The combination of Anna’s insane guitar playing, incredible voice and the arrangements of all these tracks make for an album that sounds like Nick Cave scoring a David Lynch. This album actually would make for an excellent companion to the latest Grinderman now that we think about it…

Listen to “Desire” from Anna Calvi’s Anna Calvi

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

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
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

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