Russian Circles "Blood Year (Sargent House)"
The majestic, angular, post-rock masters Russian Circles are back with what might be the best album of their storied career. I know, right? But Blood Year (Sargent House) is everything you want it to be. Mysterious, heavy, melodic, dramatic, full of riffs and builds and Bill Riffs, who is this guy I know that teaches an intro to guitar class at the local rec center. Ok, so maybe I made that last part up (i’ll never tell!) but I didn’t make any of the other stuff at all. Mere moments into the face-melting post-rock that is “Arluck” and you’re gonna wish you hadn’t canceled on Mr. Riffs’ class last week, so give it a listen!
Cross Record "Cross Record (Ba Da Bing!)"
The third full-length from Cross Record (self-titled) is a meditative, unnerving, gorgeous mystery of an album. It commands your attention, yet it spends most of its time just out of reach-lying in the space between… hmmm. Here’s the part where I wrote myself into a corner by trying to compare Emily Cross’ music here with someone else’s, and I’m coming up blank. It’s so singular and nuanced, you really need to hear this one to believe it (thanks for the advice Ripley’s Believe It Or Not). The closest I can get is… I dunno… Sade covering Radiohead? Does that make sense? Check out “Y/o Dragon” and let me know it if does.
Ty Segall "First Taste (Drag City)"
I can only assume that the title of Ty Segall’s new LP is a little tongue in cheek. First Taste (Drag City) is certainly not our first taste. In fact, we have a whole pantry-full of Ty’s tastes. But please don’t think we are complaining here, as we will take all the servings Mr. Segall is willing to dish out to us. We’ve been hooked on his psych-garage gems for many a year now, and this is one is as good as it gets. The energy is high here, with James Gang-esque drum breaks and squelchy bass lines, in-the-red noise, and everything else you love about T.S.-except guitar. Wait, what? Yup. That’s right. His normal instrument of choice is largely missing here. Replaced by all manner of weird instruments.Also, not ALL the songs are that in the red. Some might even be considered kinda folk-y or even ballad-y depending on who you ask? So maybe this a first taste of what’s to come from Ty? Either way, taste your first taste of First Taste with “Taste.”
Florist "Emily Alone (Double Double Whammy)"
The name says it all. Emily Alone (Double Double Whammy). Though this is the third LP from the band Florist, this is not an album by the band Florist. This IS a solo album of sorts from the driving force behind Florist, Emily Sprague, who performs every instrument and vocal track on the album, as well as some mixing. So its not surprising that this is as deeply personal an album as you are likely to ever hear. As astutely wrote in their “Album Of The Week” review “Emily Alone isn’t an indie rock album, or a singer-songwriter album, or a folk album, or anything as easily pigeonholed as that. It’s an inward excavation, not a genre exercise. Really, it only reminds me of one album. Emily Alone is soft and soothing and beautiful, like Nick Drake’s Pink Moon. And like Nick Drake’s Pink Moon, it’s utterly immersed in depression and oblivion.” Woah. I know, right? Check out “Shadow Bloom.”