Ladrones "Ladrones (Slovenly)"
Hailing from San Juan by way of Atlanta, the self-titled debut from Ladrones is a screaming, wailing blast of punk. Featuring vocals (en Español) by Valeria Sánchez and accompanied by a band with enough bad attitude to garner at least a week’s worth of detention before homeroom is over-get ready to carve Ladrones into your desk and check out the real deal with “Tropimuerte.”
Telekrimen "Culto A Lo Imbecil (Slovenly)"
For their 5th full-length album, Mexico City’s Telekrimen have abandoned their scuzzy, fuzzy, psyched out punk garage sounds for an album full of acoustic ballads. Kidding! I’m kidding! They wouldn’t do you like that. This is every bit as rock’n’roll-y as everything they’ve ever released. So get ready to slam dance with your wall (take the frames down first! They don’t want you breaking your pretty drawings!) and check out the brutal, cracking foundation of “Richman Holocausto.”
Bill Callahan "Shepherd In A Sheepskin Vest (Drag City)"
Is there anything more comfortable than having the sound of Bill Callahan’s voice wash over you once again? After all, its been nearly 30 years since his Smog career started, and now here it is-2019-and we still are gifted with his singular works. Shepherd In A Sheepskin Vest (Drag City) is everything you want it to be. Gentle, sparse, experimental folk/rock music with Bill’s singular baritone delivering the poignant lyrics. In a perfect world, this is what country music would sound like-emotional and personal. For a glimpse into the mind of the master check out the smashing “Son Of The Sea.”
Fruit Bats "Gold Past Life (Merge)"
“Fruit Bats makes existential make-out music, but you’re also welcome to dive into it deeper if you want. Good pop music should be sublime like that.” So says Eric D. Johnson of Fruit Bats in the PR for the excellent retro-pop blast that is Gold Past Life (Merge). This may be the feel-good record of the summer. With Eric’s unique falsetto and ‘80s George Harrison guitar vibes all over the place, it’s nearly impossible to wipe the smile off your face when the tunes kick in. So give yourself over to “The Bottom Of It.”