Grapetooth "Grapetooth (Polyvinyl)"
The name of the band Grapetooth was originally bestowed as a nickname upon Clay Frankel (Twin Peaks) after a night of drinking a LOT of wine. Makes sense. I had the same nickname when I was little, but it was because of my affection for grape Kool-Aid and other artificial grape flavored candies. Not exactly the same, but then again this would be a much different blurb if I talked about all the wine I drank as a little kid. Also, Frankel, along with his partner here Chris Bailoni, formed the band over a mutual admiration of ‘80s Japanese new wave and Arthur Russell-neither of which I was cool enough to be into as a kid (Chuck Berry and Car 54 Where Are You? were my jams! Who wants to be in THAT band? Lemme know). This album is full of new wave-y synths and smooth grooves, with totally different vocal vibes for each jam. Grapetooth (Polyvinyl) is bound to stain your chompers too. So take a big bite out of the lead off track, “Violent.”
Laura Jane Grace and the Devouring Mothers "Bought To Rot"
Laura Jane Grace’s work with Against Me! Needs no introduction. Her work with her new band, however, needs a primer. Bought To Rot, the debut from Laura Jane Grace and the Devouring Mothers is a gloriously ramshackled homage to her influences. Put together like a playlist, with hard rock next to country-tinged next to surf rock next to power pop next to classic rock, this is as laid back and unexpected as her music has ever been. Seriously, at one point the album turns from a Meatloaf-esque theatrically shifted “I Hate Chicago” to a loud/quiet punk ballad with “Screamy Dreamy” to a late night LA rocker in “Manic Depression.” It’s obvious that the band is having the time of their lives recording these super-fun tunes. Check out “The Airplane Song.”
MICK HARVEY & CHRISTOPHER RICHARD BARKER "The Fall And Rise Of Edgar Bourchier And The Traumatic Horror (Mute)"
As far as concept albums go, The Fall And Rise Of Edgar Bourchier (Mute) from Mick Harvey & Christopher Richard Barker puts the artistic layers of House Of Leaves to shame (yes, I know I’m mixing my metaphors – books and albums – but bare with me). The story goes that Christopher Richard Barker has been writing poems as a fictional WWI poet named Edgar Bourchier. Also, this fictitious poet also has a backstory (killed by a tank at 24, his front line poems printed posthumously). He then asked Mick if he’d like to team up with him to record songs based on these poems. I can only assume Mick said yes, because here we are! The genres are all over the place, the only constant the concept of the WWI poetry. From era-appropriate folk songs to “Poor Poor Surgeon Tim,” a song that would sound right at home on The Who’s Tommy (assuming Tommy was about WWI). Check out the first single from the record, the guitar line trading “Lost Bastard Son Of War.”
Ian William Craig "Thresholder (Fat Cat)"
Ian William Craig’s latest LP Thresholder (Fat Cat) was born from a commissioned job in which he was tasked with creating tracks “based on concepts of quantum physics, black holes and space” and if that isn’t enough to get you to check this out then you and I have very different tastes. Somewhere between William Basinski, Brian Eno, and detuned space radio transmissions, this glacial, haunting collection lands with the thud of a satellite upon reentry. Most of these tracks could be used to signify rebirth, death, the coldness of space, the harshness of life, and the beauty to be found in all of those things (so, you know, like the ending of 2001). Combining looped noise, analog hisses, organs and synths, and angelic choral touches, Pink Floyd WISHES they ever got this sci-fi. The whole thing is meant to be listened to as a whole, but for our purposes, check out “And Therefore The Moonlight.”