Charlie Faye & The Fayettes "The Whole Shebang"
Hailing from Austin, Charlie Faye and the Fayettes return for The Whole Shebang. No second album syndrome here – The Whole Shebang is actually a step up in production, songwriting and–of course–back-up vocals. Are The Fayettes the new Pips? Will they take that midnight train to Georgia (Austin to Georgia? That probably isn’t a thing, maybe they should just Uber)? Well as Charlie proudly declares in “The Cream Rises To The Top” – “They can’t deny me now I’m blowing up, I’m never gonna stop”. Charlie and her “ettes” are at the top of the (I don’t always love using genre names but there’s no denying the sound) retro girl group thing. Check out “I Don’t Need No Baby” and the title track because Charlie Faye & The Fayettes have the whole shebang in the bag!
Xiu Xiu "Girl With Basket Of Fruit (Polyvinyl)"
Xiu Xiu is a reflection of us as a society. Their latest album, Girl With Basket Of Fruit (Polyvinyl), is “imbued with the agitation, tension, sorrow and anger that has permeated the daily lives of so many over the last few years.” Thanks PV PR for so succinctly putting into words the ideas that were forming in my agitated, tense, sorrowful, and angry brain. See! The band really IS a reflection of us! OR at least me… As weird and as wonderful as they have always been, with a bit more of an edge then they normally have. Xiu Xiu are as mad as hell, and they aren’t gonna take it anymore! Check out “Scisssssssors” and whatever you do DON’T RUN WITH THIS SONG!
Grandchildren "Grandchildren (EJRC)"
Grandchildren have been a band for about a decade now, and frontwoman Shari Bolar and songwriter Aleks Martray have been a couple for nearly that long. The songs appearing on this self-titled album all started out as “musical love letters.” Cute! I don’t know about you, but I’m not nearly cynical enough to not think that is adorable! This record finds the band stripping away some of the lush orchestrations of their previous work and focusing on intimate, acoustic sounds that reflect their relationship. Like it says in the album premiere on PopMatters “The material is ultimately “harmonic conversations about their past, present and future”, forming “a narrative of both love and longing” and much more.” Check out the simple pleasures of the uplifting “Zuni.”
Masaki Batoh "Nowhere (Drag City)"
A mostly acoustically driven collection of psychedelia, Masaki Batoh’s Nowhere is a very easy pill to swallow. Just like the pills taken to best enjoy this pastoral freak-out. Kidding! I kid. No drugs needed to enjoy this modern take on the ‘60s underground psych-folk sound. Alternating between lyrics in English and his native Japanese, with drone-y acoustic lines other and lush instrumentation. This one is gonna make you long for the lovely days of summer. So kick back in a field somewhere warm (I’m pretending that’s possible, leave me be. It’s literally 10 degrees out as I write this) and check out the shimmering beauty of “Tower Of The Silence.”