Mike Donovan "How To Get Your Record Played In Shops (Drag City)"
As is evidenced by the title of his latest solo record, Mike Donovan is living in a dream world. How To Get Your Record Played In Shops (Drag City) is the follow-up to the former member of Sic Alps 2013 solo debut, Wot. The title of this record supposed many fantasies. That there are still record shops, let alone that they play “records” in said shops. What’s that you say? Vinyl is back? So does that mean this near endless stack of Chicago IX: Chicago’s Greatest Hits I have that… fell off of a truck… is finally worth something? They’re all mint! The cellophane is sealed I tell ya! Well, while I check eBay for the latest prices on these, you should check out the sounds Mike has laid down here. Lament-y, indie folk freak rock that spans the gambit from The Beatles at their most rocking to The Monkees on the OST for Head to current sounds like Ty Segall and White Fence. Check out what is either the worst name for a James Bond villain, or the best name for a Badfinger cover band “Sadfinger.”
Post Animal "When I Think Of You In A Castle (Polyvinyl)"
Yes yes this band has Joe Keery star of Stranger Things. No no you won’t see him in the band when they tour (he is kinda busy), but that doesn’t make or break Post Animal-this is no actor/rock star vanity project (Oh those John Travola records-they can’t STOP playing them in the Upside Down)! Post Animal have been around for a few years but When I Think of You In A Castleis their Polyvinyl debut! Check out “Ralphie.” Enjoy!
Drinks "Drinks (Drag City)"
In 2015 at least one of my dreams came true (maybe more, but who can remember that far back at this point?). The second coming of Captain Beefheart (according to me at least) Cate Le Bon teamed up with psych-folk auteur Tim Presley to form Drinks. I love both of their catalogs separately, and I adored the sound of them teaming up on Hermits on Holiday. Now I… I mean we, have the sounds of Hippo Lite (Drag City) to bring me… I mean us, joy. The patented skronk-y Cate Le Bon guitar sound mixed with Tim’s pastoral folk sounds are such a perfect match, you’d think they were chocolate and peanut butter. They locked themselves in a house in the South of France with no internet and no entertainment save copies of Jurassic Park 1-3 on DVD (not a joke, direct from the press for this album.) My only disappointment is that there aren’t more dino references on this LP, but I think I’ll survive. For evidence of this perfect pairing, check out the shimmering “Real Outside.”
Juliana Hatfield "Juliana Hatfield Sings Olivia Newton-John (American Laundromat)"
Occasionally a record is nigh impossible to describe in one of these here blurbs. Other times, a record essentially sells itself via it’s title. Thankfully for my writing skills, this one is one of the latter. Juliana Hatfield Sings Olivia Newton-John is exactly what it sounds like it would be via it’s title. Also, it sounds exactly like you would want such a record to sound. JH covering ONJ. Boom! Record sells itself! Julianna covers every song you’d want her to on here. It’s glorious as is evidenced by the cover of “Physical.”