Mutoid Man "War Moans (Sargent House)"
What does the world need right now? Mutoid Man! War Moans, Mutoid’s Man sophomore album (Sargent House,) is the record to scare your 2017 terrors away. Ironic indie RAWK? Nope, straight ahead blistering metal, like Metallica mixed with Voivod and Dischord’s Void (sorry Romeo Void you aren’t invited). Yes, this is a Big Gulp of rockers from the opener “Melt Your Mind” to the oh so fast “Kiss Of Death” and the haunting, almost power-ballad of “Bandages” with bonus haunting by Chelsea Wolf. I’ve been playing this record evey morning with my black coffee as I read through the twitter storms of 2017-thanks Mutoid Man-i might just make it through another morning. Check out the aforementioned opener “Melt Your Mind.”
Andrew Cohen & Light Coma "Unreality (Comedy Minus One)"
Andrew Cohen, of the bands Silkworm and Bottomless Pit, and Light Coma, of the band Light Coma, have paired together to form Andrew Cohen & Light Coma. Their debut, Unreality (Comedy Minus One), is a rock and roll fantasy. Light Coma bring a Crazy Horse versatility to every song (mostly electric, occasionally acoustic) as Andrew Cohen’s dry vocal delivery pairs perfectly with the smoldering band. Recorded by both Matthew Barnhart and Steve Albini (fun!) this is a record for fans of records. The whole thing gels tightly together as it weaves from distorted burner to Magnolia Electric Company-esque acousticality (is that a word? my computer sure doesn’t think it is). Check out the duel guitar attack of “Repack.”
Pet Symmetry "Vision (Polyvinyl)"
For a band that was never really meant to happen, Pet Symmetry sure happen. What started out as an “excuse to goof off” for Evan Weiss (Into It. Over It.), Erik Csaja (Dowsing), and Marcus Nuccio (What Gives), a place for them to funnel their lighthearted whims that might not have a place in their full-time bands is now a band with multiple LPs and famously fun live shows (silly matching outfits will do that to a band’s reputation). Vision, their first for Polyvinyl, is a riotous pop-punk potpourri of pleasure (unnecessary alliteration all my own). Sometimes they sound like the brothers Kinsella, other times they sound a bit like the Nirvana b-sides and rarities collection Incesticide. Other times their sound shifts to… you know what? This is a side project born of indulging weird ideas, and thusly makes the sound hard to describe, but easy to enjoy. Check out the energy to spare rock of “Stare Collections.”
Soft Swells "Be Young"
Be Young (Bushwick Recordings), the new album from Tim Williams’ Soft Swells, is a cathartic collection of poptastic rock tunes. You know, dudes and guitars. This time around, Tim was reacting to “feeling locked into life choices we all clearly have the ability to change. So often the easier decision is to let hopelessness blanket you into submission, when in fact, the bottom is the best place to make a real change.” So what does that mean for the listener? It means that somewhere between the rebellious strains of Tom Petty, the stadium quirk of early Weezer, and the sheen of Soft Swells (what a trick! they sound like themselves!) we have Be Young. Why not be young yourself (it works!) and check out the first single, “Reins.”