Title Tracks "Long Dream"
If you’re looking for some power-pop perfection, then you are looking for the latest from Title Tracks, Long Dream (EJRC). It does everything power-pop should do: remind you of how much you love rock and roll, remind you a little of The Beatles, and then remind you a little of Cheap Trick (who also remind you of, of course, The Beatles). The choruses are big, the verses are sing-a-long-able, guitars are jangled, the drums never end, and the bass player is likely exhausted. Check out the Matthew Sweet covering The Cure sounds of “Don’t Start.”
Radian "On Dark Silent Off"
The members of Radian have been experimenting with dance, electronic music, post-rock, and other genres for 20 years now, and their latest release On Dark Silent Off (Thrill Jockey) might be their most cohesive, addicting album to date. Is it noisy? Is it strange? It sure is. It’s also beautiful, as the dudes dwell on sounds most other musicians strive to eliminate from their recordings. ‘90s-era cool jazz DJ beats mixed with static solos, acoustic guitars, and all other manner of bewildering instrumentation. They have done the impossible here, made a sci-fi sounding album that sounds nothing like John Carpenter (neat trick, eh?). It’s more like Aphex Twin remixes of Godspeed You! Black Emperor songs (who do we call to make THAT happen?). In the meantime, give the under construction opium den sounds of “Scary Objects” a listen.
E "E"
There are a few things that you can guarantee someone in the BRM office is talking about daily. The tastiness of chocolate combined with peanut butter is one. The benefits of wearing bajas is another. When it comes to music, one of our very hot topics is how criminally underrated Thalia Zedek is. Seriously. There should be a Mount Rushmore of influential guitarists somewhere that’s just Neil Young and three Thalia Zedek heads. This time around, she has started a new band called E, and their self-titled debut is a masterclass in squeal-y, harmonious guitar noise. She has paired herself with Neptune’s Jason Sanford and Karate’s Gavin McCarthy. No bass, just drums and two guitars, and two of the most distinct voices in rock music. A little like The Bad Seeds and Tom Waits later works mixed with Sonic Youth’s experimentation, this is sure to please the ‘90s indie rock fans longing for some guitar power. Check out the punishingly good “Great Light.”
Papa M "Highway Songs"
David Pajo of Slint and Tortoise fame is back with his first solo record since 2009, and his first record as Papa M since 2004. Highway Songs (Drag City) is a hodgepodge of genres, as Pajo decided to let the songs go wherever they wanted to this time around. There are metal burners, experimental folk tunes, and electro-freak outs, but the thing that holds them all together cohesively is David’s ability to find the emotional thru line on just about any kind of music. Seeing as how he recorded this album at home, recovering from a motorcycle accident that almost cost him his leg, emotions run high throughout. Check out the pastoral experimental folk of “Walking on Coronado.”