Farewell Isn't This Supposed To Be Fun? (Epitaph)

Title says it all.

Limp-dicked prettyboy punk charms

Mallrats and suckers.

-J.V.

"Stay Pretty"

On Epitaph.com...

Torngat You Could Be (Alien8)

French horn, keyboards, drums.

Eerie instrumentals for

Québécois mountains.

-J.V.

Stream tracks at the band's official myspace page...

On Alien8.com...

The Weakerthans Reunion Tour (Anti / Epitaph)

Louder, beefier

But John K. Sansom's lyrics

Are ever astute.

-J.V.

"Night Windows"

On Epitaph.com...

Black Francis Bluefinger (Cooking Vinyl)

Name change confusion

Yields a fierce return to rawk

For former Pixie.

-J.V.

"You Can't Break A Heart And Have It"

On CookingVinyl.com...

King Britt Presents The Cosmic Lounge Vol. 1 (Rapster Records)

Innovation, experimentation

Britt recalls these days

Won't you?

-M.E.W.

Stream tracks at the official album site

On RapsterRecords.com...

Feist The Reminder (Cherrytree Records / Interscope)

Great songs, lyrics

But sounds like she's singing

Through a toilet paper roll


Grey's Anatomy fans

love Feist's music

Because she's on the soundtrack.

-M.E.W.

"1, 2, 3, 4"

On CherrytreeRecordings.com...

Warm in the Wake American Prehistoric (Live Wire Recordings)

Space-kissed roots music.

Not unlike Wilco, except

Less fondness for drugs.

-J.V.

"American Prehistoric"

On LiveWireRecordings.net...

Via Audio Say Something (SideCho Records)

Brooklyn boys and girl

Rock eclectic indie sound.

Meandering, fun.

-J.V.

"Harder on Me"

On SideCho.com...

Grace Potter and the Nocturnals This Is Somewhere (Hollywood Records)

Triple-A blues rawk.

Kinda blah, but kinda not.

Foxy singer helps.

-J.V.

"Ah Mary"

Official site...

The A-Sides Silver Storms (Vagrant Records)

“Cinematic”: not

Just a song title, but an

Apt band description.

-J.V.

"Diamonds"

On Vagrant.com...

Butane Variations Butane Variations (Achord Recordings)

Adding acid noise

To rustic country rock yields

Brooklyn's Grandaddy.

-J.V.

"Angels"

On AchordRecordsing.com...

Charlotte Gainsbourg 5:55 (Vice Records)

Air and Jarvis meet

Serge's techno-diva kid.

Peaceful and pretty.

-J.V.

"The Songs That We Sing"

On ViceRecords.com...

The Aliens Astronomy for Dogs (EMI / Astralwerks)

Beta Band offshoot

Sings of robots and martians.

Just like you'd expect.

-J.V.

"Rox"

TheAliens.MusicBlog.co.uk...

The Good Life Help Wanted Nights (Saddle Creek Records)

Why can't Tim Kasher

Write songs that I actually

Want to listen to?

-J.V.

"You Don't Feel Like Home To Me"

On Saddle-Creek.com...

The Hanslick Rebellion The Rebellion Is Here (Eschatone Records)

Albany punks, live

Cover Del Shannon, Velvets.

Originals, dull.

-J.V.

"Runaway"

On Eschatone.com...

Eastern Conference Champions Ameritown (Suretone / Interscope Records)

Ebullient tempos,

Nasal singing you’ll forgive

Since the songs are strong.

-J.V.

"Noah"

On SureTone.com...

Stephen Kellogg and the Sixers Glassjaw Boxer (Everfine Records)

A piano twinkles,

Characters come to life, but

Don’t leave the background.

-J.V.

Stream tracks at the band's myspace...

On EverFineRecords.com...

Stereo Total Paris <-> Berlin (Kill Rock Stars)

French and German meet.

More punk rock this time 'round;

You won't miss Europop.

-M.E.W.

"Ich Bin Der Stricherjunge"

On KillRockStars.com...

Patrick Sweany Every Hour Is A Dollar Gone (Nine Mile Records)

This would’ve been hot

In ’68; today it’s

A pleasant retread.

-J.V.

"Them Shoes"

On NineMileRecords.com...

Minus The Bear Planet of Ice (Suicide Squeeze)

Sure, they've got talent,

Technique, skill, looks and the rock.

But they're so boring.

-J.V.

"Throwin' Shapes"

On SuicideSqueeze.net...

Rilo Kiley Under The Blacklight (Warner Bros.)

Funky, frustrating.

Still, flawed Rilo Kiley is

preferable to most.

-J.V.

"Silver Lining"

On MusicToday.com...

The Cribs Men's Needs, Women's Needs, Whatever (Warner Bros.)

Anglified jock jams.

Fauxst-punk for football tourneys,

Telly commercials.

-J.V.

"Our Bovine Public"

On TheCribs.com...

Eyvind Kang Athlantis (Ipecac)

From the depths of Hell

Church music for Satanists.

Mike Patton is strange.

-J.V.

"Inquisito"

On Ipacec.com...

The New Pornographers Challengers (Matador)

Taut anthems, haunting

Neko; energy slowed down

Is still energy.

-J.V.

"My Rights Versus Yours"

On MatadorRecords.com...

David Dondero Simple Love (Team Love)

Gruff, drunken bluster.

Desperate guy plays desperate songs.

Nice pedal steel, though.

-J.V.

"Rothko Chapel"

On Saddle-Creek.com...

Architecture in Helsinki Heart It Races Remix EP (Polyvinyl)

Rasta dancehall dude

Should not sing indie disco.

Nor should Dr. Dog.

-J.V.

"Heart it Races (DJ Rupture's Ital Hymn Mix feat. Mr. Lee G)"

On Polyvinylrecords.com...