Early March and the new CDs are still showing up in heaping batches down at the basement of the Walker Memorial Building. Here's some songs of note:

1. The Cinematics - "Ready Now"
Well they certainly get the bombast element of early 80's new wave rock right. They seem to be aiming for that big big Steve Lillywhite type production sound and hit mark for the most part. If only the songs were a bit better, still it sounds so immense I don't mind too much. Played on 3/8/07.

2. Trans Am - "Obscene Strategies"
Looks like they're solidly back in the electro dance-pop category with this release, or at least this song. A strong disco beat flavour to the normal Trans Am keyboard madness. Overall can't recommend too many from this album, but hey it's superior to T.A

3. The Delmontes - "So It's Not To Be"
LTM collection from this early 80's UK band with a very strong late 60's pop sensibility. This jumpy tune is most notable for its "Na Na Na" backing vocals which give a kaliedoscopic psych-pop feel to it's otherwise bubbly center.

4. The Charlottes - "We're Going Wrong"
Another collection, this from an early 90's band that morphs from Primitives to Lush to My Bloody Valentine stylings in the course of an overstuffed disc. Every song is quite simply stunning, so if you're an afficiando of the shoegazer vibe definitely seek it out.

5. Robert Gomez - "The Same Sad Song"
Expected it to be a bit grittier and mopier based on the title but this has a bit of 4AD glossy production which gives it a bit too much distance. Not exactly Sparklehorse levels of slickness here but it's a decent enough touchstone.

6. Barn Burning - "Flailing"
Western MA alt.country band goes the Nick Cave route on many of these songs, giving a slowed down guttural feel to these while still retaining some of their roots. This particular tune is the rocker centerpiece of the disc, an exception more than a rule. Hope to get to it soon on the show.

7. Arthur Dodge - "Ides of March"
Solo release hunts more for an Elvis Costello feel while still staying stripped down and true to his folk and country foundation. The result is a very strong and earnest pop record all the way through, had a tough time picking just one song. The topical nature of the title led me to play this on 3/8/07.

8. Papercuts - "Unavailable"
Free-flowing release isn't afraid to bare it's late 60's folk aspirations but wraps them in a flowery psych-influenced sheen of production. Their last CD had a few hits to my ears, this one seems to carry on the tradition of quality. Spun on 3/8/07.

9. Laurel Brauns - "Closed for the Season"
New local release for this female vocalist, mostly acoustic accompaniment with sparse arrangments but it's all very crisp and upfront. Some of the vocals are a bit too prominent for my tastes but several of them were quite beguiling. One of those releases that only Jeff Breeze and myself will play (well, maybe Sue Schardt as well).

10. Rosie Thomas - "Much Father To Go"
This particular song is a real stunner from the former Sub Pop acousti-pop singer, we'll characterize her as a female Damien Jurado. Overall I didn't think much of the album, the cover of REM's "The One I Love" is appreciated. But perhaps the rest will grow on my like this expressive tune with some lovely male backing vocals and very subtle but incredible strings. Quite the chorus, it will definitely get played - probably more than once.

11. Nick Garrie - "Ink Pot Eyes"
Two winners in a row, here's a late 60's orch-pop reissue that's quite tasty. This particular song is punctuated with that weepnig George Harrison-style guitar, but tinnier like a pop-country song of the era. The orch elements really kick in the chorus, which has a Bee-Gees mellow flavour without getting all falsettoish. Plenty of incredible touches in this one, like the drumbreak into the chorus.

12. Low - "Always Fade"
Their last album made my best-of list for 2005, this one likely will not. It does continue on the fuller-sounding theme of the previous release, but has a much starker and harsher sound. Can't say anything grabbed me beyond this song, perhaps one more near the end. Played on 3/8/07.

13. Prosser - "The Path to a Field with a View of the City"
A meandering indie-rock instrumental with a lazy build-and-release. Very Explosions in the Sky-like without the whole glistening production vibe. Can't recall if any of these had vocals, if they didn't it would be good concert report fodder.

14. Wolf & Cub - "Rozalia Bizarre"
Another indie-rock instrumental but much stronger that the offering above. Has that really storming Soundtrack of Our Lives vibe with layered elements including a couple of pleasantly odd guitar solos in there which almost had me thinking Hovercraft too. Thought this would tweak Lisa of JDDCE's sensibilities and it definitely did.

15. Air - "Mer Du Japon"
Not a huge Air fan myself, but I always find a cut or two on their releases. Same goes for this new one, has that retro late-60's/early-70's movie theme vibe with a little Ulrich Schnauss in there for good measure.

16. Cassette - "Allright, V.1"
Tough to pick one song from a Cassette release, not because they're all so good but more because they're all so short! The median song length is probably around 45 seconds on this re-issue, with songs bouncing from techno to new wave to straight ahead sung ditties. This is one of the latter. Good for filling in that odd extra minute of time. Name is pretty much google-proof.

17. Gruff Rhys - "Beacon in the Darkness"
Super Furry Animals lead singer offers a solo release that reminds me a bit of earlier SFA releases but without the fuzzy production. Don't expect any of the excessive orchrestal backing of the more recent SFA stuff, this is purely Kings of Convenience style retro country-folk with song very precisely produced backing. Sounds good, looks good, feels good, etc. Played a different song on 3/8/07 due to time constraints.

18. Illinois - "One on One"
The producer credit is what immediately drew me to this ep ... helmed by Eli Janney of Girls Against Boys. The same guy who gave Brainiac their distinctive sound. Well, this is no Brainiac redux but still earns points for a great chorus and some plaintive keyboards. The kind of release that can cross BoC and LRC boundaries rather cleanly.

19. Goldfrapp - "Lovely 2 C U (T. Raumschmiere Mix)"
Goldfrapp strafed the station with two remix discs a few weeks ago, so far I think only Sans Serif has taken the bait. I will soon follow with this menacing take on everyone's favorite glam-pop revistionist (sorry, Destroyer). The keyboards are so gritty that it sounds as if it could have been done by Campaign for Real Time. Definite closer material next week.

20. Sia - "Pictures"
The only studio track on Sia's new live release so I grabbed it. Doesn't have as much of a tropical vibe as the last album, instead going for a more modern production feel. Way too much faux-moaning and faux-expression.

21. Songs of Green Pheasant - "Pink By White"
So laid back it reminds me of the Alan Parsons Project's "Eye in the Sky." Unfortunately the vocals are not as distinctive and there's no real build.