Late January through early April are the busiest months for new releases here at college radio as labels try to capitalize on the attention of the college students ... I have almost three updates worth of stuff here to mention! This compilation is officially mid-February

1. Wild Carnation - "The Road To Bielefield"
Characterized as a Feelies offshoot it's really a Speed the Plough offshoot as all the members here have a hand in that band as well. Very stong 2nd record from them with all the jangly goodness you'd expend in some extended length songs ... tough to find a sub 5 minute hit! Played a different song 2/22/07 due to time constraints.

2. Dalminjo - "There Is A Light That Never Goes Out"
Lovely cover of the Smiths tune takes a chilled-out beats approach with a heavily reverbed female lead singer. Norweigan gentleman uses a passel of guest vocals to add some life to his downbeat beats. Played 2/22/07 as a closer.

3. The High Llamas - "Winter's Day"
After Hawaii and Gideon Gaye I haven't really been enamored by anything coming out under the High Llamas moniker, this included. This tune has very little going for it lyrically though it sounds pretty enough, which got it aired on 2/22/07.

4. My Teenage Stride - "Heartless & Cruel"
Trying to mix that Johnny Marr jangle with flatter post-punk vocals for a melding of styles long gone by ... we'll see if it makes it to the air. Tries too hard but does achieve some sense of authenticity.

5. The Secret Ink - "Boomerang"
Really liked the strings from this local band's first release and the art direction too. The female vocals try hard but really shouldn't be so front and center as they don't carry the song. Played on 2/15/07 (the Secret show, natch).

6. Albert Hammond Jr. - "In Transit" Better than the last Strokes album by a mile, this solo release has more of a pop sensibility and offers a few gems worth investigation. Played a different song on 2/22/07 but this one is very worthy as well. Big fan of dad too, "Free Electric band and all that.

7. Youth Group - "Forever Young"
Kept this Alphaville cover for future reference, smells very O.C. Won't be played anytime soon unless it's a kitsch cover show.

8. Tanakh - "Where Our Gardens Grow"
Psychedelic folk revisionists had some sparklers on previous releases but the new one is just too unfocused for me. I reserved this to give it a second chance but it's still not catching.

9. Alasdair Roberts - The Old Men of the Shells
Sounds just as 60's British folk as he always does, with that sweetly lilting voice. It's been a few albums since I really found more than one song per that I liked. Certainly has a chance of getting played but the song length hurts it.

10. BARR - "Half of Two Times Two (Newer Version)"
Wisely ditched the attempts at rapping and has gone to a spoken word style with a certain poetic flair. Works much better with my sensibilities and the improved backing (in other words, less freak experiments) helps as well. Spun on 3/1/07.

11. The Triffids - "Kathy Knows"
The re-issues on Domino keep flowing in, this is from their first one. Admittedly I'm unfamiliar with this record, it has a much rougher feel to it. Quite a bit more punch to the vocals, sparser sound with more than a bit of Nick Cave like menace to it. Usually I don't play re-issues but might work this in, really I'm waiting for the Calenture set to hit the shelves.

12. Mouthful of Bees - "Old Gold" Some definite charm to this indie rock release, the buried vocals provide a sense of warbly nausea and the simple keyboards are affecting but there's plenty of cacophony behind it to earn a spin on 2/22/07.

13. M. Ward - "To Go Home"
Leadoff and title track on his new ep with more production and pop style than I've ever heard from him before. While atypical it's also quite enjoyable as I often have difficulty slogging through his more turgid stuff.

14. Apostle of Hustle - "Justine, Beckoning"
Canadians have never really impressed me before with their earnest brand of pop but several flowed well enough here to earn a try. Still haven't made up my mind yet.

15. Aqueduct - "Keep It Together" Glammy confection that didn't hit me at first but has really impressed after multiple spins. Like a friendlier Destroyer, the punchy vocals and strong keyboard riffs really keep this one rolling. Used as a closer on 2/15/07 - will hopefully play it again.

16. Anagram - "If I Was A Scientist"
Doing the shoegazer rock thing with female vocals ... think there might have been a male lead on other songs. It's the vocals that are actually holding me back here. Bury them more in the mix and I might go for it Swervedriver-like, but they're keeping them in that Darling Buds mid-range which bothers me. Still I should give this a shot at least once.

17. Lumantic - "Go Fish"
Another shoegazer pop offering that I wasn't very intrigued by but reserved this song to give it a shot. Has that 1993 commercial sheen to it with some reasonably pleasant female vocals but the songs tend to meander on a bit. In fairness it has jelled since my initial impression, but competition is fierce this time of the year! Can't find a webpage, maybe I spelled the band name incorrectly.

18. Bikeride - "Your Lips and You Trouble"
Not too enamored with the album overall, but this song is a fantastic kitchen sink pastiche of 60's and 70's musical styles with sunshiney vocals and retro Cornershop-ish beats with plenty of orchestral stabs. Played 2/22/07.

19. This Is My Fist - "I'm Not Even Trying"
Femme fronted fuzzy pop-punk that was fun enough to reserve a song, perhaps for a possible future Late Risers' Club fill-in. AM Stereo watch out!