The late-October update debuting later than I thought it would, as I ended up spending Saturday ensuring our fundraising data entry efforts will be more accurate than last year and Sunday making and assembling the batch of 2007 samplers for those who pledged during the show (or directed their web donation to bocthurs). Hopefully the double-disc set will more than make up for my tardiness!

Lightspeed Champion - "Xanadu"
In preparation for the year-end covers show I've been studiously accumulating candidates, including this far too reverential cover by a Test-Icicles member. The chimey chimes and insistent replication of the source material's backing vocals reveal a lack of the imagination needed to pull off material of this cheese level. The non-cover cuts are similarly faux-fragile with overly earnest vocals.

Winter Flowers - "Live To Tell"
From the new Madonna tribute Through The Wilderness which allows faux-folk bands to take on Madonna's best with lackluster results. Predictably none of the acts excavate the delicious gooey center of the originals, this one was selected from the bunch for its doubling of the original running length with two loping guitar solos and the doubled female vocals that most effectively evoke the early 70's.

Coheed and Cambria - "The Running Free"
This was the other half of the new music challenge posed to Christopher Vyce during the 11/1 fundraising show trope of "which song should I play?" He picked Freezepop for those not taking copious notes at home. I would have gladly accepted the new single by these incomprehensible prog-rockers, as they manage one super-catchy Rush ripoff per record. Does anyone really slavishly listen to each of their impenetrable sci-fi concept records attempting to divine wisdom from lazy drivel? Wait, don't answer that one.

Tokyo Music Club - "Box"
Leadoff track from a new ep by this non-Japanese band ... if you guessed Canadian give yourself a cred checkmark. While attempting to muster up a rocker, it betrays their emopowerpop notions behind jumpy guitar hooks and spoken backing vocals seemingly lifted from another song. Just can't bring myself to pull the trigger.

Anna Ternheim - "Today Is A Good Day"
The breathless press material that escorted this ep into the station touted her hitmaking status in Sweden, a sure sign of pandering to the bocthurs deejay if you ask me. This has more of a non-USA worshipping Broadcast feel to it in the both the beatific vocals and the glistening jangle of the instruments. However the backing vocals betray a friendlier sensibility and the rest of the disc tries for mystic moodiness with less success. Enough of an appetite whetter to earn a spin on 10/26.

The Whiles - "Spanish Steps"
A band from Columbus OH that S2C Patrick didn't try to sell me, that alone should have been sufficient warning. The type of vocally challenged pop that never wafts beyond a single harmonious key. At first its intentions seem rather twee with a sparse backing but slowly the guitar intrudes with some James-style muscle until eventually bursting into dual solo strutting with a freaky synth break in the bridge to provide some spice. Regardless of how pretty the portrait has been painted before with colors more vivid than these men can muster.

Serpent Rainbow - "Our Escape"
Quite simply the only song I could stomach on this release, but well deserving of attention nonetheless. In the midst of some unfocused supersoft sub Damon & Naomi rambling is this Felt-like meanderfest that is at least smart enough to let the introspective guitar take a primary spot in the recording process instead of burying it beneath layers of haze. Much appreciated, friends.

Frightened Rabbit - "Music Now"
Well there was the year of the Wolf band and I think Horse had a good six month or so run and of course Black never goes out of style but here we witness the dawn of the age of the Rabbit band. If you surmised Rabbit bands as a collective sound like meek-but-shaggy-bangs-combed-over-their-eyes-with-striped-shirts-staring-up-from-their-guitars-in-the-hope-of-catching-a-swoony-girl's-eye then you've got Frightened Rabbit by the ears. The total lyrical substance of this song announces "This is music now" and I'm still doubting if I should double back for confirmation.

White Rabbits - "The Plot"
Doing a far better job of providing the new genre of rabbit music with a reasonable reputation is White Rabbits, who have the sense to mate jumpy guitars and catchy whoa-ah-oh-ah-oh-ah-ohs together into an infectious paste that won't quite wash off in warm water. These gentlemen are worthy of the doubleback for this song alone, which surfaced on WMBR airwaves 11/8. I'm still a little hesistant to provide a enthusiastic thumbs up vote based on the previous rabbit experience but we've come a long way baby.

Last Days - "Two Halves Of A Line"
This instrumental band favors pictures of abandoned rowboats on frozen lakes with leafless trees suffering in the background. Concert report fodder on 10/26, chilly electronic blurbs are punctuated by a haze of drone and plainly repetitive guitar with a few unexpected piano baubles and tempo shifts for flavor. It gives me chapped lips just listening to it.

Club 8 - "When I Come Around"
Quite pleased to announce this Swedish indiepop concern continue to provide high quality hummable pop with inoffensively produced midtempo tones that smooth over all rough edges with a layer of delicious white frosting. There are no overt dance beats or bleating vocals, just a persistent pace and smoothly engaging execution across the musical and vocal landscape that play like a happy counterpart to a Trembling Blue Stars triphop effort. Spun on 10/26.

The Brother Kite - "Half Century"
The hit from this Providence RI's otherwise superfluous new ep which distills their infectious brand of shoegazer pop through a turkey baster full of joy. If you crave the shimmering overdubbed vocals and verses that mimic a choral chanting of Beach Boys praise this one song will compel you to plunk down some cash for the chance to claim ownership of an instant classic. It's not an undiscovered early Teenage Fanclub classic circa Catholic Education but with no foreknowledge you could probably be convinced of such stellar lies about its lineage. Played on 11/8, you'll probably hear it again.

The Beautiful Girls - "Generals"
Generally a flaccid and lackluster record but splash a sub-Police reggae beat with some spikey new wave guitars and I'm predictably swayed to spin. Still I made sure to bury my guilty pleasure spin on an unplanned JDDCE sub session sometime around 10/20. They really don't do much with the promising start but relatively effective distillations of nostalgia is obviously enough for me these days.

Ravens & Chimes - "General Lafayette! You Are Not Allowed"
Mating the impenetrable title of a Decemberists song with the choppy piano-driven sweep of an Arcade Fire tune the fake ending on this one embarrased me during the 11/8 spin and eroded any good will I had for these competent NYC copiers of the latest indie music trends. Truthfully if this record had been released under the Neon Bible moniker I would've bought it, but then again my ears aren't very sharp. And considering the passel submissions by bands with 8+ members that arrive at our studios monthly anything that can step beyond hopelessly muddled execution and murky production wins an a-ok from me.

Saturday Looks Good To Me - "Edison Girls"
Just when I've started to become addicted to the Fred Thomas helmed tracks on the previous SLGTM records he comes along and puts out a relatively polished collection of songs that steps away from his frenzied lo-fi channeling of 60's soul. As previous efforts pop up randomly thanks to my mp3 player dousing me in endorphins, this new effort removes the imperfections with sonic care and consequently drowns my excitement levels in unfortunate "that was nice"isms.

Digital Leather - "Fancy Lad"
Knowing my addiction to new new wave leaves me helpless to bands of this ilk, I surprised myself by staying away from this Tucson group's last record while the rest of our dj population fawned. Removing the subversive dance elements of The Faint with overmodulated synths and a dirty mouth, this band accurately answers the question "what if OMD started out as punks?" Damn if they don't make those synth lines catch hold, though the lyrics are best left ignored.

Loney, Dear - "Le Fever"
Speaking of resisting uncontrollable addictions, here's a Swedish band that actually doesn't impress me! Loney Dear are the rare Swedish confection that barely meets the one-song-per-record requirement to get mentioned in this blog, and this overlong fey pop song barely makes an impression.

Euros Childs - "Horse Riding"
Gorky's alums gather together to temper their psych-prog urges while pushing the fader up on the English pop and glam aspects of their former band. These songs are short and sharp, earning the type of initial interest that predictably wanes upon repeated exposure. For enthusiasts of the genre only, played on 10/25 but not likely to see the light of day again.

Sic Alps - "Bells (With Temelo & Distortion)"
I remember this band as a freaky art-punk burst of hammer & sickle pain, but the home-burned disc they dropped off to promote a recent show displays unforeseen range. The title is more of an accurate description than the promise of a song, as it takes less than 100 seconds for the elements to present themselves and subsequently resolve what little mystery there was.

The Go - "Refrain"
I believe this is the same Detroit based retro 60's psych-blues band that featured the talents of Jack White on a Sub Pop release before the Stripes found fame. Truthfully I enjoyed this new release of theirs more, as it plays up the pop aspects of their influences while still retaining the authentic 60's garage sound. Vascillating between Moody and Move-y the tunes are of consistent quality and will certainly please those who appreciate (not so) obscure references.

Hundred Air - "All The Lights Are On"
Can't claim this NC area pop group are particularly inspired to venture beyond the jangle pop made famous decades early in approximately the same region. At the same time they're not intense enough to rank as slavish copiers either, those hoping for an enjoyable Let's Active swipe or two are likely to leave disappointed as well. Nondescript college basement shows await.