Mind Spiders - Meltdown (2012)

Meltdown is non-stop energy the entire album through with fast paced garage rock and surf punk inspired riffs. The straight-forward sound has numerous, perhaps obligatory, references to spiders and makes clear its dark themes. The lyrics and occasional chiming in an eerie organ may seem an appropriate tribute to an old sci-fi film score never given its due credit, yet while one can imagine a disutopian future in “Skull Eyed” and “Meltdown”, the album would be worth listening to solely for the call to arms “Fall in Line”, “Join us Now”, and “Wait for Us”. Similar to the Misfits, Mind Spiders don’t take themselves too seriously and this translates into lighthearted and fun listening. Other noteworthy tracks include “You are Dead” and “Beat”. Check this video if you don't believe me.


Mind Spiders - "Wait For Us" from stereogum on Vimeo.

The White Buffalo - Once Upon a Time in the West (2012)

There was a time when I considered The White Buffalo my "new" favorite artist. Three LPs, three EPs, hundreds of live shows, and seven and a half years later we can hardly refer to The White Buffalo as being "new," but he still remains one of my favorite recording artists and his tunes remain fresh.

I've always enjoyed The White Buffalo's lone, guitar-slinging musical bandito routine. I prefer his one-man performances for the freedom it allows him to jam through multi-song country medleys and the emotion that hovers in the room when it is just his exceptional baritone and the guitar keeping time. "Once Upon a Time in the West" adds additional musical layers to The White Buffalo's previous releases, namely in the consistent backing of a near-full band, and pulls it off without losing the authentic Americana feel of the solo White Buffalo. A few tracks are downright rollicking with up-tempo drums, howls, and "Hey"s. Despite the quality of the full-band tracks, I still find myself gravitating toward the thoughtfulness and simplicity of slower tracks such as "Sleepy Little Town," "Wish It Was True," and "One Lone Night." They are alluring, if not haunting, songs that remind me (if not the collective us) of how captivating good songwriting and vocals can be. Have a gander at the video below and tell me I'm wrong. Enjoy this album and support this artist. His music is as good as his personality. Worth buying; worth sharing.