Kaiser Chiefs - The Future Is Medieval (2011)

How many albums do you love all but one or two bum tracks? And how many times have you heard a B side and wondered how it didn't make the album? Well, rather than release an indulgent 20 track double album, the Kaiser Chiefs are giving fans the opportunity to select and order 10 tracks for their own personalized version. It's a cool idea, but these days fans already do that on their computers by rating songs and only listening to their favorites. Perhaps the band is acknowledging that they no longer control how the music is going to be consumed. At least this way, they get some great data on what their fans really like.

Unfortunately, even as a longtime Kaiser Chief fan, I'm having trouble finding 10 tracks I love. Mostly they are fine. Although I'd definitely put "Back In December," "Can't Mind My Own Business" and "Starts With Nothing" on an album, I don't hear any of the type of singles that made me fall in love with the band back when "I Predict A Riot" incited mass dancing/jumping as it pumped across the indie rock dance floors.

Too bad they didn't do this for a greatest hits album. This method would work great for career spanning compilations for any artist with a handful of releases. I am sure fans could pull out enough deep cuts around the obvious singles to make some pretty interesting and personal albums.

The Wombats - "Tokyo (Vampires and Werewolves)"

Let the synth-driven dance rock wash over you like smuggled-in beer at a Japantown karaoke bar. The Wombats nail it with this video for "Tokyo (Vampires and Werewolves)" that reeks of good times and high-risk drug abuse. I feel for the band manager that has to ultimately (and unsuccessfully) rein in the snow-influenced mania, but at the same time, you just want the song to keep going to see what madness unfolds next. The Wombats are generally fun and uproarious, but they consistently write pretty good songs that sound like a lot of other noise. Personally, I think this video sets a pretty high watermark, but the rest of their output really ain't bad either. Give a spin, have a listen... This Modern Glitch is available now.

The Wombats - Tokyo (Vampires & Wolves) from Townhall on Vimeo.

Elbow - Build a Rocket Boys! (2011)

I'd never heard Elbow before a few days ago. I'm not sure if I'd even heard of them, but they've been playing together since 1990, according to Wikipedia. With Tuesday's release of Build a Rocket Boys!, It's safe to say that this band of Brits is planning on keeping things going a while longer. While I purposely didn't give myself anything from their back catalog to compare it to, Elbow doesn't seem to have developed that lack of luster that often accompanies even the best of bands as it's members move into middle age. The first several tracks are fresh, interesting, and well crafted, and though I find my attention drifting a little after halfway through (they could be creeper tracks that get me later, these are first impressions) there is enough to keep me riveted. "Lippy Kids" is a powerful sentimental track that has an aspect in the tone that reminds me of "Night Swimming" by R.E.M. (#1 make-yourself-cry track!), "With Love" is a slightly dizzying, spot-on-produced ear worm, and "Neat Little Rows" is, along with the others, a great showcase of what lead singer Guy Garvey's pipes are capable of.

The Quakes - Negitive Charge (2009)

Howdy people, startin' out "Sande's Poor Man's Throwbacks — Good Bands You Forgot You Own" segment with The Quakes. The Quakes are a punk/rockabilliy band that started out in the 80's and Negative Charge is their latest album which came out last year. If you're a Tiger Army, Pennywise, or Offspring fan I'm thinking you would dig these guys. They got that indefinable, throw-caution-to-the-wind, punkish swagger. The Quakes are more popular in Europe, so you might get a little taste of British punk in there mixed in with the heavy drums and stand up bass. Whenever I hear them wailing, it always makes me want to get back in the tattoo parlor REALLY bad, especially "Seven Seas Alone." Something about really good bands that never made it big for no apparent reason other than bad luck, have always had a special place in my heart. I repeatedly blast The Quakes whenever I overcome some small obstacle just to even the score. So, if you ever want to cut loose just cause you deserve it, I suggest cranking up "Ghost Town," "Negative Charge," or "Straight to Valhalla," drink too many whiskey sours and get some more reckless ink, because why the fuck not?

Ash - The A - Z Series

I like all the innovative approaches bands are taking to stay relevant and fiscally solvent in, and sometimes really take advantage of, the new musical landscape. Ash seems to be looking past the album, for now anyway, by releasing a series of 26 digital downloads. People can either subscribe or buy the tracks individually. And they seem to be having some success with it, given that all the vinyl subscriptions are sold out and they are only up to G. So far I like "Joy Kicks Darkness" and "Arcadia" the best. I don't think I'd mind if all my favorite bands moved towards this format.

The Horrors - Primary Colours (2009)

If fuzzed out rock and subdued vocals is your cup of tea, then this is an album you may be excited about. Personally, I have struggled to enjoy the album as a whole, but have really liked certain segments. Straddling the genres of psychedelic and punk, Primary Colours sounds like a conglomeration of many different bands, including Joy Division, The Velvet Underground, Spiritualized, and The Ramones. However, during some parts it's as if they've taken quaaludes, filtered the music through a whirring fan, and fittingly, taken on a hauntingly spooky tone. There are times when the album drones on, and there are times when the music is closer to abrasive noise, but tracks like "Who Can Say," "Scarlet Fields," and "Sea Within A Sea" redeem the less-than-excellent moments to make this album a solid addition to any indie collection.

Now, enjoy the video for "Who Can Say."

Audrye Sessions @ Hawthorne Theater

How many concerts have you seen where a band plays an orange traffic cone? Ska bands and Stomp don't count. None? I win. Although I couldn't really discern what it sounded like in the midst an epic climax. But that's the kind of creativity and energy that Audrye Sessions displayed at the Hawthorne Theater this weekend. This Bay Area band also incorporated a washboard and violin bow (for the lead singer's electric guitar) into their soaring alt. rock anthems. They sound a lot like early Radiohead with a more optimistic outlook, although the way the lead singer's voice turns the corner mid-word reminds me more of Travis' Fran Healy, especially on tracks like "New Years Day" and "Where You'll Find Me". I enjoyed the whole set, but the standout track was definitely the "Turn Me Off". It's just a sweet single.

Danny Echo - Danny Echo (2009)

Vancouver's Danny Echo play rock and roll that reminds me of the days when Brit pop ruled my roommates stereos -- when bands on both sides of the Atlantic were looking back to the Rolling Stones and Faces for inspiration. In the Bay Area it was Brian Jonestown Massacre and Mover. "Killing Me" expertly lifts a handful of who-who-who's from "Sympathy for the Devil". At times the lead singer's voice sounds a lot like Liam Gallagher's, especially on big dramatic ballads like "Tomorrow Today", which could be a (What's The Story) Morning Glory? B-side. All of which isn't to call them derivative. The songs are catchy, melodic, and generally a good time. In addition to the above songs, I like testy "I Can't Take It Anymore" and the twangy "Natural Disaster".

Kaiser Chiefs - Off With Their Heads

Off With Their Heads? More like Off With Their Ears!

If you’re looking to pad your collection with indistinguishable Brit rock, add Kaiser Chiefs. Their third release is perfect for fist-pumping frat boys in Hoboken bars who desire some semblance of indie cred but are too lazy to research something less generic and slightly under the radar. This would require thinking, but then again so does most subterranean rock worth listening to. Their interesting debut, Employment (2005), flirted with new wave and 70’s punk, but commercial success has made their sound mass produced for, well, mass appeal. Quite frankly, fuck marketability if it’s at the expense of losing that certain something that had initially put them on the map. Even producer Mark Ronson did little for this derivative music than give it a shiny, polished sound.

“Spanish Metal” is their “badass” intro. The vocals excited me since they were reminiscent of Alice In Chains’ lead singer Layne Staley (may he rest). Alas, the thrill wore off since I ended up turning on Jar Of Flies instead. With a catchy chorus and watered down Gallagher (see: Oasis) vocals, “Never Miss A Beat” is actually one of the more tolerable tracks. But if blatant un-originality tires you, this song will put you to sleep faster than Nyquil. Unworthy of mention are the uninspired songs “Can’t Say What I Mean” and “Good Days Bad Days,” boasting lyrics that are equal parts cliché and utterly annoying. The punchy guitar that introduces “Like It Too Much” is nothing but a Spoon “I Turn My Camera On” baseline knock-off, but not in a good way. Plus, I’m not even a Spoon fan! And “You Want History,” with wailing guitars and big background vocals, is a mélange of sounds from forgettable 80’s bands not even worth the lackadaisical mention.

Overall, this album is far from groundbreaking and misses the very beat they claim to “Never Miss.” Had they covered familiar territory from a unique vantage point maybe they could’ve developed more worthwhile lyrics, but no dice. Plus, the music has been done before... and better. Suffice it to say, I’ve seen fake Prada wallets sold by NYC street vendors with more style and originality than Kaiser Chiefs.