awmercy's CD's I Liked But Never Got Around to Reviewing

Motel Motel - New Denver
Los Campesinos! - We Are Beautiful, We Are Doomed
Gentleman Jesse And His Men - Gentleman Jesse And His Men
Sandrine - Dark Fades Into Light
The Future Heads - This Is Not The World
Blitzen Trapper - Furr
Bound Stems - The Family Afloat
Mates Of State - Re-Arrange Us
Lenka - Lenka
Lukestar - Lake Toba
Kathleen Edwards - Asking For Flowers
Locksley - Dont Make Me Wait
Army Navy - Army Navy

Oh well...

ve1cro's super duper short list

1. Songs that get me in the mood for work in the morning. Port O'Brien's "I Woke Up Today," The Annuals’ "Around Your Neck," The Ark’s "Disease," The Envy Corps’ "Story Problem," The Futureheads’ “First Day,” Duffy's "Mercy," and the New Radicals’ “You Only Get What You Give."









2. Los Campesinos! @ the Troubadour on 6/7/08. LC! were full of crazy energy and sounded amazing. I was positively blown away by the mutual love between the band and the crowd. Hey Campesinos, next time play “C is the Heavenly Option.” Thanks!





3. The Troubadour. Many years ago, I was fortunate enough to see Gene play here and it is still, without a doubt, one of my favorite venues. If you get a chance, experience it!




4. My future new computer/ipod. Bring it!









5. Deutschemusikvideos. German dudes rockin’ it like britpop gods! Check out Tocotronic’s two videos “kapitulation” and “imitationen.” I spy awmercy dancing in the “kapitulation” video. Geez, you sure do get around.

Johnny Foreigner - Waited Up Til It Was Light (2008)

These guys sound like Los Campesinos! at their most exuberant and reckless. The songs are fast and packed with girl/boy harmonic chanting, screaming cacophony, and alternating snippets of guitar distortion and riffing. Their frenzied and upbeat songs remind me of the rockier side of 90's indie pop. I also hear hints of Bloc Party and the punk choruses of the Futureheads. "Lea Room" is the hyperactive lead off track and seems to overflow with ideas packed into two and half minutes. It sets the tone for an album that starts and stops, jerks and charges, layering up of lots of song pieces like a collage. It'd be fun to sing along if I could keep up. These guys must be amazing live.

Los Campesinos! - Hold On Now, Youngster... (2008)

I already had four of the twelve songs from the album on at least one previous EP, so the album doesn't feel all that new. However, it is a minor complaint, since the songs mostly range from good to great and the new tracks are more of the same hyperactive and playful indie pop that I loved on the EPs. Listening to the album is kind of the equivalent of stuffing your mouth full SweeTarts and drinking a Jolt: explosive, fun, and rather juvenile.