Pure Country Gold - Positive Vibrations (Pos-Vibes) (2009)

I've probably listened to Pure Country Gold more than any other Portland band this year. I just can't get enough of the duo's blistering garage blues. Far from purists, they seamlessly incorporate country, roots, punk into songs that remind me more of the propulsive and fuzzy Reigning Sound, than other blues duos, such as the Black Keys or locals Hillstomp.

Although I only just picked up Positive Vibrations recently, I've been loving their self-titled debut for the last few months. I wish I'd discovered them two years ago when it was released. Positive Vibrations is a compilation of the singles they've released since then and some of them are pretty awesome, especially when they charge through romantic boasts on"Setting Sun" (mp3) and make drinking plans for the apocalypse on "Yellow Bubbles" (mp3).

I can't wait until they release their next album, Tough Tuesday, later this spring.

Reigning Sound - Love And Curses (2009)

I must confess to loving just about everything Greg Cartwright has been involved in; Reigning Sound's amalgam of country, soul, garage rock grit just feels like home to me. Each album takes a slightly different spin on that perfect formula. This time, rather than packing the sonic gut punch of Too Much Guitar, Love And Curses is more a slow burn, making it's impact a little less immediate. As a result, the songs take longer to sink in and reveal their greatness. However, the shredded vocals and thumping drums of "If I Can't Come Back" and the uh huhs and oh yeahs shouted over a bouncing organ on "Stick Up For Me" rival the urgency of any of my previous favorites. Over all, it's a solid album of rough and tumble relationships delivered by Cartwright's sandpaper rasp and alternately ringing and chugging guitar. So good.

Wheels On Fire - Get Famous! (2009)

Wheels On Fire remind me of the Reigning Sound, especially on "I'm Turning Into You", which is really to say that they sound like a lot of great bands and fuse country, soul and punk into the rootsy garage rock I love. That and Michael Chaney's voice has that same soulfuly strained quality as Greg Cartwright. When I looked up more about them I wasn't at all surprised that their bio mentioned playing a show with Jack Oblivian and now they are on the same label. Ha! They do love the same bands. I immediately liked just about every song on this album upon first listen, and after that it just got better. Check out "Too Stubborn To Fold" and the great orgran workout that is "Metal Mandy".