This post was submitted by Rohan

Great Records:

Artist: Joanna Newsom
Album: Have One On Me
What the hell is it? Highly anticipated third record from the Fairy Queen
Sounds like a combination of: folk, Joni Mitchell, (smog)
Recommended? This is a triple LP consisting of three CDs with six tracks each. The album is about two-hours long, and is a daunting beast. I don’t recommend listening to it in full. However I recommend buying this damn thing. Or if you are obsessed with you mp3s, burn it in the correct order. Play each disc as its own separate piece, and it becomes easy to digest. If taken in properly, the beauty of this album will shine through. A tracks like “Go Long” will have a strong appeal, while a deeper cut like “Esme” will not get buried in the mix. I will say that this record is over long, and if you were to make cuts, you could have one unfuckwithable LP, but I’ve only been listening for a week. While “Good Intentions Pving Company” immediately hits, this is a record that you need to take time with.
Release Date: Feb. 23

Artist: Quasi
Album: American Gong
What the hell is it? Eight album from Sam Coomes (Heatmiser/Elliot Smith’s backing band) and Janet Weiss (Sleater-Kinney, SM + The Jicks)
Sounds like a combination of: Bluesy, grungy and sometimes soft but always rock tracks with a political bent
Recommended? Quasi have always gotten far less attention than its members’ other bands.  Janet Weiss gets more attention for being part of the Jicks than she does for being a major part of Quasi. If there was ever a record to change that, this might be it. Give it a spin, I’m sure you might find something you like.
Release Date: Feb. 23

Right click to download “Repulsion.”

Artist: Shout Out Louds
Album: Work
What the hell is it? Third record from Swedish pop-group
Sounds like a combination of: A band coming into their own skin
Recommended? The first Shout Out Louds record was enjoyable keyboard driven pop. The second was an overblown orchestral record. This time around the band relocated to Seattle and hooked up with veteran producer Phil Ek (Built to Spill). Their sound has become more “mature” balancing the strengths of their previous two releases while exploring some new ground. This might be their most consistently enjoyable record.
Release Date: Feb. 23

Artist: Holly Miranda
Album: The Magician’s Private Library
What the hell is it? Singer-songwriter’s with a voice like Cat Power, debut produced by Dave Steik of TV on the Radio
Sounds like a combination of: Cat Power, and Dave Steik’s paranoid sound production
Recommended? Miranda benefits from the A+ production of Steik, making her songs grow. Plus adding in Kyp Malone’s backing vocals don’t hurt either. The first couple songs are dreamy, but then the Chan Marshal snarl kicks in and the record gets a little bluesier.
Release Date: Feb. 23

Artist: Sambassadeur
Album: European
What the hell is it? Third record from hard-working Swedish pop group
Sounds like a combination of: I’m saying this to get it out of the way: Fleet Foxes
Recommended? Goddamn, Labrador Records is on a roll. Though I am biased because I have listened to two big releases in the pipeline, this Sambassadeur record is just fantastic. It is straight up no bullshit Swedish pop.
Release Date: Feb. 23

Artist: Class Actress
Album: Joan of Ardency
What the hell is it? Debut EP from Chris Taylor (Grizzly Bear) Produced female-fronted electro-pop group
Sounds like a combination of: New Wave
Recommended? Over six songs, Class Actress storm the gates pretty hard. “Careful What You Say” is the immediate stand-out, but it is “Let Me Take You Out” that is the surprise. While tracks one and two are electro jams, “Let Me Take You Out” is shoegazey guitar number, showcasing the band’s range. Hopefully this EP’s quality is a good measurement for their forthcoming LP.
Release Date: Feb. 9

Alright Records:

Artist: Title Tracks
Album: It Was Easy
What the hell is it? John Davis of Q and Not U fame unveils his solo project
Sounds like a combination of: Elvis Costello, Power Pop
Recommended: This is better than Gorgie James. The songs are pretty strong, especially his cover of The Boss’s “Tougher Then The Rest” featuring Tracyanne Campbell of Camera Obscura. As much as I like single tracks off the album, like the opener “Every Little Bit Hurts,” the end of the record gets a little jumbled. I’m sure with time this record might grow on me, but at least my IPod has a skip function.
Release Date: Feb.  9

Artist: Shearwater
Album: The Golden Archipelago
What the hell is it? 6^th record and follow-up to their breakthrough Rook
Sounds like a combination of: Overblown and orchestrated indie-rock
Recommended: I’m really not one for this kind of music. I mean it is all masterfully done, and the band deserves so much credit for making a real “album” in the days of toss-off records, but it just didn’t catch me. I liked Rook, but even that record is tough to just put on whenever.
Release Date: Feb.  23

Artist: Efterklang
Album: Magic Chairs
What the hell is it? 3^rd record from Danish indie-poppers
Sounds like a combination of: Indie-rock with orchestral flourishes
Recommended: This record has some really good songs, and then some that just sit in the middle. “Modern Drift” is a pretty awesome song, while “Scandinavian Love” is just alright. The middle tracks on the record don’t match the standouts, and that is what holds this record back.
Release Date: Feb.  23

Hot Video Alert:

Artist: jj
Video: “Let Go”
What the hell is it? This video is pretty wild. It makes almost no sense, but does anything jj do make sense? The somewhat anonymous group may actually be in the video too. It is pretty cool, so take a view:

Artist: Liars
Video: “Scissor”
What the hell is it? The Liars have always made interesting videos, but this one might take the cake. I don’t want to give it away so it is better if I just shut up and you watch.

Artist: Late of the Pier
Video: “Best In The Class”
What the hell is it? I have a soft spot for this band. The 2008 record Fantasy Black Channel was the natural evolution of nu-rave. While somewhat inspired by the day-glo and attitude of the Klaxons (remember them?) LOTP created a sound all to their own. This breezy pop number is typical LOTP, because while it starts off as a catchy dance-around-your-room number they go and fuck everything up at the end. Oh, this video is kinda creepy – be warned.

Late Of The Pier – Best In The Class from Phantasy on Vimeo.

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