This post was submitted by Rohan

Round-Up Update: Fellow music lovers, the next few weeks are booming with records, so these next round-ups are going to be all over the place. I am putting in records that are not released until next week, so the normal lala streams might not be available for some of the records. To make up for it I am adding mp3s and YouTube streams (I do this anyway) but I thought I’d let you know. It’s always good to read about music, but it’s even better to listen to it. So listen away. There are lots of major releases coming this way too, so don’t say you weren’t warned.

Fuck Yeah!

Artist: These New Puritans
Album: Hidden
What the hell is it? Second record from the most post-punk of all of the post-punk revival bands
Sounds like a combination of: The Fall if the Fall had a full woodwind section and Japanese drums. One of the most awesome records to be released in a while….
Recommended? I’ve been waiting for TNP to drop this record since I found out early last year they were back in the studio. I am a huge TNP fan, 2008’s Beat Pyramid is one of the most underrated records ever. Not only is the band full of cuties (one of them was a Dior model), but these numerology and astrology obsessed pranksters are the only band of the recent post-punk revival to try to take on The Fall. This record, however, is a huge stylistic change, the biggest changes being the addition of woodwinds and six-foot Japanese Taiko drums. Opener “We Want War” is a meandering but rewarding seven-minute monster that sets the tone of the record: doom and gloom.
Release Date: Mar. 2

Artist: jj
Album: nº 3
What the hell is it? Third release from somewhat secretive Swedish group
Sounds like a combination of: Balearic, Hip-Hop posturing, who cares you should be listening to this
Recommended? There are records I like, and then there are records I love. Last year’s jj nº 2 is a record I love. It is pure pleasure. So I was a little shaken when I started this record and “my life” came on. Unlike their previous mixture of Balearic/African-however-you-describe-it sound, “my life” is like an adult contemporary song, just voice and piano. It really catches you off guard, but listening to the lyrics, jj is still there. “my life” contains countless hip-hop references, and it doesn’t stop there. jj’s sound comes back with wonderful “and now” and continues throughout the record. First single “let go” is beautiful with all of its drug references and Boss homages. Then you get to the Biggie rip “vol parlate, lo gioco,” and if you aren’t smiling you should be. I’m still trying to decide if nº 3 is up to snuff with nº 2, but one thing I know is nº 3 is going to end up on my Best of 2010 list no matter what.
Release Date: Mar. 9

Artist: Ted Leo & the Pharmacists
Album: The Brutalist Bricks
What the hell is it? Ted Leo’s 6^th record
Sounds like a combination of: Power-pop, taking down the government
Recommended? I prayed Living with the Living was a misstep, and it was, because this record is awesome. “The Mighty Sparrow” bolts out the gates with all the excitement of other Leo openers “Me and Mia” and “Biomusicology,” but the excitement doesn’t let down. “Even Heroes Have To Die” is a pretty awesome single, and my favorite track on the record, “Bottled in Cork,” ends with the great line, “Tell the bartender, I think I’m falling in love,” which for a booze hound like me is the story of my life. The Brutalist Bricks may be one of Leo’s best records period.
Release Date: Mar. 9

Right click to download “The Mighty Sparrow.”

Artist: Little Boots
Album: Hands
What the hell is it? US release of the debut from the UK electro-pop diva
Sounds like a combination of: Most of you have heard this, but it sounds like the fucking 80s
Recommended? This came out last June in the UK. If you are gay and actually go out to cool dance parties, and even some uncool ones, you know songs like “Stuck on Repeat” or “Remedy,” so I don’t know why I am wasting any more words on this. If Little Boots is “new” to you, then enjoy the embed below.
Release Date: Mar. 2

It’s Alright, It’s Ok:

Artist: Xiu Xiu
Album: Dear God, I Hate Myself
What the hell is it? The best Xiu Xiu record since Fabulous Muscles
Sounds like a combination of: Pop music thrown in a dumpster and left to rot
Recommended: I am not a huge Xiu Xiu fan—to which Zack would say, “that’s because you don’t like queer music”—but it is mostly because I was so turned off by Fag Patrol back in the day, that I never gave them another chance. In my college radio days I did feel fondly for Fabulous Muscles, and I listened to the subsequent albums, but nothing caught me. This record, however, did catch me. There might be actual pop songs on this, but like any good Xiu Xiu record, the songs are filled with distorted farts like the Negative Nancy at the party just fucking up your good time (Note: That used to be me). This is the most consistent and strongest song writing Jamie Stewart has done in a while, and it really shows. So now the reason why I claim this off as just OK is because I doubt I am going to be going back to this record much.
Release Date: Feb. 23

Artist: Ruby Suns
Album: Fight Softly
What the hell is it? Aptly titled new record from New Zealand popsters
Sounds like a combination of: Glo-fi, Meriwether Post Pavilion, African guitars
Recommended: Okay, this review might be unfair. I really liked their last record, but since then the band have been probably listening to Meriwether Post Pavilion on repeat, because some of the tricks come back here. The record has some big pop hooks, but the experimentation on top fucks everything up. Where an artist like Toro y Moi has control over a track, even though his tracks could fall apart at any moment, the Ruby Suns seem to give up control. It is a pleasant listen, but nothing really stands out on the record.
Release Date: Mar. 2

Let It go:

Artist: Rogue Wave
Album: Permalight
What the hell is it? Fourth record from CA indie band
Sounds like a combination of: They used to sound like the Shins, now they sound like Grey’s Anatomy indie rock
Recommended: SHUT IT DOWN. I wish people had a quit-while-you’re-ahead button, because those first two Sub Pop records were GREAT. I’ll give them high recommendations, mostly because they were beating the Shins at their own game. But somewhere along the road, Rogue Wave started to be a band for everyone, and their music started to suffer. Zach Rogue deserves some credit for even getting the record out, as he was going through some dark times, but I wish I didn’t hear this record as it tarnishes their early work. I know I am being the bitchy music critic who wishes bands would just play their old shit, and I know every band can’t be Spoon, but the drop in quality is pretty significant. The choruses aren’t as hooky, the music isn’t as inventive. It is just bland.
Release Date: Mar. 2

Hot Video:

Artist: Goldfrapp
Video: “Rocket”
What the hell is it? Could this be the gayest song thus far of 2010? I think so. The bubbly synths, 80s posturing, and Alison Goldfrapp’s sexy voice on top equals instant-gay-boner. This video does feature a rocket, as well as a choreographed dance routine. It actually is pretty freaky, but it oozes cool.

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