Psapp - Tiger, My Friend

For day number three, I will share one of the favorite selections of cats from all over the world: Psapp's Tiger, My Friend. Like cats, there is a precious charm to the album that screams polka dots, playgrounds, and song birds. It also has the atmospheric vibe of Barns and Noble. "Rear Moth" is an anthem for coffee houses, and the occasional rubber duck squeak is all part of what Psapp is. "Velvet Pony" is sort of the epitome to what Psapp is, though: chromatic melodies and subtle beats made of samples of things like tinking glasses, vinyl, and what sounds like a noisy elevator with a bell. I say that Psapp is cat music because of "About Fun," which has cat sounds and lyrics about being a cat--at least part of it might be about being a cat (I never pay much attention to lyrics). It's my favorite song on the album. "The Counter" takes on a more serious tone than the squeaks, mews, and tinkering. It's a sad song. "Chapter" is another highlight on the album, because it has this really cool soft lead and a melodica--I think. I posted this album because it's the first one to get, but I think The Only Thing I Ever Wanted is just as great, if not greater. The Camel's Back is also great. They always sound, more-or-less, the same. A similar band to Psapp would be the Bird and the Bee.

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The Charlatans - Wonderland

The Charlatans UK, as opposed to the Charlatans US or the Charlatans SovRus, are a great band that I know very little about. To be perfectly honest, for a long time, I thought they were some new band and that Wonderland was their debut album. Apparently, it's like their seventh album... But despite my unfamiliarity with the Charlatans, I would still like to share this album with those of you who have not heard it or have forgotten it. "You're So Pretty - We're So Pretty" is the first songs I ever heard from this album, and it is also one of my favorite songs of all time. It's definitely a great place to start with this album, especially because it's the first track. The entire album is a lot of fun leftover from the kingdom of britpop, but I would especially reward Medals of Honor to the following: "Is It in You?," "Judas," "Love is the Key," "A Man Needs to be Told," and "And If I Fall." I would reward "the Bell and the Butterfly" with a Purple Heart though, because it's only really useful for car chases.

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Pocahaunted - Peyote Road (and a weekend bonus)

This album (for lack of a better word) was one of my favorites last year. Pocahaunted are a female duo out of LA who make some serious psychedelic drone. They're tinged with both an ambient and a noise sensibility and, as the somewhat silly name suggests, they're not afraid to drop in some tribal elements. They've got some impressive collaborations under their belt, having released splits with heavyweights Christina Carter (Charalambides) and Robedoor. Peyote Road is named pretty aptly and sounds about as you'd expect but - and don't get disappointed - it's only two songs. (Don't worry, the whole thing is just over thirty minutes.) Side A is a studio track and side B is live from a show they did opening for Thurston Moore.

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But since it's the weekend and I feel kind of guilty for choosing a two song album, there's a bonus round.


Hallucinations: Psychedelic Pop Nuggets from the WEA Vaults is a compilation of mostly singles from generally off-the-beaten-path artists. As with plenty of comps, some songs (Brass Buttons - Hell Will Take Care Of Her) are fucking fantastic and some songs are terrible. So be warned, but do enjoy yourself with these old tunes. For fans of psych folk, sunny rock, the 60's, and the Paisley Underground.

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part 2

Imperial Teen - On

I figured since it's summer you can never go wrong with pop, especially when it's this good. I also had a hell of a time picking an album from this under-recognized band because they're all fantastic.
Anyway, On was produced by Anna Waronker (her own work, both solo and with that dog, is worth checking out) and Steven McDonald (of Redd Kross). That basically means it's short, easy, catchy, and everything pop ought to be. This album has less of the themes that have gotten Imperial Teen pigeonholed as a "gay band," maybe intentionally, as reviews for the previous album What Is Not To Love tended to focus on the gay thing instead of the music. Best songs in my opinion are "Ivanka" and "Million $ Man." Fun fact: frontman Roddy Bottum used to be the keyboardist in Faith No More.

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Feedle - Leave Now For Adventure

Since it's Wednesday and I'm minorly bummed by this I thought I'd post a soothing album that'll make everything better. No really, it will. Just look at the cover art.
Anyway, Feedle is a man from Sheffield who makes mostly wordless electronica. I realize that's a pretty open statement and a fairly common style but he does it in a new and lovely way. I'm not the biggest fan of electronic music, but he layers noise, scattered beats, and effortless melodies with a sense of wonder. This is a dreamy, throbbing, emotional album that's been largely and unfortunately overlooked. The best track on here is the sprawling "This Troubles All Dust," which will somehow zen you out but also make you (or at least me) an emotional mess. A calm emotional mess, if that's possible.



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The Entrance Band - Prayer of Death

All credit goes to Andrew for introducing me to this album. Entrance are an absolutely unique band, melding psych, folk, blues, and more, all overlaid with Guy Blakeslee's impressive voice. He howls, yelps, and sometimes even croons - and does all of it exactly at the right time. This album is, obviously, focused on death, with some great lyrics and even better tunes. The groovy hooks will probably get stuck in your head and you might find yourself listening to this more than you would've guessed - it's definitely best of the decade material. Seeing these guys live was something of an amazing experience and if you get the chance please take it; if you don't like the music it might be worth it just to see Blakeslee in his full hippie caftan getup. Entrance gets extra legitimacy for managing to get Paz Lenchantin on bass/violin/co-producing.

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Beulah - Yoko

Beulah's got a spot pretty close to my heart - when I first got interested in music they were one of the first bands I came across and I've been hooked since. They were part of the Elephant 6 family, though often ignored because a) they only put out one lp on the label and b) it's pretty hard to compete with widely acclaimed peers Neutral Milk Hotel and Olivia Tremor Control. Nonetheless, Beulah deserve appreciation for their sunny 60s styled pop and brilliant use of horns/strings.
This album is the last before they split up. It was made in the aftermath of pretty much every band member's personal life falling apart and it clearly shows. This is a more restrained Beulah, with less over-the-top instrumentation and a pervasive melancholy despite the great pop hooks. Standout tracks include "Me And Jesus Don't Talk Anymore" and "Don't Forget To Breathe". If you enjoy this but think you'd prefer it with a bit more joie de vivre be sure to check out The Coast Is Never Clear - it's pure shiny fun.

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