The Hobbes Fanclub – Up At Lagrange – Shelflife Records – LP/CD
Hazy and dreamy guitars and vocals gives this album a sort of hot, hazy and lazy summer feel, which for me is just perfect. It’s refreshing and relaxing at the same time, without compromising on songwriting or quality. It definitely fits in with Shelflife’s vast catalog of sound, and this album delivers nothing short of perfect. Fans of the Chills, The Ropes and even those who’ve been digging some of the more recent M83 singles will enjoy this album. Sweet stuff! (4.8 out of 5)
Lunchbox – Lunchbox Loves You – Jigsaw Records – CD
Jangle, pop rock, indie, psyche, dream pop and a hint of garage make this album so delicious that I want a second helping. This album is quite sublime without losing any potency lyrically. It’s hazy and dreamy at times but knows where to pack its punches. It reminds me a bit of the September Girls with hints of the Vaselines, Veruca Salt and others. The love here is mutual, Lunchbox! Keep on rocking! (4.7 out of 5)
Fishboy – An Elephant – Yofishboy – LP + Graphic Novel
This indie punk lo-fi pop outfit returns with a soundtrack to their graphic novel that follows the ghost of Topsy the Elephant in her quest for vengeance for being electrocuted by Thomas Edison in 1903. And if you’ve seen that video footage from that time period, I think you’d find yourself joining Topsy’s quest. This album rocks! Life, death, and everything afterward makes this hard to resist, especially when it sounds so cheery. It’s been a while I’ve come across a themed record like this where I dare to call it a rock opera of sorts. Awesome! (5 out of 5)
The Primatives – Spin-O-Rama – Elefant Records – CD
Their first album of new material in almost 22 years, the band creates some real indie-pop jewels. I’d say it likens closely to their early material from the mid 80s, picking up right where they left off. It’s so catchy, sparkling and sweet without sacrificing its rock edge, like a more jangle-new wave Vaselines. Male and female vocals make this extra dreamy. I can totally see why this band has been a major influence for so many bands/artists over the years. The writing and composing are top notch and highly addictive. Lovely! (4.9 out of 5)
Joanna Gruesome / Trust Fund – Split 12” – HHBTM – 12”
Three tracks per band, starting off with Joanna Gruesome’s brand of jangle-pop-rock-folk that’s sure to please fans of just about any of the bands reviews above in this post. This is my first introduction to the band and I am hooked badly and need another fix. These three tracks are astonishingly engaging and staggeringly powerful. Flip things over with Trust Fund and while the genre mixture stays somewhat similar, the flavor and the drive changes up a little bit. It’s a great intro to the band for those who are not familiar with them and it is safe to say that if you liked Joanna Gruesome, you’re gonna love this! Flawless split EP from start to finish. (4.9 out of 5)
Throwing Muses – Purgatory / Paradise – HHBTM – LP
One of the most influential groups returns with a double LP (the CD came out in 2013 and the vinyl is brand spankin’ new!) and they pack a punch as you might expect. Everything about this album is powerful, beautiful and even haunting at times. The magic is unmatchable. Despite the absence of some of the founding members, nothing is lost here. And the vocals are to die for. Seriously! This is well worth having on either CD or vinyl – as long as you get a copy! (5 out of 5)
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