Music I bought in the first quarter of 2011. (And you thought I’d given this up…)

• Anberlin – New Surrender – I’ve been one step away from getting one of Anberlin’s records for a while. I’m glad I finally pulled the trigger.
• Bayside – Killing Time – Another consistently catchy emo album. (Er… Am I not supposed to say “emo” anymore?)
• Bear Hands – Burning Bush Supper Club – Crime Pays is insanely catchy, and I like track 9. I could do without the rest.
• Blackout Pact, The – Hello Sailor – Oldschool emo ala Hot Water Music … with a little Promise Ring sprinkled in.
• Decemberists, The – The King is Dead – I could have gone for another (or ten) Hazards of Love, but it this is still a solid album. Be warned: It’s on the country side of things.
• Dropkick Murphys – Going Out In Style – Not as immediately engaging as their last, but they can take some time to sink in.
• Emery – We Do What We Want – A lot like their last one (i.e., good, but not as good as I’m Only a Man).
• Get Up Kids, The – There Are Rules – It’s a decent effort – but after seven years I hoped for more. I’m beginning to wonder if they’ll ever make it back to Red Letter Day / Woodson form. (No, it doesn’t have to sound the same … just be as good.)
• Guns ’N Roses – Greatest Hits – Because I had to.
• Hot Snakes – Thunder Down Under – I just got the songs that I didn’t already have on Audit In Progress, but they’re dang good. I’m really starting to dig these guys. Hopefully they’ll have some new stuff soon … Oh wait. They broke up six years ago. :/
• I See Stars – The End of the World Party – Still can mix dance, hardcore and pop like no one else I know … but the problem with relying so much on being original is you can’t do it over and over.
• J Mascis – Several Shades of Why – I don’t know why Mr. Mascis decides to do some stuff under the Dinosaur Jr moniker and some under his name (I just think of them all as being “him”), but I’m glas he’s putting out something. This is an excellent – albiet relatively subdued – recording.
• Loved Ones, The – Build & Burn
• Mae – orning; fternoon; vening – Epic. This brings to mind The Early November’s three disc set. Hopefully this won’t similarly end Mae…
• Maritime – We, the Vehicles – So nice to see (er, hear) the guy from The Promise Ring back in action, and this is a nice start.
• Pete Yorn – PY – Bought it to prep for seeing him in concert. (Ben Kweller was opening for him.) It’s okay, but I probably won’t listen to it much after this … or get any of his other stuff.
• Plain White T’s – Wonders of the Younger – They’ve clearly moved back in the Hey There Delilah direction, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. It doesn’t feel desperate or fake – and there are some gems here. (Maybe they’re following in Beck’s footsteps, alternating styles with each album?)
• Protest the Hero – Scurrilous – The first few songs blew my mind. The rest isn’t as stellar, but it’s still a step in the right direction for them and a solid album.
• Radiohead – King of Limbs – Surprised to see them head back in the Kid A direction, but if that’s what floats their boat, so be it. Still good music as far as I’m concerned.
• Smackdown, The – Someone Has to Kill the Headwriter
• Tallest Man on Earth, The – The Wild Hunt – This guy sounds just like the recently-voted-off-of-American-Idol, Paul. Or is it Paul sounds like him? Yeah, that’s probably better. Anyway, this is some seriously good singer/songwriter stuff.
• Wolf Parade – At Mount Zoomer – These guys are a little Arcade Fire and a little The Shins. It’s good indie rock stuff.

< December 2010 – 2011 Q2 >

This article was edited after publication by the author on 24 Jul 2011. View changes.