The Essex GreenAlbum: Can't Wait Another Day
Artist: The Ladybug Transistor
Released: 2007
Acquired Via: City Lights (CD)
Some time ago, a poster at rateyourmusic.com recommended The Albemarle Sound to me based on my love of the E6 extended family band, The Essex Green. Both groups definitely belong to more mellow, melodic branch of the collective, but that is really where the similarities end. The Ladybug Transistor actually remind me more of The Magnetic Fields than anyone else. The same strange upbeat/depressive feeling that instantly makes me think of antidepressant medications for some reason. TLT's latest effort is nowhere near the quality of the first record I bought by them, but it has some great tracks. I especially like Here Comes the Rain, a great little pop gem. I must say that the production on this album is surprisingly slick for an E6 related act, but it suits the material. Rating: 3/5 Stars
Album: Presents: Singles and Beyond
Artist: The Olivia Tremor Control
Released: 2000
Acquired Via: Emusic
The Olivia Tremor Control are probably my favorite band of the last 15 years. The two albums they produced in a very brief but memorable career are among my favorites of all time. The singles and rarities package that fills out the picture with the remaining major tracks not included on the two full-length efforts, has been out of print some time. Finally, the collection has returned to the Emusic store and I downloaded it the second I saw it on the site. It is striking to see how different the band was on the singles and EPs release prior to 1995's Dusk In Cubist Castle. The opening track,
Love Athena sounds more like a fuzzy version of fellow E6 act, The Apples in Stereo. Few of the tracks on the compilation never reach the brilliant balance of pop hooks and experimental passages found on the two LPs, and generally speaking this is not a release of the same quality of those two works. That said, it is still a vital piece of the OTC picture I am glad to have in my possession. Rating: 3/5 StarsAlbum: Seniors and Juniors
Artist: The Marshmallow Coast
Released: 1999
Acquired Via: Emusic
This is some weird stuff. I have a feeling that it is going to take time to process this eccentric bit of bedroom pop. The album reminds me of a far more mellow version of Cherry Peel. I know that this "band" has personnel links to the original version of of Montreal, and would seem to owe a great debt to the lo-fi pop stylings of Kevin Barnes early years. I need more time with this one, but I'm really starting to dig it. Rating: 3.5/5 Stars
Album: Songs for the Deaf
Artist: Queens of the Stone Age
Released: 2002
Acquired Via: YourMusic Queue Shipment
I first added this album to my wishlist in 2003. For one reason or another I never got around to buying it until now. A pretty solid hard rock album, that has only one major flaw. Whoever decided to add those cheesy radio bumper inserts marred the whole experience for me. I would love to hear this record without all that garbage in between songs. Rating: 3/5 Stars
