2014 deluxe reissue of this pre-OWEN project from MIKE KINSELLA! The second disc has rare live recordings, previously-unreleased material & demos. A highly influential album on the whole "emo" scene, "American Football" is better than almost everything it influenced. RECOMMENDED!

Austin based fury of sound on Trance Syndicate... remember ROCK! well here it is again...and in serious good form. Dirty, hissing, full on wall of ear-busting sonic assault like early SONIC YOUTH channeling some freaky 60's Garage-psyche in a greasy Punk teenager's basement. wow. sophomore effort for MERGE records.

SWANS main man MICHAEL GIRA returns with his fourth effort under the ANGELS OF LIGHT moniker with help from recent YOUNG GOD records signees AKRON/FAMILY. The 'darkness' is more subdued on this release but don't let those of you used to GIRA'S macabre view of things be scared away. This record is similar to some of NICK CAVE'S recent records in mood & theme except for maybe the churchy stuff.

"We are Him" is the fifth album from ex-SWANS mainman Michael Gira & it's one of strongest releases to date. Gira's frighteningly unique baritone voice is backed up by an impressive group of musicians including members of AKRON/FAMILY (his official backing band), Bill Rieflin (SWANS, MINISTRY, current REM drummer), Julia Kent (ANTONY & THE JOHNSONS) & Christopher Hahn who's been with ANGELS...for awhile & was also a SWANS member. Similar to previous ANGELS... releases the music is melodic but in a haunting way mainly because of the conlficting dark lyrical themes.

2009 ends not with a whimper, but a bang: five new tracks from this brilliant act who absolutely refuse to stand still creatively. Combining their maddeningly catchy melodies with an infectious joy, plus bubbly synths and post-psych swirly production, Animal Collective have yet again created a collection of tunes that will live in your head, hard drive and stereo for many many months! Not even samples of The Grateful Dead or Zamfir can ruin these tunes! RECOMMENDED AS HIGHLY AS HUMANLY POSSIBLE!!!

Back down to the duo of AVERY TARE and PANDA BEAR, "Sung Tongs" is ANIMAL COLLECTIVE's much anticpated follow up to "Here Comes The Indian." A cacophanous psychedelic pool of sound, with primal drumming abstract vocal phrases, and frantic keyboard/guitar squeals recalling the works of BOREDOMS, OLIVIA TREMOR CONTROL, and BRAINTICKET, this is the sound of a chair turning into a thousand snakes. On FAT CAT and so HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!

1984 SUPER HIT, O B S E S S I O N

After a 13 year hiatus APHEX TWIN returns in 2014 with "Syro," a sprawling & inviting journey into Richard D. James' unique world. While many of the signature elements are present -- his unique melodic voice, his sense of humor, his boundary-pushing compositions -- listeners will find a new, more mature APHEX TWIN on this record. In contrast to his more in-your-face albums like "Richard D. James Album" or "Drukqs," this one finds Mr. James willing to take his time drawing the listener into his world. Each track seems to undergo a series of continuous transformations from one bar to the next, where the conclusions often end up in a completely different place from their inception. Yet the overall experience feels very organic, welcoming, groovy & at times almost verging into an Aphex version of pop. Listeners familiar with his output will be reminded of his "Analord" and "Tuss" records but this one offers something altogether new & refreshing. Included with the artwork is a gear list and one can't help but hear "Syro" as the seasoned APHEX TWIN's personal synth history, exploring the decades of technology and innovation he has grown up with & which he & his listeners have come to love. Equal parts funky & mind-boggling this record is VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Sophomore release from British singer, song-writer MATT HALES. HALES aka AQUALUNG writes upbeat, optimistic lyrics which are accompanied with soft synths & beats. This is not to say this is a techno album, the synths are used as extra padding to a full atmospheric band. HALES collaborates with BEN HALES & KIM OLIVER. This is an at times lo-fi, but usually piano (acoustic or otherwise) driven album. Also check out JAMES MORRISON, COLDPLAY (one of his influences), or PETE YORN.