DPDC Quarterly Report 3Q2012

Time for another summary of the best of the past three months of music, according to me. So take it for what it’s worth, but these are albums I think you should pick up.  It’s going to be incredibly tough narrowing down a year end list of favorites for 2012. Descriptions are brief because the list is long.

Follow the link below or use player at the bottom of the post to listen

DPDC 3Q2012 Quarterly Report

You can check out the lists for the first half of the year here and here respectively.

JKutchma & the Five Fifths – Pastorals: Well as I predicted last time around Jason Kutchma (of Red Collar) makes it on this list with his more twangy and soulful offering.

The Gaslight Anthem – Handwritten: You know what Gaslight Anthem sounds like. I’d probably wedge this album somewhere between American Slang and 59 Sound in terms of feel.

Dinosaur Jr. – I Bet on Sky:  The original trio reunited in 2005 and they have graced us with 3 nearly perfect albums since. I sincerely think this one is the best yet, and arguably their best to date period.

American Aquarium - Burn.Flicker.Die: Similar to previous albums but i'd say they've expanded and improved their sound. More rock-y and melodic. Really earnest and clever songwriting. It's just damn good.

Downtown Struts - Victoria: Heartfelt punk rock, that's really catchy in a good way, with a nostalgic nod to bands like American Steel. Dueling vocals make me think a more poppy Dillinger Four.

Bob Mould - Silver Age:  Bob Mould is rockin' out again. Best stuff since Sugar, maybe better than than those albums.

Holy Mess - Cande Ru Las Degas: Less sloppy and frantic than their self-titled album. While I can't completely decide if that's for better or worse, it doesn't matter this album's great. For fans of bands like The Menzingers and Elway.

The Evening Rig - Nothin' to Hear Here:  I love this band.  They've picked up right where they left off with "Is Doin' Stuff." Do you like the Replacements?

Bedford Falls - Elegant Balloons: Guess you'd call this power pop. If you're into bands like Cheap Girls or Failure's Union, this'll be right down your alley. 

Nude Beach - II: Seen a lot of comparisons of Nude Beach to early Elvis Costello and 'Let it Be' era Replacements (which seem pretty apt) and to Tom Petty (which i get less). At some point newer bands and albums start becoming timeless in their own right, right?

Grizzly Bear - Shields: I've never really totally understood the fascination with this band and struggled to get into 'em.  With this album, no longer. Seems 'louder' (all relative) and less meticulous but somehow more cohesive.

Joel Plasket Emergency - Scrappy Happiness: Jangly heart on the sleeve indie rock with some classic and southern rock tendencies.

Title Fight - Floral Green: If Jawbreaker had been/become a hardcore band, I feel like they would've put out albums like Title Fight's "Shed" and "Floral Green." Certainly no complaints here. 

Bohannons - Unaka Rising: This is American Music has delivered yet another fantastic album from a largely unheralded band deserving of more attention.  Fundamentally Bohannons are southern rock . . .  with metal, blues, stoner, classic, and punk rock influences, which is to say this album is all over the map. It's eclectic, but in in heavy, fast, rock n roll way, rather than an experimental, pretentious, self indulgent one.

Sundials - When I Couldn't Breathe: Reminiscent of early Weezer albums, with a little more of a pop punk feel, which for me is a good thing.

In addition to those above there's a large laundry list of exceptional albums released in recent months  from Cat Power, Band of Horses, The Whigs, Will Johnson, Teenage Bottlerocket, Patterson Hood, Diiv, Dikembe, Jason Molina, Some Dark Holler, You Blew It!, Spider Bags, The XX, Chuck Prophet, Jr. Juggernaut, Two Gallants, Calexico,and Divine Fits. All of 'em are represented on the playlist so hope you've got some time on your hands.

On top of all of these Luther, The Pollies, Hostage Calm, Paws, Fistful of Beard, Bad Books, The Mountain Goats etc. have already come out with must have offerings in October.