Weekend Music Roundup

Though the calendar says October, we already suffered through our first minor snow storm of the season this week, so I'm kind of in a wintry mood. The list doesn't necessarily reflect that mood, but that's just the way it is. A pretty eclectic mix on this week's roundup, some definite albums that I love, so worth paying attention to. Some new, some old, some just revisited in demo form. Hopefully there's something on here you'll want to check out. Enjoy.

Howlong Wolf - Owl: By chance, this Swiss band released their second album the week before I was over there to visit family. Their first album was fantastic, but this one is even better. It has more an acoustic feel to it, though it's not entirely acoustic. It has a wonderful Fall feel to it that makes it one that I'll be listening to pretty heavily over the next several weeks. Definitely one that should end up on my best of the year list. Check them out on the Soundcloud site (linked). 

Emma Ruth Rundle - Marked for Death: The new album from the California singer songwriter, and member of Red Sparowes and The Nocturnes is fantastically moody. A mixture of dream pop, indie folk, and shoegaze, this album has been a favorite morning drive record for me. It reminds me a bit of Warpaint but with some more intense moments. "Heaven," "Real Big Sky," "Protection," and "Hand of God" are standouts. Definitely one that I'll be listening to a lot in the fall and a potential choice to be included in my favorite of the year.

Smashing Pumpkins - Quiet and Other Songs: Siamese Dream is an album that I've been revisiting lately in my mind. It was a stand-out record during my senior year in High School and Freshman year in college, way back when. Released in 1993, it is the perfection of the Pixies Loud-Quiet-Loud sound that the grunge era was so found of. The distorted guitars and Billy's varying vocals from aggression to swirling bliss are a perfect combination. This bootleg contains demo versions of the songs on the album, as well as many of the B-Sides from singles on that album. They roughness gives them even more of the feel that I love about this record and is well worth finding for fans.

Isaac Hayes - Black Moses: Released in 1971, a few months after Shaft and the his iconic music from that film, this is a true masterpiece of deep soul. I found this double album in a $1 bin, which should probably be a crime except for the fact that it needed a serious cleaning. This is one of those records that when listened to from beginning to end, will leave you blown away. Musically brilliant, it's like the Kind of Blue for soul music.

The Panics - Hole in Your Pocket: The new album from the Australian indie band is their fifth, but the first that I've heard. As is the current trend in indie rock, this is a mixture of rock and synthpop, but thankfully the synth elements take on a darker element. This reminds me of some lesser known British bands from the early part of the last decade, such as Meddle and I Am Kloot. The upbeat tempo of the music is in nice contrast with the low key vocals, making for an enjoyable album. "Passenger Side," "Carparks of Greschen," and "Loiter with Intent" are my personal favorites. 

Styx - Pieces of Eight:  The Chicago based prog-rock band's eighth album, released in '78, is considered by most to be the band's finest. That's not saying a lot for a band that is frequently considered a joke, and lightweight, and soft rock schlock. While I agree with that, this is an album that I can get into because it feels like a true prog-rock album. "Renegade" is probably one of my 500 favorite songs of all time and the rest of the album, while not as good, plays with the same elements that make that song so great. An easy decision when I came across this in the $1 bins.

Judas Priest - Point of Entry: This is the seventh album from the NWOBHM super band, one that is often lost. Released in 1981, between heavyweights British Steel and Screaming for Vengeance, it's easy to discount this record. It's much more of Sabbath/ Zeppelin hard rock sound than the metal the band is known for, but it's no less rocking. "Turning in Circles," "Desert Plains," "You Say Yes," and "On the Run" are standouts.