Weekend Music Roundup!

It's the weekend once again! It has a habit of coming every seven days, as do my rambling musings on the world of music. This week features a bunch of recent pick-ups, both old and new. It's also a wide range of stuff, from bands I've long-followed, to ones I'd never heard of. There's some metal, some rock, some folk, some psych, and some psych folk. All in all, there's some really great records on this list, ones I hope some of you will be excited to check out. Enjoy.

Ordos - The End: The third album from the Swedish metal band was released last month. I pre-ordered the vinyl, which will ship from Sweden in a week or so, but with the purchase came a free download which I got immediately. I've really been into this band the last few years. They play a doom stoner metal and it sounds near perfect. The band's timing is phenomenal and I love the world they've created on their records. "Upsala" and "III" are my two favorite tracks, but the album is solid all around.

Marc Jonson - Years: The NY singer songwriter released this one album in 1972 when he was 20, and it would 11 years until his next record. This is a pyschedelic folk pop record that is very much of the time, which just happens to be a time in music that I love. It sounds a bit like early Cat Stevens, but with Baroque Pop elements that make it stand out, and far less commercial. There's a Syd Barrett kind of innocence and honesty. It's no wonder Vanguard released this record, it's just a wonder that no one really remembers it. Absolutely fantastic record.

Red House Painters - Songs for a Blue Guitar: Released in 1996, this Mark Kozelek's pre-Sun Kil Moon band that was a pioneering early '90s band that was playing the new style of folk rock several years before it became an indie staple. I was lucky enough to know of this band when they were around and recently came across a used vinyl copy of this double album, possibly their best. Absolutely fantastic indie folk. Interesting fact, the song "L-48" on the newest Sun Kil Moon album is about the guitar pictured on the cover.

Kyle Falconer - No Thank You: Released last summer, this is the debut record from The View frontman. I've been a big fan of that band since their 2007 debut and was surprised to only recently hear about this. It came out three years after the band's last album, and in that time, it appears that the man known for his wild behavior has fallen in love and had a child, and this album is the tale of his new look on life. It's incredibly positive pop rock that displays his immense songwriting talent. "Kelly," "Japanese Girl," "Confusion," "Family Tree," and "Jekyll Down Your Hyde" are among my favorites on this fantastic record.

Bukowski - Strangers:  I will fully admit to listening to this because of the combination of their band name and the cover. This is the fifth album from the Paris based band. They remind me a bit of some metal bands from the early 00's that combined nu-metal with emo to create a sound that at times is blissful and aggressive, and basically off-putting at other times. Thankfully that off-putting moments were infrequent enough to allow me to get into this record, but too often for me to probably return to, which is unfortunate because this is one of those records that I think could grow on me if I spent a lot more time with it. "Mater Dolorosa," and "Haters" are my favorites.  

Mississippi - Velvet Sandpaper: After the break-up of White Light, founding member Gary Abrams recorded and released this record in 1970 under the name Mississippi. This album moves away from the psychedelic sound of White Light into more of a heavy blues rock sound. Still though, you could definitely classify it under acid rock. "Light," "Debbie," and "VDFM" are standouts for me.