Weekend Music Roundup

The weekend is here and so is the Roundup. This week's list is all rock based, though as we know that is a pretty wide range of music. There's some new releases that I really dug, as well as some older albums that I've recently added to my collection. There's some new bands that I hadn't heard of, as well as old favorites. All in all, some good listening. I hope you all find something to check out. Enjoy.

Drugdealer - Raw Honey: The second album from the L.A. psychedelic pop band was released this spring. This is not at all what you might expect from a band with a name like "Drugdealer." This is actually a very controlled, very melodic, almost 70's sunshine inspired sound that is purely joyful to listen to. The cover of this album is a direct reference to The United States of America album from '68, and while this album has some of the beauty of that record, it accomplishes it without the weirdness. It doesn't make it more or less, just different. It's all a matter of taste, but for my money, both are great records. Definitely worth checking out. 

Son Volt - Union: This is the 9th studio album from one of the founding bands of the alt-country movement that began in the 90's. When Uncle Tupelo split, it branched off into Wilco and Son Volt. Both bands took pieces of the sound that band pioneered, with this band keeping more of the folk country aspects. This is the their first album in two years, and it's another great political album that falls in the tradition of early Dylan. So many great songs on this album, including "The 99," "Broadsides," and "Truth to Power Blues."  

Nazz - Nazz Nazz: The second album from the Philly band led by Todd Rundgren. It came out in 1969 and while it does hold some of that late 60's rock feel, it's certainly ahead of it's time by a few years, moving headlong into the 70's. Todd's guitar work is exceptional on this record and it's a true gem of the psychedelic pop rock genre. It was several months ago that I ventured into this band and really liked the first record. This one might be slightly better. Definitely a band that has gotten forgotten a bit, but hopefully some of you will discover them now. 

Trembler - Trembler: The debut record from the Houston band is pretty straight forward emo rock, bringing together fuzzy shoegazer guitar with post-hardcore flashes of aggression. It reminds me of early Brand New mixed with 90s sound of HUM. It's a good combination with lots of promise. But this is the kind of music that I feel really speaks more to teens and young twenties. It's the sound of isolated High School or College angst. It's not a knock on the music, it's just that I've passed the point in my life where this kind of internal struggle with confusion no longer applies in a way that would make this album meaningful for me. That said, I enjoy it and recognize it's ability to speak to those who are feeling that way. "Triple Vision," "Gramps," and "Confidante" are standouts for me. 

American Music Club - The Restless Stranger: The 1985 debut from the San Fran indie pioneers represents the beginning of my journey into this band after seeing Mark Eitzel perform (see previous Roundup). I was lucky enough to find this at my local shop. It's not a record that you see a whole lot of on vinyl, due to limited release, and especially not on the East coast where the band was under represented.