Sometimes a cross between ABBA and Siouxsie & The Banshees, sometimes a little more than that - The Last Dinner Party certainly justified the hype with their debut album. Prelude To Ecstasy is filled with attitude and big glammy choruses. Not perfect, but never less than interesting (even the short interlude in Albanian is worthy of your time).
J Mascis's latest ended up being exactly what you would expect: solid, engaging indie rock. What Do We Do Now rarely threatens greatness, but you will have a good time listening to it. "Can't Believe We're Here" is a clear highlight with some stellar guitar soloing.
Nürnberg is a Belarusian band who have just released their latest LP. Adkaz is a short but to-the-point amalgamation of post-punk and coldwave. Despite the obvious genre constraints, the album is quite playful and melodically satisfying. They even serve up an unexpected jangle-pop throwaway at the end of the album which, naturally, ended up being my favourite song. Adkaz is a lot more interesting and involving than its suprematist black and white cover would suggest.
It is hard not to be uncomfortable these days listening to new Mark Kozelek records, but Sun Kil Moon's EP titled Birthday Girl really does feature the man's best songs in quite some time. Mumbling, addictive, filled with acerbic wit, awkward humour, self-pity, and Kozelek actually trying to sing some of those melodies. Which, and I want to stress this point, are very good melodies.
Finally, Katherine Priddy's new album The Pendulum Swing is a decent folk album whose sole moment of true greatness may be the rich, dreamy, Fleetwood Mac-like "Does She Hold You Like I Did". I wish she would do more in that vein in future.
Songs of the month:
"Floating On A Moment" - Beth Gibbons
"The Feminine Urge" - The Last Dinner Party
"The Call Of The Wild" - Sun Kil Moon
"Does She Hold You Like I Did" - Katherine Priddy