Today's Hotness: Superchunk, FOTL, D n' C, dB's

Good week for the new stuff this week. All out today in your favorite music boutique or online merchant:

 Hey, guess what? That magnificent comeback album from Superchunk that we all loved so much? It's already two years old! Hopefully we won't have to wait another Wrens album-gap until their next one, but in the meanwho, Superchunk kicks off your summer square on the nose with the new single "This Summer" (Merge), a sort of rock version of "Nightswimming" with heavy guitars and a heavier heart. It's paired with a distorted, more menacing take on Bananarama's "Cruel Summer" that mightn't blow your mind, but is great fun, nonetheless. The bonus track on the digital download that comes with the 7" is an acoustic take of the A-side that, in this more simplistic setting emphasizes the wistfulness even further.
 Superchunk: Intertubes | Twitter

Its been three years, meanwhile, since a Future of the Left full length - not that they haven't been busy what with worldwide touring, lineup changes, and an EP (last year's Polymers Are Forever) that hinted at some changes. Frontman Andy Falkous' throat-shredding roar seemed slightly more reserved. A physical limitation? Evolution? Maturity? The answers come today with The Plot Against Common Sense (Xtra Mile), but they've really been there the whole way. FOTL has, on the surface, been walking a fine line - if you're not paying attention, you're going to miss the point - or the joke (or both) - and maybe dismiss some of their stuff as testosterone-fueled rants of little consequence.

But they've always stretched beyond all that. Primitive, sometimes punishing synths, layered vocals, alternate tunings, and an occasional yearning for the epic have kept nudging them forward. And they've always had hooks too, but here there's a continued evolution in melody and harmony - hell, "Goals in Slow Motion" is downright poppy. And oh, how satisfying that obliterated bass line is. The new album will still keep us all going with the halting, crushing rhythms and cutting,  commentary that we're all still counting on, but with a new feel to the grooves with new bass player Julia Ruzicka. So give it your full attention. The Plot... demands it - and deserves it. Better yet, see them live and all will become clear.

Future of the Left: Intertubes | Facebook | Twitter
Check out their new video at Rolling Stone.
Previously: And Then This Happened: Future of the Left, The Beatings

 Drivin n Cryin launches year-long series of EPs today with Songs From The Laundromat. They say each release will emphasize a different part of their sound (the more self-explanatory Songs About Cars, Space and The Ramones is next, followed by Songs From The Garage and a yet-to-be-titled 4th EP), but to these ears, Songs... covers the length and breadth of their career nicely. "Dirty" is a greasy piece of nasty business and it, along with "Ain't Waitin' On Tomorrow," sound like they came from a better, less self-conscious version of 1993's Smoke, "REM" is a great call-out, in-joke tribute to that band (R.I.P.) that will put a smile on the face of anyone who got into Drivin' n' Cryin' via R.E.M. back when when the former's Mystery Road tour crossed paths with the Green tour. and "Clean Up" is sort of a platonic ideal of Southern Rock (mine, at least). A strummy gem that wouldn't sound out of place on a college radio station in Athens or Chapel Hill in the late 80's or early 90's (by maybe, say, The dB's? It might be frontman Kevn Kinney's finest song in years. Drivin' n' Cryin's 21st century renaissance rolls on.

drivin' n' cryin': Intertubes | Facebook | Twitter
Previously: Rock Over Boston | drivin n cryin | TT the Bear's | 11.15.2009

The dB's name may have continued a bit longer, and front-duo Peter Holsapple and Chris Stamey may have collaborated in the intervening years, but what we have here is the band's first proper full length studio album since 1984.  Falling Off The Sky (Bar None) is nothing short of a relief - a strummy, hooky jangle of pop that once ruled "college rock." It's a long overdue fresh fix.

The dB's: Intertubes | Twitter


- Michael Piantigini

Clicky Clicky's Top 10s of 2011: MP edition

[Photo of Shit Horse at Habana Bar, Austin, TX 3/16/2011 during SXSW. Photo by Michael Piantigini.]

Twenty aught-eleven was one of those star-aligning years that gifted me with tons of music I like - This year's list is admittedly pretty heavy on my wheelhouse veterans, but how lucky to still get such strong stuff from bands like Buffalo Tom, Five Eight, and the friggin' Feelies! Having taken to heart The Long Winters' John Roderick's admonitions on top 10 lists (and let's hope he gets that new album out in 2012), I offer these 10 for '11 in alphabetical order. Tune in to Clicky Clicky Radio next Thursday, 8-10 pm eastern, and I'll play lots of stuff from these and other great 2011 releases!

Buffalo Tom Skins (Scrawny)
With guitars big and autumn gentle, these beloved Boston mainstays returned with their strongest album in years, and one that could stand up to the reminiscing of their 25th anniversary celebrations later in the year (reviews: night 1/night 2/night 3). [review/buy]



Eleventh Dream Day Riot Now (Thrill Jockey)
Chicago's legends-in-certain-circles take their time and make records when they're ready. Riot Now turns up after a five year gap and Rick Rizzo's feedback and Janet Beveridge Bean's harmonies were worth every moment of the wait. [buy]



The Feelies Here Before (Bar/None)
This year's lottery of unlikely new albums was won by The Feelies who, speaking of gaps, waited 20 years to make their new one. And it sounds just like The Feelies - and I mean that as high praise. [review/buy]



Five Eight Your God Is Dead To Me Now (Iron Horse)
Long-running Athens, GA stalwarts Five Eight take a stand on their 2011 album. They may offer more grown-up perspectives, but never grew out of a youthful existential dilemma. If we're being honest, who does? They continue to strike a nerve. [buy]



Fucked Up David Comes To Life (Matador)
Huge. Just... HUGE. [buy]





The Rationales The Distance In Between
The debut full-length by these Boston Americana-rockers is a warm, guitar comfort food blanket with pop hooks that keep the songs in your head. [buy]




R.E.M. Collapse Into Now (Warner Brothers)
Admittedly, sentimental reasons might have been reason enough for me to put the final R.E.M. album on the list, but this is legit - Collapse Into Now is great on its own terms and is the best R.E.M. album since at least 1996 (put another way: their best in a generation!). A worthy swan song for a band that spent most of their last 15 years in the wilderness. [buy]



Kurt Vile Smoke Ring For My Halo (Matador)
Wherein which Kurt Vile continues to outdo himself with his best batch of songs yet. In the alt-rock (and what-have-you) world, producer John Agnello's credits are untouchable: from Dinosaur Jr to Drive-By Truckers and Sonic Youth to Son Volt (among MANY other greats), he has helped shape the sound of alt rock (and such) for more than a generation. Here, he translates Kurt Vile's stoner daydreams into a lush, earthy headphone cinemascape. [buy]

Wild Flag Wild Flag (Merge)
OK, I'll admit it - if I were numbering the list, this'd likely be number one with a bullet. Has anything so highly anticipated delivered so solidly? Don't see how it would be possible to see them live and not think they're huge rock stars. Now if we can only get people to stop yelling "put a bird on it" at their shows. [buy]


Wussy Strawberry (Shake It)
Wussy's been quietly churning gems out of Cincinatti for a decade (much like co-gutarist/vocalist Chuck Cleaver's band Ass Ponys did for the decade before that), and Strawberry just about snuck out in the last month or so. It's both barnstorming ("Pulverized," for one) and beautiful ("Magnolia," for another). Do your ears and soul a favor and go buy this now and then make your way through the rest of the catalog. [buy]

Bubbling under:
Office of Future Plans - S/T (Dischord)
Obits Moody, Standard and Poor(Sub Pop)
Megafaun - S/T (Hometapes)
And, let's face it - pretty much everything else Merge produced this year, especially Wye Oak's Civilian, Apex Manor's The Year of Magical Drinking, and Mountain Goats' All Eternals Deck [buy]

My 11 favorite shows of '11, in brief and chronological. A bit heavy on the SXSW, as you can see, but it was a fun one:
-Reigning Sound at the Magic Room Gallery - February 17, 2011 [review]
-Shit Horse at Habana Bar - March 16, 2011 (SXSW) [photos]
-Wild Flag at The Parish - March 18, 2011 (SXSW) [photos]
-Eleventh Dream Day at Yard Dog - March 19, 2011 (SXSW) [photos]
-Alejandro Escovedo at The Continental Club - March 20, 2011 (post-SXSW) [review/photos]
-Joe Pernice/Scud Mountain Boys at the Lizard Lounge - August 25, 2011 [review/photos]
-Jeff Mangum at Jordan Hall - September 10, 2011 [review]
-Tommy Keene with Doug Gillard at Church on September 11, 2011 [photos]
-The Low Anthem at Somerville Theatre (and outside) - October 20, 2011 [review]
-The Hush Now/Soccer Mom/Chandeliers at Precinct - October 22, 2011
-Buffalo Tom at Brighton Music Hall - November 25, 2011 (25th Anniversary shows, night 1) [review]

-Michael Piantigini