Radar Bros., 'Auditorium' (Merge)
Dolorous L.A. troubadour now a peaceful, easy nature boy.
By Julia Simon 02.29.08 9:29 PM
Saviours, 'Into Abaddon' (Kemado)
Fleeting metal flirtation never leads to legit headbanging.
By Joe Gross 02.29.08 4:11 PM
Their '90s pedigree (two members played in emocore act Yaphet Kotto) will likely always get Saviours tagged as mere hipster metal. This once seemed unfair ("Circle of Servants Bodies," their track on the excellent 2006 Kemado comp Invaders, slayed).
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Sons and Daughters, 'This Gift' (Domino)
Scottish quartet still at their best when they trash the place.
By Shannon Zimmerman 02.29.08 2:11 PM
With propulsive pogo-worthy rhythms and singer Adele Bethel's insistent vocals, these rough-edged folk punks go for a quick knockout on their poppier second album (produced by Suede's Bernard Butler).
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Photon Band, 'Back Down to Earth' (Empyrean)
Druggy ditties and friendly flashbacks for the whole family.
By Jon Young 02.27.08 9:36 PM
Xiu Xiu, 'Women as Lovers' (Kill Rock Stars)
Feisty post-punks slip pretty sounds into screechy packages.
By Shannon Zimmerman 02.27.08 10:55 AM
Careening between luxuriant melodies and irritating noise, Xiu Xiu albums are iffy by design. On Women as Lovers, closely miked vocals vie for attention with arpeggiated guitar ("F.T.W."), aggressive whistling ("Child at Arms"), random percussion ("The Leash"), and what sounds like air escaping from an overblown balloon ("F.T.W." again).
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The Shackeltons, 'The Shackeltons' (Loveless)
Scruffy, emotional indie boys you can actually believe in.
By Josh Modell 02.25.08 1:40 PM
