What I'm Listening To April 16 - 22, 2010

1. Broken Bells - Broken Bells (Columbia Records)

2. Whispering Pines - Family Tree (self release)

3. Various Artists - Let's Independent! 4/18/10 w/ The Californian, WALK and Big Whup (self release)

4. The Besnard Lakes - The Besnard Lakes Are The Roaring Night (Jagjaguar)

5. Choir of Young Believers - This Is For The White In Your Eyes (Ghostly International)

6. Breathe Owl Breathe - Ghost Glacier (self release)

7. Dead Meadow - Three Kings (Xemu Records)

8. Torches In Trees - Carnivora (self release)

9. Walking Sleep - Measure (TFTO Music)

10. Dr. Dog - Shame, Shame (Anti)

There was no way to stop Broken Bells from capturing the number one spot, as I often start it right over again as soon as it finishes. Can't wait to see them on the 19th. Whispering Pines is a real find, Nicely composed alt/country rock in the style of, you guessed it, The Band, with a hint of The Allman Brothers, without the cheese. Very much from the country end of the Freak-folk movement, and produced by the estimable Jason Soda of Everest.

The "Let's Independent!" Lost Episode show at El Cid last weekend (April 18) with The Californian, WALK and Big Whup was such a treat, and I enjoyed hanging out in the El Cid balcony with Eli Charkoff (The Monolators) and Rob Danson (Death To Anders, Radars To the Sky) so much, that it was a night to write home about. There was a giveaway CD put together by the bands at the show, and as it's the only recordings of The Californian, who blew me away, I play it over and over.

The Besnard Lakes, Choir of Young Believers and Dead Meadow continue to grab my attention, while Michigan band, Breathe Owl Breathe brought CD's to sell at their show last week at The Echo. Ever since I saw them at Bootleg a few weeks ago, I've been hooked on this semi-theatrical group posing as a band. Great stage show.

The Torches In Trees CD, Carnivora, has some really memorable melodies on it, while Walking Sleep, who finished their Echo residency last night, will release their album, Measure, on May 25, as my advance copy keeps turning up on my CD player.

I'm playing the new Dr. Dog album, Shame, Shame, to familiarize myself with their new material as I'm going to see them tonight (April 27) at The Fonda and I haven't followed their output for a couple of years.

That's it for this week. Watch out for Avi Buffalo's inevitable and appropriate assault of the charts next week.

whrabbit