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 Lord Newborn & the Magic Skulls
self-titled (Ubiquity)
The trippy triumvirate here is keyboard king Money Mark, kitsch-funk studio wizard Shawn Lee and veteran Bones Brigadier/guitarist Tommy Guerrero, which means one can surely expect some easy-ridin’, cotton-headed funk rock jams, mostly instrumentals. Groovy enough, but the trio frequently detour into some unsettling paranormal activity, and those are the finest moments. 8.5/10 Trial Track: “Dime Bag Conspiracy” (Rupert Bottenberg)
 Pissed Jeans
King of Jeans (Sub Pop)
Pissed Jeans’ 2007 record, Hope For Men, was as good as misanthropic punk rock gets, but they spent the last two years well and came out the other side with probably the best punk rock record of the year. They’re still sticking close to the Touch and Go/Am Rep/Crucifucks blueprint, with singer Matt Korvette leading the charge and getting downright ornery about the mundane. Namechecks from the ’90s aside, if you ever wondered how punk rock should sound in ’09, this is it. 8.5/10 Trial Track: “Human Upskirt” (Johnson Cummins)
 Die Mannequin
Fino + Bleed (How To Kill/Warner)
By dulling their sharp, adolescent razors, this Toronto punk trio could no longer hide behind indiscriminate thrashing or all-out speed. Largely due to frontwoman Care Failure’s vastly improved vocal range, the group has embraced power pop and hard rock with mostly positive results. The “Do It or Die” hitmakers wisely took their own advice and evolved beyond the angry teen shtick. 7/10 Trial Track: “Open Season” (Erik Leijon)
Two Hours Traffic
Territory (Bumstead)
These Prince Edward Island products are perhaps the most actualized of a recent spate of very assured, sombre Maritime garage rock bands. Two Hours Traffic continue the legacy of great crunchy guitar pop coming from the area, coupled with the aching desolation their geographical peers can’t help but capture. Territory just seems to be a more compact, more direct statement. 8/10 Trial Track: “Drop Alcohol” (Erik Leijon)
 Florence + the Machine
Lungs (Island/Universal)
Lungs, named in reference to the ticker that lies between them, and to Florence Welch’s powerful but ever feminine voice, is Sarah McLachlan with 10 times the vigour and versatility. Adventurous in its arrangements, rhythms and moods, this English outfit’s debut features big pop tunes about benders, uplifting soul songs about love and loss, and one playful punk rocker about domestic abuse. 8/10 Trial Track: “Rabbit Heart (Raise It Up)” (Lorraine Carpenter)
Ramona Falls
Intuit (Barsuk)
Menomena’s Brent Knopf called in 34 musicians to contribute to his solo debut, and despite the bounty of wonderful sounds, each track consists of essential ingredients only. Boyish vocals, piano or acoustic guitar, a horn or strings, and sometimes bass and drums serve his yearning words and graceful melodies well. An attractive first course in what could be a fulfilling solo career. 7/10 Trial Track: “Clover” (Lorraine Carpenter)
 Six Organs of Admittance
Luminous Night (Drag City)
This vehicle for the psych-rock/folk of Ben Chasney has always surprised and surpassed expectations, but also begs the question: how can this guy keep it up? Chasney is once again able to get heavy without ever having to drop the decibel hammer, with the dense use of strings and wind instruments sidling up to his lackadaisical strum. If you’re a fan, this is going to dazzle, and if you’re looking for the perfect introduction, look no further. 8/10 Trial Track: “Enemies Before the Light” (Johnson Cummins)
 D.I.M. and TAL
“Lyposuct” EP (Boysnoize)
Inconsistency has been D.I.M.’s Achilles’ heel, going from head-banger to head-scratcher and back. An unending crescendo of whining sirens with an idiotic, clacking 4/4 beat, their single “Lyposuct” lacks any real payoff, building and building, but never evolving or cutting into anything substantial. The B-side remix by NOOB is equally grating and frustrating. 5.5/10 Trial Track: “Lyposuct” (NOOB remix) (Jack Oatmon) With Autoerotique, Love Thy Brother at Club Soda, Sat., Sept. 5, 10 p.m., $10
 Blue Scholars
Oof! EP (Duckdown)
This new effort by the Seattle duo, known for social activist raps and positive messages, adopts the island of Hawaii as its muse, sampling interesting local sounds that lay a backdrop for rapper Geo’s rhymes about haole, ahi and other things Hawaiian. The second half of the EP features the instrumental versions of the first half, showcasing producer Sabzi’s talent on the boards. Refreshing. 7/10 Trial Track: “Bananas” (Morgan Steiker)
 Scratch Perverts
Beatdown (Fabric)
The notorious Perverts, globally recognized for their nerdy hip hop routines and turntable antics, stray from the usual sound they are known for to explore new horizons, including drum & bass (Logistics, Sigma), dubstep (Skream, Joker, Digital Mystikz) and even electro-house on a few tracks (Laidback Luke, Boy 8 Bit), for this mix that essentially showcases their annual Fabric party. 7/10 Trial Track: Mujava, “Township Funk” (Boy 8 Bit remix) (Morgan Steiker)
Ali Campbell
Flying High (Jacaranda)
The former UB40 frontman has fully branched out on his own, but not without a little help—pop-friendly Shaggy, German reggae star Gentleman, dancehall diva Lady Saw, U.K. MC Sway, R&B crooner Craig David and, for good measure, the Soweto Gospel choir. There’s a little something for those who still love “Red Red Wine,” and something also for those who wish the song had never been recorded. 7/10 Trial Track: “Watcha Gonna Do” feat. Lady Saw (Erin MacLeod)
 Irma Thomas
50th Anniversary Celebration (Rounder)
The queen of New Orleans soul celebrates a lifetime of music with this engaging retrospective. Pulled mainly from 25 years of recordings on the Rounder label, these songs are a testament to the blues, soul and gospel-influenced music Thomas is best known for. Her vocal delivery is a standout whether emoting joy (“Sweet Touch of Love”) or pain (“Another Man Done Gone“). 8/10 Trial Track: “Back Water Blues” (Gerard Dee)
 Gordon Grdina’s Boxcutter
Unlearn (Spool)
Gordon Grdina is making the scene across Canada and in Europe with an original sound on guitar and oud. Unlearn is the debut recording from Boxcutter, his working band at home in Vancouver. They are equally at ease spitting out complex architectures and flying in the free air. The record is warm, challenging and adventurous. 7/10 Trial Track: “Origin” (Gordon Allen) With Josh Zubot at Cagibi, Tues., Sept. 8, 9 p.m.
MINI CD REVIEWS
Pax Nicholas and the Nettey Family Na Teef Know de Road of Teef (Daptone) A sparkling 1973 Afro-beat gem from Fela Kuti’s percussionist, resurrected by NYC’s lords of funk. 7.5 (RB)
The Apples in Stereo #1 Hits Explosion (Yep Roc) It’s 16 songs and 18 candles for the Denver chapter of the Elephant 6 collective, a comp for the pop lover with a sweet tooth. 7 (LC)
The Manvils self-titled (Sandbag/Fontana North) The Vancouver rockers live or die by vocalist/guitarist Mikey Manville, and he proves to be a compelling, old fashioned, scene-stealing frontman. 7 (EL)
Rick White Album 137 (Blue Fog/Sonic Unyon) This ex-Eric’s Trip dude finally comes to terms with his grungy past, but continues to stretch it out with top-shelf, home-cooked psych. 7 (JC)
Matthew Sweet and Susanna Hoffs Under the Covers Vol. 2 (Shout! Factory) Has-beens from the ’80s and ’90s revel in largely wretched music by their favourite has-beens from the ’70s. 3 (LC)
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