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Joe Pug – The Great DespiserLightning Rod Records-out now4.5 / 5 We at the blog make no secret of the fact that we really enjoy Joe Pug. Well, mostly. On his sophomore album, the folker strums back into a sound more reminiscent of his debut EPs; acoustic, bare, laid back. And while we generally don’t up-thumb an artist who doesn’t develop their sound, strangely enough, there’s something a bit deeper on this one. Pug masters an incredible confidence in his singing and writing, pulling off relatively simple sons such as “Silver Harps and Violins,” “One of Many,” and most everything else here, never droning outRead More →

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17 Pygmies – CIII: Even Celestina Gets the BluesTrakwerx-out now2 / 5 The incredibly ambitious finale to the Celestina trilogy of albums finds the L.A. galactic indie rockers dabbling in the forms of the short story, screenplay, and possibly even novel to present their interstellar tale. So, yes: ambitious. And while the Pygmies certainly show a lot of enthusiasm for their material here, the listener must ask the question: Where’s the beef? We put this one to our ears a couple times, and after track 4 (aptly named “Celestina XXVI”), there isn’t really a whole lot beyond their songs’ repetitive foundation to grip onto. That’sRead More →

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Twin Trip – Self-titledFlower Records-out tomorrow3 / 5 Brainchild of Felix Penny, the not-so-aptly-named trio Twin Trip craft alt-rock with a slight infusion of galacticism. There are a handful of things we like about this release: solid, catchable choruses, straightforward songwriting, and “Heavy Load,” a get-your-rocks-off super-dramatic killer single. “Twin Trip,” in short, ain’t a bad album. It isn’t, however, the kind of album that you rush to put on, or play in your head constantly and make your friends uncomfortable because you’re always singing a few lines from it. It’s good, but despite the solid playing, there isn’t a whole lot to really thrillRead More →

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Delta Spirit – Self-titledConcord Music Group-due March 133.5 / 5 Here it is, the third full-length follow-up to 2011’s Middle Brother. In comparison to Deer Tick’s and Dawes’ latest LPs, we’re going to say the Cali band’s release here is the strongest of the three; yet, we’re going to admit that wasn’t a terribly strong contest. Fans inducted by their debut EP, I Think I’ve Found It, will find this latest album passable, good enough to get their Delta Spirit fix. But, truth be told, are there any tracks here as socially aware as “Streetwalker,” any raucous singalongs like “People, Turn Around?” Unfortunately, no and no.Read More →