(March 2021) Episode 323 is THE ESSEX GREEN. Another fine indie band from the Elephant 6 world, with a little more folk and country tones than others in the cohort. “Everything Is Green” is an excellent homage to 60s baroque psychedelic pop, and “Primrose” sounds more like the Zombies than anything else I can think of.
Favorite album: Everything Is Green
Favorite song: Primrose
Compared to expectations: same
(February 2021) Episode 314 is OF MONTREAL. I like most anything that comes out of the Elephant 6 collective, but of Montreal was overall a disappointment. They start out in typical E6 fashion — lo-fi, Beatles-philic songs — followed by a couple of Kinks-esque, music hall-style, baroque pop albums, all with quirky song titles and lyrics. But after that it’s mostly synth-laden electro-pop stuff that did not interest me.
Favorite song: Doing Nothing
Favorite instrumental song: The Gay Parade
Compared to expectations: ↓
Episode 305 is BEULAH. Another fine band from the Elephant 6 label (although they are from San Francisco not Athens, GA) delivering its characteristic sound of 60s-inspired melodic pop rock and lo-fi indie style. Very puzzling that I didn’t catch on until now.
Favorite album: When Your Heartstrings Break
Favorite song: Score from Augusta
Compared to expectations: ↑
(December 2020) Episode 302 is BELLE AND SEBASTIAN. They’ve always seemed like the iconic indie band to me. If you can get past Stuart Murdoch’s twee vocals you’ll find an abundance of catchy, melodic pop songs. And as they moved into the 00s and 10s they expanded their vocalists, instrumentation and styles, so it never gets stale.
Favourite album: The Life Pursuit
Favourite song: White Collar Boy
Best song that mentions the San Francisco Giants: Piazza, New York Catcher
Best non-album single and wannabe Austin Powers soundtrack: Legal Man
Compared to expectations: ↑
(November 2020) Episode 299 of the “opus project” is THE GLANDS. Melodic, catchy lo-fi indie rock. Being from Athens, GA, I would have thought them part of the Elephant 6 collective; they’re not, but they sure sound like it. Also, a great band name.
Favorite album: The Glands
Favorite song: i can see my house from here
Compared to expectations: ↑
Episode 291 of the “opus project” is DREAM SYNDICATE. I did this episode because they are identified with the Paisley Underground and emerged from my college town, and on the strength of the Lou Reed-flavored initial EP. But the mid-80s albums sound little better than a strained-voice, strum-beat bar band. The reformed band’s recent three albums are OK.
Favorite album: The Days of Wine and Roses
Favorite song: Apropos for Nothing
Compared to expectations: ↓
(August 2020) Episode 276 is THE JESUS AND MARY CHAIN. Another band whose influence was greater than their sales, their biggest mark is planting the seed of Shoegazing with the fuzzy noise of their stunning debut album. But they chose not to stay and till that ground, instead meandering through many alt forms from the late 80s through 90s.
Favorite album: Psychocandy
Favorite song: Degenerate
Compared to expectations: same
(July 2020) Episode 274 is THE JESUS LIZARD. Delivering bass-heavy noise and growls unburdened by conventional form. It’s like eating a mixture of pop rocks and nails.
Favorite album: Liar
Favorite song: Gladiator
Compared to expectations: ↓
(June 2020) Episode 267 is SLEATER-KINNEY. If your 90s playlist doesn’t have S-K in it, it sucks. Or your general rock playlist for that matter. They are notable for emerging within the riot grrrl movement with its feminist and social consciousness. But at its core it’s aggressive guitar rock with an aggressive attitude — and isn’t what great rock is all about? Tucker’s high warble can get tedious, but I can overlook it.
Favorite album: Call the Doctor
Favorite song: Entertain
Compared to expectations: same
(April 2020) Episode 260 is LUSCIOUS JACKSON. Their funk, syncopation and semi-rap is a Very 90s sound, but unlike so many others of that decade, it holds up. It is not a surprise they have links to the Beastie Boys. Did you know they made a children’s album?
Favorite album: Fever In Fever Out
Favorite song: Under Your Skin
Compared to expectations: same
Opus Project 