ScatterPoints: Early May

Here is some cool stuff I've found over the past week. Enjoy!

MidPoints Top 5: Mom Songs

I'm going to start posting more of these Top 5 countdowns so feel free to comment with your own Top 5s. Happy Mothers Day!

5. Chromeo - Momma's Boy

4. 2Pac - Dear Mama

3. Scissor Sisters - Take Your Mama

2. Sufjan Stevens - Decatur, Or, Round Of Applause For Your Stepmother!

1. Kanye West - Hey Mama

VIDEO

The National - Terrible Love

ONE SENTENCE REVIEWS

The Hold Steady - Separation Sunday

Rating: 90/100

Garage rock and drunken nostalgia have been perfected over the past decade by The Hold Steady, and Separation Sunday is the one that kicked off their hot-streak of great albums back in 2005.

High Point Tracks: "Your Little Hoodrat Friend", "Banging Camp", "Stevie Nix"

Broken Social Scene - Forgiveness Rock Record

Rating: 81/100

When a phenomenal band like BSS releases a mildly disappointing record like this one, the result is sometimes still a very enjoyable and engaging album.

High Point Track: "World Sick", "All to All", "Water in Hell"

The Dead Weather - Horehound

Rating: 86/100

Its loud, dirty, and a little frightening but its also one of the most raw and powerful rock albums in recent memory.

High Point Tracks: "60 Feet Tall", "Treat Me Like Your Mother", "Hang You From The Heavens"

David Guetta - One Love

Rating: 68/100

European producer/DJ David Guetta delivers a hit or miss collection of up-tempo club jams, all of which feature at least one relevant name from the hip-hop/r&b scene.

High Point Tracks: "Sexy Bitch ft. Akon", "When Love Takes Over ft. Kelly Rowland"

The White Stripes - Under Great White Northern Lights

Rating: 93/100

This live album from 2007 features the lo-fi rock duo at their loudest, sloppiest and absolute finest while giving new life to both deep cuts and hits alike.

High Point Tracks: "Blue Orchid", "I'm Slowly Turning Into You", "Jolene" (Dolly Party cover), "Seven Nation Army"

ScatterPoints: Late April/Summer Preview

Here are some cool things that I've found over the past week.

I don't have a whole lot to report on the past week but I do have some cool things for you. Its almost summer time and that means that music will continue to come out at a slightly accelerated pace. Lots of good indie stuff on the way, and lots of it is available for a sneak peak now.

SUMMER ALBUM PREVIEWS:

LCD Soundsystem is one of the most innovative and exciting acts out there and the mastermind behind the whole shebang James Murphy has decided to stream the forthcoming This Is Happening on the groups website right here.

Broken Social Scene's highly anticipated return to albumdom Forgiveness Rock Record is streaming on the NPR website now. Check it out here.

The Hold Steady are also showing NPR (and us) some love by streaming their forthcoming Heaven is Whenver here.

Man, NPR is all about music I love. They also have the full album stream of The New Pornographers' Together. It is here.

MUSIC VIDEOS:

THE XX - ISLANDS

This video doesn't seem to be to much at first, but I find myself haunted it. It seems repetitive but I promise you its not. Every shot is a little bit different and its super artsy and really emotional in some strange intangible way. I can't put my finger on it but there is really something to this video. Let me know if you figure it out.

ONE PARAGRAPH REVIEWS:

Broken Bells - Broken Bells

Rating: 80/100

This collaborative project consisting of James Mercer, lead singer of the Shins, and crazy-ass producer Danger Mouse is a simple and upbeat affair that doesn't sound too far removed from either ones body of work. To put it simply, it mostly sounds like a Danger Mouse produced Shins album, though even that makes it sound a little crazier than it actually is. What the album lacks in surprises, it more than makes up for in execution. All ten tracks are beautifully crafted to create a very fluid album experience that is emotional, accessible and layered in such a way that each listen reveals something new. Ultimately, its not an earth shattering record, but it feels as though it was intentionally crafted to be straightforward with few unexpected turns and to that end both creators have succeeded in creating a wonderfully enjoyable set of tracks that won't change your life but you won't soon forget either.

MidPoints Lives! ScatterPoints: March/Mid April

Here's some cool stuff I've found over the past few months, enjoy!

Record Store Day!

Yesterday was Record Store Day which means a lot of independent record stores have exclusives releases from literally hundreds of bands and labels. I went to my local Zia Records to see what kind of stuff they had and even though they were pretty picked over by the time I got there, I got two Record Store Day exclusives: a limited edition red-vinyl pressing of Passion Pit's "Little Secrets" and the Yeah Yeah Yeah's "Skeletons" limited edition 7" single. If you love music, please support record stores!

COOL TRACKS:

The Return of Broken Social Scene

"World Sick" was the first single released by Broken Social Scene to pave the way for their forthcoming Forgiveness Rock Record (May 4) which is the bands first album since 2005. Then they released a double A-Side single featuring "Forced to Love" and "All to All". All three songs are excellent but "World Sick" is definitely my favorite so far. Listen to all three right here:

Other Cool Stuff

"Sleep Paralysist" is a fun new track from Neon Indian. You can download it free with this thing:

I have to give a shout out to a song that I recently rediscovered. I don't know why but I just can't stop listening to R. Kelly's smash hit from 2002: "Ignition Remix".

Also, the video is hilarious.

ONE-SENTENCE REVIEWS:

Joanna Newson - Have One On Me

Rating: 84/100

Folky and mysterious, this 3-disc epic is a showcase of the singers vocal skill and songwriting abilities.

High Point Tracks: "Easy" "In California" "Go Long"

Death Cab For Cutie - The Open Door EP

Rating: 81/100

Sounds a lot like the Narrow Stairs material, and it is just further proof that Death Cab is one of the most consistent and enjoyable bands out there.

High Point Tracks: "My Mirror Speaks" "Little Bribes"

UGK - Underground Kingz

Rating: 80/100

It was the last full studio album released by the southern rap duo before the death of Pimp C, and Underground Kingz is a worthy testament to the talent, charisma and swagger of UGK.

High Point Tracks: "Int'l Players Anthem (I Choose You) Feat. Outkast" "The Game Belongs To Me" "Hit The Block Feat. T.I."

Bun B - II Trill

Rating: 78/100

After Pimp C died, the other half of UGK aka Bun B starting releasing solo records and though II Trill is impressive, he thrives when has another rapper on the track and the album reaches its peak on "Underground Thang" which features a posthumous verse from Pimp C.

High Peak Tracks: "Underground Thang", "That's Gangsta ft. Sean Kingston", "Damn I'm Cold ft. Lil Wayne"

MGMT - Congratulations

Rating: 78/100

The highly anticipated follow up to Oracular Spectacular lacks the anthems of the debut, but it is filled with undeniably fun, quirky and artsy indie rock.

High Point Tracks: "Flash Delirium", "It's Working", "Someone's Missing"

Passion Pit - Manners (Bonus Tracks)

Rating: 96/100

This deluxe reissue of the 2009 MidPoints Album of the Year features new artwork and three new tracks including beautiful stripped down versions of "Sleepyhead" and "Moth's Wings" as well as a cover of the Cranberries' "Dreams".

High Point Tracks: "Sleepyhead (Stripped Down Version)", "Month's Wings (Stripped Down Version)", "Dreams"

Note: all 3 new songs are available on iTunes, so you don't have to buy the reissue to get the new stuff

New Broken Social Scene! Free MP3 Download!

There are few bands I get downright giddy about hearing new stuff from and Broken Social Scene is one them. May 4 can't get here fast enough. I've been waiting 5 years for this band to put out another record and while the group offshoots like Stars, Feist, Jason Collett and their semi-solo Broken Social Scene Presents series were all very very good, there ain't nothing like a full-fledged Broken Social Scene album. This new track is, much like the band itself, fucking huge! Its almost 7 minutes long with plenty of their signature build and release crescendos. Its awesome. Download the epic, "World Sick" for free-ninety-nine right here:

At Long Last....Broken Social Scene Are Finally Recording Another Album

I took this picture last summer at Lollapalooza in Chicago

This news broke on Friday, but this ish is new to me. Broken Social Scene is back in the

studio! I enjoyed the last two albums that were part of the Broken Social Scene Presents

series, but seriously I'm ready for the whole crew to get back together again. Unfortunately,

there is no timetable for a release yet, but its nice to know that somewhere in the world

this band is working on some new stuff. For more info, check the P4K. I'm somewhat

nervous that they aren't sticking with their long time producer David Newfeld, but Im

hoping that John McEntire (Tortoise, The Sea and Cake) treats them right.

PS The blogger formating is being weird right now. srry.