A look at local discs, and more.

The Sketches
Secret Alphabets
www.thesketches.com

Well done, Sketches, well done. “Secret Alphabets” is a solid album of competently done alt rock. These talented locals get it right, with rockers such as “Dizzy,” the title track and “Pieces (Too Heavy to Quote)”.  But these guys aren’t just strumming guitars – the musicianship (including keys) and the melody are as good as any (“Hard Read,” “My Mona Lisa.”).  A second listen to this album will reveal layers not obvious in a first spin. Solid, engaging, toe-tapping and worth picking up is the outline for the Sketches’ recent effort. Many local shows, including July 6 at IOTA Club & Café. — RF


ALO
Roses and clover
www.alomusic.com
For a band that is accustomed to performing live and known for their on-stage improvisations, ALO does a remarkably good job of turning their already entertaining live sound into an eclectic wave of studio excellence. ALO uses a variety of new methods on their new record “Roses and Clover” to bring out the strengths of each one of their four musicians, as well as to offer very different, original songs for everyone listening. ALO truly has something for everyone; with songs such as “Lady Loop” featuring new wave electronic keyboard, to songs like “Empty Vessel,” featuring twangy guitar play and flawless piano work by Dave Brogan that soothes the soul on a quiet summer evening. ALO has delivered with a soundtrack that stretches from East to West, from now to then, to there and back again. — CG


Assembly of Dust
Recollection
www.assemblyofdust.com
Maybe it was a bad idea to have an enemy of typical country music (not the good, ‘alt’ kind – the bad kind) review “Recollection.” I listen to it and I’m looking for a piece of hay to chew, a truck to jump into the back of and a cornfield to pee in. I hate these lyrics. On “Bootlegger’s Advice,” lead Reid Genauer claims he “make(s) his money selling speakeasy gin, defying logic and law.” Sorry guys, I can’t relate – and nor do I want to. — RA


Bellman Barker
Anise & Anisette
www.bellmanbarker.com
As soon as “Molly Maroon” started up, I understood the comparisons of locals Bellman Barker to Scottish indie darlings Belle and Sebastian. “Anise & Anisette” displays the eclectic talents of Bellman Barker: the confidence in their songwriting, hook after wonderful hook, the soft, yet assured delivery of the vocals, and their ability to revel in their songs’ sunny demeanors without coming across as saccharine sweet. For a debut EP, this is impressive stuff. It won’t be long before this band’s infectious ‘60s-style indie-pop starts making serious waves. The future is wide open for Bellman Barker. — LGLP


Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
Baby 81
www.blackrebelmotorcycleclub.com
It’s a given that I would like this. You should buy yourself a leather jacket and start liking it, too. “Berlin” has pure badass spray-painted all over it. Peter Hayes and Robert Turner’s vocals fill the songs with painfully cool ennui and grit. One could fill an ashtray with butts listening to this album. Plus, these guys are actually from Los Angeles but effortlessly pull off an English vibe. Bonus points! — RA


Hayseed Dixie
Weapons of Grass Destruction
www.hayseed-dixie.com
One of their original songs is called “She Was Skinny When I Met Her.” Another is “Before Your Old Man Gets Home.” The other songs they choose to defile are “Strawberry Fields Forever” by adding in a little “Cotton Eyed Joe” and “I Don’t Feel Like Dancing” by the Scissor Sisters. Stop. Stop now. — RA


Ari Hest
The Break-In
www.arihest.com
There’s a serious over-saturation of singer-songwriters in the music industry these days. Even the most devout fans of the genre can only take so much of an artist, a guitar and his pain. Luckily, Ari Hest brings something noteworthy to the table: confident, layered songs that compliment his impressive vocal range and ability to slide effortlessly between baritone and falsetto registers. There is a commercial pop quality to the music, but the artist and his talents shine strongly through on “The Break-In.” A confident, impressive and mostly hopeful second album from a talented songwriter. — LGLP


The Innocence Mission
We Walked In Song
www.theinnocencemission.com
The Innocence Mission evokes songwriting from decades past, powerful layers of fragility built up through Karen Peris’ voice and the strata of instrumentation. “We Walked In Song” began as a painful process as Peris was forced to cope with the death of her father, but ultimately the album celebrates life. The spacious, gossamer folk-pop of the Innocence Mission could easily be used as a soundtrack for an introspective movie set in the late 1960s and yet still sits confidently aside contemporary artists. This malleability, the subtle control over the empty spaces of their music, sets the Innocence Mission aside as one of the frontrunners of the pack. — LGLP


Chris Katris
Songs from the Basement: Vol. 5
www.chriskatris.com
Chris Katris possesses the following qualities: the inability to form grammatically correct sentences and the magical power to trick himself into believing that his “rock songs” don’t sound like Raffi on his death bed. He deserves some credit, though, for recording all of these excuses for songs in his basement and having the computer skills to program drums into them. — RA


Lea
Great Big World
www.thisislea.com
While the roads that local musician Lea explores are not exactly new ones, her control over the flow of the music makes “Great Big World” a remarkable record. Her debut album earned nominations for Best New Artist, Best Debut Recording and Best Female Contemporary Folk Vocalist. Her next album saw her being nominated for Songwriter of the Year, and seven years later Lea is still creating interesting folk compositions. The most remarkable aspect of this record is Lea’s voice, warm and captivating, effortlessly woven into her compositions. For those of you who are fond of folk music, this is a local artist to keep your eyes and ears on. — LGLP


Abra Moore
On the Way
www.abramoore.com
Slightly reminiscent of Norah Jones’ sound, “On the Way,” the fifth album of Abra Moore, is completely organic.  The instrumental medley is no match for the alarming clarity of Moore’s voice, best showcased in “Sugarite.” Extremely  mellow, almost to a fault, the album might fare well as a movie soundtrack. In regard to lyrics, Moore allows herself to be vulnerable on tracks like “Take Care of Me” and the jazz-inspired track “Sorry.” Soothing, but not particularly  memorable, the album puts forth a valiant effort. —  NF


She’s Your Sister
Onetwothreefour
www.shesyoursister.com
The promo copy of this album features a sticker with a quote from Music Connection on it: “The band’s music is edgy, yet thoroughly commercial.” I think they were trying to tote this as good criticism, which confuses me. Plus, I wholeheartedly agree with it. The shouty choruses bore themselves into your brain, the tempos safely remain finger-snappy and the members themselves are decent-looking. They list “Ash” as a comparison to their sound, and they’re right – but specify! They sound like Ash AFTER they got crappy. — RA


Bruce Springsteen
Live in Dublin
www.brucespringsteen.net
A Bruce Springsteen live effort comes with understandably high expectations. “Live in Dublin,” with the Sessions Band, delivers. Highlights are too many to mention, including takes on “Old Dan Tucker,” “My Oklahoma Home” (check out the crowd interaction)  “Pay Me My Money Down,” and “This Little Light of Mine.” Extra special are very different renditions of Springsteen’s “Atlantic City,” Highway Patrolman,” and “Open All Night,” all off his ”Nebraska” album and a near unrecognizable but fun-as-Hell “Blinded By The Light.” There’s an accompanying DVD, which along with the album is a must have. — RF


A Sunny Day In Glasgow
Scribble Mural Comic Journal
www.asunnydayinglasgow.com
“Scribble Mural Comic Journal” is a lush dreamscape, sequenced moments of dense instrumentation and electronics, a world lost under waves of beauty. While one can hear elements of My Bloody Valentine and Boards of Canada in the music, A Sunny Day In Glasgow is very much its own beast. Complex and multifaceted, the music feels like a child’s beautiful, if not naïve, description of the movement of clouds. Champions of shoegaze in its purest sense, the band doesn’t line its songs with easy hooks or simple answers, the beauty is in the subtle eddying of a raging current or the light cargo the waters carry to the mouth of the ocean. Catch ‘em July 2 at DC9. — LGLP


Tiger Army
Music from Regions Beyond
www.tigerarmy.com
Look out! It’s another sidestage Warped Tour band you’ve never heard of! But at least these dudes can sing, not whine, and inject cute little harmonies into the choruses. They look kind of too old to be doing this, but hey, whatever floats the boats of 15-year-olds in tanktops this summer. More power to them for not totally sucking. — RA


Wilco
Sky Blue Sky
www.wilcoworld.net
Unfortunately, the word boring is the first thing that comes to mind after listening to Wilco’s most recent effort “Sky Blue Sky.” Perhaps unfair and the result of high expectations from a band that has created some of the best music of the last 10 years. Not that SBS is bad: There are some goods songs on the disc and the guitar work is superb. It’s just that SBS doesn’t pose the challenges and complexities of the band’s last two albums. From any other band, this album would be refreshing. From Wilco, it’s just there.  — RF



Also Available

Russ Glenn
A Brand New Earth
russglenn.com
Evoking Eagle Eye Cherry, Jack Johnson, Jason Mraz and Dave Matthews, this local troubadour’s newest record drops this summer. Be sure to catch his release show at Jammin’ Java on  July 29.

The Gypsy Sons
The Greatest Moment
www.thegypsysons.com
Southern rock with country touches from Virginia locals the Gypsy sons.

Soulpajamas
Dreaming A New Reality
www.soulpajamas.com
In their own words, Soulpajamas creates “joyful, uplifting, life-affirming music, celebrating Spirit’s connection to all.”