Each month, we take a look at new discs from locals, bands coming through the area, and anyone else we feel like.


Semi Precious Weapons
We Love You
www.semipreciousweapons.com
Yes, finally, some good rock. Brooklyn’s Semi Precious Weapons kick some glam ass on “We Love You.” Driving guitars, steady drumming, passionate vocals. And the lyrics: Where to begin? Let’ me site one example, and move on: Off the eponymous track, Justin Tranter declares “I can’t pay my rent/but I’m fucking gorgeous.” Yes, that’s rock ‘n’ roll. Please have this band come through town soon. Rock ‘n’ roll is alive. — RF


& Me
Saints And Relocations
www.andmeband.com
“Saints and Relocations” is a solid effort by locals & Me. Sometimes this album has a Beatles take, a little Pet Sounds, a little Grateful Dead and a little Polyphonic Spree. Beautiful soundscapes, mixture of harmony, easy vocals. Head bopping, and a nice banjo mixes it up. Accessible, but goes in different directions. Give it a listen, and hopefully catch them live in the area some time. — RF

Boxcar Collision
Boxcar Collision
www.boxcarcollision.com
A couple of listens through, and I get it. Yeah, we have the distorted guitar and the jangley shoe gaze, but what sets this apart is the Ashlee Wilcox vocals. Determined, driving, yet sweet. “Drama Queen” is a good song, and “How It Goes” demonstrates the overall talents of the band. This DC outfit has a lot going for it. Let’s hope they keep progressing in the right direction, and let’s hope for some local dates soon. — RF

Delta Spirit
Ode to Sunshine
www.deltaspirit.net
Is this a Wes Anderson film soundtrack? Hey, that’s a good thing. Delta Spirit, from Southern California, offers variations on light, sometimes folky rock. Simpler tracks work best, and most fit that category. “Strange Vine” and “Parade” are a couple of winners, and the album is solid throughout.  Just came through town in support of Clap Your Hands Say Yeah. We hope they return.  — RF.

The Falsies
The Real Fake Things
thefalsies.net
Trashy fun, isn’t that what life is all about? Well, when you’re young at least. Growing up is all about homogenization, suburbia and the dull grinding down of your soul and youthful dreams. Wasting a few minutes of your life with The Falsies is recommended if you enjoy the entertainingly bizarre, thrashy experimentations of bands like Sonic Youth, the Pixies and the Velvet Underground. It probably will not respark your faith in humanity, but it may salve the boring, crushing monotony for a while. — LGLP

Amy Sullivan
All This Time
girlinthemoonmusic.com
Sometimes a voice is all that is necessary to carry a pedestrian tune, and, not being a big fan of country, Sullivan’s voice keeps me engaged. I can only imagine this would get a few hearts fluttering and toes tingling in a person who appreciates country more than I, or has a vast collection of what they call ‘alt-country’ to their friends at the coffee shop. Sullivan’s voice is radiant, and the music, despite its twang and rustic homeliness, ain’t too bad either. “All This Time” is worth a gamble, I’d say. — LGLP

Untied States
Retail Detail
untiedstates.us
When you do in excess of a record review a day, you find yourself questioning your sanity and choice of occupation more often than you find yourself falling head over heels in love with music. This is precisely why I am so grateful for bands like Untied States, groups that are unafraid to push the envelope, blinding by attempting to discover new territory instead of poorly trying to repeat others’ accomplishments. Imagine the experimentation of Radiohead’s “Amnesiac” paired with the investigational post-punk revival of the late ‘90s and you’re close to what Untied States attempts. It’s definitely something different; a welcome relief from the mundane. — LGLP

Ben Arnold
Nevermind My Blues
benarnold.com
Arnold’s “Nevermind My Blues” is competent, well-composed, and intriguing. The biggest issue I see with this record is its lack of pop sensibility. When trying to interest a large audience, talent alone won’t do it – look at jazz; one good jazz band has more talent than the entire Top 10 Billboard Chart, and yet sells a fraction of one of those bands’ catalogs. Arnold’s ambling bluesy, ‘70s approach will win over some, but leave others waiting for the sugary punch line that his music sometimes feels as though it promises. Overall, very good, and worth a listen. — LGLP

The Black
Donna EP
theblackmusic.com
Like a mass of sound blowing off the peripheries of a 1960s documentary, The Black attempt to bridge the gap between energetic honky-tonk country and Bob Dylan’s prolific folk. It’s an honest effort, and there is evidence to suggest some degree of success, but overall “Donna” is a lackluster, easily forgettable record, serving mostly as a reminder of what other artists have done better in the past. — LGLP.

The Autumn Offering
Fear Will Cast No Shadow
theautumnoffering.com
The Autumn Offering continue on in the vein of hardcore that was being pushed when I was a late teenager, a lost kid in Sweden completely enamored with that dark, heavy world. Sadly, while comparable, the Autumn Offering feel like a decaying echo of a movement whose wave has already engraved its peak on the contemporary consciousness. Technically superb, as so much metal inspired hardcore often is, but far from original or captivating. — LGLP

Far-Less
A Toast To Bad Taste
far-less.com
For overly-produced, dated emo-pop, Far-Less aren’t bad (notice how far I had to remove them from the rest of the music world to half-compliment them). The fact that labels like Victory and Tooth & Nail have been able to survive into this ‘80s throwback, ‘70s and Neil Young inspired, ‘60s-Bob Dylan-esque saturated scene is amazing. It’s like a leper holding a job at a powerful Wall Street brokerage. It won’t last, and for damned good reason. Far-Less know how to write music for 17 year olds. If you’ve graduated from this age bracket, I recommend the new Springsteen. — LGLP

Arise and Ruin
The Final Dawn
ariseandruin.com
More of the same from dear Victory Records. While every other label that was popular in the late ‘90s and early ‘00s is adapting to the constantly changing landscape of contemporary music, Victory sticks admirably by music that hasn’t been all that popular for half a decade now. The fact that Victory can’t even go out and look for groups that are fusing death metal influenced hardcore with other segments of the multifaceted music scene is downright sad. Arise and Ruin are screaming, distortion, double bass pedals… and not much else. — LGLP

Chuck Ragan
Los Feliz
chuckraganmusic.com
Last month I mentioned Neil Young far too many times, and this month it appears that Bob Dylan is the influence of choice. Also worth mentioning, I loathe most live recordings. If Springsteen didn’t do it, then most likely it’s worthless. Ragan’s strange, folkie live recording ‘Los Feliz’ is unmemorable, and it’s sad that I have to mention he used to be the front man for the amazing group Hot Water Music. At least he has a high water mark he can look back upon. — LGLP

Streetlight Manifesto
Somewhere in the Between
victoryrecords.com/streetlightmanifesto
Do you like the sound of nails on a chalkboard? How about broken glass dragged along a metal surface? Streetlight Manifesto are as irritating and painful as a urinary tract infection. Though, fortunately, you don’t have to develop symptoms to be cured of this vicious, viral explosion of annoying garbage – just don’t come within five feet of Streetlight Manifesto’s newest record. Thank you letters can be sent care of On Tap Magazine. — LGLP.

Airport Boulevard
Asleep With The TV On
airportblvd.com
Recent release. Playing at the Potters House on Dec. 14.

Seth Kibel
The Great Pretender
sethkibel.com
Bluesy takes on other people’s songs, with a few original numbers thrown in. — LGLP