Pitchfork Media - Record Reviews

The Mole: As High as the Sky

Andrew Gaerig — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 05:00:00 -0400

After a number of singles, Montreal resident Colin de la Plante issues his first album as the Mole, on which he pairs recognizable, sampled signifiers-- galloping basslines, cooed refrains, riddling breakbeats-- with uptempo electronic machinations.

Alphabeat: This Is Alphabeat

Tom Ewing — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 05:00:00 -0400

With a deserved European smash single, "Fascination", Denmark's wonky pop band aims for the same sort of crossover appeal enjoyed by Girls Aloud, Sugababes, and (finally) Robyn.

Lesser Gonzalez Alvarez: Why Is Bear Billowing?

Mark Richardson — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 05:00:00 -0400

Despite being a card-carrying member of Dan Deacon's Wham City, Cuban-born, Baltimore-based Lesser Gonzalez Alvarez is steeped in Anglophilic folkie steez, shaking hands with the likes of Donovan and Fairport Convention rather than the Death Set and Ponytail.

The Music Tapes: Music Tapes for Clouds and Tornadoes

Rebecca Raber — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 05:00:00 -0400

The long-time-coming sophomore album by former Neutral Milk Hotel member Julian Koster's Music Tapes project comes across like a sweeping summation of the history of 20th century American white-boy music, from the sounds of Appalachia or the Grand Ole Opry to MGM movie musicals and K Records do-it-yourself twee. Of Montreal's Kevin Barnes, A Hawk and a Hacksaw's Jeremy Barnes, Olivia Tremor Control's John Fernandes and Eric Harris, and NMH's Scott Spillane guest.

The Fiery Furnaces: Remember

Chris Dahlen — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 05:00:00 -0400

The Fiery Furnaces finally put their infamous live shows on record-- and as the band does onstage, the record re-arranges and shuffles songs and moments, with Matt Friedberger and bassist and mixer Jason Loewenstein splicing several gigs into seamless medleys (one per CD) that span all the band's studio albums in two hour-plus marathons.

William F. Gibbs: My Fellow Sophisticates

Joe Tangari — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 05:00:00 -0400

Drawing from country, folk, soul, and rock, the debut from this South Carolina singer-songwriter gives the impression of mid-1990s Grant Lee Buffalo viewed through the lens of M. Ward.

Awesome Color: Electric Aborigines

Stuart Berman — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 05:00:00 -0400

This Brooklyn-via-Ann Arbor trio shares not only geography but also a love of fierce, fuzzboxed riffage beefed up by fleeting free-jazz with progenitors the MC5.

Correcto: Correcto

Adam Moerder — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 05:00:00 -0400

With members of Franz Ferdinand and the Royal We in tow, Correcto's been called a Scottish indie supergroup; in reality, they're a vessel for little-known singer/songwriter Danny Saunders.

The Stills: Oceans Will Rise

Rebecca Raber — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 05:00:00 -0400

On their third album, the Stills have reconciled the mannered 1980s sound that first got them noticed with the open-hearted earthiness of their sophomore effort, creating a record with the kind of heart that bands like Interpol have always sorely lacked.

Various Artists: Total 9

Tim Finney — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 05:00:00 -0400

Still a reliable brand in 21st century dance music, Kompakt offers its ninth (!) installment of the now stalwart Total series. Among the artists featured are label bosses Wolfgang Voigt, Michael Mayer, and Jürgen Paape, plus Superpitcher, Justus Köhncke, Gui Boratto, and Kaito.