London Weekend - Another Sunny Day (Sarah, 1992)
I discovered Another Sunny Day, your classic late-80s/early-90s London-based twee/indie pop band, thanks to Fucked Up's "Anorak City" cover on their Couple Tracks collection. London Weekend is their only LP, and for the most part, it is excellent. While "Anorak City" is the most obvious standout, and truly is an incredible pop song, "What's Happened to You My Dearest Friend?" is probably my favorite song due to its bright Cure-esque chord progression, 80s-style production, and the Johnny Marr-inspired acoustic guitar solo into the ending. There is plenty of melodrama, brit-pop balladry, and jangling guitars informed by The Smiths, but this is no knockoff. These songs hold up on their own merit. Things get real slow and sleepy towards the end, and three or four songs could have been cut, but, I would definitely recommend spending some summer days jamming this with the windows down.
Top jams: "Anorak City," "Things Will be Nice," "What's Happened to You My Dearest Friend?," "Can't You Tell It's True?," "Impossible," "You Should All be Murdered," "Horseriding," "New Year's Honours"
There's Nothing Wrong With Love - Built to Spill (Up, 1994)
For the longest time, I have really only cared about Built to Spill's 1999 masterpiece, Keep It Like a Secret, which is one of the great modern guitar albums. I've finally decided to put in some quality time with their previous records, and I must say, they're actually not as bad as I used to think. There's Nothing Wrong With Love, the band's sophomore LP, lacks the layers and heroics of the guitars from Keep It Like a Secret, but these are some nice jangly indie rock tunes with Doug Martsch's trademark: quirky vocals and gnarly albeit sloppy guitar solos. "In the Morning," "Big Dipper," and "Distopian Dream Girl" are absolute jams.
Top jams: "In the Morning," "Big Dipper," "Fling," "Cleo," "The Source," "Twin Falls," "Distopian Dream Girl"
Wake Up and be Happy - Camber (Deep Elm, 2002)
I know I shouldn't be, but I am slightly embarrassed that I was so invested in the blatantly emo record label Deep Elm back in high school. During this time, Camber was one of the label's less interesting bands: classic second-wave emo in the vein of Mineral, Texas is the Reason, and Christie Front Drive. After three albums of this, the band released their fourth and final LP in 2002, Wake Up and be Happy, which only has slight emo flourishes. It is much more of a throwback to straight-up 90s alternative rock. If you can get past Barry Lott's vocals, which seem a little forced, there are plenty of moments to appreciate, namely in "Short Sleeve," "Darling Daughter," and "Trick I Learned in the Army."
Top jams: "Devil You Know," "Short Sleeve," "West Village Idiot," "Wake Up and be Happy," "Darling Daughter," "Plissken," "Trick I Learned in the Army"
Candy Apple Grey - Husker Du (Warner Bros., 1986)
I purchased a used copy of 80s punk and alternative rock pioneers Husker Du's fifth LP, Candy Apple Grey, at Underground Sounds on Record Store Day a couple years ago. Perhaps thanks to the two bands I play drums in, I have been itching to spend some crucial time with the middle four albums in Husker Du's discography of late. For whatever reason, I started here, and it rules so hard. There are, like, two really shitty ballads, but beyond that, this record is fantastic. "Crystal" is a hell of an opener, and I love how pissed Bob Mould sounds on it. There are too many other highlights to name, but "Don't Want to Know if You Are Lonely" and "I Don't Know for Sure" are worthy. Lastly, closer, "All This I've Done for You," is my favorite Husker Du song thus far. Candy Apple Grey is raw and in some ways uneven, but those things add to the charm of the general awesomeness of the songs here.
Top jams: "Crystal," "Don't Want to Know if You Are Lonely," "I Don't Know for Sure," "Sorry Somehow," "Hardly Getting Over It," "Dead Set on Destruction," "Eiffel Tower High," "All This I've Done for You"
House Arrest - Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti (Ballbearing Pinatas, 2002)
Ariel Pink's discography is confusing! I don't understand how exactly everything was released, but as far as I understand, House Arrest was originally released in 2002 and then reissued by Paw Tracks in 2006? This is the fifth installment in his Haunted Graffiti series, whatever that means. Unsurprisingly, House Arrest is very lo-fi, but the musicianship and arrangements here are impressive. It doesn't hold a candle to 2010's Before Today or even 2012's Mature Themes, but these songs are still thoroughly enjoyable. There's less smooth and sexy 70s pop and a lot more 60s psychedelia, but considering the recording quality, that's probably for the best. If you need a starting point, the first two tracks, "Hardcore Pops Are Fun" and "Interesting Results" are the best anyway. I also fell hard for the haunting and hilariously titled closer, "Oceans of Weep."
Top jams: "Hardcore Pops Are Fun," "Interesting Results," "Helen," "Every Night I Die at Miyagis," "Alisa," "The People I'm Not," "Almost Waiting," "Oceans of Weep"
