pretty bombs.

um, so, professor green cancelled class again. last time was a pleasant surprise, now it's a little bit alarming. we're going to be so behind, especially since yom kippur is on a monday this year, too. might as well blog about records.

'cause a lot of good ones have come out recently. the most notable, to me, is the new one by channels. if you worship at the altar of j. robbins (and i really really do, although that feeling does not extend to the crappy dude bands he sometimes produces), this will be a revelation. i felt like the second burning airlines record was a little slick, and a little scattered. ditto the first channels e.p., though both had their share of amazing songs as well. but this album is an excellent return. clenched-teeth crooning? check. eviscerating sentiments? check.* tricky guitar lines, pummelling drums, incongruously catchy melodies? check, check, and check, augmented and improved upon by the silvery vocals of robbins' wife, janet. 12 pop songs with a serious case of claustrophobia. so awesome.

speaking of same, the new thermals record is really great too. probably their strongest album yet. the thermals' songs are structurally simple, but they stand out because they didn't forget that you're supposed to have hooks AND melodies...and, oh yeah, genuine feeling. i think people sometimes overlook the fact that hutch harris is capable of some pretty clever turns of phrase, as well (not that he chooses to exercise that skill in every song...). and don't worry about the "concept album" talk--there's definitely some consistent themes running through the lyrics, along with a pervasive feeling of uncertainty and anxiety--but it's not distracting or oppressive. and "test pattern" is just a love song, and a really sweet one at that. i once read an article that described the thermals' sound as a cross between gbv and the buzzcocks, and i can't get more accurate than that. does that mean that harris is in the same league as shelley or pollard? no. does that mean that this is a good album? yes.

finally, i heartily endorse jennifer o'connor's latest. no relation, unfortunately. i guess i kind of echo my sentiments about the thermals album here. superficially, her sound could be lumped in with lame coffeehouse folkies who can't let go of lilith fair....but her songs are SO MUCH BETTER. better melodies, better lyrics, better vocals. her voice is great, low-key yet pure. and the songs, while dealing with some pretty wrenching subject matter (bad break-ups, the death of a sibiling), are ultimately strong and forward looking. like a female, less fragile, elliott smith.

you're welcome.


*(that said, the album contains a newer, rawer version of standout song "chivaree" in which robbins rejects anger for its own sake in favor of unabashedly loving the ones closest to you, despite all the craziness and despair in the world. i know, right?)