Magic Kids: Memphis (True Panther Sounds)

Magic Kids: Memphis (True Panther Sounds) – Titled after their hometown, Memphis is the debut LP from five-piece Magic Kids. Their lush orchestral-pop comes to life with catchy harmonies and an array of guitars, violins, horns, keyboards, etc. Joyous and nostalgic, their feel-good sound references the city's rich heritage without seeming derivative. Recommended. Play 1 2 3 5 6 9

Aloe Blacc: Good Things (Stones Throw)

Aloe Blacc: Good Things (Stones Throw) – The sophomore LP from west coast singer E. Nathaniel Dawkins (aka Aloe Blacc) is a major step forward. His neo-soul vocals share stories of economic struggles atop vibrant, contemporary productions from Truth and Soul (Leon Michels and Jeff Silverman). His smooth phrasing and range are solid, while the robust productions feature funky bass, rhythmic guitar, strings, vintage keys, horns, vibes, strings, etc. Side one is the strongest. Nearly Highly Recommended. Play 1 2 3 4 6 10

Les Savy Fav: Root for Ruin (French Kiss)

Les Savy Fav: Root for Ruin (French Kiss) - Indie-rockers Les Savy Fav's 5th LP offers another chapter of catchy, energetic, somewhat jagged works. Guitarists Seth Jabour and Andrew Reuland craft interesting, mathy lines, as vocalist Tim Harrington shouts with emotion. Work out that excess energy. Nearly Recommended. 4 5 7 8 11 (FCC 1 2 3)

!!! (chk chk chk): Strange Weather, Isn't It? (Warp)

!!!: Strange Weather, Isn't It? (Warp) - Strange Weather, Isn't It? is the 4th LP from dance-rock combo !!!. While most of the playfully titled tracks stay locked into the same propulsive, dub kissed dance groove, the energetic workouts are enjoyable. Shivering synths, joyous sax lines, bombastic beats, hip shaking tambourine, elastic bass and choppy guitar melt the ice. Recommended. Play 1 2 4 5 8 9

Various Artists: The Sound of Rhythm and Culture (Rhythm and Culture)

Various Artists: The Sound of Rhythm & Culture (Rhythm & Culture) - Eighteenth Street Lounge DJ Farid Nouri's Rhythm & Culture Music branches out into the global downtempo dance culture. The proverb "the apple does not fall far from the tree" holds true here. Sultry rhythms, caressing horns and middle-eastern flair meet dub aesthetics. Nearly Recommended. Play 1 4 6 7 10 14

Matthew Dear: Black City (Ghostly)

Matthew Dear: Black City (Ghostly) – Electro producer Matthew Dear uses Black City to delve into the darer sides of urban life. The gritty sexy grind comes to life with throbbing bass lines, layered synths, pedaled guitar licks, fractured beats and earthy percussion. He packs loads of nuance into the works, which enrich his cool vocals. The pop leanings of this one at times recall TV on the Radio, yet are un-mistakenly Mathew Dear. Recommended. Play 1 2 3 5 6 7 10

Best Coast: Crazy for You (Mexican Summer)

Best Coast: Crazy for You (Mexican Summer) - California duo Best Coast (Bethany Cosentino and Bobb Bruno) craft straight-ahead pop that draws on girl groups, garage rock, doo wop and grunge. Cosentino's diary laced lyrics are ripe with feelings of wistful longing and sadness that’s balanced by warm harmonies, distortion and reverb. Who hasn't wished their cat could talk and they had a bunch of weed for comfort? There's something about the summer, indeed. Recommended. Play 1 2 4 5 8 9 13

Darker My Love: Alive As You Are (Dangerbird)

Darker My Love: Alive As You Are (Dangerbird) - Los Angeles quintet Darker My Love's 3rd LP peels back the delay pedals, noisy squalls and hazy vocals, opting for a breezier 60s psych-pop sound. The guitars driven songs are entwined with sweetly sung harmonies. Some lap-steel and vintage keys round things out. Nearly Recommended. Play 1 7 8 9

Various Artists: The Definitive Collection of Federal Records 1964-1982 (17 North Parade)

Various Artists: The Definitive Collection of Federal Records 1964-1982 (17 North Parade) - Federal Records was founded by Kenneth Khouri in the early sixties. This chronological collection begins with the bright, raw sound of ska, moves into cool, smooth rocksteady, and concludes with pop infused reggae. The first two periods were far more enjoyable, and make the disc 1 a real winner. A hallmark of the Federal label was their pop tune remakes… which very hit or miss. Dig disc 1, be careful with disc 2.

Harappian Night Recordings: The Glorious Gongs of Hainuwele (Bo'Weavil)

Harappian Night Recordings: The Glorious Gongs of Hainuwele (Bo'Weavil) - Dr Syed Kamran Ali creates his own impressionistic reflections of Hainuwele, 'The Coconut Girl', a figure from Maluku Islands folklore. Exotic arrangements of ouds, mizmars, jouhikkos, monosynths, harmoniums and more sound like rare field recordings. Recommended. Play 2 4 6 9 11 12 13

Mountain Man: Made in the Harbor (Partisan)

Mountain Man: Made in the Harbor (Partisan) - Vermont indie folk trio Mountain Man (Molly Sarle, Amelia Meath and Alexandra Sauser-Monnig) craft music that's arrestingly pure and refreshing. Their three part vocal harmonies, either a cappella or accompanied by a single guitar, seem effortless and natural. It was recorded in an old ice cream parlor with the natural ambience intact. Recommended. Play 2 3 4 6 7 11 12

Mt St Helens Vietnam Band: Where the Messengers Meet (Dead Oceans)

Mt St Helens Vietnam Band: Where the Messengers Meet (Dead Oceans) - The sophomore release from Seattle's Mt. St. Helens Vietnam Band builds tense atmosphere into the jangly songcraft. Their smoky, ash filled indie arrangements swirl strings, angular guitars, vintage keys and tumbling percussion. Bubbling progressive passages erupt with dramatic effect. Recommended. Play 1 2 4 6 9 11

Carissa's Wierd: They'll Only Miss You When You Leave: Songs 1996 – 2003 (Hardly Art)

Carissa's Wierd: They'll Only Miss You When You Leave: Songs 1996 – 2003 (Hardly Art) – A nice respective of Seattle orchestral indie pop band Carissa's Wierd. Leaders Mat Brooke and Jenn Ghetto and their rotating lineup combined their hushed, plaintive vocals and intricate instrumentation that quietly rocked. Violin and guitar are primary ingredients. Members went on to from Band of Horses. Nearly Recommended. Start on 1 2 5 8 10