Surveying The Soundscape

Maybe the Best Of The Decade lists took more out of me than I thought - or perhaps I'm now listening to everything with a much more critical standard, but I'm not feeling it with 2010 yet. There's been some decent stuff that's come out this year, but I haven't connected with much of it.

Best of the batch so far is the Lightspeed Champion album, Life Is Sweet! Nice To Meet You. and the new Quasi record which is much improved over the last couple of so-so efforts. I want to get excited about the Lonelady debut, since she has created some awesome singles in the past, but the best songs were recut and aren't as immediately brilliant.

I still need more time with the new Laura Veirs and These New Puritans discs too, but there's some good stuff within.

Here's some Lightspeed and Quasi for you to chew on while I mull over what to rant about next.

Welcome Back!: Quasi

Even though the last couple of records didn't really do it for me, I'm happy to see Portland's finest duo (errrm, make that trio!) re-emerge with a rockin' new song.

Repulsion is the unhinged rave-up you want from Sam Coombes, full of sass and fire. Sam's back on the guitar thing (oh, how I miss the skronky old Roxichord, though) and he's cranking it up.

There's a definite joyful verve to this punker, especially when the various members fall into the chorus at different times. For some bands, this might seem like a blown take, but for Quasi, it's all (messed-up) good.

The new album is supposedly imminent and live shows will certainly ensue. (But, please tell me that they'll be reprising the Quasi Sings The Who set that they did in Portland. Having seen them play Pictures Of Lily ages ago, I'm ready for a full night of that action!)